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EXHIBIT 3.3
SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
BYLAW AMENDMENT
ADOPTED
September 18, 2000
Last sentence of Section 2.9 of ARTICLE IV of the Bylaws concerning the voting
power of capital stock is deleted in its entirety.
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SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
BYLAW AMENDMENT ADOPTED
September 18, 2000
Last sentence of Section 4.1 of ARTICLE IV of the Bylaws is amended and
restated in its entirety as follows:
"Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the board of
directors or in the bylaws of the corporation, shall have and may exercise all
the powers and authority of the board of directors in the management of the
business and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the
corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such
committee shall have the power or authorize in reference to the following
matter: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any
action or matter expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law to
be submitted to stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or
repealing any bylaw of the corporation."
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BYLAWS
OF
SUPERCONDUCTOR TECHNOLOGIES INC.
ARTICLE I
CORPORATE OFFICES
1.1 REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office of the corporation shall be in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware. The name of the registered
agent of the corporation at such location is The Corporation Trust Company.
1.2 OTHER OFFICES
The board of directors may at any time establish other offices at any
place or places where the corporation is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 PLACE OF MEETINGS
Meetings of stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside
the State of Delaware, designated by the board of directors. In the absence of
any such designation, stockholders' meetings shall be held at the registered
office of the corporation.
2.2 ANNUAL MEETING
The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year on a date and
at a time designated by the board of directors. At the meeting, directors shall
be elected and any other proper business may be transacted.
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2.3 SPECIAL MEETING
A special meeting of the stockholders may be called at any time by the
board of directors, the chairman of the board, the president, the chief
executive officer or one or more stockholders holding shares in the aggregate
entitled to cast not less than ten percent of the votes at that meeting (the
"10% Stockholders"); provided that, notwithstanding the above and any provision
contained in these bylaws to the contrary, effective upon such time as (i)
shares of capital stock of the corporation are designated as qualified for
trading as National Market System securities on the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation System (or any successor national
market system), and (ii) the corporation has at least 800 holders of shares of
its capital stock, the 10% Stockholders shall no longer be entitled to call such
meeting.
If a special meeting is called by any person or persons other than the
board of directors, the request shall be in writing, specifying the time of such
meeting and the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted, and
shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by telegraphic or
other facsimile transmission to the chairman of the board, the president, chief
executive officer or the secretary of the corporation. No business may be
transacted at such special meeting otherwise than specified in such notice. The
officer receiving the request shall cause notice to be promptly given to the
stockholders entitled to vote, in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.4
and 2.5, that a meeting will be held at the time requested by the person or
persons who called the meeting, not less than 35 nor more than 60 days after the
receipt of the request. If the notice is not given within 20 days after the
receipt of the request, the person or persons requesting the meeting may give
the notice. Nothing contained in this paragraph of this Section 2.3 shall be
construed as limiting, fixing, or affecting the time when a meeting of
stockholders called by action of the board of directors may be held.
2.4 NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS
All notices of meetings with stockholders shall be in writing and shall be
sent or otherwise given in accordance with Section 2.6 of these bylaws not less
than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting. The notice shall specify the place, date, and
hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called.
2.5 ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES AND STOCKHOLDER BUSINESS
To be properly brought before an annual meeting or special meeting,
nominations for the election of director or other business must be (a) specified
in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the
direction of the board of directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (c) otherwise
properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For such nominations or
other business to be considered properly brought before the meeting by a
stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice and in proper form
of his intent to bring such business before such meeting. To be
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timely, such stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received
by the secretary of the corporation not less than 90 days prior to the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than 100 days notice or prior
public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders,
notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the
close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of
the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. To be in
proper form, a stockholder's notice to the secretary shall set forth:
(i) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make
the nominations, propose the business, and, as the case may
be, the name and address of the person or persons to be
nominated or the nature of the business to be proposed;
(ii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record
of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting
and, if applicable, intends to appear in person or by proxy
at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in
the notice or introduce the business specified in the notice;
(iii) if applicable, a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and
any other person or persons (naming such person or persons)
pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be
made by the stockholder;
(iv) such other information regarding such nominee or each matter
of business to be proposed by such stockholder as would be
required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant
to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission
had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated,
or the matter been proposed, or intended to be proposed by
the board of directors; and
(v) if applicable, the consent of each nominee to serve as
director of the corporation if so elected.
The chairman of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of
any person or the proposal of any business not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedure.
