SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) of the
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 25, 1998
OEA, INC.
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in charter)
Delaware
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State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
1-6711 36-2362379
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(Commission File No.) (IRS employer
identification no.)
P. O. Box 100488, Denver, Colorado 80250
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (303) 693-1248
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On March 25, 1998, the Board of Directors of OEA, Inc. (the
"Company") declared a dividend of one common share purchase right (a "Right")
for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $.10 per share (the
"Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable on April 10, 1998 (the
"Record Date") to the stockholders of record on that date. Each Right entitles
the registered holder to purchase from the Company one one-half of a Common
Share of the Company at a price of $70.00 per one one-half of a Common Share
(the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description and terms of the
Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement") between the
Company and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent (the
"Rights Agent").
Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with
certain exceptions for members of the Kafadar family and related entities, the
"Kafadar Entities") (an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership
of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Shares or (ii) 10 business days (or
such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors prior
to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an Acquiring
Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an intention to make,
a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which would result in the
beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of the outstanding
Common Shares (the earlier of such dates being called the "Distribution Date"),
the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of the Common Share
certificates outstanding as of the Record Date, by such Common Share certificate
with a copy of the Summary of Rights to Purchase Common Shares attached thereto.
The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Shares. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Share certificates issued
after the Record Date upon transfer or new issuance of Common Shares will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until the
Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for Common Shares outstanding as of
the Record Date, even without such notation or a copy of the Summary of Rights
being attached thereto, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the Common Shares represented by such certificate. As soon as
practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates evidencing
the Rights ("Right Cer-
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tificates") will be mailed to holders of record of the Common Shares as of the
close of business on the Distribution Date and such separate Right Certificates
alone will evidence the Rights.
The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on April 30, 2008 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the
Final Expiration Date is extended or unless the Rights are earlier redeemed or
exchanged by the Company, in each case, as described below.
The Purchase Price payable, and the number of Common Shares or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common
Shares, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Common Shares of certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for or purchase Common Shares at a price, or securities
convertible into Common Shares with a conversion price, less than the
then-current market price of the Common Shares or (iii) upon the distribution to
holders of the Common Shares of evidences of indebtedness or assets (excluding
regular periodic cash dividends paid out of earnings or retained earnings or
dividends payable in Common Shares) or of subscription rights or warrants (other
than those referred to above).
In the event that, prior to the redemption, exchange or termination
of the Rights, any person or group of affiliated or associated persons becomes
an Acquiring Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a
Right, other than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will
thereafter be void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise
that number of Common Shares having a market value of two times the exercise
price of the Right. In the event that, prior to the redemption, exchange or
termination of the Rights, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business
combination transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning
power are sold after a person or group has become an Acquiring Person, proper
provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person, which will thereafter be void) will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the
then-current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock
of the acquiring company which at the time of such transaction will have a
market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding Common Shares, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange
the Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have
become
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void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one Common Share per Right.
With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be
required until cumulative adjustments require an adjustment of at least 1% in
such Purchase Price. No fractional Common Shares will be issued and, in lieu
thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of the
Common Shares on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.
At any time prior to such time as any person becomes an Acquiring
Person, the Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole,
but not in part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The
redemption of the Rights may be made effective at such time on such basis with
such conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.
The terms of the Rights may be amended by the Board of Directors of
the Company without the consent of the holders of the Rights, including an
amendment to lower certain thresholds described above to not less than the
greater of (i) the sum of .001% and the largest percentage of the outstanding
Common Shares then known to the Company to be beneficially owned by any person
or group of affiliated or associated persons (other than the Kafadar
Entities)and (ii) 10%, except that from and after such time as any person or
group of affiliated or associated persons becomes an Acquiring Person no such
amendment may adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Rights.
Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.
The Rights Agreement, dated March 25, 1998, between the Company and
ChaseMellon Shareholder Services, L.L.C., as Rights Agent, specifying the terms
of the Rights is attached hereto as an exhibit and is incorporated herein by
reference. The foregoing description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety
by reference to such exhibit.
At meetings of the Board of Directors of the Company held on January
22, 1998 and March 25, 1998, respectively, the Board of Directors has approved
and adopted certain amendments to the Company's By-laws. The By-law amendments
adopted on January 22, 1998 amended the duties of the Chairman of the Board and
President, respectively, to provide that the chief executive of-
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ficer of the Company shall be the President. The By-law amendments adopted on
March 25, 1998 are attached hereto as an exhibit and are incorporated by
reference herein.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits
*(1) Rights Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1998, between
OEA, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder Services,
L.L.C. which includes the form of Right Certificate
as Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights to Purchase
Common Shares as Exhibit B.
(2) Amendments to the By-laws of the Company.
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* Previously filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form 8-A,
filed with the Commission on April 8, 1998
(File No. 1-06711).
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Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
OEA, INC.
By: /s/ J. Thompson McConathy
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Name: J. Thompson McConathy
Title: Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer
Dated: April 6, 1998
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit Sequential
No. Description Page Number
* (1) Rights Agreement, dated as of March 25, 1998,
between OEA, Inc. and ChaseMellon Shareholder
Services, L.L.C. which includes the form of Right
Certificate as Exhibit A and the Summary of Rights
to Purchase Common Shares as Exhibit B.
