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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
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) August 7, 1998
EDIFY CORPORATION
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(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware 0-28480 77-0250992
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(State or other jurisdiction (Commission (I.R.S. Employer
of incorporation) File Number) Identification No.)
2840 San Tomas Expressway
Santa Clara, California 95051
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(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code (408) 982-2000
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Item 5: Other Events
Adoption of Stockholder Rights Plan.
On August 7, 1998, the Board of Directors of Edify Corporation
(the "Company") declared a dividend of one preferred share purchase right (a
"Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $0.001 per share
(the "Common Shares"), of the Company. The dividend is payable to stockholders
of record on August 14, 1998 (the "Record Date"). In addition, one Right shall
be issued with each Common Share that becomes outstanding (i) between the Record
Date and the earliest of the Distribution Date, the Redemption Date and the
Final Expiration Date (as such terms are defined in the Rights Agreement) or
(ii) following the Distribution Date and prior to the Redemption Date or Final
Expiration Date, pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under any employee
plan or arrangement or upon the exercise, conversion or exchange of other
securities of the Company, which options or securities were outstanding prior to
the Distribution Date. Each Right entitles the registered holder to purchase
from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Preferred Shares"), of the
Company, at a price of $70.00, subject to adjustment. The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement (the "Rights Agreement")
between the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent. A summary of the
Rights and Rights Agreement is included as Exhibit C to the Rights Agreement,
which is included as Exhibit 4.1 hereto.
Amendment of Bylaws
On August 7, 1998, the Board of Directors of the Company
amended the Company's Bylaws to: (i) permit only the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or a majority of the Board of Directors
of the Company to call a special meeting of the stockholders and (ii) provide
that vacancies on the Board of Directors be filled only by the remaining members
of the Board of Directors.
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Item 7: Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(c) Exhibits
3.1 Bylaws of the Company, as amended and restated
effective August 7, 1998.
4.1 Rights Agreement dated August 10, 1998,
between the Company and BankBoston, N.A., as
Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A
the form of Certificate of Designations of
Series A Junior Participating Preferred
Stock, as Exhibit B the Form of Right
Certificate and as Exhibit C the Summary of
Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares.
(Incorporated by reference to the Company's
Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission
on August 11, 1998.)
99.1 Press release of the Company dated August 10,
1998.
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SIGNATURE
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 hereunto duly authorized.
Dated: August 11, 1998
EDIFY CORPORATION
By: /s/ Stephanie A. Vinella
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Stephanie A. Vinella
Vice President, Finance and
Administration and Secretary
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit
3.1 Bylaws of the Company, as amended and restated effective August 7,
1998.
4.1 Rights Agreement dated August 10, 1998, between the Company and
BankBoston, N.A., as Rights Agent, which includes as Exhibit A the
form of Certificate of Designations of Series A Junior Participating
Preferred Stock, as Exhibit B the Form of Right Certificate and as
Exhibit C the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares.
(Incorporated by reference to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form 8-A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 11, 1998.)
99.1 Press release of the Company dated August 10, 1998.
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Exhibit 3.1
BYLAWS
OF
EDIFY CORPORATION
(a Delaware corporation)
As Amended and Restated August 7, 1998
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1: Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall
be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, either
within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall each
year fix. Any other proper business may be transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2: Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any
purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or by a majority of the members of the
Board of Directors. Special meetings may not be called by any other person or
persons. If a special meeting of stockholders is called by any person or persons
other than by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors, then such
person or persons shall call such meeting by delivering a written request to
call such meeting to each member of the Board of Directors, and the Board of
Directors shall then determine the time, date and place of such special meeting,
which shall be held not more than one hundred twenty (120) nor less than
thirty-five (35) days after the written request to call such special meeting was
delivered to each member of the Board of Directors.
