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SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
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FORM 8-A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Centennial Technologies, Inc.
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(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)
Delaware 04-2978400
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(State of Incorporation of Organization) (IRS Employer
Identification No.)
7 Lopez Road, Wilmington, Massachusetts 01887
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), please check the following box: / /
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), please check the following box: /x/
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates: ___________ (If applicable)
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which
to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered
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Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:
Common Stock, $.01 par value per share
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(Title of Class)
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
Common Stock
The capital stock of Centennial Technologies, Inc. (the "Registrant")
to be registered is the Registrant's Common Stock, $.01 par value per share (the
"Common Stock").
The following summary of certain provisions of the Common Stock does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by,
(i) the provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended
("Certificate") and Amended and Restated Bylaws and (ii) the provisions of
applicable law.
Subject to the prior rights of any preferred stock which may from time
to time be outstanding, if any, all holders of shares of Common Stock have equal
ratable rights to dividends from funds legally available for dividends, when and
if declared by the Registrant's Board of Directors. The Common Stock has no
terms of conversion, sinking fund provisions or redemption provisions. Each
share of Common Stock held of record entitles the holder thereof to one (1) vote
on all matters, including the election of directors. The Board of Directors is
not classified. All holders of shares of Common Stock are entitled to share
ratably in all of the assets of the Registrant remaining after payment of
liabilities and payment of accrued dividends and liquidation preferences on the
preferred stock, if any, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Registrant's affairs. No shares of preferred stock are outstanding. The Common
Stock has no preemption rights. The holders of the Common Stock have no
liability to further calls or assessment by the Registrant. There is no
provision discriminating against any existing or prospective holder of the
Common Stock as a result of such security holder owning a substantial amount of
Common Stock.
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DELAWARE LAW AND CERTAIN CHARTER AND BYLAW PROVISIONS
The Company is subject to the provisions of Section 203 of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware. Section 203 prohibits a publicly held Delaware
corporation from engaging in a "business combination" with an "interested
stockholder" for a period of three years after the date of the transaction in
which the person became an interested stockholder, unless the business
combination is approved in a prescribed manner. A "business combination"
includes mergers, asset sales and other transactions resulting in a financial
benefit to the interested stockholder. Subject to certain exceptions, an
"interested stockholder" is a person who, together with affiliates and
associates, owns, or within three years did own, 15% or more of the
corporation's voting stock.
The Amended and Restated Bylaws provides that any action required or
permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Company at an annual meeting
or special meeting of stockholders may only be taken if it is properly
brought before such meeting. The Amended and Restated Bylaws further provides
that special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by the Chairman
of the Board or the President or by the President or Secretary at the request
of the majority of the Board of Directors or of stockholders owning a
majority of the voting stock of the Company. Under the Company's Amended and
Restated Bylaws, in order for any matter to be considered "properly brought"
before a meeting, a stockholder must comply with certain requirements
regarding advance notice to the Company. The foregoing provisions could have
the effect of delaying until the next stockholders' meeting stockholder
actions which are favored by the holders of a significant percentage of the
outstanding voting securities of the Company but where less than a majority
has requested that a meeting be held, and could also have the effect of
precluding consideration of a matter favored by stockholders because it was
not timely brought to the Company for inclusion in the agenda for the
stockholders' meeting.
The General Corporation Law of Delaware provides generally that the
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on any matter is
required to amend a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, unless
a corporation's certificate of incorporation or bylaws, as the case may be,
requires a greater percentage. The Certificate requires the affirmative vote of
the holders of at least two-thirds of the shares of capital stock of the Company
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote to amend or repeal any of the
provisions contained therein.
Item 2. Exhibits.
1 Certificate of Incorporation of Centennial Technologies, Inc., as
amended, incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.1 to the Registrant's
Form 10-Q filed on November 2, 1998.
