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Exhibit 3.4
FORM OF AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
THERMO BIOMEDICAL INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS....................................................................................1
1.1 Place of Meetings...............................................................................1
1.2 Annual Meeting..................................................................................1
1.3 Special Meetings................................................................................1
1.4 Notice of Meetings..............................................................................1
1.5 Voting List.....................................................................................1
1.6 Quorum..........................................................................................2
1.7 Adjournments....................................................................................2
1.8 Voting and Proxies..............................................................................2
1.9 Action at Meeting...............................................................................2
1.10 Nomination of Directors.........................................................................3
1.11 Notice of Business at Annual Meetings...........................................................4
1.12 Conduct of Meetings.............................................................................5
1.13 No Action by Written Consent in Lieu of a Meeting...............................................6
ARTICLE II DIRECTORS.......................................................................................6
2.1 General Powers..................................................................................6
2.2 Number, Election and Qualification..............................................................7
2.3 Classes of Directors............................................................................7
2.4 Terms of Office.................................................................................7
2.5 Allocation of Directors Among Classes in the Event of Increases or Decreases in the
Authorized Number of Directors..................................................................7
2.6 Quorum..........................................................................................7
2.7 Action at Meeting...............................................................................8
2.8 Removal.........................................................................................8
2.9 Vacancies.......................................................................................8
2.10 Resignation.....................................................................................8
2.11 Regular Meetings................................................................................8
2.12 Special Meetings................................................................................8
2.13 Notice of Special Meetings......................................................................8
2.14 Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment.................................................8
2.15 Action by Written Consent.......................................................................9
2.16 Committees......................................................................................9
2.17 Compensation of Directors.......................................................................9
ARTICLE III OFFICERS........................................................................................9
3.1 Titles..........................................................................................9
3.2 Election........................................................................................9
3.3 Qualification...................................................................................9
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3.4 Tenure.........................................................................................10
3.5 Resignation and Removal........................................................................10
3.6 Vacancies......................................................................................10
3.7 Chairman of the Board..........................................................................10
3.8 President; Powers of Chief Executive Officer...................................................10
3.9 Vice Presidents................................................................................10
3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries............................................................11
3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers.............................................................11
3.12 Salaries.......................................................................................11
ARTICLE IV CAPITAL STOCK..................................................................................12
4.1 Issuance of Stock..............................................................................12
4.2 Certificates of Stock..........................................................................12
4.3 Transfers......................................................................................12
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.........................................................12
4.5 Record Date....................................................................................13
ARTICLE V GENERAL PROVISIONS.............................................................................13
5.1 Fiscal Year....................................................................................13
5.2 Corporate Seal.................................................................................13
5.3 Waiver of Notice...............................................................................13
5.4 Voting of Securities...........................................................................13
5.5 Evidence of Authority..........................................................................14
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation...................................................................14
5.7 Transactions with Interested Parties...........................................................14
5.8 Severability...................................................................................14
5.9 Pronouns.......................................................................................14
ARTICLE VI AMENDMENTS.....................................................................................15
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ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1.1 Place of Meetings. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at
such place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board or the President or, if not so designated, at the
principal office of the corporation. The Board of Directors may, in its sole
discretion, determine that a meeting shall not be held at any place, but may
instead be held solely by means of remote communication in a manner consistent
with the Delaware General Corporation Law.
1.2 Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election
of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly be
brought before the meeting shall be held on a date and at a time designated by
the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President (which date
shall not be a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held). If
no annual meeting is held in accordance with the foregoing provisions, the Board
of Directors shall cause the meeting to be held as soon thereafter as is
convenient. If no annual meeting is held in accordance with the foregoing
provisions, a special meeting may be held in lieu of the annual meeting, and any
action taken at that special meeting shall have the same effect as if it had
been taken at the annual meeting, and in such case all references in these
By-laws to the annual meeting of the stockholders shall be deemed to refer to
such special meeting.
1.3 Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose
or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of
the Board or the President, but such special meetings may not be called by any
other person or persons. Business transacted at any special meeting of
stockholders shall be limited to matters relating to the purpose or purposes
stated in the notice of meeting.
