As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission is March 20, 1998.
Registration No. 333-________
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, DC 20549
FORM S-8
Registration Statement Under
the Securities Act of 1933
BELL & HOWELL COMPANY
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
DELAWARE 36-80106
(State or Other Jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer
Incorporation or Organization) Identification No.)
5215 OLD ORCHARD ROAD
SKOKIE, ILLINOIS 60077-1076
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
BELL & HOWELL COMPANY
1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full Title of the Plans)
GARY S. SALIT
CORPORATE COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
5215 OLD ORCHARD ROAD
SKOKIE, ILLINOIS
(Name and Address of Agent For Service)
(847) 470-7100
(Telephone number, including area code, of agent for service)
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Proposed Proposed
Title of Maximum Maximum
Securities Amount Offering Aggregate Amount of
to be to be Price Offering Registration
Registered Registered<F1> Per Share<F2> Price<F2> Fee
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock, $.001 par 2,160,000 Shares $27.00 $58,320,000 $17,204.40
share value
<FN>
<F1> An indeterminate number of additional shares may be issued if the
anti-dilution adjustment provisions of the plans become operative.
<F2> Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
in accordance with rule 457(c) and (h) under the Securities Act of
1933 on the basis of the average of the high and low prices of the
Common Stock as reported on the New York Stock Exchange on March 17,
1998.
</FN>
</TABLE>
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 3. Incorporation of Documents by Reference.
The following documents are incorporated by reference into this
registration statement:
(1) The Annual Report of Bell & Howell Company (the "Company") on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 1996, which has heretofore been filed
by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act").
(2) The Quarterly Reports of the Company on Form 10-Q for the first
three quarters of Fiscal 1997 heretofore filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act.
(3) The description of the Company's Common Stock contained in the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed with the Commission pursuant
to Section 12 of the 1934 Act.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to Sections
13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the 1934 Act, prior to the filing of a post-
effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been sold
or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, shall be deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and to be a part hereof
from the date of filing of such documents (such documents, and the documents
enumerated above, being hereinafter referred to as "Incorporated Documents");
provided, however, that the documents enumerated above or subsequently filed by
the registrant pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the 1934 Act in
each year during which the offering made by this registration statement is in
effect prior to the filing with the Commission of the registrant's Annual Report
on Form 10-K covering such year shall not be Incorporated Documents or be
incorporated by reference in this registration statement or be a part hereof
from and after the filing of such Annual Report on Form 10-K.
Any statement contained in an Incorporated Document shall be deemed to
be modified or superseded for purposes of this registration statement to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
Incorporated Document modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement
so modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this registration statement.
Item 4. Description of Securities.
The securities to be offered are registered under Section 12(b) of the
1934 Act.
Item 5. Interest of Named Experts and Counsel.
Not applicable.
Item 6. Indemnification of Directors and Officers.
Certain provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware provide that the Company may indemnify the directors and officers of
the Company and affiliated companies against liabilities and expenses incurred
by reason of the fact that such persons were serving in such capacities, subject
to certain limitations and conditions set forth in the statute. The Amended and
Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides that the Company
shall indemnify its directors and officers to the fullest extent permitted by
Delaware law.
The Company maintains directors and officers liability insurance
covering all directors and officers of the Company against claims arising out of
the performance of their duties.
Item 7. Exemption from Registration Claimed.
Not applicable.
Item 8. Exhibits.
Reference is made to the Exhibit Index.
Item 9. Undertakings.
The registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement to include any
material information with respect to the plan of distribution not previously
disclosed in the registration statement or any material change to such
information in the registration statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act"), each such post-effective amendment shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Act, each filing of the registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or
Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act (and where applicable each filing of an employee
benefit plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the 1934 Act) that is
incorporated by reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
(4) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
termination of the offering.
(5) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions described in Item 6 or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
undersigned registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that
it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Chicago, State of Illinois, on the 18th day of
March, 1998.
BELL & HOWELL COMPANY
By: /s/James P. Roemer
James P. Roemer
Chairman of the Board, President and Chief
Executive Officer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose signature appears
below constitutes and appoints William J. White, James P. Roemer, Nils A.