2 Amended and Restated Bylaws of Centennial Technologies, Inc.
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be
signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Date: November 19, 1998 CENTENNIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By: /s/ Donald R. Peck
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Donald R. Peck
Secretary and Treasurer
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Exhibit 2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
CENTENNIAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Article I. Offices.
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation
shall be at The Corporation Trust Company, 1209 Orange Street, in the City of
Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware 19801.
Section 2. Additional Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at
such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board
of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the
Corporation may require.
Article II. Meetings of Stockholders.
Section 1. Time and Place. A meeting of stockholders for any purpose may be
held at such time and place within or without the State of Delaware as shall be
stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. Annual meetings of stockholders, commencing with
the year 1995, shall be held on the second Tuesday in November if not a legal
holiday, or, if a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, at
10:00 a.m., or at such other date and time as shall, from time to time, be
designated by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. At
such annual meetings, the stockholders shall elect a Board of Directors and
transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meetings.
Section 3. Notice of Annual Meeting. Written notice of the annual meeting,
stating the place, date, and time thereof, shall be given to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (unless a longer period is
required by law) nor more than sixty days prior to the meeting.
Section 4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be
called for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by
the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, by the Chairman of the Board, if
any, or the President, and shall be called by the President or Secretary at the
request, in writing, of a majority of the Board of Directors or of the
stockholders owning a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the
purpose of the proposed meeting.
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Section 5. Notice of Special Meeting. Written notice of a special meeting,
stating the place, date, and time thereof and the purpose or purposes for which
the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at
such meeting not less than ten (unless a longer period is required by law) nor
more than sixty days prior to the meeting.
Section 6. List of Stockholders. The transfer agent or the officer in
charge of, the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least
ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the
stockholders 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 ten days prior to the meeting, at a
place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place, if other
than the place of the meeting, shall be specified in the notice of the meeting.
The list shall also be produced and kept at the place of the meeting during the
whole time thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present in
person thereat.
Section 7. Presiding Officer and Order of, Business.
(a) Meetings of stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the
Board. If he is not present or there is none, they shall be presided over by the
President, or, if he is not present or there is none, by a Vice President, or,
if he is not present or there is none, by a person chosen by the Board of
Directors, or, if no such person is present or has been chosen, by a chairman to
be chosen by the stockholders owning a majority of the shares of capital stock
of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting
and who are present in person or represented by proxy. The Secretary of the
Corporation, or, if he is not present, an Assistant Secretary, or, if he is not
present, a person chosen by the Board of Directors, shall act as Secretary at
meetings of stockholders; if no such person is present or has been chosen, the
stockholders owning a majority of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting who are present in
person or represented by proxy shall choose any person present to act as
secretary of the meeting.
(b) The following order of business, unless otherwise determined at the
meeting, shall be observed as far as practicable and consistent with the
purposes of the meeting:
(1) Call of the meeting to order.
(2) Presentation of proof of mailing of the notice of the meeting
and, if the meeting is a special meeting, the call thereof.
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(3) Presentation of proxies.
(4) Announcement that a quorum is present.
(5) Reading and approval of the minutes of the previous meeting.
(6) Reports, if any, of officers.
(7) Election of directors, if the meeting is an annual meeting or a
meeting called for that purpose.
(8) Consideration of the specific purpose or purposes, other than the
election of directors, for which the meeting has been called, if
the meeting is a special meeting.
(9) Transaction of such other business as may properly come before
the meeting.
(10) Adjournment.
Section 8. Quorum and Adjournments. The presence in person or
representation by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
shall be necessary to, and shall constitute a quorum for, the transaction of
business at all meetings of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided by
statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. If, however, a
quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders,
the stockholders entitled to vote thereat who are present in person or
represented by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to
time until a quorum shall be present or represented. If the time and place of
the adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken, no further notice of the adjourned meeting need be given. Even if a
quorum shall be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the
stockholders entitled to vote thereat who are present in person or represented
by proxy shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time for good
cause to a date that is not more than thirty days after the date of the original
meeting. Further notice of the adjourned meeting need not be given if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present in person or
represented by proxy, any business may be transacted that might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally called. If the adjournment is for more
than thirty 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 thereat.