1.4 Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, written
notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, shall be
given not less than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to
each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting. Without limiting the manner
by which notice may otherwise be given to stockholders, any notice shall be
effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to (in a
manner consistent with the Delaware General Corporation Law) by the stockholder
to whom the notice is given. The notices of all meetings shall state the place,
if any, date and time of the meeting and the means of remote communications, if
any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in
person and vote at such meeting. The notice of a special meeting shall state, in
addition, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. If notice is
given by mail, such notice shall be deemed given when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder's
address as it appears on the records of the corporation. If notice is given by
electronic transmission, such notice shall be deemed given at the time specified
in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
1.5 Voting List. The Secretary shall prepare, at least 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
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registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a
period of at least 10 days prior to the meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible
electric network, provided that the information required to gain access to such
list is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary
business hours, at the principal place of business of the corporation. If the
meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at
the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be
inspected by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely
by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be open to the
examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting on a
reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information required to access
such list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
1.6 Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-laws, the holders of a majority of the shares of the
capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at
the meeting, present in person, present by means of remote communications in a
manner, if any, authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
A quorum, once established at a meeting, shall not be broken by the withdrawal
of enough votes to leave less than a quorum.
1.7 Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned from
time to time to any other time and to any other place at which a meeting of
stockholders may be held under these By-laws by the stockholders present or
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote, although less than a quorum,
or, if no stockholder is present, by any officer entitled to preside at or to
act as secretary of such meeting. It shall not be necessary to notify any
stockholder of any adjournment of less than 30 days if the time and place, if
any, of the adjourned meeting, and the means of remote communication, if any, by
which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and
vote at such adjourned meeting, are announced at the meeting at which
adjournment is taken, unless after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting. At the adjourned meeting, the corporation may
transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
1.8 Voting and Proxies. Each stockholder shall have one vote for each
share of stock entitled to vote held of record by such stockholder and a
proportionate vote for each fractional share so held, unless otherwise provided
by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder of record entitled
to vote at a meeting of stockholders may vote in person or may authorize another
person or persons to vote for such stockholder by a proxy executed or
transmitted in a manner permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law by the
stockholder or such stockholder's authorized agent and delivered (including by
electronic transmission) to the Secretary of the corporation. No such proxy
shall be voted upon after three years from the date of its execution, unless the
proxy expressly provides for a longer period.
1.9 Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present at any meeting, any
matter other than the election of directors to be voted upon by the stockholders
at such meeting shall be decided by the vote of the holders of shares of stock
having a majority of the votes cast by the holders of all of the shares of stock
present or represented and voting on such matter (or if there
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are two or more classes of stock entitled to vote as separate classes, then in
the case of each such class, the holders of a majority of the stock of that
class present or represented and voting on such matter), except when a different
vote is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. When
a quorum is present at any meeting, any election of directors by stockholders
shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast by the stockholders
entitled to vote on the election.
1.10 Nomination of Directors.
(a) Except for (i) any directors entitled to be elected by the
holders of preferred stock or any other securities of the corporation (other
than common stock) and (ii) any directors elected in accordance with Section 2.9
hereof by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy, only persons who are
nominated in accordance with the procedures in this Section 1.10 shall be
eligible for election as directors. Nomination 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 who (x) complies with the notice procedures set forth in Section
1.10(b) and (y) is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such
notice and on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to
vote at such meeting.
(b) To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be received by
the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation as follows:
(x) in the case of an election of directors at an annual meeting of
stockholders, not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that (i)
in the case of the annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to be held
in 2001 or (ii) in the event that the date of the annual meeting in any other
year is advanced by more than 20 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the
first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice
must be so received not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such annual
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the
sixtieth day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following the
day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public
disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs;
or (y) in the case of an election of directors at a special meeting of
stockholders, not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting
and not later than the close of business on the later of (i) the sixtieth day
prior to such special meeting and (ii) the tenth day following the day on which
notice of the date of such special meeting was mailed or public disclosure of
the date of such special meeting was made, whichever first occurs.
The stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (a) as to
each proposed nominee (i) such person's name, age, business address and, if
known, residence address, (ii) such person's principal occupation or employment,
(iii) the class and number of shares of stock of the corporation which are
beneficially owned by such person, and (iv) any other information concerning
such person that must be disclosed as to nominees in proxy solicitations
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; (b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) such stockholder's name
and address, as they appear on the corporation's books, (ii) the class and
number of shares of stock of the corporation which are owned, beneficially and
of record, by such stockholder, (iii) a description of all arrangements or
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understandings between such stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other
person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s)
are to be made by such stockholder and (iv) a representation that such
stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate
the person(s) named in its notice; and (c) as to the beneficial owner, if any,
on whose behalf the nomination is being made (i) such beneficial owner's name
and address, (ii) the class and number of shares of stock of the corporation
which are beneficially owned by such beneficial owner, and (iii) a description
of all arrangements or understandings between such beneficial owner and each
proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names)
pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made. In addition, to be
effective, the stockholder's notice must be accompanied by the written consent
of the proposed nominee to serve as a director if elected. The corporation may
require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably
be required to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a
director of the corporation.
