Delaware
(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
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1-12696
(Commission
File No.)
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77-0207692
(I.R.S.
Employer
Identification
Number)
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Date:
January 20, 2009
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PLANTRONICS,
INC.
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By:
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/s/
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Name:
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Barbara
Scherer
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Title:
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Senior
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer (Principal Financial
and Accounting Officer)
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3(i) | Plantronics, Inc. 2009 Restated Articles of Incorporation |
3(ii)
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Amended and Restated Bylaws of Plantronics, Inc. |
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4.3
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DESIGNATION OF RIGHTS,
PREFERENCES AND PRIVILEGES OF SERIES A PARTICIPATING PREFERRED
STOCK
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1.
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Registered
Office
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The
registered office of the corporation in the State of Delaware shall be
located at 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, County of New
Castle. The name of the corporation's registered agent at such address
shall be The Corporation Trust Company. The registered office and/or
registered agent of the corporation may be changed from time to time by
action of the board of directors.
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2.
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Other
Offices
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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.
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1.
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Place and Time of
Meetings
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The
annual meeting of stockholders shall be held each year. The board of
directors shall designate the date and time of the annual
meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and
any other proper business may be transacted. Meetings of
stockholders shall be held at any place, within or outside the State of
Delaware, designated by the board of directors. The board of directors
may, in its sole discretion, determine that a meeting of stockholders
shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of
remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the
General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
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2.
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Special
Meetings
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Special
meetings of stockholders may be called for any purpose and may be held at
such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be
stated in a notice of meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof. The board of directors may, in its sole discretion, determine
that a special meeting of stockholders shall not be held at any place, but
may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized
by Section 211(a)(2) of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. Such meetings may be called at any time only by the
board of directors, the chairman of the board of directors, the president,
or the holders of twenty percent (20%) or more of the outstanding Common
Stock of the corporation. No business may be conducted at a special
meeting other than the business brought before the meeting by the board of
directors, the chairman of the board of directors, or the president, as
the case may be. The board of directors may cancel, postpone or
reschedule any previously scheduled special meeting at any time, before or
after the notice for such meeting has been sent to the
stockholders. The notice of a special meeting shall include the
purpose for which the meeting is
called.
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3.
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Place of
Meetings
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The
board of directors may designate any place, either within or without the
State of Delaware, as the place of meeting for any annual meeting or for
any special meeting called by the board of directors. If no designation is
made, or if a special meeting be otherwise called, the place of meeting
shall be the principal executive office of the
corporation.
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4.
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Notice
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Whenever
stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a
written notice of the meeting shall be given which shall state the place,
if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication,
if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be
present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special
meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. Except
as otherwise provided in the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware, the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, the written
notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be given not less than 10 nor
more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting.
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5.
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Stockholders
List
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The
officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall
prepare and make, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting,
arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each
stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each
stockholder. The corporation shall not be required to include electronic
mail addresses or other electronic contact information on such list. Such
list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting for a period of at least 10 days prior to the
meeting: (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided
that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with
the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours, at
the corporation’s principal place of business. In the event that the
corporation determines to make the list available on an electronic
network, the corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that such
information is available only to stockholders of the corporation. If the
meeting is to be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept
at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and
may be examined by any stockholder who is present. If the meeting is to be
held solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall also be
open to the examination of any stockholder during the whole time of the
meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the information
required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the
meeting. Such list shall presumptively determine the identity of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held
by each of them.
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6.
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Quorum
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The
holders of the outstanding shares of capital stock representing a majority
of the voting power of the corporation, present in person or represented
by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders,
except as otherwise provided by law or by the certificate of
incorporation. If a quorum is not present, either the chairman of the
meeting or the holders of the shares representing a majority of the voting
power present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, and
entitled to vote at the meeting, may adjourn the meeting to another time
and/or place. When a specified item of business requires a vote by a class
or series (if the corporation shall then have outstanding shares of more
than one class or series) voting as a class, the holders of a majority of
the shares of such class or series shall constitute a quorum (as to such
class or series) for the transaction of such item of business. When a
quorum is once present to commence a meeting of stockholders, it is not
broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any stockholder or their
proxies.
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7.
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Adjourned
Meetings
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When
a meeting is adjourned to another time and place, notice need not be given
of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof and the means of
remote communications if any by which stockholders and proxy holders may
be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are
announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the
adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which might
have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record day
is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting
shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the
meeting.