Section 1.3: Notice of Meetings. Written notice of all meetings of
stockholders shall be given stating the place, date and time of the meeting and,
in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
is called. Unless otherwise required by applicable law or the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation, such notice shall be given not less than ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 1.4: Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders may adjourn from
time to time to reconvene at the same or another place, and notice need not be
given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place thereof are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however,
that if the adjournment is for more than thirty (30)
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days, or if after the adjournment, a new record date is fixed for the adjourned
meeting, then a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each
stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At the adjourned meeting,
the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
Section 1.5: Quorum. At each meeting of stockholders, the holders of a
majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, except if otherwise required by applicable law. If a quorum shall fail
to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority
of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, at the
meeting may adjourn the meeting. Shares of the Corporation's stock belonging to
the Corporation (or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled
to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation are held,
directly or indirectly, by the Corporation), shall neither be entitled to vote
nor be counted for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall
not limit the right of the Corporation or any other corporation to vote any
shares of the Corporation's stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.6: Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided
over by such person as the Board of Directors may designate, or, in the absence
of such a person, the Chairman of the Board, or, in the absence of such person,
the President of the Corporation, or, in the absence of such person, such person
as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who
are present, in person or by proxy, at the meeting. Such person shall be
chairman of the meeting and, subject to Section 1.11 hereof, shall determine the
order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of
the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seems to him or her to be
in order. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the
meeting, but in his or her absence, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any
person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 1.7: Voting; Proxies. Unless otherwise provided by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to the provisions of Section 1.8 of
these Bylaws, each stockholder shall be entitled to one (1) vote for each share
of stock held by such stockholder. 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
such stockholder by proxy. Such a proxy may be prepared, transmitted and
delivered in any manner permitted by applicable law. Voting at meetings of
stockholders need not be by written ballot unless such is demanded at the
meeting before voting begins by a stockholder or stockholders holding shares
representing at least one percent (1%) of the votes entitled to vote at such
meeting, or by such stockholder's or stockholders' proxy; provided, however,
that an election of directors shall be by written ballot if demand is so made by
any stockholder at the meeting before voting begins. If a vote is to be taken by
written ballot, then each such ballot shall state the name of the stockholder or
proxy voting and such other information as the chairman of the meeting deems
appropriate. 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. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law,
the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, every matter other than the
election of directors shall be decided
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by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock
entitled to vote thereon that are present in person or represented by proxy at
the meeting and are voted for or against the matter.
Section 1.8: Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) Generally. In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing
without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other
distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any
other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date,
which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record
date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which shall not be more than sixty
(60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than
sixty (60) days prior to any other action. If no record date is fixed by the
Board of Directors, then the record date shall be as provided by applicable law.
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.
(b) Stockholder Request for Action by Written Consent. For such period
of time as stockholders are authorized to act by written consent pursuant to the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and Section 1.10 hereof, any
stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take
corporate action by written consent without a meeting shall, by written notice
to the Secretary of the Corporation, request the Board of Directors to fix a
record date for such consent. Such request shall include a brief description of
the action proposed to be taken. The Board of Directors shall, within ten (10)
days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution
fixing the record date. Such record date shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and
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. If no record date
has been fixed by the Board of Directors within ten (10) days after the date on
which such a request is received, then 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 the State of Delaware, to
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 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 applicable law, then 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.
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Section 1.9: List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. A complete list of
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in
alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of
shares registered in the name of each stockholder, shall be open to the
examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during
ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the
meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present at the meeting.
Section 1.10: Action by Written Consent of Stockholders.
(a) Procedure. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of
Incorporation, and except as set forth in Section 1.8(b) above, any action
required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the
stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a
vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the
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;
provided, however, that effective immediately after the closing of an
underwritten public offering of shares of the Corporation's Common Stock
pursuant to a registration statement filed with and declared effective by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, any action required or permitted to be taken
by the Corporation's stockholders shall be taken only at a duly called annual or
special meeting of such stockholders, and the Corporation's stockholders shall
not be able to act by written consent. For such period of time as written
stockholder consents are permitted, such consents shall bear the date of
signature of each stockholder who signs the consent and shall be delivered to
the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware,
to 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 made to the Corporation's registered office shall be by hand
or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. No written consent
shall be effective to take the action set forth therein unless, within sixty
(60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the
manner provided above, written consents signed by a sufficient number of
stockholders to take the action set forth therein are delivered to the
Corporation in the manner provided above.