(c) The chairman of any meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 1.10, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the
meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(d) Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this
Section 1.10 shall obligate the corporation or the Board of Directors to include
in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf
of the corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any
nominee for director submitted by a stockholder.
1.11 Notice of Business at Annual Meetings.
(a) At any 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) properly
brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder, (i) if such business relates to the
election of directors of the corporation, the procedures in Section 1.10 must be
complied with and (ii) if such business relates to any other matter, the
stockholder must (x) have given timely notice thereof in writing to the
Secretary in accordance with the procedures set forth in Section 1.11(b) and (y)
be a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of such notice and on the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such
annual meeting.
(b) To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be received by
the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not less
than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that (i) in the case of the
annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation to be held in 2001 or (ii) in
the event that the date of the annual meeting in any other year is advanced by
more than 20 days, or delayed by more than 60 days, from the first anniversary
of the preceding year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice must be so
received not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to
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such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of (A)
the sixtieth day prior to such annual meeting and (B) the tenth day following
the day on which notice of the date of such annual meeting was mailed or public
disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs.
The stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each
matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) 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, (ii) the name
and address, as they appear on the corporation's books, of the stockholder
proposing such business, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if
any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (iii) the class and number of shares
of stock of the corporation which are owned, of record and beneficially, by the
stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, (iv) a description of all arrangements
or understandings between such stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, and
any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the
proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of the
stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, in such business, and (v) a
representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at
the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting. Notwithstanding
anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any
annual meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 1.11; provided that any stockholder proposal which
complies with Rule 14a-8 of the proxy rules (or any successor provision)
promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is to be
included in the corporation's proxy statement for an annual meeting of
stockholders shall be deemed to comply with the requirements of this Section
1.11.
(c) The chairman of any meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine that business was not properly brought before the meeting in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.11, and if he should so
determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and such business shall not be
brought before the meeting.
1.12 Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Chairman of Meeting. Meetings of stockholders shall be
presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Chairman's absence
by the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in the Vice Chairman's absence by
the President, or in the President's absence by a Vice President, or in the
absence of all of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board of
Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen by vote of
the stockholders at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the
meeting, but in the Secretary's absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint
any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
(b) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors
of the corporation may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and
procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the corporation as
it shall deem appropriate including, without limitation, such guidelines and
procedures as it may deem appropriate regarding the participation by means of
remote communication of stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at
a meeting. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and
procedures as
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adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders
shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and
procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are
appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or
procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the
chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the
establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and
procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present;
(iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to
stockholders of record of the corporation, their duly authorized and constituted
proxies or such other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry
to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v)
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of
the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
(c) Closing of Polls. The chairman of the meeting shall
announce at the meeting when the polls for each matter to be voted upon at the
meeting will be opened and closed. If no announcement is made, the polls shall
be deemed to have opened when the meeting is convened and closed upon the final
adjournment of the meeting. After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes
or any revocations or changes thereto may be accepted.
(d) Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
stockholders, the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President
shall appoint one or more inspectors or election to act at the meeting and make
a written report thereof. One or more other persons may be designated as
alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector
or alternate is present, ready and willing to act at a meeting of stockholders,
the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting. Unless otherwise required by law, inspectors may be officers, employees
or agents of the corporation. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge
of such inspector's duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of
such inspector's ability. The inspector shall have the duties prescribed by law
and shall take charge of the polls and, when the vote in completed, shall make a
certificate of the result of the vote taken and of such other facts as may be
required by law.
1.13 No Action by Written Consent in Lieu of a Meeting. Stockholders of
the corporation may not take any action by written consent in lieu of a meeting.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
2.1 General Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall
be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, who may exercise
all of the powers of the corporation except as otherwise provided by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. In the event of a vacancy in the
Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by
law, may exercise the powers of the full Board until the vacancy is filled.
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2.2 Number, Election and Qualification. The number of directors which
shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be determined from time to
time by resolution of the Board of Directors, but in no event shall be less than
three. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders by
such stockholders as have the right to vote on such election. Directors need not
be stockholders of the corporation.