Johansson and Stuart T. Lieberman and each of them, his true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact and agents, with full power of substitution and
resubstitution, for him and in his name, place and stead, in any and all
capacities (including his capacity as a director and/or officer of Bell & Howell
Company) to sign any or all amendments (including post-effective amendments) to
this Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto,
and other documents in connection therewith, with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them,
full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing
requisite and necessary to be done in and about the premises, as fully to all
intents and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and
confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or any of them, or their
or his substitute or substitutes, may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue
hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities indicated on this 18th day of March, 1998.
Signature Title
/s/ James P. Roemer Chairman of the Board,
James P. Roemer President, Chief Executive
Officer and Director
/s/ Nils A. Johansson Executive Vice President,
Nils A. Johansson Chief Financial Officer and
Director
/s/ Stuart T. Lieberman Vice President, Controller and
Stuart T. Lieberman Chief Accounting Officer
/s/ David Bonderman Director
David Bonderman
/s/ David G. Brown Director
David G. Brown
/s/ J. Taylor Crandall Director
J. Taylor Crandall
/s/ Daniel L. Doctoroff Director
Daniel L. Doctoroff
/s/ William E. Oberndorf Director
William E. Oberndorf
/s/ Gary L. Roubos Director
Gary L. Roubos
/s/ John H. Scully Director
John H. Scully
/s/ William J. White Director
William J. White
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibits marked with an asterisk (*) are incorporated by reference to documents
previously filed by Registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
indicated. All other documents listed are filed with this Registration
Statement.
Exhibit Number Description
4.1 Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Registrant.
4.2 Amended and Restated By-laws of Registrant.
5 Opinion (including consent) of McDermott, Will & Emery.
23.1 Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
23.2 Consent of McDermott, Will & Emery (included in Exhibit 5).
24 Power of Attorney (included on signature page).
Exhibit 4.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATIONOF
BELL & HOWELL OPERATING COMPANY
FIRST: The name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "Corporation")
is
BELL & HOWELL OPERATING COMPANY
SECOND: The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the
State of Delaware is 1209 Orange Street, City of Wilmington, County of New
Castle, Delaware and the name of the registered agent of the Corporation in the
State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD: The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation shall
have authority to issue is Fifty Million (50,000,000), each having a par value
of One Tenth of One Cent ($.001).
FIFTH: The name and the mailing address of the incorporator are as
follows:
M. C. Kinnamon
The Corporation Trust Company
1209 Orange Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
SIXTH: The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
SEVENTH: Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this
Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this
Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable
jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary
way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the
application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under
the provisions of Section 291 of Title 8 of the Delaware Code order a meeting of
the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of
stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such
manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing
three-fourths in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the
stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be,
agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this
Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said
compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by
the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the
creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of
stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this
Corporation.
EIGHTH: For the management of the business and for the conduct of the
affairs of the Corporation, and in further definition, limitation and regulation
of the powers of the Corporation and of its directors and of its stockholders or
any class thereof, as the case may be, it is further provided:
1. The management of the business and the conduct of the affairs of
the Corporation shall be vested in its Board of Directors. The number of
directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be
fixed by, or in the manner provided in, the Bylaws. The phrase "whole
Board" and the phrase "total number of directors" shall be deemed to have
the same meaning, to wit, the total number of directors which the
Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. No election of
directors need be by written ballot unless the Bylaws so require.
2. After the original or other Bylaws of the Corporation have been
adopted, amended, or repealed, as the case may be, in accordance with the
provisions of Section 109 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, and, after the Corporation has received any payment for any of
its stock, the power to adopt, amend, or repeal the Bylaws of the
Corporation may be exercised by the Board of Directors of the Corporation,
provided, however, that any provision for the classification of directors
of the Corporation for staggered terms pursuant to the provisions of
subsection (d) of Section 141 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware shall be set forth in an initial Bylaw or in a Bylaw adopted by
the stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote unless provisions for
such classification shall be set forth in this certificate of
incorporation.
3. Whenever the Corporation shall be authorized to issue only one
class of stock, each outstanding share shall entitle the holder thereof to
notice of, and the right to vote at, any meeting of stockholders. Whenever
the Corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock,
no outstanding share of any class of stock which is denied voting power
under the provisions of the certificate of incorporation shall entitle the
holder thereof to the right to vote at any meeting of stockholders except
as the provisions of paragraph (2) of subsection (b) of Section 242 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall otherwise require;
and, pursuant to the authorization in the final sentence of said provision,
the number of authorized shares of said class may be increased or decreased
(but not below the number of shares thereof then outstanding) by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote irrespective of said provision.