(b) Notice of Consent. Prompt notice of the taking of corporate action
by stockholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent of the
stockholders shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented thereto
in writing, and, in the case of a Certificate Action (as defined below), if the
Delaware General Corporation Law so requires, such notice shall be given prior
to filing of the certificate in question. If the action which is consented to
requires the filing of a certificate under the Delaware General Corporation Law
(a "Certificate Action"), then if the Delaware General Corporation Law so
requires, the certificate so filed shall state that written stockholder consent
has been given in accordance with Section 228 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law and that written notice of the taking of corporate
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action by stockholders without a meeting as described herein has been given as
provided in such section.
Section 1.11: Inspectors of Elections.
(a) Applicability. Unless otherwise provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation or required by the Delaware General Corporation
Law, the following provisions of this Section 1.11 shall apply only if and when
the Corporation has a class of voting stock that is: (i) listed on a national
securities exchange; (ii) authorized for quotation on an interdealer quotation
system of a registered national securities association; or (iii) held of record
by more than 2,000 stockholders; in all other cases, observance of the
provisions of this Section 1.11 shall be optional and at the discretion of the
Corporation.
(b) Appointment. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors of election to act at the meeting
and make a written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more
persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no
inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person
presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting.
(c) Inspector's Oath. Each inspector of election, before entering upon
the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute
the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of
his ability.
(d) Duties of Inspectors. At a meeting of stockholders, the inspectors
of election shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting
power of each share, (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the
validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv)
determine and retain for a reasonable period of time a record of the disposition
of any challenges made to any determination by the inspectors and (v) certify
their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting and their
count of all votes and ballots. The inspectors may appoint or retain other
persons or entities to assist the inspectors in the performance of the duties of
the inspectors.
(e) Opening and Closing of Polls. 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 shall be announced by the inspectors at the meeting. No ballot,
proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto, shall be
accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the Court of
Chancery upon application by a stockholder shall determine otherwise.
(f) Determinations. In determining the validity and counting of proxies
and ballots, the inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies,
any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information provided in
connection with proxies in accordance with Section 212(c)(2) of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the ballots and the regular books and records of the
Corporation, except that the inspectors may consider other reliable information
for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on
behalf of banks,
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brokers, their nominees or similar persons that represent more votes than the
holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than
the stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable
information for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time
they make their certification of their determinations pursuant to this Section
1.11 shall specify the precise information considered by them, including the
person or persons from whom they obtained the information, when the information
was obtained, the means by which the information was obtained and the basis for
the inspectors' belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 1.12: Notice of Stockholder Business; Nominations.
(a) Annual Meeting of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders
shall be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (A) pursuant to the
Corporation's notice of such 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 the notice provided for in this Section 1.12,
who is entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this Section 1.12.
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought
before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of subparagraph
(a)(i) of this Section 1.12, 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 must be delivered to the Secretary at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the
sixtieth (60th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth
(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 thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (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 ninetieth (90th) day
prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the close of
business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement
of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. 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 information relating to
such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act"), 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, (1) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on
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the Corporation's books, and of such beneficial owner and (2) the class and
number of shares of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and held of
record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of
subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.12 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 seventy (70) days prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting (or, if the annual meeting is held more than
thirty (30) days before or sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, at least
seventy (70) days prior to such annual meeting), a stockholder's notice required
by this Section 1.12 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 of the Corporation at the principal executive office
of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (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 such 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 such meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (ii) 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 of
the special meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12. 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 subparagraph (a)(ii) of this Section 1.12 shall
be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation not earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to
such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of
the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day
following the day on which 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.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 1.12 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 Section 1.12. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
Bylaws, 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 Section 1.12
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and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance herewith, to
declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 1.12, the term "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 sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section
1.12, 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 herein. Nothing in this Section 1.12 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.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1: Number; Qualifications. The Board of Directors shall
consist of one or more members. The initial number of directors shall be five
(5), and thereafter shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board
of Directors. No decrease in the authorized number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. Directors
need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
Section 2.2: Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board of
Directors shall initially consist of the person or persons elected by the
incorporator or named in the Corporation's initial Certificate of Incorporation.
Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his or
her earlier death, resignation or removal. Any director may resign at any time
upon written notice to the Corporation. Subject to the rights of any holders of
Preferred Stock then outstanding: (i) 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 and (ii) any
vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors for any cause, and any newly created
directorship resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors
to be elected by all stockholders having the right to vote as a single class,
shall be filled only by a majority vote of the directors then in office, though
less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and any director so chosen
shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders
and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualified.
Section 2.3: Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware,
and at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Notice of regular meetings need not be given if the date, times and places
thereof are fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
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Section 2.4: Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a
majority of the members of the Board of Directors then in office and may be held
at any time, date or place, within or without the State of Delaware, as the
person or persons calling the meeting shall fix. Notice of the time, date and
place of such meeting shall be given, orally or in writing, by the person or
persons calling the meeting to all directors at least four (4) days before the
meeting if the notice is mailed, or at least twenty-four (24) hours before the
meeting if such notice is given by telephone, hand-delivery, telegram, telex,
mailgram, facsimile or similar communication method. Unless otherwise indicated
in the notice, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.
Section 2.5: Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of
Directors, or any committee of the Board, may participate in a meeting of the
Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to
conference telephone or similar communications equipment shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.6: Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the
Board of Directors a majority of the total number of authorized directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise
provided herein or in the Certificate of Incorporation, or required by law, the
vote of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.7: Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence by the
President, or in his or her absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The
Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his or her absence, the
chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.
Section 2.8: Written Action by Directors. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any
committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or
such 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,
respectively.
Section 2.9: Powers. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise
required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, exercise all such powers
and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation.
Section 2.10: Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, may
receive, pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors, fees and other
compensation for their services as directors, including without limitation their
services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.1: 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 a member of the committee, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting of such committee who are not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum,
may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee,
to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and
may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the
seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers that may require it; but no
such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the
Certificate of Incorporation (except that a committee may, to the extent
authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares
of stock adopted by the Board of Directors as provided in subsection (a) of
Section 151 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, fix the designations and
any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends,
redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation, or the
conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class
or classes or any other series of the same or any other class or classes of
stock of the Corporation, or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or
authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an
agreement of merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or
exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation's property and assets,
recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a
revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and
unless the resolution of the Board of Directors expressly so provides, no such
committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, authorize the
issuance of stock or adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to
section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 3.2: Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise
provides, each committee designated by the Board may make, alter and repeal
rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules, each
committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of
Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article II of these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1: Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall consist
of a Chief Executive Officer and/or a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers, including a Chairman of the
Board of Directors and/or Chief Financial Officer, as may from time to time be
appointed by the Board of Directors. All officers shall be elected by the Board
of Directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may empower the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation to appoint officers other than the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief
Financial Officer or the Treasurer. Each officer shall hold office until his or
her successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation
or removal. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. Any officer
may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any vacancy
occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or
otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2: Chief Executive Officer. Subject to the control of the
Board of Directors and such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the
Board of Directors, the powers and duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation are:
(a) To act as the general manager and, subject to the control of the
Board of Directors, to have general supervision, direction and control of the
business and affairs of the Corporation;
(b) To preside at all meetings of the stockholders;
(c) To call meetings of the stockholders to be held at such times and,
subject to the limitations prescribed by law or by these Bylaws, at such places
as he or she shall deem proper; and
(d) To affix the signature of the Corporation to all deeds,
conveyances, mortgages, guarantees, leases, obligations, bonds, certificates and
other papers and instruments in writing which have been authorized by the Board
of Directors or which, in the judgment of the Chief Executive Officer, should be
executed on behalf of the Corporation; to sign certificates for shares of stock
of the Corporation; and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, to
have general charge of the property of the Corporation and to supervise and
control all officers, agents and employees of the Corporation.
