Attached files
| file | filename |
|---|---|
| 8-K - BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP | form8-kceotransitionplan.htm |
| EX-99.1 - PRESS RELEASE - BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP | exhibit991_ceotransitionpl.htm |
| EX-10.1 - MAHONEY OFFER LETTER - BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP | exhibit101_michaelmahoneyo.htm |
| EX-10.3 - ELLIOTT OFFER LETTER - BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP | exhibit103_rayelliottsenio.htm |
| EX-10.2 - KUCHEMAN OFFER LETTER - BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORP | exhibit102_hankkuchemanoff.htm |
EXHIBIT 3.1
RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
BOSTON SCIENTIFIC CORPORATION
A Delaware Corporation
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, Delaware 19808. The name of the corporation's registered agent at such address shall be Corporation Service Company.
Section 2. Other Offices. The corporation may also have offices at such other places, both within and without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held for the purpose of electing Directors and conducting such other business as may properly come before the meeting. The date, time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, of the annual meeting shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, and shall be called within 10 days after receipt of the written request of the Board of Directors, pursuant to a resolution approved by a majority of the Whole Board (as defined below). Any such resolution shall be sent to the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, and the Secretary of the corporation and shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted at any special meeting is limited to the purposes stated in the notice. For the purposes of these By-Laws, the term “Whole Board” is defined as the total number of Directors which the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
Section 3. Notice. Written or printed notice of every annual or special meeting of the stockholders, stating the place, date, time, and, in the case of special meetings, the purpose or purposes, of such meeting, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. All such notices shall be delivered, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Board of Directors, and if mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage prepaid. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.
Section 4. Stockholders List. The officer having charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall make, at least ten days before every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting arranged in alphabetical order, specifying the address of and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.
Section 5. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If a quorum is not present, the holders of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, and entitled to vote thereat, shall have the power, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of such shares, to adjourn the meeting to another date, time and/or place, without notice other than announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment was taken, until a quorum shall be present or represented.
Section 6. Notice of Stockholder Business. 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 (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation, not less than 120 calendar days before the date of the corporation's proxy statement released to shareholders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting. However, if the corporation did not hold an annual meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year's annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year's meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before the corporation begins to print and mail its proxy materials.
A stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such business, (c) the class and number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any material interest of the stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in the By-Laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 6 of Article II.
The presiding officer of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 6 of Article II, and, if the presiding officer should so determine, the presiding officer shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Section 7. Inspectors. The Board of Directors shall appoint inspectors of election to act as judges of the voting and to determine those entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, in advance of such meeting, but if the Board of Directors fails to make such appointments or if an appointee fails to serve, the presiding officer of the meeting of stockholders may appoint substitute inspectors.
Section 8. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder shall be entitled at every meeting of the stockholders to one vote for each share of stock having voting power standing in the name of such stockholder on the books of the corporation on the record date for the meeting and such votes may be cast either in person or by written proxy. Every proxy must be duly executed and filed with the Secretary of the corporation. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the corporation. The vote upon any question brought before a meeting of the stockholders may be by voice vote, unless otherwise required by these By-Laws or unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall so determine. Every vote taken by written ballot shall be counted by the inspectors of election. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock which has voting power present in person or represented by proxy and which has actually voted shall decide any question properly brought before such meeting, except the election or removal of Directors or as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, the Certificate of Incorporation or a Preferred Stock Designation or by applicable law. With respect to any election or questions required to be decided by any class of stock voting as a class, the vote of the holders of a majority of such class of stock present in person or by proxy and which actually voted shall decide any such election or question.
Section 9. Order of Business. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors prior to the meeting, the presiding officer of the meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and shall have the authority in his discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting, including, without limitation, by imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of the corporation or their duly appointed proxies) who may attend any such meeting of stockholders, by ascertaining whether any stockholder or his proxy may be excluded from any meeting of stockholders based upon any determination by the presiding officer, in his sole discretion, that any such person has unduly disrupted or is likely to disrupt the
proceedings thereat, and by determining the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at any meeting of stockholders.
ARTICLE III
NOMINATION OF DIRECTOR CANDIDATES
Section 1. Notification of Nominees. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nominations for the election of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or a committee appointed by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of Directors generally. However, any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of Directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as Directors at a meeting only if written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination or nominations has been given, either by personal delivery or by United States mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the corporation not later 120 calendar days before the date of the corporation's proxy statement released to shareholders in connection with the previous year's annual meeting. However, if the corporation did not hold an annual meeting the previous year, or if the date of the current year's annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the date of the previous year's meeting, then the deadline is a reasonable time before the corporation begins to print and mail its proxy materials.
