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8-K - FORM 8-K - LINCARE HOLDINGS INCd8k.htm

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

LINCARE HOLDINGS INC.

Incorporated under the Laws of the

State of Delaware


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

          Page  

ARTICLE I

   Offices      1   

ARTICLE II

   Meetings of Stockholders      1   

  Section 1

   Place of Meetings      1   

  Section 2

   Annual Meeting      1   

  Section 3

   Special Meetings      1   

  Section 4

   Notice of Meetings      2   

  Section 5

   List of Stockholders      2   

  Section 6

   Quorum      2   

  Section 7

   Voting      3   

  Section 8

   Proxies      3   

  Section 9

   Action Without a Meeting      3   

  Section 10

   Transaction of Business at Annual Meeting      3   

ARTICLE III

   Board of Directors      4   

  Section 1

   Powers      4   

  Section 2

   Voting by Shareholders in Election of Directors      4-5   

  Section 3

   Number      6   

  Section 4

   Quorum and Manner of Acting      6   

  Section 5

   Organization Meeting      6   

  Section 6

   Regular Meetings      6   

  Section 7

   Special Meetings; Notice      6   

  Section 8

   Removal of Directors      7   

  Section 9

   Resignations      7   

  Section 10

   Vacancies      7   

  Section 11

   Compensation of Directors      7   

  Section 12

   Action Without a Meeting      7   

  Section 13

   Telephonic Participation in Meetings      7   

ARTICLE IV

   Officers      8   

  Section 1

   Principal Officers      8   

  Section 2

   Election and Term of Office      8   

  Section 3

   Other Officers      8   


 

          Page  

  Section 4

   Removal      8   

  Section 5

   Resignations      8   

  Section 6

   Vacancies      8   

  Section 7

   Chairman of the Board      8   

  Section 8

   President      9   

  Section 9

   Vice President      9   

  Section 10

   Treasurer      9   

  Section 11

   Secretary      9   

  Section 12

   Salaries      9   

ARTICLE V

   Indemnification of Officers and Directors      10   

  Section 1

   Right of Indemnification      10   

  Section 2

   Expenses      10   

  Section 3

   Other Rights of Indemnification      10   

ARTICLE VI

   Shares and Their Transfer      10   

  Section 1

   Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares      10   

  Section 2

   Transfers      11   

  Section 3

   Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates      11   

  Section 4

   Record Date      11   

  Section 5

   Regulations      12   

ARTICLE VII

   Miscellaneous Provisions      12   

  Section 1

   Corporate Seal      12   

  Section 2

   Voting of Stocks Owned by the Corporation      12   

  Section 3

   Dividends      12   

ARTICLE VIII

   Amendments      13   


AMENDED AND RESTATED

BY-LAWS

OF

LINCARE HOLDINGS INC.

(a Delaware corporation)

 

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

The registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle. The Corporation may establish or discontinue, from time to time, such other offices within or without the State of Delaware as may be deemed proper for the conduct of the Corporation’s business.

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of stock-holders shall be held at such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors, or as shall be specified in the respective notices, or waivers of notice, thereof.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors and the transaction of other business shall be held on such date and at such place as may be designated by the Board of Directors. At each annual meeting the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect a Board of Directors and may transact such other proper business as may come before the meeting.

Section 3. Special Meetings. A special meeting of the stockholders, or of any class thereof entitled to vote, for any purpose or purposes, may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the President or by order of the Board of Directors and shall be

 

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called by the Secretary upon the written request of stockholders holding of record at least 50% of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting. Such written request shall state the purpose or purposes for which such meeting is to be called.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, written notice of each meeting of stockholders, whether annual or special, stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given not less than ten days or more than sixty days before the date on which the meeting is to be held to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat by delivering a notice thereof to him personally or by mailing such notice in a postage prepaid envelope directed to him at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, unless he shall have filed with the Secretary of the Corporation a written request that notices intended for him be directed to another address, in which case such notice shall be directed to him at the address designated in such request. Notice shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall waive such notice in writing, whether prior to or after such meeting, or who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy unless such attendance is for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of such meeting, to the transactions of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Every notice of a special meeting of the stockholders, besides the time and place of the meeting, shall state briefly the objects or purposes thereof.

Section 5. List of Stockholders. It shall be the duty of the Secretary or other officer of the Corporation who shall have charge of the stock ledger to prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in his name. 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, 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 be kept and produced at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present. The original or duplicate ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine such list or the books of the Corporation or to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting.