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8.
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Vote
Required
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When
a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the holders of the shares
representing a majority of the voting power present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject
matter shall be the act of the stockholders, unless the question is one
upon which by express provisions of an applicable law or of the
certificate of incorporation or these bylaws a different vote is required,
in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision
of such question. Where a separate vote by class may be required, the
affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class present in person
or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such
class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, directors shall be
elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or
represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote in the election
of directors.
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9.
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Voting
Rights
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Except
as otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or by the certificate of incorporation of the corporation or any
amendments thereto, every stockholder shall at every meeting of the
stockholders be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share
of Common Stock held by such
stockholder.
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10.
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Proxies
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11.
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Prohibitions on Action
by Written Consent
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Unless
otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation, no action may be
taken by the stockholders of the corporation pursuant to a written consent
in lieu of an annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the
corporation.
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12.
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Advance Notice of
Stockholder
Business
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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 brought:
(A) pursuant to the corporation’s proxy materials with respect to
such meeting, (B) by or at the direction of the board of directors,
or (C) by a stockholder of the corporation who (1) is a
stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice required by
this section and on the record date for the determination of stockholders
entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (2) has timely complied in
proper written form with the notice procedures set forth in this section,
and (3) the stockholder or a duly authorized representative of such
stockholder must be present in person to present such business. In
addition, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by
a stockholder, such business must be a proper matter for stockholder
action pursuant to these bylaws and applicable law. For the avoidance of
doubt, clause (C) above shall be the exclusive means for a
stockholder to bring business before an annual meeting of
stockholders.
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To
comply with clause (C) of the immediately preceding paragraph, a
stockholder’s notice must set forth all information required under this
section and must be timely received by the secretary of the corporation.
To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and
received at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later
than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of
business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
year's annual meeting;
provided
,
however
, that in the
event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or if the date
of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days prior to or delayed
by more than 60 days after the one-year anniversary of the date of the
previous year’s annual meeting, then, for notice by the stockholder to be
timely, it must be so received by the secretary not later than the tenth
(10th) day following the day on which Public Announcement of the date of
such meeting is first made by the corporation. In no event shall any
adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement
thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s
notice as described in this section. “
Public Announcement
”
shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News
Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a
document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any successor thereto (the
“
1934
Act
”).
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To
be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the secretary must
set forth as to each matter of business the stockholder intends to bring
before the annual meeting: (1) a brief description of the business
intended to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for
conducting such business at the annual meeting, (2) the name and
address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the stockholder
proposing such business and of any Stockholder Associated Person (as
defined below), (3) the class and number of shares of the corporation
that are held of record or are beneficially owned by the stockholder or
any Stockholder Associated Person and any derivative positions held or
beneficially held by the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person,
(4) whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction
or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of such
stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any
securities of the corporation, and a description of any other agreement,
arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any
borrowing or lending of shares), the effect or intent of which is to
mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or benefit from share price
changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such
stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any
securities of the corporation, (5) any material interest of the
stockholder or a Stockholder Associated Person in such business, and
(6) a statement whether either such stockholder or any Stockholder
Associated Person will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to
holders of at least the percentage of the corporation’s voting shares
required under applicable law to carry the proposal (such information
provided and statements made as required by clauses (1) through (6), a
“
Business Solicitation
Statement
”). In addition, to be in proper written form, a
stockholder’s notice to the secretary must be supplemented not later than
ten days following the record date to disclose the information contained
in clauses (3) and (4) above as of the record date. For purposes of this
section, a “
Stockholder
Associated Person
” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any
person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with,
such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the
corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and on
whose behalf the proposal or nomination, as the case may be, is being
made, or (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common
control with such person referred to in the preceding clauses (i) and
(ii).
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Without
exception, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in
accordance with the provisions set forth in this section and, if
applicable, the next section. The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if
the facts warrant, determine and declare at the annual meeting that
business was not properly brought before the annual meeting and in
accordance with the provisions of this section, and, if the chairman
should so determine, he or she shall so declare at the annual meeting that
any such business not properly brought before the annual meeting shall not
be conducted.