2.6 MANNER OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
Written notice of any meeting of stockholders, if mailed, is given when
deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the
stockholder at his address as it appears on the
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records of the corporation. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant
secretary or of the transfer agent of the corporation that the notice has been
given shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facia evidence of the facts
stated therein.
2.7 QUORUM
The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stock holders for the transaction of
business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation. If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any
meeting of the stockholders, then either (i) the chairman of the meeting, or
(ii) the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to
time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is
present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present
or represented, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted
at the meeting as originally noticed.
When a quorum is present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the
holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or
represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting,
unless the question is one upon which, be express provisions of the statutes or
of the certificate of incorporation, a different vote is required, in which
case such express provisions shall govern and control the decision of the
question.
2.8 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, unless these
bylaws otherwise require, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if
the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment
is taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business
that might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is
for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
2.9 VOTING
The stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall
be determined in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.12 and 2.14 of
these bylaws, subject to the provisions of Sections 217 and 218 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware (relating to voting rights of fiduciaries, pledgors
and joint owners of stock and to voting trusts and other voting agreements.
Except as may be otherwise provided in the certificate of
incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote of each share of
capital stock held by such stockholder.
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2.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, a written waiver thereof, 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 need be specified in any written waiver of notice
unless so required by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws.
2.11 STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action
required by this chapter to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders of a corporation, or any action that may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without
prior notice, and without a vote if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action so taken, is signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less
than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take
such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted.
Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
have not consented in writing. If the action which is consented to is such as
would have required the filing of a certificate under any section of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware if such action had been voted on by
stockholders at a meeting thereof, then the certificate filed under such
section shall state, in lieu of any statement required by such section
concerning any vote of stockholders, that written notice and written consent
have been given as provided in Section 228 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, effective upon the closing of the
corporation's initial public offering of securities pursuant to a registration
statement file under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the stockholders
of the corporation may not take action by written consent without a meeting but
must take any such actions at a duly called annual or special meeting.
2.12 RECORD DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE; VOTING; GIVING CONSENTS
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 entitled 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
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may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 nor less
than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to
any other action.
If the board of directors does not so fix a record date, the fixing of
such record date shall be governed by the provisions of Section 213 of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware.
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.
2.13 PROXIES
Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to
express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by a written proxy, signed
by the stockholder and filed with the secretary of the corporation, but no such
proxy shall be voted or acted upon after 3 years from its date, unless the
proxy provides for a longer period. A proxy shall be deemed signed if the
stockholder's name is placed on the proxy (whether by manual signature,
typewriting, telegraphic transmission or otherwise) by the stockholder or the
stockholder's attorney-in-fact. The revocability of a proxy that states on its
face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section
212(c) of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
2.14 LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE
The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of a corporation shall
prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open
to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 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 stock ledger shall
also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole
time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. The stock
ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to
examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or the books of the
corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders
and of the number of shares held by each such stockholder.
2.15 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the chairman of the
board, if any, or in his absence by the president, or in his absence by a vice
president, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated
by the board of directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman
chosen at the meeting. The secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but
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absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary
of the meeting. The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the
order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such matters as
the regulation of the manner of voting and conduct of business.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
3.1 POWERS
Subject to the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware
and any limitations in the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws
relating to action required to be approved by the stockholders or by the
outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be
managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction
of the board of directors.
3.2 NUMBER
The number of directors of the corporation shall be nine. No reduction of
the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of resolving any
director before the director's term of office expires.
3.3 ELECTION, QUALIFICATION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
Except as provided in Section 3.4 of these bylaws, at each annual meeting
of stockholders, directors of the corporation shall be elected to hold office
until the expiration of the term for which they are elected, and until their
successors have been duly elected and qualified; except that if any such
election shall not be so held, such election shall take place at a
stockholders' meeting called and held in accordance with the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
Directors need not be stockholders unless so required by the certificate
of incorporation or these bylaws, wherein other qualifications for directors
may be prescribed.
Elections of directors need not be by written ballot.
3.4 RESIGNATION AND VACANCIES
Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the
corporation. Stockholders may remove directors with or without cause. Any
vacancy occurring in the board of directors with or without cause may be filed
by a majority of the remaining members of the board of directors, although such
majority is less than a quorum, or by a plurality of the votes cast at a
meeting of stock-
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holders, and each director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of
the term of office of the director whom he has replaced.
Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws:
3.4.1 Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors elected by all of the
stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or
by a sole remaining director.