Section 9. Voting.
(a) At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder having the right
to vote shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy. Except as otherwise
provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, each
stockholder of record shall be entitled to one vote for each share of capital
stock registered in his name on the books of the Corporation.
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(b) All elections shall be determined by a plurality vote,
and, except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, as
amended, all other matters shall be determined by a vote of a majority of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy and voting on such other
matters.
Section 10. Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted by law or
the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to be taken at any meeting of
stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice if a written
consent, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
entitled to vote thereon were present or represented-by proxy and voted. Such
written consent shall be filed with the minutes of the meetings of stockholders.
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 thereto.
Section 11. Conduct of Meetings.
(a) Rules, Regulations and Procedures. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for
the conduct of any meeting of stockholders of the Corporation as it shall deem
appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent with such rules, regulations and
procedures as adopted by the Board of Directors, the officer of the Corporation
presiding at any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to
prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in
the judgment of such officer, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the
meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of
Directors or prescribed by the officer of the Corporation presiding at the
meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment
of an agenda or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for
maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii)
limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of
record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such
other persons as shall be determined; (iv) restrictions on entry to meeting
after the time fixed for the commencement thereof; and (v) limitations on the
time allotted to questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent
determined by the Board of Directors or the officer of the Corporation presiding
at the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
(b) Closing of Polls. The officer of the Corporation presiding at any
meeting of stockholders shall announce at the meeting when the polls for each
matter to be voted upon at the meeting will be closed. If no announcement is
made, the
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polls shall be deemed to have closed upon the final adjournment of the meeting.
After the polls close, no ballots, proxies or votes or any revocations or
changes thereto may be accepted.
Section 12. Nomination of Directors.
(a) Except for (i) any directors entitled to be elected by the holders of
preferred stock or any other securities of the Corporation (other than common
stock) and (ii) any directors elected in accordance with Section 2 of Article
III hereof by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy, only persons who are
nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 shall
be eligible for election as directors. Nomination for election to the Board of
Directors of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders may be made (i) by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the
Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at such meeting
pursuant to timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 12. To be timely, a stockholder's
notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of
the Corporation as follows: (a) in the case of an election of directors at an
annual meeting of stockholders, not less than 70 days nor more than 90 days
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 advanced by
more than 20 days, or delayed by more than 70 days, from such anniversary date,
to be timely, a stockholder's notice must be so received not earlier than the
ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of
business on the later of the seventieth day prior to such annual meeting or the
tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such
annual meeting is first made; or (b) in the case of an election of directors at
a special meeting of stockholders, not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to
such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of
the seventieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the
day on which public announcement of the date of such special meeting is first
made. The stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth: (a) as to each
proposed nominee (i) such person's name, age, business address and, if known,
residence address, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person,
(iii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by such person, and (iv) any other information concerning
such person that must be disclosed as to nominees in proxy solicitations
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(or any successor provision thereto); (b) as to the stockholder giving the
notice (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of
such stockholder and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation
which are beneficially owned by such stockholder; and (c) as to the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made (i) the name and address
of such beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number of shares of the
Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person. In addition, to be
effective, the stockholder's notice must be accompanied by the
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written consent of the proposed nominee to serve as a director if elected. The
Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information
as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of
such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.
(b) The officer or the Corporation presiding at any meeting shall, if the
facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 12, and if he should so determine, he shall
so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
(c) Nothing in the foregoing provision shall obligate the Corporation or
the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder
communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors
information with respect to any nominee for directors submitted by a
stockholder.
Section 13. Notice of Business at Annual Meetings.