Section 6. Quorum. At each meeting of the stock- holders, the holders of record of a majority of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, except where otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws. In the absence of a quorum, any officer entitled to preside at, or act as Secretary of, such meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be constituted.

 

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Section 7. Voting. Every stockholder of record who is entitled to vote shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him on the record date; except, however, that shares of its own stock belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor counted for quorum purposes. Nothing in this Section shall be construed as limiting the right of the Corporation to vote its own stock held by it in a fiduciary capacity. At all meetings of the stockholders, a quorum being present, all matters shall be decided by majority vote of the shares of stock entitled to vote held by stockholders present in person or by proxy, except as otherwise required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation. Unless demanded by a stockholder of the Corporation present in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders and entitled to vote thereat or so directed by the chairman of the meeting or required by law, the vote thereat on any question need not be by written ballot. On a vote by written ballot, each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or in his name by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted by him and the number of votes to which each share is entitled.

Section 8. Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy. A proxy acting for any stockholder shall be duly appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of three years from the date thereof unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

Section 9. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stock- holders or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of 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.

Section 10. Transaction of Business at Annual Meeting. 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 given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (including stockholder proposals included in the Corporation’s proxy materials pursuant to applicable rules and regulations); (B) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. In addition to any other applicable requirement, for business (including, but not limited to, any nominations for director) to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder: (i)

 

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the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) the subject matter thereof must be a matter which is a proper subject matter for stockholder action at such meeting. To be considered timely notice, a stockholder’s notice must be received by the Secretary at the principal office of the Corporation not less than 90 nor more than 120 calendar days prior to the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, if no annual meeting was held in the prior year, or the Board of Directors calls the applicable annual meeting for a date that is not within 30 days before or after the anniversary date of the prior year’s annual meeting, then a stockholder’s notice, in order to be timely, must be received by the Secretary not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) business day following the day on which the Board of Directors gave notice or made public disclosure, whichever occurred first, of the date of the applicable annual meeting. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary to submit business to an annual meeting must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) the name and address of the stockholder; (ii) the number of shares of stock held of record and beneficially by such stockholder; (iii) the name in which all such shares of stock are registered on the stock transfer books of the Corporation; (iv) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons therefor; (v) any personal or other material interest of the stockholder in the business to be submitted; and (vi) all other information relating to the proposed business which may be required to be disclosed under applicable law. In addition, a stockholder seeking to submit such business at an annual meeting shall promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 10, a stockholder who seeks to have any proposal included in the Corporation’s proxy materials must provide notice as required by and otherwise comply with the applicable requirements of the rules and regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The chairman of an annual meeting shall determine all matters relating to the conduct of the meeting, including, but not limited to, determining whether any item of business has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these By-Laws, and if the chairman should so determine and declare that any item of business has not been properly brought before an annual meeting, then such business shall not be transacted at such meeting.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Voting by Stockholders in the Election of Directors. Each director to be elected by the stockholders shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at any meeting held for the purpose of the election of directors at which a quorum is present, subject to the following provisions:

(a) Term: Except as otherwise provided by law, Directors elected by the stockholders at the annual meeting; or at any meeting held for the purpose of election of directors, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders or meeting held for the purpose of election of directors or until they sooner die, resign or are removed.

 

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(b) Majority Vote Defined: For purposes of this Bylaw, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of shares voted “for” a director’s election exceeds 50% of the total number of votes cast with respect to that director’s election. Votes “cast” shall include votes to withhold authority and votes “against” and “no” votes but shall exclude abstentions with respect to a director’s election or with respect to the election of directors in general.

(c) Vote Standard in Contested Elections: Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in this Article III, Section 2 of the Bylaws, in the event of a contested election, directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present. For purposes of this Bylaw, a contested election shall mean any election of directors in which the number of candidates for election as directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected, with the determination thereof being made by the Secretary (i) as of the close of the applicable notice of nomination period set forth in Article II, Section 10 of the Bylaws based on whether one or more notice(s) of nomination were timely filed in accordance with said Bylaws or (ii) if later, reasonably promptly following the determination by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction that one or more notice(s) of nomination were timely filed in accordance with said Bylaws; provided that the determination that an election is a contested election by the Secretary pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) shall be determinative only as to the timeliness of a notice of nomination and not otherwise as to its validity. If, prior to the time the corporation mails its initial proxy statement in connection with such election of directors, one or more notices of nomination are withdrawn (or declared invalid or untimely by any court or other tribunal of competent jurisdiction) such that the number of candidates for election as director no longer exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the election shall not be considered a contested election, but in all other cases, once an election is determined to be a contested election, directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast.