If the nomination or nominations is for a meeting of stockholders other than a regularly scheduled annual meeting, the deadline is a reasonable time before the corporation begins to print and mail its proxy material.
Each such notice shall set forth: (a) the name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person or persons to be nominated; (b) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder; (d) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors; and (e) the consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of the corporation if so elected.
Section 2. Substitution of Nominees. If a person is validly designated as a nominee in accordance with Section 1 of this Article III, and shall thereafter become unable or unwilling to stand for election to the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors or the stockholder who proposed such nominee, as the case may be, may designate a substitute nominee upon delivery, not fewer than five days prior to the date of the meeting for the election of such nominee, of a written notice to the Secretary setting forth such information regarding such substitute nominee as would have been required to be delivered to the Secretary pursuant to Section 1 of this Article III, had such substitute nominee been initially proposed as a nominee. Such notice shall include a signed consent to serve as a Director of the corporation, if elected, of each substitute nomine.
Section 3. Compliance with Procedures. If the presiding officer of the meeting for the election or Directors determines that a nomination for any candidate for election as a Director at such meeting was not made in accordance with the applicable provisions of these By-Laws, such person will not be eligible for election as a Director and such nomination shall be void; provided, however, that nothing in these By-Laws shall be deemed to limit any voting rights upon the occurrence of dividend arrearages provided to holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Preferred Stock Designation for any series of Preferred Stock.
ARTICLE IV
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Powers. The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or 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 law or by the Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section 2. Number, Qualification, Election and Terms. Except as otherwise fixed by, or pursuant to, the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors, but shall not be less than three nor more than twenty persons. The Directors shall be elected by plurality vote annually by the stockholders at their annual meeting or at any special meeting the notice of which specifies the election of Directors as an item of business for
such meeting.
Section 3. Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, any Director may be removed from office by the stockholders in the manner provided in this Section 3 of Article IV. At any annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation or at any special meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, the notice of which shall state that the removal of a Director or Directors is among the purposes of the meeting, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80 percent of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares of Voting Stock (as defined below), voting together as a single class, may remove, with or without cause, such Director or Directors. For the purposes of these By-Laws, “Voting Stock” shall mean the outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.
Section 4. Vacancies and New Directorships. Except as otherwise fixed by or provided for or pursuant to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the Common Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office though less than quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, except as may be required by law. Any Director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until such Director's successor shall have been elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
Section 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders and at such other time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Special Meetings and Notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, on one day's written notice to each Director by whom such notice is not waived, given either personally or by mail, telephone, telegram, telex, facsimile or similar medium of communication, and shall be called by the Chief Executive Officer, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of any three Directors.
Section 7. Resignation. Any Director may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary, to be effective upon its acceptance by the Board of Directors or at the time specified in such notice. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make such resignation effective.
Section 8. Quorum. Subject to Section 4 of this Article IV and except as provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, at all meetings of Directors, a majority of the total number of Directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Except for the designation of committees (as provided in Section 9 of this Article IV), the vote of a majority of Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time to another place, time or date, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 9. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the corporation, which to the extent provided in such resolution shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management and affairs of the corporation and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it, except as otherwise limited by statute. The Board of Directors 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. 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. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Directors when required. Each committee of the Board of Directors may fix its own rules of procedure and shall hold its meetings as provided by such rules, except as may otherwise be provided by the resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee, and unless otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, the presence of at least a majority of the members of such committee shall be necessary to constitute a quorum.
Section 10. Compensation. The Directors may be paid for expenses 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. No such
payment shall preclude any Director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor. Members of committees designated by the Board of Directors may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.
Section 11. Rules. The Board of Directors may adopt such special rules and regulations for the conduct of their meetings and the management of the affairs of the corporation as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a president, a chairman and/or co-chairman of the board, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers and assistant officers as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the Board of Directors. Any number of offices may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may choose not to fill any office for any period as it may deem advisable, except the offices of the president and secretary.
Section 2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as conveniently may be. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Each officer shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until a successor is duly elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as hereinafter provided.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interest of the corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term by a majority vote of the Directors then in office.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation of all officers shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by virtue of the fact that he or she is also a Director of the corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer, upon whom the power of appointing subordinate officers may have been conferred, to fix the compensation of such subordinate officers.
Section 6. The Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if any, in the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders; 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. The Chief Executive Officer 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, the President, the Chairman or another officer of the Corporation, as designated by the Board of Directors, shall have the powers of the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 7. The President and Vice-Presidents. The President shall act in an executive capacity as shall be directed from time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall have such powers and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may determine from time to time, (which may include, without limitation, assisting the Chief Executive Officer in the operation and administration of the corporation's business and the supervision of its policies and affairs), with such limitations on such powers or performance of duties as either of the foregoing shall prescribe. The Vice-President, or if there shall be more than one, the Vice-Presidents in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall perform such other duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine or these By-Laws may prescribe.