(a) At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be
conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly
brought before an annual meeting, business must be (a) specified in the notice
of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board
of Directors, (b) otherwise 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 business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
stockholder, (i) if such business relates to the election of directors of the
Corporation, the procedures in Section 12 must be complied with and (ii) if such
business relates to any other matter, the stockholder must have given timely
notice thereof in writing to the Secretary in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 13. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be received
by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less
than 70 days nor more than 90 days 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 advanced by more than 20 days, or delayed by more
than 70 days, from such anniversary date, to be timely, a stockholder's notice
must be so received not earlier than the ninetieth day prior to such annual
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the seventieth
day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The stockholder's
notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder
proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (a) a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for
conducting such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and address, as
they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such
business, and the name and address of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is made, (c) the class and number of shares of the
Corporation which are beneficially owned by the
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stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and (d) any material interest of the
stockholder or such beneficial owner, if any, in such business. Notwithstanding
anything in these By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any
annual meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 13; provided that any stockholder proposal which complies
with Rule 14a-8 of the proxy rules (or any successor provision) promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is to be included in
the Corporation's proxy statement for an annual meeting of stockholders shall be
deemed to comply with the requirements of this Section 13.
(b) The officer of the Corporation presiding at any meeting shall, if the
facts warrant, determine that business was not properly brought before the
meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 13, and if he should
so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and such business shall not be
transacted.
Article III. Directors.
Section 1. General Powers, Number, and Tenure. The business of the
Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all
powers of the Corporation and perform all lawful acts that are not by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or these Bylaws directed or required
to be exercised or performed by the stockholders. The number of directors shall
be determined by the Board of Directors; if no such determination is made, the
number of directors shall be one. The directors shall be elected at the annual
meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article,
and each director elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting and
until his successor is elected and shall qualify. Directors need not be
stockholders.
Section 2. Vacancies. If any vacancies occur in the Board of Directors, or
if any new directorships are created, they may be filled by a majority of the
directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining
director. Each director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual
meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and shall
qualify. If there are no directors in office, any officer or stockholder may
call a special meeting of stockholders in accordance with the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or these Bylaws, at which meeting such
vacancies shall be filled.
Section 3. Removal or Resignation.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, 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.
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(b) Any director may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the President or
Secretary of the Corporation. Unless otherwise specified in such written notice,
a resignation shall take effect on delivery thereof to the Board of Directors or
the designated officer. It shall not be necessary for a resignation to be
accepted before it becomes effective.
Section 4. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors may hold meetings,
both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 5. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of each newly elected Board
of Directors shall be held immediately following the annual meeting of
stockholders, and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly
elected directors in order to constitute the meeting legally, provided a quorum
shall be present.
Section 6. Regular Meetings. Additional regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held without notice of such time and place as may be determined
from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or by two or more
directors on at least two days' notice to each director, if such notice is
delivered personally or sent by telegram, or on at least three days' notice if
sent by mail. Special meetings shall be called by the Chairman of the Board,
President, Secretary, or two or more directors in like manner and on like notice
on the written request of one-half or more of the number of directors then in
office. Any such notice need not state the purpose or purposes of such meeting,
except as provided in Article XI.
Section 8. Quorum and Adjournments. At all meetings of the Board of
Directors, a majority of the directors then in office 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 law or the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. If a quorum is not present at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present may adjourn the meeting
from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting at
which the adjournment is taken, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 9. Compensation. Directors shall be entitled to such compensation
for their services as directors and to such reimbursement for any reasonable
expenses incurred in attending directors' meetings as may from time to time be
fixed by the Board of Directors. The compensation of directors may be on such
basis as is determined by the Board of Directors. Any director may waive
compensation for any meeting. Any director receiving compensation under these
provisions shall not be
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barred from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation and reimbursement for reasonable expenses for such other services.
Section 10. Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, and
without prior notice, if a written consent to such action is signed by all
members of the Board of Directors and such written consent is filed with the
minutes of its proceedings.
Section 11. Meetings by Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment. The
Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all directors participating
in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such a meeting shall
constitute presence in person by any such director at such meeting.