NINTH: The personal liability of the directors of the Corporation is
hereby eliminated to the fullest extent permitted by paragraph (7) of subsection
(b) of section 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
the same may be amended and supplemented.
TENTH: (a) Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a
party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by
reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, or officer of the
Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director
or officer of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan
(hereinafter an "indemnitee"), whether the basis of such proceeding is an
alleged action in an official capacity as a director or officer or in any other
capacity while serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in
the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits
the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior
thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorney's fees,
judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in
settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such indemnitee in connection
therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to an indemnitee who has
ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the
indemnitee's heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that,
except as provided in paragraph (c) hereof with respect to proceedings to
enforce rights to indemnification, the Corporation shall indemnify any such
indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board
of directors of the Corporation.
(b) Right to Advancement of Expenses. The right to indemnification
conferred in paragraph (a) of this Section shall include the right to be paid by
the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding for which such
right to indemnification is applicable in advance of its final disposition
(hereinafter an "advancement of expenses"); provided, however, that, if the
Delaware General Corporation Law requires, an advancement of expenses incurred
by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any
other capacity) in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee, includ-
ing, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only
upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter an
"undertaking"), by or on behalf of such indemnitee, to repay all amounts so
advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from
which there is no further right to appeal (hereinafter a "final adjudication")
that such indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under
this Article or otherwise.
(c) Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. The rights to indemnification and
to the advancement of expenses conferred in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this
Article Tenth shall be contract rights. If a claim under paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Article Tenth is not paid in full by the Corporation within sixty days
after a written claim has been received by the Corporation, except in the case
of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which case the applicable period
shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit
against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If
successful in whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the
Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the terms of an
undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the indemnitee
to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by
the indemnitee to enforce a right to an advancement of expenses) it shall be a
defense that, and (ii) in any suit by the Corporation to recover an advancement
of expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking the Corporation shall be
entitled to recover such expenses upon a final adjudication that, the indemnitee
has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth in the
Delaware General Corporation Law. Neither the failure of the Corporation
(including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such
suit that indemnification of the indemnitee is proper in the circumstances
because the indemnitee has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
the Delaware General Corporation Law, nor an actual determination by the
Corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its
stockholders) that the indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of
conduct, shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the
applicable standard of conduct or, in the case of such a suit brought by the
indemnitee, be a defense to such a suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee
to enforce a right to indemnification or to an advancement of expenses
hereunder, or by the Corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant
to the terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not
entitled to be indemnified, or to such advancement of expenses, under this
Article Tenth or otherwise shall be on the Corporation.
(d) Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and to the
advancement of expenses conferred in this Article Tenth shall not be exclusive
of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any
statute, this certificate of incorporation, any bylaw, agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
(e) Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to
protect itself and any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss
under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
(f) Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. The
Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of
directors, grant rights to indemnification, and to the advancement of expenses
to any employee or agent of the Corporation or to any person serving at the
request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation or of
a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with
respect to an employee benefit plan (hereinafter an "indemnitee"), to the
fullest extent of the provisions of this Article Tenth with respect to the
indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the
Corporation.
ELEVENTH: From time to time any of the provisions of this certificate of
incorporation may be amended, altered or repealed, and other provisions
authorized by the laws of the State of Delaware at the time in force may be
added or inserted in the manner and at the time prescribed by said laws, and all
rights at any time conferred upon the Stockholders of the Corporation by this
certificate of incorporation are granted subject to the provisions of this
Article Eleventh.
Signed on December , 1997
M. C. Kinnamon
Incorporator
Exhibit 4.2
BYLAWS
OF
BELL & HOWELL OPERATING COMPANY
(A DELAWARE CORPORATION)
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
1. CERTIFICATES REPRESENTING STOCK. Certificates representing stock in
the corporation shall be signed by, or in the name of, the corporation by the
Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or by the President
or a Vice-President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation. Any or all the
signatures on any such certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer,
transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has
been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer
agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the
corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or
registrar at the date of issue.
