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Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS
OF
GEEKNET, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1.1. Registered Office. The registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.

 

Section 1.2. 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 2.1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

Section 2.2. Annual Meetings. A meeting of stockholders shall be held in each year for the election of directors at such time and place as the board of directors shall determine. Any other proper business, notice of which was given in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof, may be transacted at the annual meeting.

 

Section 2.3. Notice of Annual Meeting. Unless otherwise provided by law, written notice of the annual meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting.

 

Section 2.4. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every election of directors, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at said election, arranged in alphabetical order, 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 during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the election, either at a place within the city, town or village where the election is to be held and which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where said meeting is to be held, and the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of election during the whole time thereof, and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present.

 

Section 2.5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, may be called by the President and shall be called by the President or the Secretary 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. Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.

 



 

Section 2.6. Notice of Special Meetings. Unless otherwise provided by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and object thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date fixed for the meeting.

 

Section 2.7. Business at Special Meetings. Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

Section 2.8. 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 for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. 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.

 

Section 2.9. Voting. 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, as amended, a different vote is required in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

 

Section 2.10. Voting Limitations. 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 years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period, and, except where the transfer books of the Corporation have been closed or a date has been fixed as a record date for the determination of its stockholders entitled to vote, no share of stock shall be voted on at any election for directors which has been transferred on the books of the Corporation within twenty days next preceding such election of directors.

 

Section 2.11. Action by Written Consent. Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, 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.

 

ARTICLE III

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.1. Number, Election and Term. The number of directors which shall constitute the whole board of directors shall be as the board of directors may fix from time to

 

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time. Except as hereinafter provided in Section 3.2 of this Article, the directors, other than those constituting the first board of directors, shall be elected by the stockholders, and each director shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal. Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 3.2. Vacancies. 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.

 

Section 3.3. Powers. The property and business of the Corporation shall be managed by 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, as amended, or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

Section 3.4. Place of Meetings. The board of directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.

 

Section 3.5. Organizational Meeting. The first meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the meeting of the stockholders at which it was elected and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 3.6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the board of directors.

 

Section 3.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the President on at least 24 hours notice to each director, either personally or by mail, facsimile, electronic mail or other similar means of electronic transmission; special meetings shall be called by the President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors.

 

Section 3.8. Quorum. At all meetings of the board of directors a majority of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended. 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 3.9. Manner of Acting. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or these bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the board of directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, or by electronic transmission and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board of directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

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Section 3.10. Committees of Directors. The board of directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole board of directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. 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 (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by law to be submitted to the stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or repealing any bylaw of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.11. Committee Meeting Minutes. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors when required.

 

Section 3.12. Compensation of Directors. The board of directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors.

 

Section 3.13. Manner of Meeting Participation. Members of the board of directors or any committee designated by such board of directors may participate in a meeting of the board of directors or of a committee of the board of directors by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

NOTICES AND WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

Notices to directors and stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the directors or stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation. Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed. Notice to directors may also be given by facsimile, telegram, telephone or other means of electronic transmission, or any other means permitted by law. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or by these bylaws, a written waiver, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular, or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 5.1. Initial Number and Qualification. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors, and shall include a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may include one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

Section 5.2. Annual Number and Qualification. The board of directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, and may choose one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers.

 

Section 5.3. Other Officers Qualification and Term. 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 of directors.

 

Section 5.4. Salary. The salaries of all officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors.

 

Section 5.5. Term. 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.

 

Section 5.6. President. The President shall supervise and direct all business and affairs of the Corporation, shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect, and shall have general and active management responsibility of the Corporation’s business, and shall also perform such other duties as the board of directors may from time to time assign to him or her. In addition, the President shall preside at all meetings of the Corporation’s stockholders and directors and shall represent the Corporation in all matters involving the Corporation’s stockholders. The President shall have authority to execute stock certificates, contracts, bonds, mortgages and other documents requiring a seal, under the Corporation’s seal, 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.

 

Section 5.7. Vice President. 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 other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

Section 5.8. Secretary. 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. The Secretary 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 President, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be. The Secretary shall have custody

 

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of the corporate seal of the Corporation and 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. 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.

 

Section 5.9. Assistant Secretary. 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 5.10. Treasurer. 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 moneys 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. The Treasurer shall keep an account of stock registered and transferred in such manner and subject to such regulations as the board of directors may prescribe. 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 board of directors at its regular meetings or when the board of directors so requires, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. If required by the board of directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond (which shall be renewed every six 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 or her office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his or her 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 or her control belonging to the Corporation.

 

Section 5.11. Assistant Treasurer. 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.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

 

Section 6.1. Certificates for Shares. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation.

 

Section 6.2. Signatures on Certificates. Where a certificate is signed (1) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent or (2) by a transfer clerk acting on behalf of the Corporation and a registrar, the signature of the, any Vice President, the Treasurer, any Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary may be a 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 adopted by the

 

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Corporation and 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 6.3. 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 or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost 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 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 or destroyed upon the issuance of such new certificate.

