EXHIBIT 4.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.
ADOPTED SEPTEMBER 28, 2000
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.
Table of Contents
ARTICLE I OFFICES............................................................1
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE................................................1
1.2 OTHER OFFICES....................................................1
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS..........................................1
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS................................................1
2.2 ANNUAL MEETINGS..................................................1
2.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS.................................................1
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS...................2
2.5 REGISTERED HOLDERS OF SHARES; CLOSING OF SHARE
TRANSFER RECORDS; AND RECORD DATE................................3
2.6 QUORUM...........................................................4
2.7 VOTING BY STOCKHOLDERS...........................................4
2.8 PROXIES..........................................................5
2.9 NO SHAREHOLDER ACTION WITHOUT MEETING............................5
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS........................................................5
3.1 DUTIES AND POWERS................................................5
3.2 NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.................................6
3.3 VACANCIES........................................................6
3.4 RESIGNATIONS.....................................................6
3.5 CHAIRMAN.........................................................6
3.6 MEETINGS.........................................................6
3.7 QUORUM...........................................................6
3.8 ACTIONS WITHOUT A MEETING........................................6
3.9 TELEPHONIC MEETINGS..............................................7
3.10 COMMITTEES.......................................................7
3.11 REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES........................................7
3.12 PROTECTION FOR RELIANCE..........................................7
3.13 CONSIDERATION OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER FACTORS
IN EVALUATING A BID..............................................7
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS..........................................................8
4.1 GENERAL..........................................................8
4.2 ELECTION.........................................................8
4.3 DUTIES...........................................................8
4.4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER..........................................8
4.5 PRESIDENT........................................................8
4.6 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER..........................................9
4.7 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER..........................................9
4.8 VICE PRESIDENTS..................................................9
4.9 SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES..............................9
4.10 TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS..............................10
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4.11 REMOVAL.........................................................10
4.12 VOTING SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION......................10
ARTICLE V STOCK.............................................................10
5.1 FORM OF CERTIFICATES............................................10
5.2 SIGNATURES......................................................10
5.3 LOST CERTIFICATES...............................................11
5.4 TRANSFERS.......................................................11
5.5 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP............................................11
5.6 DIVIDENDS.......................................................11
ARTICLE VI INDEMNIFICATION..................................................11
6.1 GENERAL.........................................................11
6.2 EXPENSES........................................................12
6.3 ADVANCES........................................................12
6.4 REQUEST FOR INDEMNIFICATION.....................................12
6.5 NONEXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS........................................12
6.6 INSURANCE AND SUBROGATION.......................................13
6.7 SEVERABILITY....................................................13
6.8 CERTAIN PERSONS NOT ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION.................13
6.9 DEFINITIONS.....................................................13
ARTICLE VII NOTICES.........................................................14
7.1 NOTICES.........................................................14
7.2 WAIVER OF NOTICE................................................14
ARTICLE VIII MISCELLANEOUS..................................................14
8.1 FISCAL YEAR.....................................................14
8.2 AMENDMENTS......................................................14
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AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
CORNELL COMPANIES, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of Cornell Companies, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), is The Corporation Trust Company, 1209
Orange Street, in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of
Delaware, 19801.
1.2 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
of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors") may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS. Annual or special meetings of the stockholders for
the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time
and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated
from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the
meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. If not so designated or
stated, such meeting shall be held at the registered office of the Corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETINGS. The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on
such date and at such time as may be designated from time to time by the Board
of Directors and stated in the notice of such meeting. At the annual meeting,
the stockholders shall elect by a plurality vote a Board of Directors and
transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Written notice of the annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation stating
the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be sent to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before
the date of the meeting. Failure to hold the annual meeting shall not work a
forfeiture or dissolution of the Corporation or affect otherwise valid corporate
acts.
2.3 SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Delaware General
Corporation Law ("DGCL") or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation (as amended or restated from time to time, the "Certificate of
Incorporation"), special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation for any
purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of
Directors or by any two or more directors of the Corporation. Written notice of
the special meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given not less 10
nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting.
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2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS AND NOMINATIONS.