3.4.2 Whenever the holders of any class or classes of stock or series
thereof are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of
the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships
of such class or classes or series may be filled by a majority of the
directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in
office, or by a sole remaining director so elected.
If at any time, by reason of death or resignation or other cause, the
corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer or any
stockholder or an executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of a
stockholder, or other fiduciary entrusted with like responsibility for the
person or estate of a stockholder, may apply to the Court of Chancery for a
decree summarily ordering an election as provided in Section 211 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware.
If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship,
the directors then in office constitute less than a majority of the whole board
(as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), then the Court of
Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at
least 10% of the total number of the shares at the time outstanding having the
right to vote for such directors, summarily order an election to be held to
fill any such vacancies or newly created directorships, or to replace the
directors chosen by the directors then in office as aforesaid, which election
shall be governed by the provisions of Section 211 of the General Corporation
Law of Delaware as far as applicable.
3.5 PLACE OF MEETINGS; MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
The board of directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular
and special, either within or outside the State of Delaware.
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these
bylaws, members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by the
board of directors, may participate in a meeting of the board of directors, or
any 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 such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in
person at the meeting.
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3.6 FIRST MEETINGS
The first meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be
held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of the stockholders
at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the
newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a
quorum shall be present. In the event of the failure of the stockholders to fix
the time or place of such first meeting of the newly elected board of
directors, or in the event such meeting is not held at the time and place so
fixed by the stockholders, the meeting may be held at such time and place as
shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special
meetings of the board of directors, or as shall be specified in a written
waiver signed by all of the directors.
3.7 REGULAR MEETINGS
Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice at
such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the
board.
3.8 SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE
Special meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes
may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, any vice
president, the secretary or any two directors.
Notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally or by telephone to each director or sent by first-class mail or
telegram, charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's
address as it is shown on the records of the corporation. If the notice is
mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail at least 4 days before
the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is delivered personally
or by telephone or by telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by
telephone or to the telegraph company at least 48 hours before the time of the
holding of the meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone may be
communicated either to the director or to a person at the office of the director
who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly communicate
it to the director. The notice need not specify the purpose of the place of the
meeting, if the meeting is to be held at the principal executive office of the
corporation.
3.9 QUORUM
At all meetings of the board of directors, a majority of the authorized
number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business
and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which
there is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors, except as may be
otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the certificate of
incorporation.
3.10 WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever notice is required to be given under any provision of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the certificate of incorporation or
these bylaws, a written waiver thereof, 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
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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
directors, or members of a committee of directors, need be specified in any
written waiver of notice unless so required by the certificate of incorporation
or these bylaws.
3.11 ADJOURNED MEETING; NOTICE
If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the board of directors,
then the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is
present.
3.12 CONDUCT OF BUSINESS
Meetings of the board of directors shall be presided over by the
chairman of the board, if any, or in his absence by the chief executive
officer, or in their absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The secretary
shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence the chairman of the
meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting. The chairman
of any meeting shall determine the order of business and the procedures at the
meeting.
3.13 BOARD ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of
the board of directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a
meeting if all members of the board or committee, as the case may be, consent
thereto in writing and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the board or committee.
3.14 FEES AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or
these bylaws, the board of directors shall have the authority to fix the
compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of
attendance at each meeting of the board of directors and may be paid a fixed
sum for attendance at each meeting of the board of directors or a stated salary
as director. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the
corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members
of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for
attending committee meetings.
3.15 APPROVAL OF LOANS TO OFFICERS
The corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or
otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of its
subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a director of the
corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such
loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the
corporation. The loan,
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guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest and may be
unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board of directors shall approve,
including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock of the corporation.
Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to deny, limit or restrict the
powers of guaranty or warranty of the corporation at common law or under any
statute.
3.16 REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS
Unless otherwise restricted by statute, by the certificate of
incorporation or by these bylaws, 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. If at any time a class
or series of shares is entitled to elect one or more directors, the provisions
of this Article 3.16 shall apply to the vote of that class or series and not to
the vote of the outstanding shares as a whole.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the
effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of such director's term
of office.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
4.1 COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the
whole board, designate one or more committees, with each committee to consist of
one or more of the directors of the corporation. The board may designate one or
more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or
disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof
present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or
they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the board of
directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified
member. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the
board of directors or in the bylaws of the corporation, 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 to (i) amend 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 Section 151(a) of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware, fix 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), (ii) adopt an agreement of
merger or consolidation under Sections 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law
of Delaware, (iii) recommend to the stockholders the sale, lease, or exchange of
all or substantially all of the corporation's property and assets, (iv)
recommend to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation
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or a revocation of a dissolution, or (v) amend the bylaws of the corporation;
and, unless the board resolution establishing the committee, the bylaws or the
certificate of incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have
the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of
stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section
253 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
4.2 COMMITTEE MINUTES
Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the
same to the board of directors when required.