 

Section 6.4. Transfer of Shares. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transactions upon its books, unless the Corporation has a duty to inquire as to adverse claims with respect to such transfer which has not been discharged. The Corporation shall have no duty to inquire into adverse claims with respect to such transfer unless (a) the Corporation has received a written notification of an adverse claim at a time and in a manner which affords the Corporation a reasonable opportunity to act on it prior to the issuance of a new, reissued or re-registered share certificate and the notification identifies the claimant, the registered owner and the issue of which the share or shares is a part and provides an address for communications directed to the claimant; or (b) the Corporation has required and obtained, with respect to a fiduciary, a copy of a will, trust, indenture, articles of co-partnership, bylaws or other controlling instruments, for a purpose other than to obtain appropriate evidence of the appointment or incumbency of the fiduciary, and such documents indicate, upon reasonable inspection, the existence of an adverse claim.

 

Section 6.5. Duty of Inquiry. The Corporation may discharge any duty of inquiry by any reasonable means, including notifying an adverse claimant by registered or certified mail at the address furnished by him or, if there be no such address, at his residence or regular place of business that the security has been presented for registration of transfer by a named person, and that the transfer will be registered unless within thirty days from the date of mailing the notification, either (a) an appropriate restraining order, injunction or other process issues from a court of competent jurisdiction; or (b) an indemnity bond sufficient in the Corporation’s judgment to protect the Corporation and any transfer agent, registrar or other agent of the Corporation involved from any loss which it or they may suffer by complying with the adverse claim, is filed with the Corporation.

 

Section 6.6. Fixing Record Date.

 

(a) In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice 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 date shall not precede the date upon which the board of directors adopted the resolution fixing such record date and which

 

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(i) in the case of any meeting, shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, (ii) in the case of a written consent without a meeting, shall not be more than ten days thereafter, and (iii) in the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such action.

 

(b) If no record date is fixed:

 

(1)   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 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.

 

(2)   The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting when no prior action by the board of directors is necessary shall be the day on which the first written consent is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to the Corporation’s registered office, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.

 

(3)   The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(c) 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 6.7. Registered Stockholders. Prior to due presentment for transfer of any share or shares, the Corporation shall treat the registered owner thereof as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notifications and to all other benefits of ownership with respect to such share or 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.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

DIVIDENDS

 

Section 7.1. Dividend Declaration and Payment. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, 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, as amended, and applicable law.

 

Section 7.2. Reserves. 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

 

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Corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

Section 7.3. Checks, Etc. All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 7.4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the twelve month accounting period from February 1 to January 31 as adjusted annually, or as may otherwise be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

 

Section 7.5. Corporate Seal. 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 in any manner reproduced.

 

Section 7.6. Books, Records and Accounts. The books, records and accounts of the Corporation except as otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware, may be kept within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as may from time to time be designated by the bylaws or by resolution of the directors.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER AGENTS

 

Section 8.1. Indemnification.

 

(a) Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, at any time during which this Bylaw is in effect (whether or not such person continues to serve in such capacity at the time any indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at the time any Proceeding relating thereto exists or is brought), a director or officer of the Corporation or is or was at any such time serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (hereinafter, a “Covered Person”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent, shall be (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to be) indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) to the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Corporation to provide greater indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment or modification), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys’ fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however, that

 

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except as provided in paragraph (a) of Section 8.3, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if (a) such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of directors (b) such indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (c) such indemnification is provided by the Corporation, in its sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the corporation under the General Corporation Law of Delaware or (d) such indemnification is required to be made pursuant to an individual contract.

 

(b) To obtain indemnification under this Bylaw, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (1) if requested by the claimant, by Independent Counsel (as hereinafter defined), or (2) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (i) by the board of directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), or (ii) if a quorum of the board of directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the board of directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (iii) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the board of directors unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the commencement of the Proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a “Change of Control” as hereinafter defined, in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the claimant unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the board of directors. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten (10) days after such determination.

 

Section 8.2. Mandatory Advancement of Expenses. To the fullest extent authorized by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Corporation to provide greater rights to advancement of expenses than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment or modification), each Covered Person shall have (and shall be deemed to have a contractual right to have) the right, without the need for any action by the board of directors, to be paid by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) the expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time; provided, however, that if the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware requires, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter, the “Undertaking”) by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal (a “final disposition”) that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under this Bylaw or otherwise.

 

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Section 8.3. Claims.

 

(a)   (1) If a claim for indemnification under this Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim pursuant to Section 8.1(b) of these Bylaws has been received by the Corporation, or (2) if a request for advancement of expenses under this Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within twenty (20) days after a statement pursuant to Section 8.2 of these Bylaws and the required Undertaking, if any, have been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim for indemnification or request for advancement of expenses and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action that, under the General Corporation Law of the Delaware, the claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed or that the claimant is not entitled to the requested advancement of expenses, but (except where the required Undertaking, if any, has not been tendered to the Corporation) the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the General Corporation Law of Delaware, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its board of directors, Independent Counsel or stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

(b)   If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 8.1(b) of these Bylaws that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 8.3.