(a) NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS. Only persons who are nominated in
accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible to serve as
directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors
of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders may be made (i) by or at
the direction of the Board of Directors, or (ii) by any stockholder of the
Corporation entitled to vote in the election of directors at the meeting
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(a).
Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to
the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice
must be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary of the
Corporation at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less
than ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the
previous year's annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if
no annual meeting of stockholders was held in the previous year or if the
date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days prior
to, or delayed by more than sixty (60) days after, such anniversary date,
notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and
received, not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which the date of such meeting has been first
"publicly disclosed" (in the manner provided in the last sentence of this
Section 2.4(a) by the Corporation). Any stockholder's notice pursuant to
this Section 2.4(a) shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a
director, all information relating to such person that is required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is
otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's
written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to
serving as director if elected); and (ii) as to the stockholder giving
notice (A) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's
books, of such stockholder and (B) the class and number of shares of the
Corporation which are beneficially owned by such stockholder. At the
request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of
Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the
Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's
notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be
eligible to serve as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in
accordance with the procedures set forth herein. The Chairman of the
meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting
that a nomination was not properly brought before the meeting and in
accordance with the provisions of these Amended and Restated Bylaws (these
"Bylaws"), and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so
declare to the meeting and any such nomination not properly brought before
the meeting shall be disregarded. For purposes of these Bylaws, "publicly
disclosed" or "public disclosure" shall mean disclosure in a press release
reported by the Dow Jones 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.
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(b) NOTICE OF BUSINESS. Except as set forth in Section 2.4(a), at
any meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as
shall have been brought before the meeting (a) by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation who
shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this Section 2.4(b). For business to be properly
brought before a stockholder 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
not less than 50 days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in the
event that less than 55 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the
date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be received no later than the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such notice of
the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter
the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting (a) a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and
the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (b) the name and
address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder
proposing such business, (c) the class and number of shares of the
Corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any
material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding
anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted
at a stockholder meeting except (i) in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 2.4(b) or (ii) with respect to nominations of
persons for election as directors of the Corporation, in accordance with
the provisions of Section 2.4(a) hereof. The Chairman of the meeting
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that
business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance
with the provisions of these Bylaws, and if he or she should so determine,
he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not
properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.4(b), a
stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section.
2.5 REGISTERED HOLDERS OF SHARES; CLOSING OF SHARE TRANSFER RECORDS; AND
RECORD DATE.
(a) REGISTERED HOLDERS AS OWNERS. Unless otherwise provided under
Delaware law, the Corporation may regard the person in whose name any
shares issued by the Corporation are registered in the stock transfer
records of the Corporation at any particular time (including, without
limitation, as of a record date fixed pursuant to paragraph (b) of this
Section 2.5) as the owner of those shares at that time for purposes of
voting those shares, receiving distributions thereon or notices in respect
thereof, transferring those shares, exercising rights of dissent with
respect to those shares, entering into agreements with respect to those
shares, or giving proxies with respect to those shares; and neither the
Corporation nor any of its officers, directors, employees or agents shall
be liable for regarding that person as the owner of those shares at that
time
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for those purposes, regardless of whether that person possesses a
certificate for those shares.
(b) RECORD DATE. For the purpose of determining stockholders of the
Corporation entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to
receive a distribution by the Corporation (other than a distribution
involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own
shares) or a share dividend, or in order to make a determination of
stockholders of the Corporation for any other proper purpose, the Board of
Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such
determination of stockholders of the Corporation, such date in any case to
be not more than 60 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders,
not less than 10 days, prior to the date on which the particular action
requiring such determination of stockholders of the Corporation is to be
taken. The Board of Directors shall not close the books of the Corporation
against transfers of shares during the whole or any part of such period.
If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date for any meeting of the
stockholders of the Corporation, the record date for determining stockholders of
the Corporation entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting shall be at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given,
or, if in accordance with Section 7.2 of these Bylaws notice is waived, at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is
held.
2.6 QUORUM. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of
Incorporation, 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 at all meetings of the stockholders of the
Corporation for the transaction of business. If, however, such quorum shall not
be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation,
the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time, without notice other than announcement at the 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 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.