Article IV. Committees.
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors, by resolution
adopted by a majority of the whole Board, may appoint an Executive Committee
consisting of one or more directors, one of whom shall be designated as Chairman
of the Executive Committee. Each member of the Executive Committee shall
continue as a member thereof until the expiration of his term as a director or
his earlier resignation, unless sooner removed as a member or as a director.
Section 2. Powers. The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise
those rights, powers, and authority of the Board of Directors as may from time
to time be granted to it by the Board of Directors to the extent permitted by
law, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers
that may require it.
Section 3. Procedure and Meetings. The Executive Committee shall fix its
own rules of procedure and shall meet at such times and at such place or places
as may be provided by such rules or as the members of the Executive Committee
shall fix. The Executive Committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings,
which it shall deliver to the Board of Directors from time to time. The Chairman
of the Executive Committee or, in his absence, a member of the Executive
Committee chosen by a majority of the members present, shall preside at meetings
of the Executive Committee; and another member chosen by the Executive Committee
shall act as Secretary of the Executive Committee.
Section 4. Quorum. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, and the affirmative vote of a majority
of the members present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be
required for any action of the Executive Committee; provided, however, that when
an Executive
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Committee of one member is authorized under the provisions of Section 1 of this
Article, that one member shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5. Other Committees. The Board of Directors, by resolutions adopted
by a majority. of the whole Board, may appoint such other committee or
committees as it shall deem advisable and with such rights, power, and authority
as it shall prescribe. Each such committee shall consist of one or more
directors.
Section 6. Committee Changes. The Board of Directors shall have the power
at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, and to discharge
any committee.
Section 7. Compensation. Members of any committee shall be entitled to such
compensation for their services as members of the committee and to such
reimbursement for any reasonable expenses incurred in attending committee
meetings as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors. Any member
may waive compensation for any meeting. Any committee member receiving
compensation under these provisions shall not be barred from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity and from receiving compensation and
reimbursement of reasonable expenses for such other services.
Section 8. Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a
meeting if a written consent to such action is signed by all members of the
committee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of its proceedings
Section 9. Meetings by Telephone or Similar Communications Equipment. The
members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in
a meeting of such committee by conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in such meeting can hear
each other, and participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in
person by any such committee member at such meeting.
Article V. Notices.
Section 1. Form and Delivery. Whenever a provision of any law, the
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or these Bylaws requires that notice
be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to require
personal notice unless so specifically provided, but such notice may be given in
writing, by mail addressed to the address of the director or stockholder as it
appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage prepaid. These notices
shall be deemed to be given when they are deposited in the United States mail.
Notice to a director may also be given personally or by telephone or by telegram
sent to his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
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Section 2. Waiver. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the
provisions of any law, the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or these
Bylaws, a written waiver thereof signed by the person entitled to said notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed to be
equivalent to such notice. In addition, any stockholder who attends a meeting of
stockholders in person or is represented at such meeting by proxy, without
protesting at the commencement of the meeting the lack of notice thereof to him,
or any director who attends a meeting of the Board of Directors without
protesting at the commencement of the meeting of the lack of notice, shall be
conclusively deemed to have waived notice of such meeting.
Article VI. Officers.
Section 1. Designations. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by
the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may choose a Chairman of the
Board, a President, a Vice President or Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a
Treasurer, one or more Assistant Secretaries and/or Assistant Treasurers, and
other officers and agents that it shall deem necessary or appropriate. All
officers of the Corporation shall exercise the powers and perform the duties
that shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. Any number
of offices may be held by the same person, unless the Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, or these Bylaws provide otherwise.
Section 2. Term of, and Removal From, Office. At its first regular meeting
after each annual meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall choose a
President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. It may also choose a Chairman of the
Board, a Vice President or Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries
and/or Assistant Treasurers, and such other officers and agents as it shall deem
necessary or appropriate. Each officer of the Corporation shall hold office
until his successor is chosen and shall qualify. Any officer elected or
appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at
any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office.