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This
Section 12 is expressly intended to be applicable to stockholder proposals
that are not made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 and are not intended to be
included in the corporation’s proxy statement. In addition to
the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a stockholder shall also
comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the 1934 Act
and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set
forth in this Section 12. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to
affect adversely any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of
proposals in, nor the right of the corporation to omit a proposal from,
the corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor
provision) under the 1934 Act.
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13.
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Advance Notice of
Stockholder
Nominations
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Notwithstanding
anything in these bylaws to the contrary, only persons who are nominated
in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section shall be
eligible for election or re-election as directors at an annual meeting of
stockholders. Nominations of persons for election to the board of
directors of the corporation shall be made at an annual meeting of
stockholders or at a special meeting of stockholders in which directors
are to be elected only (A) by or at the direction of the board of
directors or (B) by a stockholder of the corporation who (1) was
a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of the notice required
by this section and on the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (2) has
timely complied in proper written form with the notice procedures set
forth in this section.
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To
comply with clause (B) of the immediately preceding paragraph, a
nomination to be made by a stockholder must set forth all information
required under this section and must be received by the secretary of the
corporation at the principal executive offices of the corporation at the
time and manner set forth in Article 2, Section 12 for the timely proposal
of business other than the nomination of persons for election as
directors.
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To
be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice to the secretary must
set forth: as to each person (a “
nominee
”) whom the
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a
director: (A) the name, age, business address and residence address
of the nominee, (B) the principal occupation or employment of the
nominee, (C) the class and number of shares of the corporation that
are held of record or are beneficially owned by the nominee and any
derivative positions held or beneficially held by the nominee,
(D) whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction
or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of the
nominee with respect to any securities of the corporation, and a
description of any other agreement, arrangement or understanding
(including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares), the
effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or to manage the risk or
benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting
power of the nominee, (E) 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
nominations are to be made by the stockholder, (F) a written
statement executed by the nominee acknowledging that as a director of the
corporation, the nominee will owe a fiduciary duty under Delaware law with
respect to the corporation and its stockholders, and (G) any other
information relating to the nominee that would be required to be disclosed
about such nominee if proxies were being solicited for the election of the
nominee as a director, or that is otherwise required, in each case
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the 1934 Act (including without
limitation the nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy
statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);
and as to such stockholder giving notice, (A) the information
required to be provided pursuant to clauses (2) through (5) of the
third paragraph of Article 2, Section 12, and the supplement referenced in
the second sentence of the third paragraph of such Section (except that
the references to “business” in such clauses shall instead refer to
nominations of directors for purposes of this paragraph), and (B) a
statement whether either such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person
will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of a number of
the corporation’s voting shares reasonably believed by such stockholder or
Stockholder Associated Person to be necessary to elect such nominee(s)
(such information provided and statements made as required by
clauses (A) and (B) above, a “
Nominee Solicitation
Statement
”).
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At
the request of the board of directors, any person nominated by a
stockholder for election as a director must furnish to the secretary of
the corporation such other information as may reasonably be required
by the corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee
to serve as an independent director of the corporation or that could be
material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence,
or lack thereof, of such nominee; in the absence of the furnishing of such
information if requested, such stockholder’s nomination shall not be
considered in proper form pursuant to this
section.
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Without
exception, no person shall be eligible for election or re-election as a
director of the corporation at an annual meeting of stockholders unless
nominated in accordance with the provisions set forth in this section. The
chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare at the annual meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance
with the provisions prescribed by these bylaws, and if the chairman should
so determine, he or she shall so declare at the annual meeting, and the
defective nomination shall be
disregarded.
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14.
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Inspectors of
Elections
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1.
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General
Powers
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The
business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by or under the
direction of the board of
directors.
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2.
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Number, Election and
Term of Office
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The
authorized number of directors constituting the board of directors shall
be from five (5) to nine (9). The exact number of directors within
the foregoing range shall be determined from time to time exclusively by
resolution of the board of directors. No reduction of the authorized
number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director before
that director’s term expires. Directors shall only be elected by
stockholders at the annual meeting of the stockholders Each
director elected shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and
qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as
hereinafter provided.
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3.
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Removal and
Resignation
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Any
director or the entire board of directors may be removed at any time, with
or without cause, by the holders of the shares representing a majority of
the voting power of the corporation then entitled to vote at an election
of directors. Whenever the holders of any class or series are entitled to
elect one or more directors by the provisions of the corporation's
certificate of incorporation, the provisions of this section shall apply,
in respect to the removal without cause of a director or directors so
elected, to the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of that
class or series and not to the vote of the outstanding shares as whole.