2.3 Classes of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be and is
divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. No one class shall
have more than one director more than any other class. If a fraction is
contained in the quotient arrived at by dividing the authorized number of
directors by three, then, if such fraction is one-third, the extra director
shall be a member of Class I, and if such fraction is two-thirds, one of the
extra directors shall be a member of Class I and one of the extra directors
shall be a member of Class II, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the
Board of Directors.
2.4 Terms of Office. Each director shall serve for a term ending on the
date of the third annual meeting following the annual meeting at which such
director was elected; provided, that each initial director in Class I shall
serve for a term expiring at the corporation's annual meeting of stockholders
held in 2001; each initial director in Class II shall serve for a term expiring
at the corporation's annual meeting of stockholders held in 2002; and each
initial director in Class III shall serve for a term expiring at the
corporation's annual meeting of stockholders held in 2003; provided further,
that the term of each director shall continue until the election and
qualification of such director's successor and be subject to such director's
earlier death, resignation or removal.
2.5 Allocation of Directors Among Classes in the Event of Increases or
Decreases in the Authorized Number of Directors. In the event of any increase or
decrease in the authorized number of directors, (i) each director then serving
as such shall nevertheless continue as a director of the class of which such
director is a member until the expiration of such director's current term,
subject to such director's earlier death, resignation or removal and (ii) the
newly created or eliminated directorships resulting from such increase or
decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three classes
of directors in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.3. To the extent
possible, consistent with the provisions of Section 2.3, any newly created
directorships shall be added to those classes whose terms of office are to
expire at the latest dates following such allocation, and any newly eliminated
directorships shall be subtracted from those classes whose terms of offices are
to expire at the earliest dates following such allocation, unless otherwise
provided from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
2.6 Quorum. A majority of the directors at any time in office shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the event one or more of
the directors shall be disqualified to vote at any meeting, then the required
quorum shall be reduced by one for each director so disqualified, provided that
in no case shall less than one-third of the number of directors fixed pursuant
to Section 2.2 constitute a quorum. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors
there shall be less than such a quorum, a majority of the directors present may
adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
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2.7 Action at Meeting. Every act or decision done or made by a majority
of the directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present
shall be regarded as the act of the Board of Directors unless a greater number
is required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws.
2.8 Removal. Directors of the corporation may be removed only for cause
by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy-five percent (75%) of
the votes which all the stockholders would be entitled to cast in any annual
election of directors.
2.9 Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, however
occurring, including a vacancy resulting from an enlargement of the Board, shall
be filled only by vote of a majority of the directors then in office, although
less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. A director elected to fill
a vacancy shall be elected to hold office until the next election of the class
for which such director shall have been chosen, subject to the election and
qualification of such director's successor and to such director's earlier death,
resignation or removal.
2.10 Resignation. Any director may resign by delivering a resignation
in writing or by electronic transmission to the corporation at its principal
office or to the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary. Such
resignation shall be effective upon receipt unless it is specified to be
effective at some later time or upon the happening of some later event.
2.11 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held without notice at such time and place as shall be determined from time
to time by the Board of Directors; provided that any director who is absent when
such a determination is made shall be given notice of the determination. A
regular meeting of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately
after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders.
2.12 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be held at any time and place designated in a call by the Chairman of the Board,
the President, two or more directors, or by one director in the event that there
is only a single director in office.
2.13 Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of any special meeting of
directors shall be given to each director by the Secretary or by the officer or
one of the directors calling the meeting. Notice shall be duly given to each
director (i) by giving notice to such director in person or by telephone at
least 24 hours in advance of the meeting, (ii) by sending a telegram, telecopy
or electronic mail, or delivering written notice by hand, to such director's
last known business, home or electronic mail address at least 48 hours in
advance of the meeting, or (iii) by sending written notice, via first-class mail
or reputable overnight courier, to such director's last known business or home
address at least 72 hours in advance of the meeting. A notice or waiver of
notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not specify the purposes of
the meeting.
2.14 Meetings by Conference Communications Equipment. Directors may
participate in meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof by
means of conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of
which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
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2.15 Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken
without a meeting, if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be,
consent to the action in writing or by electronic transmission, and the written
consents and electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings
of the Board or committee.
