UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-A

 

FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES

PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934, AS AMENDED

 


 

HSW International, Inc.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which

to be so registered

 

each class is to be registered

Common Stock, $0.001 par value

 

Nasdaq Stock Market LLC

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(c), check the following box. x

 

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General Instruction A.(d), check the following box.

 

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates: 333-141286 (if applicable)

 

Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

 

 

(Title of class)

 

 

(Title of class)

 

 



 

INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT

 

Item 1.                    Description of Registrant’s Securities to be Registered.

 

The class of securities to be registered hereby is the common stock, $0.001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”) of HSW International, Inc. (the “Company”).

 

Each share of Common Stock entitles the holder to receive notice of and to attend all meetings of the Company’s stockholders with the entitlement to one vote. Holders of Common Stock are entitled, subject to the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to any other class of shares ranking in priority to the Common Stock, to receive any dividend declared by the Company’s board of directors. If the Company is voluntarily or involuntarily liquidated, dissolved or wound-up, the holders of common stock will be entitled to receive, after distribution in full of the preferential amounts, if any, all of the remaining assets available for distribution ratably in proportion to the number of shares of Common Stock held by them. Holders of Common Stock have no pre-emptive, subscription, redemption or conversion rights. The outstanding shares of Common Stock are fully paid and nonassessable. The rights, preferences and privileges of holders of shares of Common Stock are subject to, and may be adversely affected by, the rights of the holders of shares of any series of preferred stock that the Company may designate and issue in the future.

 

Item 2.                     Exhibits.

 

The following exhibits are filed herewith (or incorporated by reference as indicated below):

 

1.              Amended and Restated Stockholders Agreement of HSW International, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Annex H to Amendment No. 4 to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-4 dated July 10, 2007 (File No. 333-141286)).

 

2.              Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of HSW International, Inc.

 

3.              Amended and Restated Bylaws of HSW International, Inc.

 



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

 

Date: October 2, 2007

 

HSW International, Inc.

 

 

(Registrant)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Hank Adorno

 

 

 

Name:

Hank Adorno

 

 

Title:

Vice Chairman

 


Exhibit 2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION

 

OF

 

HSW INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

* * * * * * * *

 

HSW INTERNATIONAL, INC., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware, hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.             The name of the corporation is HSW International, Inc. The original Certificate of Incorporation of the corporation was filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on March 14, 2006.

 

2.             Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation (this “Amended Certificate”) restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of HSW International, Inc.

 

3.             This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the written consent of the Board of Directors of HSW International, Inc. and by the written consent of the stockholders of HSW International, Inc. in accordance with the applicable provisions of Sections 141, 228, 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

The text of the Certificate of Incorporation of HSW International, Inc. is hereby restated and further amended to read in its entirety as follows:

 

ARTICLE I

Name

 

The name of the corporation is HSW International, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”).

 

ARTICLE II

Registered Office and Registered Agent

 

The address of the registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware is 160 Greentree Drive, Suite 101, in the City of Dover, in the county of Kent, Delaware 19904.

 



 

The name of the registered agent of the Corporation at such address is National Registered Agents, Inc.

 

ARTICLE III

Corporate Purpose

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “ General Corporation Law ”).

 

ARTICLE IV

Capital Stock

 

Section 1.  Shares, Classes and Series Authorized . The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Two Hundred Ten Million (210,000,000) shares, of which Two Hundred Million (200,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (hereinafter called “ Common Stock ”) and Ten Million (10,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share (hereinafter called “ Preferred Stock ”).

 

Section 2.  Description of Capital Stock . The following is a description of each of the classes of capital stock which the Corporation has authority to issue with the designations, preferences, voting powers and participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof:

 

(a)           Rights and Restrictions of Preferred Stock . Authority is hereby expressly vested in the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “ Board ”), subject to the provisions of this Article IV and to the limitations prescribed by law, without shareholder action, to authorize the issue from time to time of one or more series of Preferred Stock and with respect to each such series to fix by resolution or resolutions of the Board providing for the issue of such series the voting powers, full or limited, if any, of the shares of such series and the designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof. The authority of the Board with respect to each series shall include, but not be limited to, the determination or fixing of the following:

 

(i)            The designation of such series.
 