Whenever the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class
of stock or more than one series of any class of stock, and whenever the
corporation shall issue any shares of its stock as partly paid stock, the
certificates representing shares of any such class or series or of any such
partly paid stock shall set forth thereon the statements prescribed by the
General Corporation Law. Any restrictions on the transfer or registration of
transfer of any shares of stock of any class or series shall be noted
conspicuously on the certificate representing such shares.
The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated
shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have
been lost, stolen, or destroyed, and the Board of Directors may require the
owner of the lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal
representative, to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the
corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the
alleged loss, theft, or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of
any such new certificate or uncertificated shares.
2. UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. Subject to any conditions imposed by the
General Corporation Law, the Board of Directors of the corporation may provide
by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of
the stock of the corporation shall be uncertificated shares. Within a
reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of any uncertificated shares, the
corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof any written notice
prescribed by the General Corporation Law.
3. FRACTIONAL SHARE INTERESTS. The corporation may, but shall not be
required to, issue fractions of a share. If the corporation does not issue
fractions of a share, it shall (1) arrange for the disposition of fractional
interests by those entitled thereto, (2) pay in cash the fair value of fractions
of a share as of the time when those entitled to receive such fractions are
determined, or (3) issue scrip or warrants in registered form (either
represented by a certificate or uncertificated) or bearer form (represented by a
certificate) which shall entitle the holder to receive a full share upon the
surrender of such scrip or warrants aggregating a full share. A certificate for
a fractional share or an uncertificated fractional share shall, but scrip or
warrants shall not unless otherwise provided therein, entitle the holder to
exercise voting rights, to receive dividends thereon, and to participate in any
of the assets of the corporation in the event of liquidation. The Board of
Directors may cause scrip or warrants to be issued subject to the conditions
that they shall become void if not exchanged for certificates representing the
full shares or uncertificated full shares before a specified date, or subject to
the conditions that the shares for which scrip or warrants are exchangeable may
be sold by the corporation and the proceeds thereof distributed to the holders
of scrip or warrants, or subject to any other conditions which the Board of
Directors may impose.
4. STOCK TRANSFERS. Upon compliance with provisions restricting the
transfer or registration of transfer of shares of stock, if any, transfers or
registration of transfers of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made
only on the stock ledger of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or
by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and
filed with the Secretary of the corporation or with a transfer agent or a
registrar, if any, and, in the case of shares represented by certificates, on
surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares of stock properly
endorsed and the payment of all taxes due thereon.
5. RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDERS. In order that the corporation may
determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record
date shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such
meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date
for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day
on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on
the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. A determination of
stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided however,
that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned
meeting. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders
entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the
Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted
by the Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than ten days
after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted
by the Board of Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of
Directors, the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior
action by the Board of Directors is required by the General Corporation Law,
shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the
action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation by
delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal
place of business, or an officer or agent of the corporation having custody
of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.
Delivery made to the corporation's registered office shall be by hand
or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date
has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of
Directors is required by the General Corporation Law, the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action. In order
that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment
of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion, or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action,
the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not
precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted,
and which record date shall be not more than sixty days prior to such action.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any
such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
6. MEANING OF CERTAIN TERMS. As used herein in respect of the right
to notice of a meeting of stockholders or a waiver thereof or to participate or
vote thereat or to consent or dissent in writing in lieu of a meeting, as the
case may be, the term "share" or "shares" or "share of stock" or "shares of
stock" or "stockholder" or "stockholders" refers to an outstanding share or
shares of stock and to a holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of
stock when the corporation is authorized to issue only one class of shares of
stock, and said reference is also intended to include any outstanding share or
shares of stock and any holder or holders of record of outstanding shares of
stock of any class upon which or upon whom the certificate of incorporation
confers such rights where there are two or more classes or series of shares of
stock or upon which or upon whom the General Corporation Law confers such rights
notwithstanding that the certificate of incorporation may provide for more than
one class or series of shares of stock, one or more of which are limited or
denied such rights thereunder; provided however, that no such right shall vest
in the event of an increase or a decrease in the authorized number of shares of
stock of any class or series which is otherwise denied voting rights under the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation, except as any provision of law
may otherwise require.
7. STOCKHOLDER MEETINGS.
- TIME. The annual meeting shall be held on the date and at the time
fixed, from time to time, by the directors, provided, that the first annual
meeting shall be held on a date within thirteen months after the organization of
the corporation, and each successive annual meeting shall be held on a date
within thirteen months after the date of the preceding annual meeting. A
special meeting shall be held on the date and at the time fixed by the
directors.