2.16 Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the
corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a
committee, the member or members of the committee present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a
quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act
at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors
and subject to the provisions of law, shall have and may exercise all the powers
and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be
affixed to all papers which may require it. Each such committee shall keep
minutes and make such reports as the Board of Directors may from time to time
request. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any committee
may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise provided by
the directors or in such rules, its business shall be conducted as nearly as
possible in the same manner as is provided in these By-laws for the Board of
Directors.
2.17 Compensation of Directors. Directors may be paid such compensation
for their services and such reimbursement for expenses of attendance at meetings
as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. No such payment shall
preclude any director from serving the corporation or any of its parent or
subsidiary corporations in any other capacity and receiving compensation for
such service.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
3.1 Titles. The officers of the corporation shall consist of a
President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers with such other
titles as the Board of Directors may determine, including a Chairman of the
Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant
Treasurers, and Assistant Secretaries. The Board of Directors may appoint such
other officers as it may deem appropriate.
3.2 Election. The President, Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors at its first meeting following the annual
meeting of stockholders. Other officers may be appointed by the Board of
Directors at such meeting or at any other meeting.
3.3 Qualification. No officer need be a stockholder. Any two or more
offices may be held by the same person.
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3.4 Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of
Incorporation or by these By-laws, each officer shall hold office until such
officer's successor is elected and qualified, unless a different term is
specified in the resolution electing or appointing such officer, or until such
officer's earlier death, resignation or removal.
3.5 Resignation and Removal. Any officer may resign by delivering a
written resignation to the corporation at its principal office or to the Chief
Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective upon
receipt unless it is specified to be effective at some later time or upon the
happening of some later event.
Any officer may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by vote
of a majority of the entire number of directors then in office.
Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, no officer
who resigns or is removed shall have any right to any compensation as an officer
for any period following such officer's resignation or removal, or any right to
damages on account of such removal, whether such officer's compensation be by
the month or by the year or otherwise, unless such compensation is expressly
provided in a duly authorized written agreement with the corporation.
3.6 Vacancies. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in
any office for any reason and may, in its discretion, leave unfilled for such
period as it may determine any offices other than those of President, Treasurer
and Secretary. Each such successor shall hold office for the unexpired term of
such officer's predecessor and until a successor is elected and qualified, or
until such officer's earlier death, resignation or removal.
3.7 Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may appoint from its
members a Chairman of the Board. If the Board of Directors appoints a Chairman
of the Board, such Chairman shall perform such duties and possess such powers as
are assigned by the Board of Directors and, if the Chairman of the Board is also
designated as the corporation's Chief Executive Officer, shall have the powers
and duties of the Chief Executive Officer prescribed in Section 3.8 of these
By-laws. Unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of
the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and
stockholders.
3.8 President; Powers of Chief Executive Officer. Unless the Board of
Directors has designated the Chairman of the Board as the corporation's Chief
Executive Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general charge and
supervision of the business of the Corporation subject to the direction of the
Board of Directors. The President shall perform such other duties and shall have
such other powers as the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer (if
the Chairman of the Board is serving in such position) may from time to time
prescribe.
3.9 Vice Presidents. Any Vice President shall perform such duties and
possess such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may
from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or refusal
to act of the Chief Executive Officer, the President (if the President is not
the Chief Executive Officer), and then the Vice President (or if there shall be
more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the Board of
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Directors), shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer and when so
performing shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
upon the Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may assign to any Vice
President the title of Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or any
other title selected by the Board of Directors.
3.10 Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall perform
such duties and shall have such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer may from time to time prescribe. In addition, the Secretary
shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the office of
the secretary, including without limitation the duty and power to give notices
of all meetings of stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors,
to attend all meetings of stockholders and the Board of Directors and keep a
record of the proceedings, to maintain a stock ledger and prepare lists of
stockholders and their addresses as required, to be custodian of corporate
records and the corporate seal and to affix and attest to the same on documents.
Any Assistant Secretary shall perform such duties and possess such
powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary
may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or
refusal to act of the Secretary, the Assistant Secretary (or if there shall be
more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of
Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.
In the absence of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary at any
meeting of stockholders or directors, the chairman of the meeting shall
designate a temporary secretary to keep a record of the meeting.
3.11 Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall perform
such duties and shall have such powers as may from time to time be assigned by
the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In addition, the
Treasurer shall perform such duties and have such powers as are incident to the
office of treasurer, including without limitation the duty and power to keep and
be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation, to deposit funds
of the corporation in depositories selected in accordance with these By-laws, to
disburse such funds as ordered by the Board of Directors, to make proper
accounts of such funds, and to render as required by the Board of Directors
statements of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the
corporation.