(ii)           The dividend rate of such series, the conditions and dates upon which such dividends shall be payable, the relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes or series of the Corporation’s capital stock, and whether such dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative.
 
(iii)          Whether the shares of such series shall be subject to redemption for cash, property or rights, including securities of the Corporation or of any other corporation, by the Corporation at the option of either the Corporation or the holder or both or upon the

 

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happening of a specified event, and, if made subject to any such redemption, the times or events, prices and other terms and conditions of such redemption.
 
(iv)          The terms and amount of any sinking fund provided for the purchase or redemption of the shares of such series.
 
(v)           Whether or not the shares of such series shall be convertible into, or exchangeable for, at the option of either the holder or the Corporation or upon the happening of a specified event, shares of any other class or classes or of any other series of the same or any other class or classes of the Corporation’s capital stock, and, if provision be made for conversion or exchange, the times or events, prices, rates, adjustments and other terms and conditions of such conversions or exchanges.
 
(vi)          The restrictions, if any, on the issue or reissue of any additional Preferred Stock.
 
(vii)         The rights of the holders of the shares of such series upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation.
 
(viii)        The provisions as to voting (which may be one or more votes per share or a fraction of a vote per share), optional and/or other special rights and preferences, if any.
 

For all purposes, this Certificate of Incorporation shall include each certificate of designations (if any) setting forth the terms of a series of Preferred Stock.

 

(b)           Rights and Restrictions of Common Stock . The powers, preferences, rights, qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof in respect to the Common Stock are as follows:

 

(i)            The Common Stock is junior to the Preferred Stock and is subject to all the powers, rights, privileges, preferences and priorities of the Preferred Stock as herein or in any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board pursuant to authority expressly vested in it by the provisions of Section 2 of this Article IV.
 
(ii)           The Common Stock shall have voting rights for the election of directors and for all other purposes, each holder of Common Stock being entitled to one vote for each share thereof held by such holder, except as otherwise required by law. The ability of the stockholders to engage in cumulative voting is hereby specifically denied.
 
(iii)          Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends and distributions (whether payable in cash or otherwise) as may be declared on the shares of Common Stock by the Board from time to time out of assets or funds of the Corporation legally available therefor.
 
(iv)          Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock, in the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Corporation (whether voluntary

 

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or involuntary), the assets of the Corporation available for distribution to stockholders shall be distributed in equal amounts per share to the holders of Common Stock.
 

(c)           Increase or Decrease in Amount of Authorized Shares . The number of authorized shares of any class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation may be increased or decreased by an amendment to this Certificate of Incorporation authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total shares of the Common Stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon and, except as expressly provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or in any resolution or resolutions adopted by the Board pursuant to authority expressly vested in it by the provisions of Section 2 of this Article IV with respect to the Preferred Stock and except as otherwise provided by law, no vote by holders of capital stock of the Corporation other than the Common Stock shall be required to approve such action.

 

(d)           Shares Entitled to More or Less Than One Vote . If any class or series of the Corporation’s capital stock shall be entitled to more or less than one vote for any share, on any matter, every reference in this Certificate of Incorporation and in any relevant provision of law to a majority or other proportion of stock shall refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes of such stock.

 

ARTICLE V

Directors

 

Section 1.   General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by stockholders.

 

Section 2.  Number and Term of Office . The Board shall consist of [seven (7)] members. Directors need not be stockholders. At all times, a majority of the directors on the Board shall be independent directors and the independent directors (including those designated by any stockholder) shall meet all requirements regarding the independence of directors as may be applicable to the Corporation pursuant to applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed. Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders. If, for any cause, the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in the Bylaws. Each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

Section 3.  Resignation . Any director may resign at any time by delivering his written resignation to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board. If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board. When one or more directors shall resign from the Board, a majority of the remaining directors then in office shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect on the later

 

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of the date of such vote or when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacated and until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

Section 4.  Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, except as provided herein otherwise, (a) any director, or the entire Board, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of record of outstanding shares representing a majority of the voting power of all the shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, and (b) any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all directors of the Board.

 

Section 5.  Vacancies . Any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board. Any director elected to fill a vacancy in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director with respect to which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified, and any director so elected to fill a newly-created directorship shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board shall be deemed to exist in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.

