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8-K - FORM 8-K - HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INCd8k.htm

Exhibit 3.1

 

Certified to be a true and correct copy of

the By-laws of the Corporation, as amended

by the Board of Directors on December 7, 2010.

/s/ Timothy R. Parry
Timothy R. Parry, Secretary

HEALTH MANAGEMENT ASSOCIATES, INC.

BY-LAWS

Article I

OFFICES

Section 1. The registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

Section 2. 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 the business of the corporation may require.

Article II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors shall be held in the City of Naples, Florida, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the board of directors, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

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Section 2. Annual meetings of stockholders shall be held as shall be designated from time to time by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which they shall elect by a plurality vote a board of directors (except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation), and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

Section 3. Written notice of the annual meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting.

Section 4. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (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 ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.

 

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Section 5.

(a) At an 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 (i) brought before the meeting by its inclusion in the corporation’s notice of the meeting given by or at the direction of the board of directors, (ii) brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the board of directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 5 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 5 as to such business. Except for proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act”), and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the board of directors, the foregoing clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of the stockholders. Stockholders seeking to nominate persons for election to the board of directors must comply with Section 6 and this Section 5 shall not be applicable to nominations except as expressly provided in Section 6.

(b) For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 5. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than ninety (90) days nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and

 

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received, not later than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such annual meeting was first made (such notice within such time periods referred to as, “Timely Notice”). In no event shall any adjournment of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described above.

(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 5, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth:

(i) As to each Proposing Person (as defined below), (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person; and (B) the class or series and number of shares of the corporation that are, directly or indirectly, owned of record or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by such Proposing Person, except that such Proposing Person shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the corporation as to which such Proposing Person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) and (B) are referred to as “Stockholder Information”);

(ii) As to each Proposing Person, (A) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the corporation or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by

 

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such Proposing Person and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation, (B) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy or consent given in response to a solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act by way of a solicitation statement filed on Schedule 14A), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to vote any shares of any class or series of the corporation, (C) any agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship, including any repurchase or similar “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such Proposing Person, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of shares of any class or series of the corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to the shares of any class or series of the corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any decrease in the price or value of the shares of any class or series of the corporation (“Short Interests”), (D) any rights to dividends on the shares of any class or series of the corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, (E) any proportionate interest in shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments or Short Interests held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such Proposing Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in such a general partner, (F) any performance related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the price or value of shares of any class

 

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or series of the corporation, or any Derivative Instrument or Short Interests, if any, (G) any direct or indirect interest of such Proposing Person in any contract with the corporation, any affiliate of the corporation or any principal competitor of the corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), (H) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instrument or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the corporation held by such Proposing Person, (I) any pending or threatened litigation in which such Proposing Person is a party or material participant involving the corporation or any of its officers or directors, or any affiliate of the corporation, or any officers or directors of any affiliates of the corporation, (J) any material transaction occurring during the prior twelve (12) months between such Proposing Person, on the one hand, and the corporation, any affiliate of the corporation or any principal competitor of the corporation, on the other hand, and (K) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies by such Proposing Person in support of the business proposed to be brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (K) are referred to as “Disclosable Interests”) and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (or any successor provision); provided, however, that Disclosable Interests shall not include any such disclosures with respect to the ordinary business activities of any broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee who is a Proposing Person solely as a result of being the stockholder directed to prepare and submit the notice required by these by-laws on behalf of a beneficial owner; and

 

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(iii) As to each item of business that the Proposing Person proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (A) a reasonably brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of each Proposing Person, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), and (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings (x) between or among any of the Proposing Persons or (y) between or among any Proposing Person and any other record or beneficial holder of the shares of any class or series of the corporation (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Proposing Person.

For purposes of this Section 5, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting is made, and (iii) any affiliate or associate (each within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act for purposes of these by-laws) of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

(d) A stockholder providing notice of business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 5 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting (in the

 

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case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to) any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(e) If the Proposing Person’s notice of business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting fails, in the reasonable judgment of the secretary, to contain the information specified in Section 5(c) hereof or is otherwise deficient in the reasonable judgment of the secretary, the secretary shall, as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances, provide written notice to the Proposing Person who submitted the written notice proposing business to be brought before the annual meeting of such failure or deficiency and such Proposing Person shall have five (5) business days from receipt of such notice to submit a revised written notice for business to be brought before the annual meeting that corrects such failure or deficiency in all material respects.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in these by-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with this Section 5. The presiding officer of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 5, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

(g) This Section 5 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders other than any proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. In addition to the requirements of this Section 5 with respect to any business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting, each Proposing Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such business. Nothing in this Section 5 shall be deemed to affect the rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

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(h) For purposes of these by-laws, “public disclosure” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Section 6.

(a) Nominations of any person for election to the board of directors at an annual meeting may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the board of directors, including by any committee or persons appointed by the board of directors, or (ii) by a stockholder who (A) was a stockholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination is proposed to be made, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section 6 and at the time of the meeting, (B) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (C) has complied with this Section 6 as to such nomination. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the board of directors at an annual meeting.