- PLACE. Annual meetings and special meetings shall be held at such
place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the directors may, from time
to time, fix. Whenever the directors shall fail to fix such place, the meeting
shall be held at the registered office of the corporation in the State of
Delaware.
- CALL. Annual meetings and special meetings may be called by the
directors or by any officer instructed by the directors to call the meeting.
- NOTICE OR WAIVER OF NOTICE. Written notice of all meetings shall be
given, stating the place, date, and hour of the meeting and stating the place
within the city or other municipality or community at which the list of
stockholders of the corporation may be examined. The notice of an annual
meeting shall state that the meeting is called for the election of directors and
for the transaction of other business which may properly come before the
meeting, and shall (if any other action which could be taken at a special
meeting is to be taken at such annual meeting) state the purpose or purposes.
The notice of a special meeting shall in all instances state the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called. The notice of any meeting shall also
include, or be accompanied by, any additional statements, information, or
documents prescribed by the General Corporation Law. Except as otherwise
provided by the General Corporation Law, a copy of the notice of any meeting
shall be given, personally or by mail, not less than ten days nor more than
sixty days before the date of the meeting, unless the lapse of the prescribed
period of time shall have been waived, and directed to each stockholder at his
record address or at such other address which he may have furnished by request
in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. Notice by mail shall be deemed
to be given when deposited, with postage thereon prepaid, in the United States
Mail. If a meeting is adjourned to another time, not more than thirty days
hence, and/or to another place, and if an announcement of the adjourned time
and/or place is made at the meeting, it shall not be necessary to give notice of
the adjourned meeting unless the directors, after adjournment, fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting. Notice need not be given to any stockholder who
submits a written waiver of notice signed by him before or after the time stated
therein. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting of stockholders shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the stockholder
attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of
the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the
purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders need be specified
in any written waiver of notice.
- STOCKHOLDER LIST. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of
the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting
of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders, arranged in alphabetical
order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares
registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during
ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting,
either at a place within the city or other municipality or community where the
meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the
meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.
The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting
during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is
present. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the
stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by this
section or the books of the corporation, or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders.
- CONDUCT OF MEETING. Meetings of the stockholders shall be presided
over by one of the following officers in the order of seniority and if present
and acting -- the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board,
if any, the President, a Vice-President, or, if none of the foregoing is in
office and present and acting, by a chairman to be chosen by the stockholders.
The Secretary of the corporation, or in his absence, an Assistant Secretary,
shall act as secretary of every meeting, but if neither the Secretary nor an
Assistant Secretary is present the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint a
secretary of the meeting.
- PROXY REPRESENTATION. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a
meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in
writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him
by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after 3 years from its
date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Without limiting the manner
in which a stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him as
proxy, the following shall constitute a valid means by which a stockholder may
grant such authority: (1) A stockholder may execute a writing authorizing
another person or persons to act for him as proxy. Execution may be accomplished
by the stockholder or his authorized officer, director, employee or agent
signing such writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such
writing by any reasonable means including, but not limited to, by facsimile
signature. (2) A stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for
him as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram,
cablegram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person who will be
the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service
organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder
of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any such telegram,
cablegram or other means of electronic transmission must either set forth or be
submitted with information from which it can be determined that the telegram,
cablegram or other electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder. If
it is determined that such telegrams, cablegrams or other electronic
transmissions are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such
other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which
they relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable
reproduction of the writing or transmission may be substituted or used in lieu
of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the
original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy,
facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete
reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission. A duly executed
proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only
as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an
irrevocable power. A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the
interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an
interest in the corporation generally.
- INSPECTORS. The directors, in advance of any meeting, may, but need
not, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting or any
adjournment thereof. If an inspector or inspectors are not appointed, the
person presiding at the meeting may, but need not, appoint one or more
inspectors. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to
appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the directors in
advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each
inspector, if any, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take
and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspectors at such meeting
with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The
inspectors, if any, shall determine the number of shares of stock outstanding
and the voting power of each, the shares of stock represented at the meeting,
the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive
votes, ballots, or consents, here and determine all challenges and questions
arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes,
ballots, or consents, determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to
conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of
the person presiding at the meeting, the inspector or inspectors, if any, shall
make a report in writing of any challenge, question, or matter determined by him
or them and execute a certificate of any fact found by him or them.