Removal from office, however, shall not prejudice the contract rights, if any,
of the person removed. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation
may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Compensation. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation
shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall
be prevented from receiving a salary because he is also a director of the
Corporation.
Section 4. The Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if any,
shall be an officer of the Corporation and, subject to the direction of the
Board of Directors, shall perform such executive, supervisory, and management
functions and
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duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the Board of Directors. He
shall, if present, preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of
Directors.
Section 5. The President.
(a) The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation
and, subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, shall have general
charge of the business, affairs, and property of the Corporation and general
supervision over its other officers and agents. In general, he shall perform all
duties incident to the office of President and shall see that all orders and
resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.
(b) Unless otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, the President
shall have full power and authority to attend, act, and vote on behalf of the
Corporation at any meeting of the security holders of other corporations in
which the Corporation may hold securities. At any such meeting, the President
shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the
ownership of such securities that the Corporation might have possessed arid
exercised if it had been present. The Board of Directors may from time to time
confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 6. The Vice President. The Vice President, if any, or in the event
there be more than one, the Vice Presidents in the order designated, or in the
absence of any designation, in the order of their election, shall, in the
absence of the President or in the event of his disability, perform the duties
and exercise the powers of the President and shall generally assist the
President and perform such other duties and have such other powers as may from
time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the
Board of Directors and the stockholders and record all votes and the proceedings
of the meetings in a book to be kept for that purpose. He shall perform like
duties for the Executive Committee or other committees, if required. He shall
give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of stockholders and special
meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may
from time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, or the President, under whose supervision he shall act. He shall have
custody of the seal of the Corporation, and he, or an Assistant Secretary, shall
have authority to affix it to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed,
the seal may be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Assistant
Secretary. The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other
officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing thereof
by his signature.
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Section 8. The Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, if any, or in
the event there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order
designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their
election, shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his
disability, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and
shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as may from time to
time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate
funds and other valuable effects, including securities, and shall keep full and
accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the
Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name
and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may from time to
time be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
Corporation in accord with the orders of the Board of Directors, taking proper
vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chairman of the Board,
if any, the President, and the Board of Directors, whenever they may require it
or at regular meetings of the Board, an account of all his transactions as
Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 10. The Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, if any, or in
the event there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order
designated, or in the absence of any designation, in the order of their
election, shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his
disability, perform such other duties and have such other powers as may from
time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Article VII. Indemnification.
Reference is made to Section 145 and any other relevant provisions of
the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. Particular reference is
made to the class of persons, hereinafter called "Indemnitees", who may be
indemnified by a Delaware corporation pursuant to the provisions of such Section
145, namely, any person, or the heirs, executors, or administrators of such
person, who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that such
person is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of such corporation or
is or was serving at the request of such corporation as a director, officer,
employee, or agent of such corporation or is or was serving at the request of
such corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise. The
Corporation shall, and is hereby obligated to, in addition to any obligation
incurred pursuant to the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation, indemnify
the Indemnitees, and each of them, in each and every situation where the
Corporation is obligated to make such indemnification pursuant to the aforesaid
statutory provisions. The Corporation shall
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indemnify the Indemnitees, and each of them, in each and every situation where,
under the aforesaid statutory provisions, the Corporation is not obligated, but
is nevertheless permitted or empowered, to make such indemnification, it being
understood that, before making such indemnification with respect to any
situation covered under this sentence, (i) the Corporation shall promptly make
or cause to be made, by any of the methods referred to in Subsection (d) of such
Section 145, a determination as to whether each Indemnitee acted in good faith
and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the Corporation, and, in the case of any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful,
and (ii) that no such indemnification shall be made unless it is determined that
such Indemnitee acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be
in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, in the case
of any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that
his conduct was unlawful.
Article VIII. Affiliated Transactions and Interested Directors.