(b) For a stockholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the board of directors at an annual meeting, the stockholder must (i) provide Timely Notice (as defined in Section 5) thereof in writing and in proper form to the secretary of the corporation and (ii) provide any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section 6. In no event shall any adjournment of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

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(c) To be in proper form for purposes of this Section 6, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary shall set forth:

(i) As to each Nominating Person (as defined below), the Stockholder Information (as defined in Section 5(c)(i), except that for purposes of this Section 6 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 5(c)(i));

(ii) As to each Nominating Person, any Disclosable Interests (as defined in Section 5(c)(ii), except that for purposes of this Section 6 the term “Nominating Person” shall be substituted for the term “Proposing Person” in all places it appears in Section 5(c)(ii) and the disclosure in clause (K) of Section 5(c)(ii) shall be made with respect to the election of directors at the meeting);

(iii) As to each person whom a Nominating Person proposes to nominate for election as a director, (A) all information with respect to such proposed nominee that would be required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pursuant to this Section 6 if such proposed nominee were a Nominating Person, (B) all information relating to such proposed nominee that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) under the Exchange Act (including such proposed nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and Rule 14a-11 thereunder (or any successor provision thereto), (C) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other

 

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material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any other material relationships, between or among any Nominating Person, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates or associates, on the other hand, including, without limitation, all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K (as such Item may be subsequently amended or replaced) if such Nominating Person were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the proposed nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant, and (D) a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as provided in Section 6(g); and

(iv) The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information (A) as may reasonably be required by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the corporation in accordance with the corporation’s corporate governance guidelines or similar policies then in effect or (B) that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence or lack of independence of such proposed nominee.

For purposes of this Section 6, the term “Nominating Person” shall mean (i) the stockholder providing the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting, (ii) the beneficial owner or beneficial owners, if different, on whose behalf the notice of the nomination proposed to be made at the meeting is made, and (iii) any affiliate or associate of such stockholder or beneficial owner.

 

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(d) A stockholder providing notice of any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the first practicable date prior to) any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).

(e) If the Nominating Person’s notice of the proposed nomination fails, in the reasonable judgment of the secretary, to contain the information specified in Section 6(c) hereof or is otherwise deficient in the reasonable judgment of the secretary, the secretary shall, as promptly as is practicable under the circumstances, provide written notice to the Nominating Person who submitted the written notice proposing the nomination of such failure or deficiency and such Nominating Person shall have five (5) business days from receipt of such notice to submit a revised written notice for business to be brought before the annual meeting that corrects such failure or deficiency in all material respects.

(f) Notwithstanding anything in these by-laws to the contrary, no person shall be eligible for election as a director of the corporation unless nominated in accordance with this Section 6. The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not properly made in accordance with this Section 6, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare such determination to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

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(g) To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a director of the corporation, the proposed nominee must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Section 6) to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee (which questionnaire shall be provided by the secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in form provided by the secretary upon written request) that such proposed nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a director of the corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the corporation, with such proposed nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not, and will not become a party to, any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the corporation, and (iii) in such proposed nominee’s individual capacity and on behalf of the stockholder (or the beneficial owner, if different) on whose behalf the nomination is made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the corporation, and will comply with applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance guidelines, code of business conduct and ethics and stock ownership and trading policies and similar publicly disclosed policies and guidelines of the corporation.

 

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(h) In addition to the requirements of this Section 6 with respect to any nomination proposed to be made at a meeting, each Nominating Person shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to any such nominations. The requirements of this Section 6 shall apply to a stockholder requesting inclusion of a nominee for election as a director of the corporation in the corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-11 of the Exchange Act.

Section 7. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the certificate of incorporation, may be called by the chairman of the board or chief executive officer and shall be called by the chief executive officer or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of the board of directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Written notice of a special meeting of stockholders stating the place, date and hour of the special meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the special meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the special meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such special meeting. No other business may be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders except for the business stated in the notice of a special meeting.

Section 8. 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 stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, 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 shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. If the adjournment is for more than thirty (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.

 

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Section 9. When a quorum is present 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 by express provision of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation, a different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

Section 10. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of the capital stock having voting power held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted on after three (3) years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

Section 11. Unless otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which 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, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

 

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Article III

DIRECTORS

Section 1. Except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, the number of directors which shall constitute the whole board shall be such number as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the board of directors or by the stockholders at an annual meeting. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article and except as provided in the certificate of incorporation, and each director elected shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified. Directors need not be stockholders.

Section 2. Except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed from office. If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in the manner provided by statute. If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a majority of the whole board (as constituted immediately prior to any such increase), the Delaware Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or stockholders holding at least ten percent 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.

 

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Section 3. The business of the corporation shall be managed by and be under the direction of its board of directors which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these by-laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 4. The board of directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

Section 5. 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 to legally 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.

Section 6. 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.

Section 7. Special meetings of the board may be called by the chairman of the board or the chief executive officer on three (3) days’ notice to each director, either personally or by mail or by any means of electronic transmission. Special meetings shall be called by the chief executive officer or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors unless the board consists of only one director, in which case special meetings shall be called by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of the sole director.

 

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Section 8. At all meetings of the board a majority of the 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. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board of directors the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section 9. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, 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 proceeding of the board or committee thereof, as the case may be.