2.7 VOTING BY STOCKHOLDERS.
(a) VOTING ON MATTERS OTHER THAN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. With
respect to any matters as to which no other voting requirement is
specified by the DGCL, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
the affirmative vote required for stockholder action shall be that of a
majority of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the
meeting (as counted for purposes of determining the existence of a quorum
at the meeting). In the case of a matter submitted for a vote of the
stockholders of the Corporation as to which a stockholder approval
requirement is applicable under the stockholder approval policy of any
stock exchange or quotation system on which the capital stock of the
Corporation is traded or quoted, the
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requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), or any provision of the Internal Revenue Code, in each
case for which no higher voting requirement is specified by the DGCL, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the vote required for
approval shall be the requisite vote specified in such stockholder
approval policy, the Exchange Act or Internal Revenue Code provision, as
the case may be (or the highest such requirement if more than one is
applicable). For the approval of the appointment of independent public
accountants (if submitted for a vote of the stockholders of the
Corporation), the vote required for approval shall be a majority of the
votes cast on the matter.
(b) VOTING IN THE ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. Unless otherwise provided
in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws in accordance with the
DGCL, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the
holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote in the election of directors at a meeting of stockholders at which
a quorum is present.
(c) OTHER. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer
of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, in his or her discretion, may require that any votes cast at
such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
2.8 PROXIES. Each stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote at a
meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may authorize another person or
persons to act for him or her by proxy. Proxies for use at any meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation shall be filed with the Secretary, or such other
officer as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by resolution,
before or at the time of the meeting. All proxies shall be received and taken
charge of and all ballots shall be received and canvassed by the secretary of
the meeting who shall decide all questions relating to the qualification of
voters, the validity of the proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes,
unless an inspector or inspectors shall have been appointed by the chairman of
the meeting, in which event such inspector or inspectors shall decide all such
questions.
2.9 NO STOCKHOLDER ACTION WITHOUT MEETING. From and after the first date
as of which the Corporation has a class or series of capital stock registered
under the Exchange Act, no action required to be taken or that may be taken at
any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be
taken without a meeting, and the power of the stockholders of the Corporation of
the Corporation to consent in writing to the taking of any action by written
consent without a meeting is specifically denied, except for action by unanimous
written consent, which is expressly allowed.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
3.1 DUTIES AND POWERS. The business, affairs and property of the
Corporation shall be managed by or under the directorship of 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, the Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws authorized or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders
of the Corporation.
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3.2 NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors of the
Corporation shall be determined in the manner provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation. Directors shall be elected for one (1) year or
other terms as specified in the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, and
each director elected shall hold office during the term for which he or she is
elected and until his or her successor is elected and qualified, subject,
however, to his or her prior death, resignation, retirement or removal for cause
from office.
3.3 VACANCIES. Any vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors and newly
created directorships shall be filled in the manner provided in the
Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation.
3.4 RESIGNATIONS. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time
upon written notice to the Corporation. To be effective, such notice of
resignation need not be formally accepted by the Board of Directors. A director
of the Corporation need not be a stockholder of the Corporation or a resident of
the State of Delaware.
3.5 CHAIRMAN. The Board of Directors may elect from among its members a
Chairman who shall preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors and the
stockholders of the Corporation. In his absence or inability to act, the Chief
Executive Officer shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and
the stockholders. The Chairman shall also perform such other duties and may
exercise such other powers as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by
the Board of Directors.
3.6 MEETINGS. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings,
both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such
time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the
Chairman, if there be one, or by the President or by any two or more directors
of the Corporation. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the
meeting shall be given to each director either by mail not less than 48 hours
before the date of the meeting, by telephone, telegram or facsimile on 24 hours'
notice or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting
may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances. Unless otherwise
required by law, neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of,
any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in
the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
3.7 QUORUM. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at all meetings of the Board of
Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business and the act of 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.
3.8 ACTIONS WITHOUT A MEETING. Unless otherwise provided by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any
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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.
3.9 TELEPHONIC MEETINGS. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, members of the Board of Directors, or any
committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of
the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in
the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this
Section 3.9 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
3.10 COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees,
each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.