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation unless the
Board of Directors shall designate another officer to be the Chief Executive
Officer. If there is no President, and the Board of Directors has not designated
any other officer to be the Chief Executive Officer, then the Chairman of the
Board shall be the Chief Executive Officer.
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Section 4.3: Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall
have the power to preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall
have such other powers and duties as provided in these bylaws and as the Board
of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.4: President. The President shall be the Chief Executive
Officer of the Corporation unless the Board of Directors shall have designated
another officer as the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. Subject to
the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors,
and subject to the supervisory powers of the Chief Executive Officer (if the
Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the President), and subject to
such supervisory powers and authority as may be given by the Board of Directors
to the Chairman of the Board and/or to any other officer, the President shall
have the responsibility for the general management and control of the business
and affairs of the Corporation and the general supervision and direction of all
of the officers, employees and agents of the Corporation (other than the Chief
Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is an officer other than the
President) and shall perform all duties and have all powers that are commonly
incident to the office of president or that are delegated to the President by
the Board of Directors.
Section 4.5: Vice President. Each Vice President shall have all such
powers and duties as are commonly incident to the office of Vice President or
that are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer. A Vice President may be designated by the Board to perform
the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer in the event
of the Chief Executive Officer's absence or disability.
Section 4.6: Chief Financial Officer. Subject to the direction of the
Board of Directors and the President, the Chief Financial Officer shall perform
all duties and have all powers that are commonly incident to the office of chief
financial officer.
Section 4.7: Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of all monies
and securities of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall make such disbursements
of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to
time an account of all such transactions. The Treasurer shall also perform such
other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the office
of a treasurer or as the Board of Directors or the President may from time to
time prescribe.
Section 4.8: Secretary. The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued
all authorized notices for, and shall keep or cause to be kept, minutes of all
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Secretary shall
have charge of the corporate minute books and similar records and shall perform
such other duties and have such other powers as are commonly incident to the
office of secretary or as the Board of Directors or the President may from time
to time prescribe.
Section 4.9: Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from
time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers
or agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
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Section 4.10: Removal. Any officer of the Corporation shall serve at
the pleasure of the Board of Directors and may be removed at any time, with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall be without
prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the
Corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
Section 5.1: Certificates. Every holder of stock shall be entitled to
have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman
or Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or a Vice
President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by such stockholder in the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on
the certificate may be a facsimile.
Section 5.2: Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of
New Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate previously issued by it that is alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner's legal representative, to
agree to indemnify the Corporation and/or to give the Corporation a bond
sufficient to indemnify it 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 such new certificate.
Section 5.3: Other Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and
registration of stock certificates shall be governed by such other regulations
as the Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 6.1: Indemnification of Officers and Directors. Each person who
was or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, or is
involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (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 a Reincorporated Predecessor (as
defined below) or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or a
Reincorporated Predecessor (as defined below) as a director or officer of
another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted
by the Delaware General Corporation Law against all expenses, liability and loss
(including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes and penalties
and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably
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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 or
officer and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and
administrators; provided, however, that the Corporation shall indemnify any such
person seeking indemnity 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 of the Corporation; provided, further, that
the Corporation shall not be required to indemnify a person for amounts paid in
settlement of a proceeding unless the Corporation consents in writing to such a
settlement (such consent not to be unreasonably withheld). As used herein, the
term "Reincorporated Predecessor" means a corporation that is merged with and
into the Corporation in a statutory merger where (a) the Corporation is the
surviving corporation of such merger and (b) the primary purpose of such merger
is to change the corporate domicile of the Reincorporated Predecessor to
Delaware.