Any director may resign at any time upon written notice, including by
electronic transmission, to the
corporation.
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4.
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Vacancies
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a.
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If
a vacancy on the board of directors has resulted from the death,
resignation or removal of a director, such vacancy shall be filled only by
a majority of those remaining directors then in office, though such
directors may constitute less than a
quorum.
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b.
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Newly
created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number
of directors shall be filled only by a majority of the directors then in
office.
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c.
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Each
director so chosen shall hold office until a successor is duly elected and
qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal as
herein provided.
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5.
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Regular
Meetings
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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.
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6.
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Special Meetings and
Notice
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Special
meetings of the board of directors for any purpose or purposes may be
called at any time by the president or any two (2) directors. Notice of
the date, time and place of special meetings shall be delivered
personally, by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail or other comparable
communication equipment to each director or sent by first-class mail,
charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director's address as
it is shown on the records of the corporation. If the notice is mailed, it
shall be deposited in the United States mail at least four (4) days before
the time of the holding of the meeting. If the notice is delivered
personally or by telephone, facsimile, telegram, electronic mail or other
comparable communication equipment, it shall be delivered at least
twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the holding of the meeting. Any
notice given personally or by telephone, facsimile, telegram, electronic
mail or other comparable communication equipment may be communicated
either to the director or to a person at the office of the director who
the person giving the notice has reason to believe will promptly
communicate it to the director. The notice need not specify the purpose of
the meeting.
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7.
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Quorum, Required Vote
and Adjournment
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8.
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Committees
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Subject
to the voting requirements set forth in Article 3, the board of directors
may 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 or these bylaws shall have and may exercise the powers of
the board of directors in the management and affairs of the corporation
except as otherwise limited by law. 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 board of directors when
required.
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9.
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Communications
Equipment
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Members
of the board of directors or any committee thereof may participate in and
act at any meeting of such board or committee through the use of a
conference telephone or other communications equipment by means of which
all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
participation in the meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute
presence in person at the meeting.
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10.
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Waiver of Notice and
Presumption of Assent
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Any
member of the board of directors or any committee thereof who is present
at a meeting shall be conclusively presumed to have waived notice of such
meeting except when such member attends 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. Such
member shall be conclusively presumed to have assented to any action taken
unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting
or unless his or her written dissent to such action shall be filed with
the person acting as the secretary of the meeting before the adjournment
thereof or shall be forwarded by registered mail to the secretary of the
corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right
to dissent shall not apply to any member who voted in favor of such
action.
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11.
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Action by Written
Consent
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Unless
otherwise restricted by the certificate of incorporation, any action
required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of
directors, or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if
all members of the board or committee, as the case may be consent thereto
in writing, including by electronic transmission, and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the board or
committee.
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1.
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Number
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The
officers of the corporation shall be appointed by the board of directors
and shall consist of a president and a secretary. The
corporation may also have, at the discretion of the board of directors, a
chairperson of the board of directors, a vice chairperson of the board of
directors, a chief executive officer, a chief financial
officer, a treasurer, one or more vice presidents, one or more
assistant vice presidents, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more
assistant secretaries, and any such other officers as may be appointed in
accordance with the provisions of these bylaws. Any number of offices may
be held by the same person.
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2.
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Appointment of
officers
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The
board of directors may appoint, or empower the chief executive officer or,
in the absence of a chief executive officer, the president, to appoint,
such other officers and agents as the business of the corporation may
require. Each of such officers and agents shall hold office for such
period, have such authority, and perform such duties as are provided in
these bylaws or as the board of directors may from time to time
determine.
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Any
vacancy occurring in any office because of death, resignation, removal,
disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by the board of directors or
in accordance with Article 4, Section 3 of these
bylaws.
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1.