The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors of the Corporation as
alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of any such committee. In 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 member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another
member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any absent or
disqualified member. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law and provided in
the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular minutes and
report to the Board of Directors when required.
3.11 REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES. The directors of the Corporation shall be
paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of
Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the
Board of Directors or a stated salary or other consideration as director. No
such reimbursement shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in
any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of special or
standing committees shall be allowed like reimbursement for attending committee
meetings.
3.12 PROTECTION FOR RELIANCE. Any member of the Board of Directors, or any
member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, shall, in the
performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the
records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation's officers or
employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other person as to
matters the member reasonably believes are within such other person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Corporation.
3.13 CONSIDERATION OF SOCIAL, ECONOMIC AND OTHER FACTORS IN EVALUATING A
BID. The Board of Directors of the Corporation, when evaluating any offer of
another party to (a) purchase or exchange any securities or property for any
outstanding equity securities of the Corporation, (b) merge or consolidate the
Corporation with another corporation,
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or (c) purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the properties
and assets of the Corporation, shall, in connection with the exercise of its
judgment in determining what is in the best interests of the Corporation and its
stockholders, give due consideration not only to the price or other
consideration being offered but also to all other relevant factors, including
without limitation (i) the financial and managerial resources and future
prospects of the party, (ii) the possible effects on the business of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries and on the employees, customers, suppliers and
creditors of the Corporation and its subsidiaries, and (iii) the effects on the
communities in which the Corporation's facilities are located.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
4.1 GENERAL. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board
of Directors and shall be a President and a Secretary. The Board of Directors,
in its discretion, may also choose a Chief Financial Officer, a Treasurer and
one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and
other officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless
otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders or directors of the
Corporation.
4.2 ELECTION. The Board of Directors shall elect or appoint the officers
of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall
exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to
time by the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold
office until their successors are elected and qualified, or until the earlier of
their resignation or removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may
be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of
Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled
by the Board of Directors.
4.3 DUTIES. The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and
duties as generally pertain to their offices, except as modified herein or by
the Board of Directors, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time
may be conferred by the Board of Directors.
4.4 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer, who need not be
chosen from among the directors, shall have active, executive management of the
operations of the Corporation, subject, however, to the control of the Board of
Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the authority to manage and
direct the duties and responsibilities of any other officer or employee of the
Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall also preside at all meetings of
the stockholders of the Corporation and the Board of Directors, unless the Board
of Directors has appointed a Chairman of the Board, who would preside at all
such meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. He or she shall,
in general, perform all duties incident to the office of the Chief Executive
Officer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the
Board of Directors.
4.5 PRESIDENT. The President shall, subject to the control of the Board of
Directors, have general supervision of the business of the Corporation and shall
see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into
effect. At the request of the
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Chief Executive Officer, the President may temporarily act in his or her place.
In the case of the death of the Chief Executive Officer, or in the case of his
absence or inability to act without having designated the President to act
temporarily in his or her place, the President shall perform the duties of the
Chief Executive Officer as designated by the Board of Directors. The President
shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as from
time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
4.6 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Chief Financial Officer shall be the
principal financial officer of the Corporation; shall have charge and custody of
and be responsible for all funds of the Corporation and deposit all such funds
in the name of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the
Board of Directors; shall receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable
to the Corporation from any source; and, in general, shall perform all the
duties incident to the office of the Chief Financial Officer and such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of
Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer.
4.7 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Chief Operating Officer shall assist the
Chief Executive Officer and the President in the operations of the Corporation
and shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or
the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe.
4.8 VICE PRESIDENTS. At the request of the President or in his or her
absence or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, any Vice President
may perform the duties of the President and, when so acting, such officer shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
President. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. If there
is no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the
Corporation who, in the absence of the President or in the event of the
inability or refusal of the President to act, shall perform the duties of the
President and, when so acting, such officer shall have all the powers of and be
subject to all the restrictions upon the President.