(d) Failure of a Non-Incumbent Director to Win Election: If any nominee for director who is not an incumbent fails in a non-contested election to receive a majority vote for his or her election at any meeting for the purpose of the election of directors at which a quorum is present, such candidate shall not be elected and shall not take office.

(e) Resignation of Incumbent Director Who Fails to Receive a Majority Vote: In any non-contested election of directors, any director nominee who is an incumbent director who receives a greater number of votes “withheld” from his or her election (or “against” or “no” votes) than votes “for” such election shall immediately tender his or her resignation to the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall be effective immediately, unless such resignation would bring the total number of directors of the Board to less than 5 directors. In the event such resignation would bring the total number of directors of the Board to less than 5 directors, the director in

 

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question may continue to hold office, through a process managed by the Nominating and Governance Committee and excluding the director in question, until the earlier of i) the vacancy created by their resignation is filled consistent with Article III, Section 10 and ii) his/her successor is elected and qualified.

Section 3. Number. The number of Directors shall be such number as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors but shall not be less than five nor more than eleven and initially shall be six.

Section 4. Quorum and Manner of Acting. Unless otherwise provided by law, the presence of 50% of the whole Board of Directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice of any adjourned meeting need not be given. At all meetings of Directors, a quorum being present, all matters shall be decided by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors present, except as otherwise required by law. The Board of Directors may hold its meetings at such place or places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in the respective notices, or waivers of notice, thereof.

Section 5. Organization Meeting. Immediately after each annual meeting of stockholders for the election of Directors the Board of Directors shall meet at the place of the annual meeting of stockholders for the purpose of organization, the election of officers and the transaction of other business. Notice of such meeting need not be given. If such meeting is held at any other time or place, notice thereof must be given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors, subject to the execution of a waiver of the notice thereof signed by, or the attendance at such meeting of, all Directors who may not have received such notice.

Section 6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors will be held quarterly, as regularly scheduled, and may be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. After there has been such determination, and notice thereof has been once given to each member of the Board of Directors as hereinafter provided for special meetings, regular meetings may be held without further notice being given.

Section 7. Special Meetings; Notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, if any, the President or by a majority of the Directors. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed to each Director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least five days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, cable, radio or wireless, or be delivered personally or by telephone, not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held. Each such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and, as may be

 

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required, the purposes thereof. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any Director if he shall sign a written waiver thereof either before or after the time stated therein for such meeting, or if he shall be present at the meeting. Unless limited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-laws or the terms of the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at any meeting without the notice thereof having specifically identified the matters to be acted upon.

Section 8. Removal of Directors. Any Director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed, with or without cause, at any time, by action of the holders of record of the majority of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation (a) present in person or by proxy at a meeting of holders of such stock and entitled to vote thereon or (b) by a consent in writing in the manner contemplated in Section 9 of Article II, and the vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors caused by any such removal may be filled by action of such a majority at such meeting or at any subsequent meeting or by consent.

Section 9. Resignations. Any Director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, if any, the President, the Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation. The resignation of any Director shall take effect upon receipt of notice thereof or at such later time as shall be specified in such notice; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 10. Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the directors then in office, even if less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Each director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders or until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal as herein provided.

Section 11. Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, shall not receive any stated salary for their services, but, by resolution of the Board, a specific sum fixed by the Board plus expenses may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board; provided, however, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Corporation or any parent or subsidiary corporation thereof in any other capacity and receiving compensation thereof.

Section 12. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board, and such written consent is filed with the minutes or proceedings of the Board.

Section 13. Telephonic Participation in Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board 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 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Principal Officers. The Board of Directors shall elect a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may in addition elect a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents and such other officers as it deems fit; the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Chairman of the Board, if any, and the Vice Presidents, if any, being the principal officers of the Corporation. One person may hold, and perform the duties of, any two or more of said offices.

Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The principal officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the organization meeting thereof. Each such officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been elected and shall qualify, or until his earlier death, resignation or removal.

Section 3. Other Officers. In addition, the Board may elect, or the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the President may appoint, such other officers as they deem fit. Any such other officers chosen by the Board of Directors shall be subordinate officers and shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if any, or the President may from time to time determine.

Section 4. Removal. Any officer may be removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors at any regular meeting of the Board, or at any special meeting of the Board called for that purpose, at which a quorum is present.