Section 8. The Chairman of the Board. The Chairman and/or the Co-Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and directors; and have such other duties as may be assigned to him or them from time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. The Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. 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 an 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. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors; perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or Chief Executive Officer, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, under whose supervision he or she shall be; shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and the Secretary, 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 or her 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 or her signature. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 10. The Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities; shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation; shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit 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, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of the corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the corporation a bond (which shall be rendered every six years) in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of treasurer and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of death, resignation, retirement, or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in the possession or under the control of the Treasurer belonging to the corporation. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors, shall in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 11. Other Officers, Assistant Officers and Agents. Officers, assistant officers and agents, if any, other than those whose duties are provided for in these By-laws, shall have such authority and perform such duties as may from time to time be prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, authorize any officer to appoint and remove such subordinate officers and to prescribe the powers and duties thereof.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND OTHERS
Section 1. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, his or her heirs, executors or administrators, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as director, officer, employee or other agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonable believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.
Section 2. The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party, his or her heirs, executors or administrators, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he or she is or was an officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as director or officer of another corporation, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interest of the corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonable entitled to indemnification for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
Section 3. To the extent that an officer of the corporation or person serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.
Section 4. Any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the officer or person serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI. Such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.
Section 5. 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 upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the officer or person serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article VI.
Section 6. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other subsections of this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in other capacity while holding such office.
Section 7. The corporation shall have power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was an officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability under the provisions of this Article VI.
Section 8. For purposes of this Article VI, references to “the corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting corporation, any constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors and officers so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director or officer of another corporation shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
Section 9. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this section shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be an officer, employee or person serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 10. This Article VI may be amended or repealed only by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Voting Stock; provided that no such amendment or repeal shall adversely affect any right to indemnification for any act or omission of any person referred to in Section 1 and 2 of this Article VI which occurred or allegedly occurred prior to the effective date of such amendment or repeal.
Section 11. If in any action, suit or other proceeding or investigation, a Director of the corporation is held not liable for monetary damages because that Director is relieved of personal liability under Article NINTH of the Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise, the Director shall be deemed to have met the standards of conduct set forth above and to be entitled to indemnification as provided above.
ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form. Every holder of stock in the corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name of the corporation by, (1) the President or a Vice-President and (2) the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her in the corporation. Where a certificate is signed (1) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent other than the corporation or its employee or (2) by a registrar, other than the corporation or its employee, the signature of any such President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary, or Assistant Secretary may be facsimile. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the corporation whether because of death, resignation or otherwise before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be issued and delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the corporation.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. 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 or her legal representative, 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.
Section 3. Fixing a Record Date. Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not more than sixty nor less than ten days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with obtaining any consent, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, and any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect to any such change, conversion, or exchange of capital stock, or to give such consent, and in such case such stockholders and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, or to give such consent, as the case may be notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the corporation after any such record date fixed as aforesaid. If no record date is fixed, the time 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 next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The time for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A determination of stockholders 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 4. Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, 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 the other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. 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 the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation. 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 in the best interest of the corporation, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 2. Checks. 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.
Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be the period ending December 31 of each year or as otherwise fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Seal. The seal of the corporation shall be in the form of a circle and 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.
Section 5. Securities Owned By Corporation. Voting securities in any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted by the Chief Executive Officer, or, if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Treasurer or any Vice President, unless the Board of Directors specifically confers authority to vote with respect thereto, which may be general or confined to specific instances, upon some other person or officer. Any person authorized to vote securities shall have the power to appoint proxies, with general power of substitution.
Section 6. Conflict of Interest. No contract or transaction between the corporation and one or more of its Directors or officers, or between the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its Directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the Director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the board of or committee thereof which authorized the contract or transaction, or solely because the votes of the Director or officer are counted for such purpose, provided that the material facts as to the relationship or interest of the Director or officer and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of the disinterested Directors, even though the disinterested Directors be less than a quorum or provided that the contract or transaction is otherwise authorized in accordance with the laws of Delaware. Common or interested Directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transactions.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws may be amended or repealed at any regular meeting of the stockholders or at any special meeting thereof duly called for that purpose by a majority vote of the shares represented and entitled to vote at such meeting provided that in the notice of such special meeting notice of such purpose shall be given. Subject to the laws of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation and these By-Laws, the Board of Directors may by majority vote of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present amend or repeal these By-Laws, or adopt such other By-Laws as in their judgment may be advisable for the regulation of the conduct of the affairs of the corporation.