Section 10. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, 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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COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

Section 11. The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation. The board may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of 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, 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 authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the by-laws of the corporation; and, unless the resolution or the certificate of incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the board of directors.

Section 12. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors when required.

COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

Section 13. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, 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.

 

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REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS

Section 14. Unless otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of a majority of shares entitled to vote at an election of directors.

CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN

Section 15. The board of directors after each annual meeting of shareholders shall choose a chairman of the board and may also choose a vice-chairman.

Section 16. The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and all meetings of the board of directors and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the board of directors. The vice chairman, if there be one, shall perform such duties and have such powers as the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time prescribe.

Article IV

NOTICES

Section 1. Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these by-laws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Notice to directors may also be given by telecopier or any other means of electronic transmission, and notice to directors or shareholders may be given as otherwise permitted by law.

 

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Section 2. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation of these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

Article V

OFFICERS

Section 1. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors and shall consist of a chief executive officer, a vice chairman, a president, a secretary and a treasurer. The board of directors may also choose vice-presidents, giving them such designations (including without limitation the designations of executive vice-president and senior vice-president) as the board may determine, and one or more assistant vice-presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the certificate of incorporation or these by-laws otherwise provide.

Section 2. The board of directors following each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a chief executive officer, a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer.

Section 3. The board of directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the board.

Section 4. The salaries of all officers and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors.

 

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Section 5. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified. Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the board of directors.

THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

Section 6. The chief executive officer shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect. He shall 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. In the absence of the chief executive officer or in the event of his inability or refusal to act, the powers and duties of the chief executive officer shall be exercised and performed by such executive officer or officers as may be designated by the board of directors. If there be no chairman of the board, the chief executive officer shall perform all of the duties of the chairman of the board.

VICE CHAIRMAN

Section 7. The Vice Chairman, if there be one, shall perform such duties and have such powers as the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time prescribe.

THE PRESIDENT

Section 8. The president shall perform such duties and have such powers as the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time prescribe.

 

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THE VICE-PRESIDENTS

Section 9. The vice-presidents shall have such designations (including without limitation the designations of executive vice-president and senior vice-president) as the board of directors may determine. Each vice-president shall perform such duties and have such powers as the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time prescribe.

THE SECRETARY

Section 10. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the stockholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or the chief executive officer, under whose supervision he shall be. He shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and he, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the signature of such 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 by his signature.

THE TREASURER

Section 11. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors.

 

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Section 12. The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the chief executive officer and the board of directors, at its regular meetings, or when the board of directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.

Section 13. If required by the board of directors, the treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six (6) years) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the corporation.

ASSISTANT OFFICERS

Section 14. The assistant vice-presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers whom the board of directors may appoint from time to time, as it may deem proper, shall perform such duties and have such powers as the board of directors or the chief executive officer may from time to time prescribe.

Article VI

STOCK

Section 1. The board of directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or series of the corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated and may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the corporation’s transfer agent or registrar. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of any uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing

 

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shares of the same class and series shall be identical. If the corporation’s shares are represented by certificates, such certificates may signed by, or in the name of the corporation by (a) the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or any vice-president, and (b) the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation.

Partly paid shares shall be identified as such by proper notation in the records of the corporation and its transfer agent or registrar, describing the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor and the amount paid thereon, and in the case of certificated shares, upon the face or back of the certificates issued to represent any such partly paid shares.

If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, and such shares are certificated, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, 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 which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided 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 which the corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation shall furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and 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.

 

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Section 2. Any of or all the signatures on any certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

LOST CERTIFICATES

Section 3. The board of directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the board of directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, 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 as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

TRANSFER OF STOCK

Section 4. Upon submission to the corporation of proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, the corporation shall record the transaction upon its books and direct its transfer agent or registrar to record such transaction. In the event that the corporation’s shares are certificated, the corporation shall also require the surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent or registrar of the corporation of a certificate for such shares duly endorsed and shall cancel such certificate and record such shares as owned by the person entitled thereto.

 

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FIXING RECORD DATE

Section 5. In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the board of directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action. 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.

REGISTERED STOCKHOLDERS

Section 6. 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, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.

 

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Article VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

DIVIDENDS

Section 1. Dividends upon the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation, if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of capital stock, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation.

Section 2. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

ANNUAL STATEMENT

Section 3. The board of directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the corporation.

CHECKS

Section 4. All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.

FISCAL YEAR

Section 5. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

 

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SEAL

Section 6. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware.” The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

Article VIII

FLORIDA GENERAL CORPORATION ACT - SECTION 607.0902

Section 1. As permitted by Section 607.0902(5) of the Florida General Corporation Act, the provisions of Section 607.0902 of the Florida General Corporation Act shall not apply to control-share acquisitions of shares of the corporation.

Article IX

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed or new by-laws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the board of directors, when such power is conferred upon the board of directors by the certificate of incorporation, at any regular meeting of the stockholders or of the board of directors or at any special meeting of the stockholders or of the board of directors if notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of new by-laws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. If the power to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws is conferred upon the board of directors by the certificate of incorporation, it shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.

 

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