 

Section 6.  Meetings . (a)  Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of the Board shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of stockholders and may be at the place where such meeting is held. No notice of an annual meeting of the Board shall be necessary and such meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may lawfully come before it.

 

(b) Regular Meetings . Except as hereinafter otherwise provided, regular meetings of the Board shall be held in the office of the Corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section 1.02 of the Bylaws. Regular meetings of the Board may also be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware that has been designated by resolution of the Board or the written consent of all directors.

 

(c) Special Meetings . Special meetings of the Board may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman or any two of the directors.

 

(d) Telephone Meetings . Any member of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting 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 by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

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(e) Notice of Meetings . Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board shall be oral or in writing, by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail, telegraph or telex, during normal business hours in the Eastern time zone in the United States, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or sent in writing to each director by first class mail, charges prepaid, at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the 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.

 

(f) Waiver of Notice . The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though passed at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall sign a written waiver of notice. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

(g) Quorum and Manner of Acting . Except as otherwise expressly required by law, this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

 

(h) Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside, in the following order of precedence:

 

(i)            the Chairman;
 
(ii)           the Vice Chairman; and
 
(iii)          any director chosen by a majority of the directors present.
 

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, any person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary is present) whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

Section 7.  Committees of the Board . (a)  The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors. The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire board, designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee and if the Board has not designated one or more alternates (or if such alternate(s) are then absent or disqualified), 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 director to act at the meeting in the place of any such

 

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absent or disqualified member or alternate. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board designating such committee or in the Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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; provided, however, that no such committee shall have such power or authority in reference to amending this Certificate of Incorporation (except that such a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the Board as provided in Section 151(a) of the General Corporation Law, fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation under Section 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or the revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws; provided further, however, that, unless expressly so provided in the resolution of the Board designating such committee, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law. Each committee of the Board shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when so requested by the Board.

 

(b) In addition to any other committees that may be established by the Board, the Corporation shall have four standing committees: the special committee (the “ Special Committee ”), the audit committee (the “ Audit Committee ”), the compensation committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and the nominating committee (the “ Nominating Committee ”). Each such standing committee shall consist of at least three (3) directors. Except as otherwise provided in this Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws, each such standing committee shall have such powers and authority as shall be determined by resolutions of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee shall also qualify as “independent” as defined by the Marketplace Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “ Nasdaq Rules ”) applicable to each such committee, and members of the Audit Committee may not receive compensation from the Corporation other than for service as a board or committee member.

 

Section 8.  Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the members of the Board or such committee and such consent or electronic transmission or transmissions is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or such 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.

 

Section 9.  Compensation . The Board may determine the compensation of directors. In addition, as determined by the Board, directors may be reimbursed by the

 

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Corporation for their expenses, if any, in the performance of their duties as directors. No such compensation or reimbursement shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

 

Section 10.  Other Constituencies . In taking any action, including action that may involve or relate to a change or potential change in the control of the Corporation, a director of the Corporation may consider, among other things, both the long-term and short-term interest of the Corporation and its stockholders and the effects that the Corporation’s actions may have in the short term or long term upon any one or more of the following matters:

 

(i)            the prospects for potential growth, development, productivity and profitability of the Corporation;
 
(ii)           the Corporation’s current employees;
 
(iii)          the Corporation’s employees and other beneficiaries receiving or entitled to receive retirement, welfare or similar benefits from or pursuant to any plan sponsored, or agreement entered into, by the Corporation;
 
(iv)          the Corporation’s customers and creditors;
 
(v)           the ability of the Corporation to provide, as a going concern, goods, services, employment opportunities and employment benefits and otherwise to contribute to the communities in which it does business; and
 
(vi)          such other additional factors as a director may consider appropriate in such circumstances.
 

Nothing in this Section 10 shall create any duty owed by any director of the Corporation to any person or entity to consider, or afford any particular weight to, any of the foregoing matters or to limit his or her consideration to the foregoing matters. No such employee, former employee, beneficiary, customer, creditor or community or member thereof shall have any rights against any director of the Corporation or the Corporation under this Section 10.