- QUORUM. The holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
stock shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of stockholders for the transaction
of any business. The stockholders present may adjourn the meeting despite the
absence of a quorum.
- VOTING. Each share of stock shall entitle the holders thereof to
one vote. Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on
the election of directors. Any other action shall be authorized by a majority
of the votes cast except where the General Corporation Law prescribes a
different percentage of votes and/or a different exercise of voting power, and
except as may be otherwise prescribed by the provisions of the certificate of
incorporation and these Bylaws. In the election of directors, and for any other
action, voting need not be by ballot.
8. STOCKHOLDER ACTION WITHOUT MEETINGS. Any action required by the
General Corporation Law to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting
of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and
without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the
minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action
at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and
voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing. Action taken pursuant to this paragraph shall be
subject to the provisions of Section 228 of the General Corporation Law.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
1. FUNCTIONS AND DEFINITION. The business and affairs of the corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors of the
corporation. The Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the
compensation of the members thereof. The use of the phrase "whole board" herein
refers to the total number of directors which the corporation would have if
there were no vacancies.
2. QUALIFICATIONS AND NUMBER. A director need not be a stockholder, a
citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of Delaware. The
initial Board of Directors shall consist of seven persons. Thereafter the
number of directors constituting the whole board shall be at least one. Subject
to the foregoing limitation and except for the first Board of Directors, such
number may be fixed from time to time by action of the stockholders or of the
directors, or, if the number is not fixed, the number shall be three. The
number of directors may be increased or decreased by action of the stockholders
or of the directors.
3. ELECTION AND TERM. The first Board of Directors, unless the members
thereof shall have been named in the certificate of incorporation, shall be
elected by the incorporator or incorporators and shall hold office until the
first annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and
qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any director may
resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation. Thereafter,
directors who are elected at an annual meeting of stockholders, and directors
who are elected in the interim to fill vacancies and newly created
directorships, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until their successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier
resignation or removal. Except as the General Corporation Law may otherwise
require, in the interim between annual meetings of stockholders or of special
meetings of stockholders called for the election of directors and/or for the
removal of one or more directors and for the filling of any vacancy in that
connection, newly created directorships and any vacancies in the Board of
Directors, including unfilled vacancies resulting from the removal of directors
for cause or without cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the
remaining directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by the sole
remaining director.
4. MEETINGS.
- TIME. Meetings shall be held at such time as the Board shall fix,
except that the first meeting of a newly elected Board shall be held as soon
after its election as the directors may conveniently assemble.
- PLACE. Meetings shall be held at such place within or without the
State of Delaware as shall be fixed by the Board.
- CALL. No call shall be required for regular meetings for which the
time and place have been fixed. Special meetings may be called by or at the
direction of the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Vice-Chairman of the Board,
if any, the President, or a majority of the directors in office.
- NOTICE OR ACTUAL OR CONSTRUCTIVE WAIVER. No notice shall be
required for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed.
Written, oral, or any other mode of notice of the time and place shall be given
for special meetings in sufficient time for the convenient assembly of the
directors thereat. Notice need not be given to any director or to any member of
a committee of directors who submits a written waiver of notice signed by him
before or after the time stated therein. Attendance of any such person at a
meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when he
attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the
meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose
of, any regular or special meeting of the directors need be specified in any
written waiver of notice.
- QUORUM AND ACTION. A majority of the whole Board shall constitute a
quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies prevents such majority, whereupon a
majority of the directors in office shall constitute a quorum, provided, that
such majority shall constitute at least one-third of the whole Board. A
majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may
adjourn a meeting to another time and place. Except as herein otherwise
provided, and except as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law, the
vote of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board. The quorum and voting provisions herein
stated shall not be construed as conflicting with any provisions of the General
Corporation Law and these Bylaws which govern a meeting of directors held to
fill vacancies and newly created directorships in the Board or action of
disinterested directors.
Any member or members of the Board of Directors or of any committee
designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or any such
committee, as the case may be, by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other.