(2) Amendments to the By-laws of the Company.
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* Previously filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A, filed with the
Commission on April 8, 1998 (File No. 1-06711).
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Exhibit 2
AMENDMENTS TO THE
BY-LAWS OF OEA, INC.
Revise Article II, Section 2 to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 2. [Annual Meeting.] The annual meeting of the stockholders
of the corporation shall be held on such date and at such place and time as may
be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Revise Article II, Section 3 to read in its entirety as follows and delete
Article II, Section 6 in its entirety.
Section 3. [Notice of Meeting.] Written or printed notice, stating
the place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the
meeting is called, shall be delivered by the corporation not less than ten (10)
days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either
personally or by mail, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such
meeting. Such further notice shall be given as may be required by law. Any
previously scheduled meeting of the stockholders may be postponed, and any
special meeting of the stockholders may be canceled, by resolution of the Board
of Directors upon public notice given prior to the date previously scheduled for
such meeting of stockholders.
Revise Article II, Section 5 to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 5 [Special Meeting.] Special meetings of the stockholders
may be called only by the Chairman of the Board, the President or by the Board
of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number
of directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
Revise Article II, Section 6 to read in its entirety as follows and delete the
last sentence of Section 8 of Article II.
Section 6. [Adjournment; Inspectors of Elections;
Opening and Closing the Polls.]
(a) The Chairman of the meeting or a majority of the shares so
represented may adjourn any meeting of stockholders from time to time, whether
or not a quorum is present. No notice of the time and place of adjourned
meetings need be given except as required by law. The stockholders present at a
duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
(b) The Board of Directors by resolution shall appoint one or more
inspectors, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the
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corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers,
employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of stockholders and
make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as
alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector
or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of
stockholders, the Chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors
to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties,
shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with
strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The
inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law.
(c) The Chairman of the meeting shall fix and announce at the
meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each
matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting.
Add a new Section 12 to Article II of the By-Laws:
Section 12. [Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations.]
(A) [Annual Meetings of Stockholders.] (1) Nominations of persons
for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation and the proposal of
business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting
of stockholders (a) pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting, (b) by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the
corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice
provided for in this By-Law, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph
(A)(1) of this By-Law, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the Secretary of the corporation and such other business must
otherwise be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a
stockholder's notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal
executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the
60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the
first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however,
that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days
before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of
business on the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the
close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or
the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such
meeting is first made by the corporation. In no event shall the public
announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period
for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above. Such stockholder's
notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election or reelection as a director all
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information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is
otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and Rule 14a-11 thereunder
(including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement
as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) as to any other
business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief
description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in
such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made; and (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and
the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made
(i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the
corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number
of shares of the corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such
stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
paragraph (A)(2) of this By-Law to the contrary, in the event that the number of
directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the corporation is
increased and there is no public announcement by the corporation naming all of
the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of
Directors at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting, a stockholder's notice required by this By-Law shall also
be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions
created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the
principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is
first made by the corporation.
(B) [Special Meetings of Stockholders.] Only such business shall be
conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting pursuant to the corporation's notice of meeting. Nominations of
persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting
of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the
corporation's notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (b) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that
directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any stockholder of the
corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice
provided for in this By-Law, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and
who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law. In the event
the corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of
electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder
may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such
position(s) as specified in the corporation's notice of meeting, if the
stockholder's notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of this By-Law shall be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation
not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such special
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day
prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which
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public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the
nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no
event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special meeting
commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described
above.
(C) [General.] (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this By-Law shall be eligible to serve as
directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this By-Law. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the
power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be
brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law and, if any proposed
nomination or business is not in compliance with this By-Law, to declare that
such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
(2) For purposes of this By-Law, "public announcement" shall
mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly
filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law, a
stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set
forth in this By-Law. Nothing in this By-Law shall be deemed to affect any
rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation's
proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Revise Article II, Section 11 to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 11. (a) [Record Date for Action by Written Consent.] 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 (10) days after the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any
stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take
corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary,
request the Board of Directors to fix a record date. The Board of Directors
shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days after the date on which
such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date (unless a
record date has previously been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to
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the first sentence of this Section 11(a) of this Article II). If no record date
has been fixed by the Board of Directors pursuant to the first sentence of this
Section 11(a) of this Article II or otherwise within ten (10) days of the date
on which such a request is received, the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by
applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent
setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the
corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware, its principal
place of business, or to any officer or agent of the corporation having custody
of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.
Delivery 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 applicable 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 date on which the
Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
(b) [Inspectors of Written Consent.] In the event of the delivery,
in the manner provided by Section 11(a) of this Article II, to the corporation
of the requisite written consent or consents to take corporate action and/or any
related revocation or revocations, the corporation shall engage independent
inspectors of elections for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial
review of the validity of the consents and revocations. For the purpose of
permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no action by written consent
without a meeting shall be effective until such date as the independent
inspectors certify to the corporation that the consents delivered to the
corporation in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Article II represent at
least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take the corporate
action. Nothing contained in this Section 11(b) shall in any way be construed to
suggest or imply that the Board of Directors or any stockholder shall not be
entitled to contest the validity of any consent or revocation thereof, whether
before or after such certification by the independent inspectors, or to take any
other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution, or
defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive
relief in such litigation).