Section 1. Affiliated Transactions. 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 of Directors or committee thereof that authorizes
the contract or transaction or solely because his or their votes are counted for
such purpose if:
(a) The material facts as to his 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 of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes
the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a
quorum; or
(b) The material facts as to his 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 the vote of the stockholders; or
(c) The contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the
time it is authorized, approved, or ratified by the Board of Directors, a
committee thereof or the stockholders.
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Section 2. Determining Quorum. 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 thereof which authorizes the contract or
transaction.
Article IX. Stock Certificates.
Section 1. Form and Signatures.
(a) Every holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to a
certificate stating the number and class, and series, if any, of shares owned by
him, signed by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the President and the
Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
of the Corporation, and bearing the seal of the Corporation. The signatures and
the seal may be facsimiles. A certificate may be signed, manually or by
facsimile, by a transfer agent or registrar other than the Corporation or its
employee. In case any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile signature was
placed on, a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before the
certificate is issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the
same effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issue.
(b) All stock certificates representing shares of capital stock that are
subject to restrictions on transfer or to other restrictions may have imprinted
thereon any notation to that effect determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Registration of Transfer. Upon surrender to the Corporation or
any transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed
or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment, or authority to
transfer, the Corporation or its transfer agent shall issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate, and record the
transaction upon the books of the Corporation.
Section 3. Registered Stockholders.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the Corporation shall be entitled
to recognize the exclusive right of a person who is registered on its books as
the owner of shares of its capital stock to receive dividends or other
distributions and to vote or consent as such owner, and to hold liable for calls
and assessments any person who is registered on its books as the owner of shares
of its capital stock. The Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or legal claim to, or interest in, such shares on the part of any
other person.
(b) If a stockholder desires that notices and/or dividends shall be sent to
a name or address other than the name or address appearing on the stock ledger
maintained by the Corporation, or its transfer agent or registrar, if any, the
stockholder shall have the duty to notify the Corporation, or its transfer agent
or
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registrar, if any, in writing of his desire and specify the alternate name or
address to be used.
Section 4. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders of record who are entitled to receive 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, to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or to exercise any
rights in respect of any change, conversion, or exchange of stock or for the
purpose of any lawful action, the Board of Directors may, in advance, fix a date
as the record date for any such determination. Such date shall not be more than
sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than
sixty days prior to the date of any other action. 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 pursuant to Section 8
of Article II; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new
record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 5. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates. The Board of Directors
may direct that a new certificate be issued to replace any certificate
theretofore issued by the Corporation that, it is claimed, has been lost,
stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen, or destroyed. When authorizing the
issuance of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and
as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of the lost,
stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the
same in such manner as it shall require, and/or to give the Corporation a bond
in such sum, or other security in such form, as it may direct as indemnity
against any claims that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the
certificate claimed to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.
Article X. General Provisions.
Section 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of law and the Certificate
of Incorporation, as amended, dividends upon the outstanding capital stock of
the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or
special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the
Corporation's capital stock.
Section 2. Reserves. The Board of Directors shall have full power, subject
to the provisions of law and the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to
determine whether any, and, if so, what part, of the funds legally available for
the payment of dividends shall be declared as dividends and paid to the
stockholders of the Corporation. The Board of Directors, in its sole discretion,
may fix a sum that may be set aside or reserved over and above the paid-in
capital of the. Corporation as a
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reserve for any proper purpose, and may, from time to time, increase, diminish,
or vary such amount.
Section 3. Fiscal Year. Except as from time to time otherwise provided by
the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on June 30
of each year.
Section 4. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name
of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation, and the words "Corporate
Seal" and "Delaware".
Article XI. Amendments.
The Board of Directors shall have the power to alter and repeal there
Bylaws and to adopt new Bylaws by an affirmative vote of a majority of the whole
Board, provided that notice of the proposal to alter or repeal these Bylaws or
to adopt new Bylaws must be included in the notice of the meeting of the Board
of Directors at which such action takes place.