The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such duties and possess such
powers as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Treasurer
may from time to time prescribe. In the event of the absence, inability or
refusal to act of the Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer (or if there shall be
more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of
Directors) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.
3.12 Salaries. Officers of the corporation shall be entitled to such
salaries, compensation or reimbursement as shall be fixed or allowed from time
to time by the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL STOCK
4.1 Issuance of Stock. Unless otherwise voted by the stockholders and
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the whole or any
part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock of the corporation
or the whole or any part of any unissued balance of the authorized capital stock
of the corporation held in its treasury may be issued, sold, transferred or
otherwise disposed of by vote of the Board of Directors in such manner, for such
consideration and on such terms as the Board of Directors may determine.
4.2 Certificates of Stock. Every holder of stock of the corporation
shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by
law and by the Board of Directors, certifying the number and class of shares
owned by such holder in the corporation. Each such certificate shall be signed
by, or in the name of the corporation by, the Chairman or Vice Chairman, if any,
of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice President, and the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a
facsimile.
Each certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any
restriction on transfer pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, these
By-laws, applicable securities laws or any agreement among any number of
stockholders or among such holders and the corporation shall have conspicuously
noted on the face or back of the certificate either the full text of the
restriction or a statement of the existence of such restriction.
There shall be set forth on the face or back of each certificate
representing shares of such class or series of stock of the corporation a
statement that the corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder
who so requests a copy of the full text of the powers, designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of
such preferences and/or rights.
4.3 Transfers. Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations
adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law, shares of
stock may be transferred on the books of the corporation by the surrender to the
corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares
properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney
properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of
signature as the corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require.
Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation
or by these By-laws, the corporation shall be entitled to treat the record
holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all
purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect
to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such
stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the corporation in
accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.
4.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The corporation may issue a
new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged
to have been lost, stolen,
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or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may
prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft
or destruction and the giving of such indemnity as the Board of Directors may
require for the protection of the corporation or any transfer agent or
registrar.
4.5 Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a
record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful
action. Such record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before
the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to
which such record date relates.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall
be at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given,
or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the day on
which the meeting is held. If no record date is fixed, the record date for
determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to
such purpose.
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.
ARTICLE V
GENERAL PROVISIONS
5.1 Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise designated by
the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the corporation shall end on the
Saturday closest to December 31.
5.2 Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall be in such form as shall
be approved by the Board of Directors.
5.3 Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given by law,
by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, a written waiver,
signed by the person entitled to notice or a waiver by electronic transmission
by the person entitled to notice, whether before, at or after the time stated in
such waiver, or the attendance of such person at such meeting shall be deemed
equivalent to such notice.
5.4 Voting of Securities. Except as the Board of Directors may
otherwise designate, the President or the Treasurer may waive notice of, and act
as, or appoint any person or persons to act as, proxy or attorney-in-fact for
this corporation (with or without power of substitution) at any meeting of
stockholders or shareholders of any other corporation or organization, the
securities of which may be held by this corporation.
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5.5 Evidence of Authority. A certificate by the Secretary, or an
Assistant Secretary, or a temporary Secretary, as to any action taken by the
stockholders, directors, a committee or any officer or representative of the
corporation shall as to all persons who rely on the certificate in good faith be
conclusive evidence of such action.
5.6 Certificate of Incorporation. All references in these By-laws to
the Certificate of Incorporation shall be deemed to refer to the Certificate of
Incorporation of the corporation, as amended and in effect from time to time.
5.7 Transactions with Interested Parties. No contract or transaction
between the corporation and one or more of the directors or officers, or between
the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other
organization in which one or more of the directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the
Board of Directors at which the contract or transaction is authorized or solely
because any such director's or officer's votes are counted for such purpose, if:
(a) The material facts as to the director's or officer's
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 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;
(b) The material facts as to the director's or officer's
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
(c) 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 of the Board of Directors, 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.
5.8 Severability. Any determination that any provision of these By-laws
is for any reason inapplicable, illegal or ineffective shall not affect or
invalidate any other provision of these By-laws.
5.9 Pronouns. All pronouns used in these By-laws shall be deemed to
refer to the masculine, feminine or neuter, singular or plural, as the identity
of the person or persons may require.
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ARTICLE VI
AMENDMENTS
These By-laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole or in part,
or new By-laws may be adopted by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders
as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
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