4.9 SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. The Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings
of stockholders of the Corporation and record all the proceedings at such
meetings in a book or books to be kept for that purpose, and the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary shall also perform similar duties for the standing
committees when required. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall give, or
cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation
and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other
duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, the President or any Vice President. If a Secretary or Assistant
Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of any
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation or any special meeting of the
Board of Directors, then either the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, the President or any Vice President may choose another officer to cause
such notice to be given. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall see that
all corporate books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and
records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the
case may be.
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4.10 TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall
keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging
to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in
the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be
designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer
shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of
Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Chief Financial Officer and
the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors
so requires, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer or Assistant
Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
4.11 REMOVAL. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, by the
Board of Directors. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to any rights
such officer may have pursuant to any employment contract he or she may have
with the Corporation. Any vacancy in an office may be filled by the Board of
Directors.
4.12 VOTING SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. Powers of attorney,
proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating
to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name and on behalf
of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice
President, and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the
Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote
in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in
which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess
and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such
securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised
and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time
to time, confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
5.1 FORM OF CERTIFICATES. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be
represented by certificates of stock, signed in the name of the Corporation (i)
by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President and (ii) by the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares of stock in the Corporation
owned by the holder named in the certificate.
5.2 SIGNATURES. Where a certificate is countersigned by (i) a transfer
agent other than the Corporation or its employee or (ii) a registrar other than
the Corporation or its employee, any other signature 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 or she
were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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5.3 LOST CERTIFICATES. The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate
to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the delivery to the
Secretary of the Corporation of an affidavit of the fact by the person claiming
the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such
issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as
a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or his or her legal representative, to
advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or
to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against
any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the
certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
5.4 TRANSFERS. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the
manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws. 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 canceled before a new certificate shall be
issued.
5.5 BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP. The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize
the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares
to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls
and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner 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 provided by law.
5.6 DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation,
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be
declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting thereof,
and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock of the
Corporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any
funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board
of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a
reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for
repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper
purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 GENERAL. The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless an
Indemnitee (as this and all other capitalized words used in this Article VI not
previously defined in these Bylaws are defined in Section 6.9 hereof) from and
against any and all judgments, penalties, fines (including excise taxes),
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amounts paid in settlement and, subject to Section 6.2, Expenses (including all
interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in connection with or in
respect of such judgments, fines, penalties, amounts paid in settlement or
Expenses) arising out of any event or occurrence related to the fact that
Indemnitee is or was a director or officer of the Corporation. The Corporation
may, but shall not be required to, indemnify and hold harmless an Indemnitee
from and against any and all judgments, penalties, fines (including excise
taxes), amounts paid in settlement and, subject to Section 6.2, Expenses
(including all interest, assessments and other charges paid or payable in
connection with or in respect of such judgments, fines, penalties, amounts paid
in settlement or Expenses) arising out of any event or occurrence related to the
fact that Indemnitee is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation or is or
was serving in another Corporate Status.
6.2 EXPENSES. If Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her serving as a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, a party to and is
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Corporation shall
indemnify such person against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
such person or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. If Indemnitee is
not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, as to any Matter in such Proceeding, the Corporation shall indemnify
Indemnitee against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person
or on his or her behalf relating to such Matter. The termination of any Matter
in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to
be a successful result as to such Matter. If Indemnitee is, by reason of any
Corporate Status other than his or her serving as a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Corporation, a party to and is successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in any Proceeding, the Corporation may, but shall not be required to,
indemnify such person against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by
such person or on his or her behalf in connection therewith. To the extent that
the Indemnitee is, by reason of his or her Corporate Status, a witness in any
Proceeding, the Corporation may, but shall not be required to, indemnify such
person against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by such person or
on his or her behalf in connection therewith.
6.3 ADVANCES. In the event of any threatened or pending Proceeding in
which Indemnitee is a party or is involved and that may give rise to a right of
indemnification under this Article VI, following written request to the
Corporation by Indemnitee, the Corporation may, but shall not be required to,
pay to Indemnitee amounts to cover Expenses reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in
such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition upon the receipt by the
Corporation of (i) a written undertaking executed by or on behalf of Indemnitee
providing that Indemnitee will repay the advance if it shall ultimately be
determined that Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation
as provided in these Bylaws and (ii) satisfactory evidence as to the amount of
such Expenses.