Section 5. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, if any, the President, the Secretary or the Board of Directors. Any such resignation shall take effect upon receipt of such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

Section 6. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term in the manner prescribed in these By-laws for election or appointment to such office for such term.

Section 7. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board of Directors if one be elected, shall preside, if present, at all meetings of the Board of Directors and he shall have and perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 8. President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have the general powers and duties of supervision and management usually vested in the office of president of a corporation. He shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders if present thereat, and in the absence or non-election of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall have general supervision, direction and control of the business of the Corporation. Except as the Board of Directors shall authorize the execution thereof in some other manner, he shall execute bonds, mortgages, and other contracts on behalf of the Corporation, and shall cause the seal to be affixed to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed the seal shall be attested by the signature of the Secretary or the Treasurer.

Section 9. Vice President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to him by the directors.

Section 10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all funds and securities of the Corporation. He shall exhibit at all reasonable times his books of account and records to any of the Directors of the Corporation upon application during business hours at the office of the Corporation where such books and records shall be kept; when requested by the Board of Directors, he shall render a statement of the condition of the finances of the Corporation at any meeting of the Board or at the annual meeting of stockholders; he shall receive, and give receipt for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever; in general, he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall give such bond, if any, for the faithful discharge of his duties as the Board of Directors may require.

Section 11. Secretary. The Secretary, if present, shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders and keep the minutes thereof in a book or books to be provided for that purpose; he shall see that all notices required to be given by the Corporation are duly given and served; he shall have charge of the stock records of the Corporation; he shall see that all reports, statements and other documents required by law are properly kept and filed; and in general he shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the President or the Board of Directors.

Section 12. Salaries. The salaries of the principal officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors, and the salaries of any other officers may be fixed by the President.

 

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ARTICLE V

INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 1. Right of Indemnification. Every person now or hereafter serving as a director or officer of the Corporation and every such director or officer serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified by the Corporation in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law for the defense of, or in connection with, any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative.

Section 2. Expenses. Expenses incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article V.

Section 3. Other Rights of Indemnification. The right of indemnification herein provided shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any such director or officer may now or hereafter be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.

ARTICLE VI

SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER

Section 1. Stock Certificates; Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every holder of stock of the Corporation represented by certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, in such form as may be prescribed by law and by the Board of Directors, representing the number of shares held by such holder that are registered in certificate form.

Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information

 

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required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 202(a) or 218(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or, with respect to Section 151 of General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, a statement that the Corporation will 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.

Section 2. Transfers. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these By-laws. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of stock of the Corporation. Subject to applicable law, shares of stock represented by certificates shall be transferred only on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly executed, and with such proof of authority or the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require. Except as may be otherwise required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right to vote with respect to such stock, regardless of any transfer, pledge or other disposition of such stock until the shares have been transferred on the books of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.

Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in place of any previously issued certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may prescribe, including the presentation of reasonable evidence of such loss, theft or destruction and the giving of such indemnity and posting of such bond as the Board of Directors may require for the protection of the Corporation or any transfer agent or registrar.

Section 4. Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action. Such record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and such record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other action to which such record date relates.

If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day before the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the

 

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day on which the meeting is held. If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose (other than stockholder action by consent) shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating to such purpose.

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.

Section 5. Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

ARTICLE VII

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 1. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors shall provide a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the name of the Corporation and words and figures showing that it was incorporated in the State of Delaware in the year 1990. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the seal. The Board of Directors may authorize a duplicate seal to be kept and used by any other officer.

Section 2. Voting of Stocks Owned by the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any person on behalf of the Corporation to attend, vote and grant proxies to be used at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation (except the Corporation) in which the Corporation may hold stock.

Section 3. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefor, at any regular or special meeting declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the Board of Directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

These By-laws of the Corporation may be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors at (a) any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, provided, however, that the Board of Directors may alter, amend or repeal the provisions of these By-laws relating to the number of Directors only if all the members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing, or (b) by the affirmative vote of the holders of record of a majority of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation (i) present in person or by proxy at a meeting of holders of such stock and entitled to vote thereon or (ii) by a consent in writing in the manner contemplated in Section 9 of Article II, provided, however, that notice of the proposed alteration, amendment or repeal is contained in the notice of such meeting. By-laws, whether made or altered by the stockholders or by the Board of Directors, shall be subject to alteration or repeal by the stockholders as in this Article VIII above provided.

 

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