- CHAIRMAN OF THE MEETING. The Chairman of the Board, if any and if
present and acting, shall preside at all meetings. Otherwise, the Vice-Chairman
of the Board, if any and if present and acting, or the President, if present and
acting, or any other director chosen by the Board, shall preside.
5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Except as may otherwise be provided by the
General Corporation Law, any director or the entire Board of Directors may be
removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of the shares then
entitled to vote at an election of directors.
6. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of the whole Board, 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 any member of any such committee or
committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and
may exercise the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the corporation with the exception of
any authority the delegation of which is prohibited by Section 141 of the
General Corporation Law, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be
affixed to all papers which may require it.
7. WRITTEN ACTION. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without
a meeting if all members of the Board 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 or committee.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall consist of a President, a Secretary,
a Treasurer, and, if deemed necessary, expedient, or desirable by the Board of
Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman of the Board, an Executive
Vice-President, one or more other Vice-Presidents, one or more Assistant
Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers with such
titles as the resolution of the Board of Directors choosing them shall
designate. Except as may otherwise be provided in the resolution of the Board
of Directors choosing him, no officer other than the Chairman or Vice-Chairman
of the Board, if any, need be a director. Any number of offices may be held by
the same person, as the directors may determine.
Unless otherwise provided in the resolution choosing him, each officer
shall be chosen for a term which shall continue until the meeting of the Board
of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his
successor shall have been chosen and qualified.
All officers of the corporation shall have such authority and perform such
duties in the management and operation of the corporation as shall be prescribed
in the resolutions of the Board of Directors designating and choosing such
officers and prescribing their authority and duties, and shall have such
additional authority and duties as are incident to their office except to the
extent that such resolutions may be inconsistent therewith. The Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the corporation shall record all of the proceedings of
all meetings and actions in writing of stockholders, directors, and committees
of directors, and shall exercise such additional authority and perform such
additional duties as the Board shall assign to him. Any officer may be removed,
with or without cause, by the Board of Directors. Any vacancy in any office may
be filled by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
CORPORATE SEAL
The corporate seal shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall
prescribe.
ARTICLE V
FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed, and shall be subject to
change, by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
CONTROL OVER BYLAWS
Subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation and the
provisions of the General Corporation Law, the power to amend, alter, or repeal
these Bylaws and to adopt new Bylaws may be exercised by the Board of Directors
or by the stockholders.
ATTACH EXHIBIT B: COPY OF STOCK CERTIFICATE.
Exhibit 5
March 20, 1998
Bell & Howell Company
5215 Old Orchard Road
Skokie, Illinois 60077
Re: Bell & Howell Company 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Bell & Howell Company (the "Company") in
connection with the preparation and filing of a Registration Statement on
Form S-8 (the "Registration Statement") for the registration under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, of 2,160,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, $.001 par value (the "Common Stock"), which may be issued pursuant to the
Plan.
We have examined or considered:
1. A copy of the Company's Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
2. The By-Laws of the Company.
3. Confirmation of the Secretary of State of Delaware, as of a recent
date, as to the good standing of the Company in that state.
4. A copy of resolutions duly adopted by the Board of Directors of
the Company relating to the Plan.
5. A copy of the Plan.
In addition to the examination outlined above, we have conferred with
various officers of the Company and have ascertained or verified, to our
satisfaction, such additional facts as we deemed necessary or appropriate for
the purposes of this opinion.
We are of the opinion that:
(a) The Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and
in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware.
(b) All legal and corporate proceedings necessary for the issuance of
the shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Plan have been duly taken, and
the Common Stock, will be duly authorized, legally and validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to all references to our Firm in the Registration
Statement and to the filing of this opinion by the company as an Exhibit to the
Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we
come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the rules and regulations of the
Securities and Exchange Commission thereunder.
Very truly yours,
McDermott, Will & Emery
Exhibit 23.1
The Board of Directors
Bell & Howell company:
We consent to incorporation by reference in the registration statement on Form
S-8 of Bell & Howell Company of our reports dated February 19, 1997, relating to
the consolidated balance sheets of Bell & Howell Company and subsidiaries as of
the end of fiscal years 1995 and 1996, and the related consolidated statements
of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the fiscal years 1994,
1995 and 1996, and related financial statement schedule, which reports appear in
the fiscal year 1996 annual report on Form 10-K of Bell & Howell Company.
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Chicago, Illinois
March 16, 1998