 

(c)   The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to paragraph (a) of this Section 8.3 that the procedures and presumptions of this Bylaw are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of this Bylaw.

 

Section 8.4. Contract Rights; Amendment and Repeal; Non-Exclusivity of Rights.

 

(a) All of the rights conferred in this Article VIII, as to indemnification, advancement of expenses and otherwise, shall be contract rights between the Corporation and each Covered Person to whom such rights are extended that vest at the commencement of such Covered Person’s service to or at the request of the Corporation and (x) any amendment or modification of this Article VIII that in any way diminishes or adversely affects any such rights shall be prospective only and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any such rights with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment or modification, or Proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission, and (y) all of such rights shall continue as to any such Covered Person who has ceased to be a director or officer of the Corporation or ceased to serve at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as described herein, and shall inure to the benefit of such Covered Person’s heirs, executors and administrators.

 

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(b) All of the rights conferred in this Article VIII, as to indemnification, advancement of expenses and otherwise, (i) shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, Bylaws, agreement, vote of stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (ii) cannot be terminated by the Corporation, the board of directors or the stockholders of the Corporation with respect to a person’s service prior to the date of such termination.

 

Section 8.5. Insurance, Other Indemnification and Advancement of Expenses.

 

(a)   The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any current or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the General Corporation Law of Delaware. To the extent that the Corporation maintains any policy or policies providing such insurance, each such current or former director or officer, and each such agent or employee to which rights to indemnification have been granted as provided in paragraph (b) of this Section 8.5, shall be covered by such policy or policies in accordance with its or their terms to the maximum extent of the coverage thereunder for any such current or former director, officer, employee or agent.

 

(b)   The Corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors or the Chief Executive Officer, grant rights to indemnification and rights to advancement of expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, to any current or former employee or agent of the Corporation to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Bylaw with respect to the indemnification and advancement of expenses of current or former directors and officers of the Corporation.

 

Section 8.6. Definitions. For purposes of this Bylaw:

 

(a) “Change in Control” means the occurrence of any of the following events:

 

(1)   A change in the ownership of the corporation which occurs on the date that any one person, or more than one person acting as a group, (“Person”) acquires ownership of the stock of the corporation that, together with the stock held by such Person, constitutes more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the corporation; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (i), the acquisition of additional stock by any one Person, who is considered to own more than 50% of the total voting power of the stock of the corporation will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

(2)   A change in the effective control of the corporation which occurs on the date that a majority of members of the board of directors is replaced during any twelve (12) month period by directors whose appointment or election is not endorsed by a majority of the members of the board of directors prior to the date of the appointment or election. For purposes of this subsection (ii), if any Person is considered to effectively control the corporation, the acquisition of additional control of the corporation by the same Person will not be considered a Change in Control; or

 

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(3)   A change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the corporation’s assets which occurs on the date that any Person acquires (or has acquired during the twelve (12) month period ending on the date of the most recent acquisition by such person or persons) assets from the corporation that have a total gross fair market value equal to or more than 50% of the total gross fair market value of all of the assets of the corporation immediately prior to such acquisition or acquisitions; provided, however, that for purposes of this subsection (iii), the following will not constitute a change in the ownership of a substantial portion of the corporation’s assets: (A) a transfer to an entity that is controlled by the corporation’s stockholders immediately after the transfer, or (B) a transfer of assets by the corporation to: (1) a stockholder of the corporation (immediately before the asset transfer) in exchange for or with respect to the corporation’s stock, (2) an entity, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation, (3) a Person, that owns, directly or indirectly, 50% or more of the total value or voting power of all the outstanding stock of the corporation, or (4) an entity, at least 50% of the total value or voting power of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a Person described in this subsection 6(a)(iii) of Article V. For purposes of this subsection (iii), gross fair market value means the value of the assets of the corporation, or the value of the assets being disposed of, determined without regard to any liabilities associated with such assets.

 

For purposes of this Section 8.6, persons will be considered to be acting as a group if they are owners of a corporation that enters into a merger, consolidation, purchase or acquisition of stock, or similar business transaction with the corporation.

 

(b)   “Disinterested Director” means a director of the Corporation who is not and was not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant.

 

(c)   “Independent Counsel” means a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under this Bylaw.

 

Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under this Bylaw shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Corporate Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Corporate Secretary.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

AMENDMENTS

 

These bylaws may be amended or repealed 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 amendment or repeal be contained in the notice of such special meeting; however, a bylaw amendment adopted by the stockholders which specifies the votes that shall be necessary for the election of directors shall not be further amended or repealed by the board of directors.

 

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