4.3 MEETINGS AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
Meetings and actions of committees shall be governed by, and held and
taken in accordance with, the provisions of Article III of these bylaws,
Section 3.5 (place of meetings and meetings by telephone), Section 3.7 (regular
meetings), Section 3.8 (special meetings and notice), Section 3.9 (quorum),
Section 3.10 (waiver of notice), Section 3.11 (adjournment and notice of
adjournment), Section 3.12 (conduct of business) and 3.13 (action without a
meeting), with such changes in the context of those bylaws as are necessary to
substitute the committee and its members for the board of directors and its
members; provided, however, that the time of regular meetings of committees may
also be called by resolution of the board of directors and that notice of
special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members,
who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The board of
directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not inconsistent
with the provisions of these bylaws.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
5.1 OFFICERS
The officers of the corporation shall be a chief executive officer, one or
more vice presidents, a secretary and a chief financial officer. The
corporation may also have, at the discretion of the board of directors, a
chairman of the board, a president, a chief operating officer, one or more
executive, senior or assistant vice presidents, assistant secretaries and any
such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of
Section 5.2 of these bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person.
5.2 ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Except as otherwise provided in this Section 5.2, the officers of the
corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors, subject to the rights,
if any, of an officer under any contract of employment. The board of directors
may appoint, or empower an officer to appoint, such officers
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and agents of the business as the corporation may require (whether or not such
officer or agent is described in this Article V), each of whom shall hold
office for such period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are
provided in these bylaws or as the board of directors may from time to time
determine. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be
filled by the board of directors or may be filled by the officer, if any, who
appointed such officer.
5.3 REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
Subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of
employment, any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by an
affirmative vote of the majority of the board of directors at any regular or
special meeting of the board or, except in the case of an officer chosen by the
board of directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal may be
conferred by the board of directors or, in the case of an officer appointed by
another officer, by such other officer.
Any officer may resign, at any time by giving written notice to the
corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of
that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless
otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not
be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the
rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the officer is a
party.
5.4 CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
The chairman of the board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if
present, preside at meetings of the board of directors and exercise and perform
such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the
board of directors or as may be prescribed by these bylaws. If there is no
chief executive officer, then the chairman of the board shall also be the chief
executive officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties
prescribed in Section 5.5 of these bylaws.
5.5 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
The chief executive officer of the corporation shall, subject to the
control of the board of directors, have general supervision, direction and
control of the business and the officers of the corporation. He or she shall
preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence or nonexistence
of a chairman of the board at all meetings of the board of directors. He or she
shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the
chief executive officer of a corporation, including general supervision,
direction and control of the business and supervision of other officers of the
corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed
by the board of directors or these bylaws.
The chief executive officer shall, without limitation, have the authority
to execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the
seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be
otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution
thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other
officer or agent of the corporation.
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5.6 PRESIDENT
Subject to such supervisory powers as may be given by these bylaws or the
board of directors to the chairman of the board or the chief executive officer,
if there be such officers, the president shall have general supervision,
direction and control of the business and supervision of other officers of the
corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed
by the board of directors or these bylaws. In the event a chief executive
officer shall not be appointed, the president shall have the duties of such
office.
5.7 VICE PRESIDENT
In the absence or disability of the president, the vice presidents, if any,
in order of their rank as fixed by the board of directors or, if not ranked, a
vice president designated by the board of directors, shall perform all the
duties of the chief executive officer and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the chief executive
officer. The vice presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other
duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the board
of directors, these bylaws, the chief executive officer or the chairman of the
board.
5.8 SECRETARY
The secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or such other place as the board of directors may
direct, a book of minutes of all meetings and actions of directors, committees
of directors, and stockholders. The minutes shall show the time and place of
each meeting, whether regular or special (and, if special, how authorized and
the notice given), the names of those present at directors' meetings or
committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at
stockholders' meetings, and the proceedings thereof.
The secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive
office of the corporation or at the office of the corporation's transfer agent
or registrar, as determined by resolution of the board of directors, a share
register, or a duplicate share register, showing the names of all stockholders
and their addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number
and date of certificates evidencing such shares, and the number and date of
cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of
the stockholders and of the board of directors required to be given by law or by
these bylaws. He shall keep the seal of the corporation, if one be adopted, in
safe custody and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the board of directors or by these bylaws.
5.9 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
The chief financial officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept
and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the
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corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts,
disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings and shares. The books
of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.
The chief financial officer shall deposit all money and other valuables in
the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be
designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, shall render to the
chief executive officer and directors, whenever they request it, an account of
all of his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the
corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the board of directors or these bylaws.
5.10 ASSISTANT SECRETARY
The assistant secretary, or, if there is more than one, the assistant
secretaries in the order determined by the stockholders or board of directors
(or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election)
shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his or her inability
or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary
and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of
directors or the stockholders may from time to time prescribe.
5.11 AUTHORITY AND DUTIES OF OFFICERS
In addition to the foregoing authority and duties, all officers of the
corporation shall respectively have such authority and perform such duties in
the management of business of the corporation as may be designated from time to
time by the board of directors or the stockholders.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNITY
5.1 INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
The corporation shall, to the maximum extent and in the manner permitted
by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, indemnify each of its directors and
officers against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines,
settlements, and other amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection
with any proceeding, arising by reason of the fact that such person is or was
an agent of the corporation. For purposes of this Section 6.1, a "director" or
"officer" of the corporation includes any person (i) who is or was a director
or officer of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request of the
corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was a director or officer of a
corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of
another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
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6.2 INDEMNIFICATION OF OTHERS
The corporation shall have the power, to the extent and in the manner
permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, to indemnify each of its
employees and agents (other than directors and officers) against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines, settlements, and other amounts
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with any proceeding, arising by
reason of the fact that such person is or was an agent of the corporation. For
purposes of this Section 6.2, an "employee" or "agent" of the corporation
(other than a director or officer) includes any person (i) who is or was an
employee or agent of the corporation, (ii) who is or was serving at the request
of the corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or (iii) who was an employee or agent
of a corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or of
another enterprise at the request of such predecessor corporation.
6.3 INSURANCE
The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any
person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him
in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under
the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
ARTICLE VII
RECORDS AND REPORTS
7.1 MAINTENANCE AND INSPECTION OF RECORDS
The corporation shall, either at its principal executive office or at such
place or places as designated by the board of directors, keep a record of its
stockholders listing their names and addresses and the number and class of
shares held by each stockholder, a copy of these bylaws as amended to date,
accounting books, and other records.
Any stockholder of record, in person or by attorney or other agent, shall,
upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right
during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other books and
records and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper purpose shall mean a
purpose reasonably related to such person's interest as a stockholder. In every
instance where an attorney or other agent is the person who seeks the right to
inspection, the demand under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney
or such other writing that authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on
behalf of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the
corporation at its registered office in Delaware or at its principal place of
business.
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7.2 INSPECTION BY DIRECTORS
Any directors shall have the right to examine the corporation's stock
ledger, a list of its stockholders and its other books and records for a
purpose reasonably related to his position as a director. The Court of
Chancery is hereby vested with the exclusive jurisdiction to determine whether
a director is entitled to the inspection sought. The Court may summarily
order the corporation to permit the director to inspect any and all books and
records, the stock ledger, and the stock list and to make copies or extracts
therefrom. The Court may, in its discretion, prescribe any limitations or
conditions with reference to the inspection, or award such other and further
relief as the Court may deem just and proper.
7.3 REPRESENTATION OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
The chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, any vice
president, the chief financial officer, the secretary or assistant secretary of
this corporation, or any other person authorized by the board of directors or
the chief executive officer or a vice president, is authorized to vote,
represent, and exercise on behalf of this corporation all rights incident to
any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations standing in the
name of this corporation. The authority granted herein may be exercised either
by such person directly or by any other person authorized to do so by proxy or
power of attorney duly executed by such person having the authority.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL MATTERS
8.1 CHECKS
From time to time, the board of directors shall determine by resolution
which person or persons may sign or endorse all checks, drafts, other orders
for payment of money, notes or other evidence of indebtedness that are issued
in the name of or payable to the corporation, and only the person so authorized
shall sign or endorse those instruments.