Section 6.2: Advance of Expenses. The Corporation shall pay all
expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by such a director or officer in
defending any such proceeding as such expenses are incurred in advance of its
final disposition; provided, however, that if the Delaware General Corporation
Law then so requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by such a director
or officer in advance of the final disposition of such 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 should be determined
ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under
this Article VI or otherwise; and provided, further, that the Corporation shall
not be required to advance any expenses to a person against whom the Corporation
directly brings a claim, in a proceeding, alleging that such person has breached
his or her duty of loyalty to the Corporation, committed an act or omission not
in good faith or that involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of
law, or derived an improper personal benefit from a transaction.
Section 6.3: Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any
person in this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other right that such
person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaw, agreement, vote or consent of stockholders
or disinterested directors, or otherwise. Additionally, nothing in this Article
VI shall limit the ability of the Corporation, in its discretion, to indemnify
or advance expenses to persons whom the Corporation is not obligated to
indemnify or advance expenses pursuant to this Article VI.
Section 6.4: Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is
authorized to cause the Corporation to enter into indemnification contracts with
any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or any person
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including employee benefit plans, providing indemnification and
related rights to such person. Such rights may be greater than those provided in
this Article VI.
Section 6.5: Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification
of any provision of this Article VI shall be prospective only, and shall not
adversely affect any right or
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protection conferred on a person pursuant to this Article VI and existing at the
time of such amendment, repeal or modification.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
Section 7.1: Notice. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein
or required by law, all notices required to be given pursuant to these Bylaws
shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand
delivery (including use of a delivery service), by depositing such notice in the
mail, postage prepaid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram, telex,
overnight express courier, mailgram or facsimile. Any such notice shall be
addressed to the person to whom notice is to be given at such person's address
as it appears on the records of the Corporation. The notice shall be deemed
given (i) in the case of hand delivery, when received by the person to whom
notice is to be given or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such
person, (ii) in the case of delivery by mail, upon deposit in the mail, (iii) in
the case of delivery by overnight express courier, on the first business day
after such notice is dispatched, and (iv) in the case of delivery via telegram,
telex, mailgram, or facsimile, when dispatched.
Section 7.2: Waiver of Notice. Whenever notice is required to be given
under any provision of these Bylaws, a written waiver of notice, signed by the
person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein,
shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends 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 stockholders, directors or members of a
committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
ARTICLE VIII
INTERESTED DIRECTORS
Section 8.1: Interested Directors; Quorum. No contract or transaction
between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between
the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof that authorizes
the contract or transaction, or solely because his, her or their votes are
counted for such purpose, if: (i) the material facts as to his, her or their
relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or
are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board or committee
in good faith authorizes the
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contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the
disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a
quorum; (ii) the material facts as to his, her or their relationship or interest
and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the
stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is
specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the
contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is
authorized, approved or ratified by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof
or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in
determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or
of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 9.1: Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 9.2: Seal. The Board of Directors may provide for a corporate
seal, which shall have the name of the Corporation inscribed thereon and shall
otherwise be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
Section 9.3: Form of Records. Any records maintained by the Corporation
in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of
account and minute books, may be kept on, or be in the form of, magnetic tape,
diskettes, photographs, microphotographs or any other information storage
device, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible
form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so convert any records so
kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.
Section 9.4: Reliance Upon Books and Records. A member of the Board of
Directors, or a member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors
shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation's
officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other
person as to matters the member reasonably believes are within such other
person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 9.5: Certificate of Incorporation Governs. In the event of any
conflict between the provisions of the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation and Bylaws, the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
shall govern.
Section 9.6: Severability. If any provision of these Bylaws shall be
held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the provisions of
the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, then such provision shall
nonetheless be enforced to the maximum extent possible
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consistent with such holding and the remaining provisions of these Bylaws
(including, without limitation, all portions of any section of these Bylaws
containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal, unenforceable or in
conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation that are not themselves invalid,
illegal, unenforceable or in conflict with the Certificate of Incorporation)
shall remain in full force and effect.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENT
Section 10.1: Amendments. Stockholders of the Corporation holding a
majority of the Corporation's outstanding voting stock shall have the power to
adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws. To the extent provided in the Corporation's
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall
also have the power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation, except
insofar as Bylaws adopted by the stockholders shall otherwise provide.