(c) [Effectiveness of Written Consent.] Every written consent shall
bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and no
written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to
therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the date of the earliest dated written
consent delivered in accordance with Section 11(a) of this Article II, a written
consent or consents signed by a sufficient number of holders to take such action
are delivered to the corporation in the manner prescribed in Section 11(a) of
this Article II.
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Revise Article III, Section 1 of the By-Laws to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 1. [Number of Directors.] The number of directors shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time. Each director shall hold
office until his successor is duly elected and qualified.
Revise Article III, Section 2 of the By-Laws to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 2. [Vacancies.] Subject to applicable law, vacancies
resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from
office or other cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors, may be filled only by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a
quorum of the Board of Directors.
Revise Article IX of the By-Laws to read in its entirety as follows:
Section 1. [Indemnification and Insurance.] (A) Each person who was
or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any
action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she
or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was a director
or officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or
of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service
with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the
corporation, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an
official capacity as a director, officer, employee or agent or in any other
capacity while serving as a director, officer, employee or agent, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to the fullest extent
authorized by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware 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 said law permitted the corporation to provide prior
to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts
paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person
in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to
the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided,
however, that except as provided in paragraph (C) of this By-Law, the
corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if
such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors. The
right to indemnification conferred in this By-Law shall be a contract right and
shall include the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in
defending any such proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances
to be paid by the corporation within
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20 days after the receipt by the corporation of a statement or statements from
the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided,
however, that if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware requires,
the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer 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 person while a director or officer,
including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance
of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to
the corporation of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer,
to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such
director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this By-Law or
otherwise.
(B) To obtain indemnification under this By-Law, a claimant shall
submit to the corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such
documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is
reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is
entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for
indemnification pursuant to the first sentence of this paragraph (B), a
determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant's
entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (1) if requested by the claimant,
by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (2) if no request is made by
the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (i) by the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors
(as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if a quorum of the Board of Directors
consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable,
such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a
written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to
the claimant, or (iii) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by the
stockholders of the corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement
to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel at the request of the
claimant, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board of Directors
unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the
commencement of the action, suit or proceeding for which indemnification is
claimed a "Change of Control" as defined in any stock option plan of the
corporation in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the
claimant unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the
Board of Directors. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to
indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within 10 days after such
determination.
(C) If a claim under paragraph (A) of this By-Law is not paid in
full by the corporation within thirty days after a written claim pursuant to
paragraph (B) of this By-Law has been received by the corporation, the claimant
may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to recover the
unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant
shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It
shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to enforce a
claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in advance of its final
disposition where the required undertaking, if
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any is required, has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not
met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify the
claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such defense shall be
on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its Board
of Directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination
prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is
proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor
an actual determination by the corporation (including its Board of Directors,
Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such
applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a
presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
(D) If a determination shall have been made pursuant to paragraph
(B) of this By-Law that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the
corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding
commenced pursuant to paragraph (C) of this By-Law.
(E) The corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any
judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph (C) of this By-Law that the
procedures and presumptions of this By-Law are not valid, binding and
enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the corporation is bound
by all the provisions of this By-Law.
(F) The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses
incurred in defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred
in this By-Law shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may
have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation, By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested
Directors or otherwise. No repeal or modification of this By-Law shall in any
way diminish or adversely affect the rights of any director, officer, employee
or agent of the corporation hereunder in respect of any occurrence or matter
arising prior to any such repeal or modification.
(G) 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 General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. To the extent that
the corporation maintains any policy or policies providing such insurance, each
such director or officer, and each such agent or employee to which rights to
indemnification have been granted as provided in paragraph (H) of this By-Law,
shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their
terms to the maximum extent of the coverage thereunder for any such director,
officer, employee or agent.
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(H) The corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time
by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification, and rights to be
paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in
advance of its final disposition, to any employee or agent of the corporation to
the fullest extent of the provisions of this By-Law with respect to the
indemnification and advancement of expenses of directors and officers of the
corporation.
(I) If any provision or provisions of this By-Law shall be held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (1) the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this By-Law
(including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of this By-Law
containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that
is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way
be affected or impaired thereby; and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the
provisions of this By-Law (including, without limitation, each such portion of
any paragraph of this By-Law containing any such provision held to be invalid,
illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent
manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.
(J) For purposes of this By-Law:
(1) "Disinterested Director" means a director of the
corporation who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of
which indemnification is sought by the claimant.
(2) "Independent Counsel" means a law firm, a member of a law
firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of
corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable
standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a
conflict of interest in representing either the corporation or the
claimant in an action to determine the claimant's rights under this
By-Law.
(K) Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted
to be given to the corporation under this By-Law shall be in writing and either
delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or
courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return
receipt requested, to the Secretary of the corporation and shall be effective
only upon receipt by the Secretary.
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