6.4 REQUEST FOR INDEMNIFICATION. To request indemnification, Indemnitee
shall submit to the Secretary of the Corporation a written claim or request.
Such written claim or request shall contain sufficient information to reasonably
inform the Corporation about the nature and extent of the indemnification or
advance sought by Indemnitee. The Secretary of the Corporation shall promptly
advise the Board of Directors of such request.
6.5 NONEXCLUSIVITY OF RIGHTS. This Article VI shall not be deemed
exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled to
under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, any
agreement, a vote of stockholders or a resolution of directors of the
Corporation, or otherwise. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article VI
or any provision hereof shall be effective as to any Indemnitee for acts, events
and circumstances that occurred, in whole or in part, before such amendment,
alteration or repeal. The provisions of this Article VI shall continue as to an
Indemnitee whose Corporate Status has
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ceased for any reason and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs,
executors and administrators. Neither the provisions of this Article VI nor
those of any agreement to which the Corporation is a party shall be deemed to
preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in this Article
VI as having the potential to receive indemnification or is not a party to any
such agreement, but whom the Corporation has the power or obligation to
indemnify under the provisions of the DGCL.
6.6 INSURANCE AND SUBROGATION. To the extent the Corporation maintains an
insurance policy or policies providing liability insurance for directors or
officers of the Corporation, an Indemnitee who is a director or officer of the
Corporation shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its
or their terms to the maximum extent of coverage available for any such director
or officer under such policy or policies. In the event of any payment hereunder,
the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all the
rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take
all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such
documents as are necessary to enable the Corporation to bring suit to enforce
such rights. The Corporation shall not be liable under this Article VI to make
any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder if, and to the extent
that, Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any
insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
6.7 SEVERABILITY. If any provision or provisions of this Article VI shall
be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby; and, to the fullest extent possible,
the provisions of this Article VI shall be construed so as to give effect to the
intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
6.8 CERTAIN PERSONS NOT ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding any
other provision of this Article VI, no person shall be entitled to
indemnification or advancement of Expenses under this Article VI with respect to
any Proceeding, or any Matter therein, brought or made by such person against
the Corporation.
6.9 DEFINITIONS. For purposes of this Article VI:
(a) "CORPORATE STATUS" describes the status of a person who is or
was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or of any
other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise which such person is or was serving at the
written request of the Corporation. For purposes of this Agreement,
"serving at the written request of the Corporation" includes any service
by Indemnitee which imposes duties on, or involves services by, Indemnitee
with respect to any employee benefit plan or its participants or
beneficiaries.
(b) "EXPENSES" shall include all reasonable attorneys' fees,
retainers, court costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees,
travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone
charges, postage, delivery service fees, and all other disbursements or
expenses of the types customarily incurred in connection with prosecuting,
defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, or being or
preparing to be a witness in a Proceeding.
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(c) "INDEMNITEE" includes any person who is, or is threatened to be
made, a witness in or a party to any Proceeding as described in Section
6.1 or 6.2 hereof by reason of his Corporate Status.
(d) "MATTER" is a claim, a material issue or a substantial request
for relief.
(e) "PROCEEDING" includes any action, suit, alternate dispute
resolution mechanism, hearing or any other proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, arbitrative, investigative or mediative, any
appeal in any such action, suit, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
hearing or other proceeding and any inquiry or investigation that could
lead to any such action, suit, alternate dispute resolution mechanism,
hearing or other proceeding, except one initiated by an Indemnitee to
enforce his or her rights under this Article VI.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
7.1 NOTICES. Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be given to any director, member of a
committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail, addressed to such
director, member of a committee or stockholder at his or her address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and
such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be
deposited in the United States mail. Written notice may also be given personally
or by telegram, telex, facsimile or cable.
7.2 WAIVER OF NOTICE. Whenever any notice is required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be given to any director, member
of a committee or stockholder of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing,
signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after
the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE VIII
MISCELLANEOUS
8.1 FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December
31 of each year.
8.2 AMENDMENTS. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed or new
bylaws may be adopted only in the manner provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation.
Adopted September 28, 2000
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