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Exhibit 99.1
NOT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: CONTACT:
Jim Pangburn
Edify Corporation
[email protected]
(408) 982-4000
EDIFY CORPORATION ADOPTS STOCKHOLDER RIGHTS PLAN
SANTA CLARA, CALIF., AUGUST 10, 1998 - Edify Corporation (Nasdaq:
EDFY), today announced that its Board of Directors has adopted a stockholder
rights plan designed to protect the long-term value of the company for its
stockholders during any future unsolicited acquisition attempt.
The plan is designed to give Edify's Board of Directors sufficient time
to study and respond to an unsolicited tender offer or other attempted
acquisition. Adoption of the plan was not made in response to any specific
attempt to acquire Edify or its shares, and Edify is not aware of any current
efforts to do so.
In connection with the plan, the Board declared a dividend of one
preferred share purchase right for each share of the Company's common stock
outstanding on August 14, 1998 (the "Record Date") and further directed the
issuance of one such right with respect to each share of the Company's common
stock that is issued after the Record Date, except in certain circumstances. The
rights will expire on August 10, 2008.
The rights are initially attached to the Company's common stock and
will not trade separately. If a person or a group (an "Acquiring Person")
acquires 20 percent or more of the Company's common stock, or announces an
intention to make a tender offer for the Company's common stock the consummation
of which would result in a person or group becoming an Acquiring Person, then
the rights will be distributed (the "Distribution Date") and will thereafter
trade separately from the common stock.
After the Distribution Date, each right may be exercised for 1/100th of
a share of a newly designated Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock at
an exercise price of
<PAGE> 2
$70.00. The preferred stock has been structured so that the value of 1/100th of
a share of such preferred stock will approximate the value of one share of
common stock.
Upon a person becoming an Acquiring Person, holders of the rights
(other than the Acquiring Person) will have the right to acquire shares of the
Company's common stock at a substantially discounted price.
Additionally, if a person becomes an Acquiring Person and the Company
is acquired in a merger or other business combination, or 50 percent or more of
its assets are sold in a transaction with an Acquiring Person, the holders of
rights (other than the Acquiring Person) will have the right to receive shares
of common stock of the acquiring corporation at a substantially discounted
price.
After a person has become an Acquiring Person, the Company's Board of
Directors may, at its option, require the exchange of outstanding rights (other
than those held by the Acquiring Person) for common stock at an exchange ratio
of one share of the Company's common stock per right.
The Board may redeem outstanding rights at any time prior to a person
becoming an Acquiring Person at a price of $0.001 per right. Prior to such time,
the terms of the rights may be amended by the Board.
EDIFY AMENDS BYLAWS
In connection with the adoption of its stockholder rights plan, the
Board of Directors also amended two provisions of Edify's Bylaws. Special
meetings of Edify stockholders may now only be called by the Chairman of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or by a majority of the Board
of Directors. Additionally, vacancies on the Board of Directors may now be
filled until the next annual meeting of stockholders only by majority vote of
the directors then in office.
ABOUT EDIFY CORPORATION
Edify Corporation is a leading provider of enterprise self service
solutions used by Global 2000 organizations to deploy automated service
solutions via the Internet,
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corporate intranets and the telephone. Edify's self service solutions offer
organizations the means to automate, integrate and personalize interactions with
customers and employees, yielding stronger, more profitable relationships. The
company's software has been licensed to more than 1,100 organizations worldwide.
Edify software is distributed directly and through leading solutions providers,
application partners and distributors worldwide. With 390 employees, Edify
Corporation is headquartered in Santa Clara, California. Additional information
about Edify may be obtained by calling 408-982-2000 or via the World Wide Web at
http://www.edify.com.
###
Edify is a registered trademark of Edify Corporation.