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Nature of
Indemnity
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Each
person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to
or is 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 a director or officer of the corporation or is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee, fiduciary, or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise 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 payment of expenses pursuant
hereto is sought or at the time any proceeding relating thereto exists or
is brought), shall be indemnified and held harmless by the corporation to
the fullest extent which it is empowered to do so by the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same exists or may
hereafter be amended, against all expense, liability and loss (including
attorneys' fees actually and reasonably incurred by such person in
connection with such proceeding) and such indemnification shall inure to
the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided,
however, that, except as provided in Article 5, Section 2 hereof, the
corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person
only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the board of
directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in
this Article 5 shall be a contract right, shall vest at the time of
such person’s service to or at the request of the corporation and, subject
to Article 5, Sections 2 and 5 hereof, shall include the right to be
paid by the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such
proceeding in advance of its final disposition. The corporation may, by
action of its board of directors, provide indemnification to employees and
agents of the corporation with the same scope and effect as the foregoing
indemnification of directors and
officers.
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2.
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Procedure for
Indemnification of Directors and
Officers
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Any
indemnification of a director or officer of the corporation under
Section 1 of this Article 5 or advance of expenses under
Section 5 of this Article 5 shall be made promptly, and in any
event within (x) thirty (30) days, in the case of a request for
advancement, and sixty (60) days, in the case of a request for
indemnification, following the written request of the director or officer.
If a determination by the corporation that the director or officer is
entitled to indemnification or advancement is not made within the times
periods described above, or if the corporation denies a written request
for indemnification or advancing of expenses, in whole or in part, the
right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article 5
shall be enforceable by the director or officer in any court of competent
jurisdiction. Such person's costs and expenses incurred in connection with
successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or
in part, in any such action shall also be indemnified by the corporation.
It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an action brought to
enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding in
advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking, if any,
has been tendered to the corporation) that the claimant has not met the
standards of conduct which make it permissible under the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware for the corporation to indemnify
the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of such defense shall
be on the corporation. Neither the failure of the corporation (including
its board of directors, independent legal counsel, or its 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 the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by
the corporation (including its board of directors, independent legal
counsel, or its 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.
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3.
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Article Not
Exclusive
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The
rights to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in
this Article 5 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, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or
otherwise.
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4.
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Insurance
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The
corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its own behalf and on
behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee,
fiduciary, or agent of the corporation or was serving at the request of
the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against
any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in
any such capacity, whether or not the corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability under this
Article 5.
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5.
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Expenses
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Expenses
incurred by any person described in Section 1 of this Article 5
in defending a proceeding shall be paid by the corporation in advance of
such proceeding's final disposition upon receipt of an undertaking by or
on behalf of the director or officer to repay such amount if it shall
ultimately be determined that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified
by the corporation. Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents
may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the board of
directors deems appropriate.
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6.
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Employees and
Agents
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Persons
who are not covered by the foregoing provisions of this Article 5 and
who are or were employees or agents of the corporation, or who are or were
serving at the request of the corporation as employees or agents of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, may be indemnified to the extent authorized at any time or
from time to time by the board of
directors.
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7.
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Contract
Rights
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The
provisions of this Article 5 shall be deemed to be a contract right
between the corporation and each director or officer who serves in any
such capacity at any time while this Article 5 and the relevant
provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or
other applicable law are in effect. Any amendment,
modification, alteration or repeal of this Article 5 that in any way
diminishes, limits, restricts, adversely affects or eliminates any right
of an indemnitee or his or her successors to indemnification, advancement
of expenses or otherwise shall be prospective only and shall not in any
way diminish, limit, restrict, adversely affect or eliminate any such
right with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence,
action or omission then or previously existing, or any action, suit 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.
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8.
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Merger or
Consolidation
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For
purposes of this Article 5, 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, officers,
and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director,
officer, employee or agent of such constituent corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of such constituent corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under
this Article 5 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.
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1.
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Form
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The
shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided
that the board of directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that
some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be
uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares
represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the
corporation. Every holder of stock in the corporation represented by
certificates shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the
name of the corporation by, the chairperson of the board of directors or
vice-chairperson of the board of directors, or the president or a
vice-president, and by the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the
secretary or an assistant secretary of the corporation representing the
number of shares registered in certificate form. Any or all of the
signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer,
transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature
has been placed upon a certificate has ceased to be such officer, transfer
agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by
the corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer,
transfer agent or registrar at the date of
issue.