8.2 EXECUTION OF CORPORATE CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS
The board of directors, except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, may
authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
corporation; such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Unless so authorized or ratified by the board of directors or within the agency
power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or
authority to bind the corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge
its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
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8.3 STOCK CERTIFICATES; PARTLY PAID SHARES
The shares of a corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided
that the board of directors of the corporation may provide by resolution or
resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall
be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares
represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the board of
directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates and upon request
every holder of uncertificated shares 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 vice-president, and by the
treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary
of such corporation representing the number of shares registered in certificate
form. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In
case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon a certificate has caused to be such officer,
transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued
by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer
agent or registrar at the date of issue.
The corporation may issue the whole or any part of its shares as partly
paid and subject to call for the remainder of the consideration to be paid
therefor. Upon the face or back of each stock certificate issued to represent
any such partly paid shares, upon the books and records of the corporation in
the case of uncertificated partly paid shares, the total amount of the
consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon shall be stated.
Upon the declaration of any dividend on fully paid shares, the corporation
shall declare a dividend upon partly paid shares of the same class, but only
upon the basis of the percentage of the consideration actually paid thereon.
8.4 SPECIAL DESIGNATION ON CERTIFICATES
If the corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or
more than one series of any class, then the powers, the designations, the
preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special rights
of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided, however, that,
except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate that the corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock a statement that the corporation will furnish
without charge to such stockholder who so request the powers, the designations,
the preferences, and the relative, participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stocks or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
8.5 LOST CERTIFICATES
Except as provided in this Section 8.5, no new certificates for shares
shall be issued to replace a previously issued certificate unless the latter is
surrendered to the corporation and canceled at the same time. The corporation
may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in the place of
any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, and the
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corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate,
or his legal representative, 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 or uncertificated shares.
8.6 CONSTRUCTION, DEFINITIONS
Unless the content requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of
construction, and definitions in the Delaware General Corporation Law shall
govern the construction of these bylaws. Without limiting the generality of
this provision, the singular number includes the plural, the plural number
includes the singular, and the term "person" includes both a corporation and a
natural person.
8.7 DIVIDENDS
The directors of the corporation, subject to any restrictions contained in
the certificate of incorporation, may declare and pay dividends upon the shares
of its capital stock pursuant to the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the corporation's
capital stock.
The directors of the corporation may set apart out of any of the funds of
the corporation available for dividends a reserve or reserves for any proper
purpose and may abolish any such reserve. Such purposes shall include but not
be limited to equalizing dividends, repairing or maintaining any property of
the corporation, and meeting contingencies.
8.8 FISCAL YEAR
The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the
board of directors and may be changed by the board of directors.
8.9 SEAL
The corporation may adopt a corporate seal, which may be altered at
pleasure, and may use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be
impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
8.10 TRANSFER OF STOCK
Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation
of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the
corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate, and record the transaction in its books.
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8.11 STOCK TRANSFER AGREEMENTS
The corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement
with any number of stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the
corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the corporation of
any one or more classes owned by such stockholders in any manner not
prohibited by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
8.12 REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS
The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a
person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and
to vote as such owner, shall be entitled to hold liable for calls and
assessments the person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and
shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim or interest in
such share or shares on the part of another person, whether or not it shall
have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws
of Delaware.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The original or other bylaws of the corporation may be adopted, amended or
repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote; provided, however, that the
corporation may, in its certificate of incorporation, confer the power to
adopt, amend or repeal bylaws upon the directors. The fact that such power has
been so conferred upon the directors shall not divest the stockholders of the
power, nor limit their power to adopt, or repeal bylaws.
ARTICLE X
DISSOLUTION
If it should be deemed advisable in the judgment of the board of directors
of the corporation that the corporation should be dissolved, the board, after
the adoption of a resolution to that effect by a majority of the whole board at
any meeting called for that purpose, shall cause notice to be mailed to each
stockholder entitled to vote thereon of the adoption of the resolution and of a
meeting of stockholders to take action upon the resolution.
At the meeting a vote shall be taken for and against the proposed
dissolution. If a majority of the outstanding stock of the corporation entitled
to vote thereon votes for the proposed dissolution, then a certificate stating
that the dissolution has been authorized in accordance with the provisions of
Section 275 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware and setting forth the
names and residences of the directors and officers shall be executed,
acknowledged, and filed and shall become effective in accordance with Section
103 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware. Upon such certificate's
becoming effective in accordance with Section 103 of the General Corporation
Law of Delaware, the corporation shall be dissolved.
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