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The
name of the person to whom shares of the corporation are issued, with the
number of shares and date of issue, shall be entered on the books of the
corporation. Shares of stock of the corporation shall only be transferred
on the books of the corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such
holder's attorney duly authorized in writing, and if such stock is
certificated, upon surrender to the corporation of the certificate or
certificates for such shares endorsed by the appropriate person or
persons, with such evidence of the authenticity of such endorsement,
transfer, authorization, and other matters as the corporation may
reasonably require, and accompanied by all necessary stock transfer
stamps. The board of directors may appoint a bank or trust company
organized under the laws of the United States or any state thereof to act
as its transfer agent or registrar, or both in connection with the
transfer of any class or series of securities of the
corporation.
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2.
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Lost
Certificate
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3.
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Fixing a Record Date
for Stockholder Meetings
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In
order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment
thereof, the board of directors may fix a record date, which record date
shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record
date is adopted by the board of directors, and which record date shall not
be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of
such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the board of directors, the
record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote
at a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the next
day 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. 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 adjournment
meeting.
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4.
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Fixing a Record Date
for Other Purposes
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In
order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment or any
rights or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of
any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purposes of any
other lawful action, the board of directors may fix a record date, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than
sixty (60) days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the
record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at
the close of business on the day on which the board of directors adopts
the resolution relating thereto.
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5.
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Registered
Stockholders
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Prior
to the surrender to the corporation of the certificate or certificates for
a share or shares of stock with a request to record the transfer of such
share or shares, the corporation may treat the registered owner as the
person entitled to receive dividends, to vote, to receive notifications,
and otherwise to exercise all the rights and powers of an
owner.
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1.
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Dividends
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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 applicable 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 any other
purpose and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the
manner in which it was created.
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2.
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Checks, Drafts or
Orders
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All
checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money by or to the
corporation and all notes and other evidences of indebtedness issued in
the name of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers,
agent or agents of the corporation, and in such manner, as shall be
determined by resolution of the board of directors or a duly authorized
committee thereof.
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3.
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Contracts
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The
board of directors may authorize any officer or officers, or any agent or
agents, of the corporation to enter into any contract or to execute and
deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the corporation,
and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
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4.
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Loans
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The
corporation may lend money to, or guarantee any obligation of, or
otherwise assist any officer or other employee of the corporation or of
its subsidiary, including any officer or employee who is a director of the
corporation or its subsidiary, whenever, in the judgment of the directors,
such loan, guaranty or assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit
the corporation, except to the extent prohibited by applicable law. The
loan, guaranty or other assistance may be with or without interest, and
may be unsecured, or secured in such manner as the board of directors
shall approve, including, without limitation, a pledge of shares of stock
of the corporation. Nothing in this section contained shall be deemed to
deny, limit or restrict the powers of guaranty or warranty of the
corporation at common law or under any statute. No loans shall be made or
contracted on behalf of the corporation and no evidences of indebtedness
shall be issued in its name unless authorized by resolution of the board
of directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
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5.
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Fiscal
Year
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The
fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board
of directors.
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6.
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Voting Securities
Owned By Corporation
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Voting
securities in any other corporation held by the corporation shall be voted
by the president or the secretary, unless the board of directors
specifically confers authority to vote with respect there to, which
authority 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.
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7.
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Inspection of Books
and Records
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Any
stockholder (as defined in Section 220 of the General Corporation Law of
the State of Delaware), in person or by attorney or other agent, shall,
upon written demand under oath stating the purpose thereof, have the right
during the usual hours for business to inspect for any proper purpose the
corporation's stock ledger, a list of its stockholders, and its other
books and records, and to make copies or extracts therefrom. A proper
purpose shall mean any purpose reasonably related to such person's
interest as a stockholder. In every instance where an attorney or other
agent shall be the person who seeks the right to inspection, the demand
under oath shall be accompanied by a power of attorney or such other
writing which authorizes the attorney or other agent to so act on behalf
of the stockholder. The demand under oath shall be directed to the
corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware or at its
principal place of business.
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8.
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Section
Headings
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Section
headings in these bylaws are for convenience of reference only and shall
not be given any substantive effect in limiting or otherwise construing
any provision herein.
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9.
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Inconsistent
Provisions
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In
the event that any provision of these bylaws is or becomes inconsistent
with any provision of the certificate of incorporation, the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any other applicable law, the
provision of these bylaws shall not be given any effect to the extent of
such inconsistency but shall otherwise be given full force and
effect.
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