 

ARTICLE VI

Meetings of Stockholders;
Corporation Books

 

Section 1.  Stockholders Meetings . Meetings of holders of capital stock of the Corporation may be held outside the State of Delaware if the Bylaws so provide. Any action required or permitted to be taken by the holders of capital stock of the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of holders of capital stock of the Corporation, and no action shall be taken by such holders by written consent without a meeting. Special meetings of holders of capital stock of the Corporation may be called only by the Board. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation is specifically denied.

 

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Section 2.  Books of Corporation . Except as otherwise provided by law, the books of the Corporation may be kept outside the State of Delaware at such place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board or in the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VII

Limitation of Directors’ Liability; Indemnification by Corporation; Insurance

 

Section 1.   Limitation of Directors’ Liability . (a)  No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except, to the extent provided by applicable law, for liability (i) for breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to authorize corporate action further limiting or eliminating the personal liability of directors, then the liability of each director of the Corporation shall be limited or eliminated to the full extent permitted by the Delaware General Corporation Law as so amended from time to time.

 

(b) Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 1, nor the adoption of any provision of this Certificate of Incorporation inconsistent with this Section 1, shall eliminate or reduce the effect of this Section 1 in respect of any matter occurring, or any cause of action, suit or claim that, but for this Section 1, would accrue or arise, prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption of an inconsistent provision.

 

Section 2.  Indemnification by Corporation . (a)  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is 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 expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b) The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the

 

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person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is 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 expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

(c) To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 2(a) and (b), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

(d) Any indemnification under Sections 2(a) and (b) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 2(a) and (b). Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(e) Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to this Article VII. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

 

(f) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

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(g) For purposes of this Article VII, 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 the provisions of this Article VII with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

(h) For purposes of this Article VII, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves service by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VII.

 

(i) The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VII shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

Section 3.  Insurance . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Bylaws

 

The Board shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation.

 

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ARTICLE IX
Reorganization

 

Whenever a compromise or arrangement is proposed between this Corporation and its creditors or any class of them and/or between this Corporation and its stockholders or any class of them, any court of equitable jurisdiction within the State of Delaware may, on the application in a summary way of this Corporation or of any creditor or stockholder thereof or on the application of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 291 of Title 8 of the General Corporation Law or on the application of trustees in dissolution or of any receiver or receivers appointed for this Corporation under Section 279 of Title 8 of the General Corporation Law order a meeting of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, to be summoned in such manner as the said court directs. If a majority in number representing [a majority] in value of the creditors or class of creditors, and/or of the stockholders or class of stockholders of this Corporation, as the case may be, agree to any compromise or arrangement and to any reorganization of this Corporation as a consequence of such compromise or arrangement, the said compromise or arrangement and the said reorganization shall, if sanctioned by the court to which the said application has been made, be binding on all the creditors or class of creditors, and/or on all the stockholders or class of stockholders, of this Corporation, as the case may be, and also on this Corporation.

 

ARTICLE X

Personal Liability of Directors or Officers

 

A director or any officer of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for the breach of any duty owed to the Corporation or its stockholders except to the extent that an exemption from personal liability is not permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE XI

Denial of Preemptive Rights

 

No holder of any class of capital stock of the Corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized, shall be entitled, as such, as a matter of right, to subscribe for or purchase any part of any new or additional issues of capital stock of the Corporation of any class whatsoever, or of securities convertible into or exchangeable for capital stock of the Corporation of any class whatsoever, whether now or hereafter authorized, or whether issued for cash, property or services.

 

ARTICLE XII

 

Amendment

 

The Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provisions contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter

 

12



 

prescribed by law, and all the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation and all rights and powers conferred in this Certificate of Incorporation on stockholders, directors and officers are subject to this reserved power.

 

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank]

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, HSW International, Inc. has caused this Certificate to be executed by its duly authorized officer as of this 2 nd day of October, 2007.

 

 

HSW INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Hank Adorno

 

 

Name:

Hank Adorno

 

Title:

Vice Chairman

 

 

 


Exhibit 3

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

HSW INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 



 

Table of Contents

 

Section

Page

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

 

SECTION 1.01. Registered Office

1

SECTION 1.02. Other Offices

1

 

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

 

SECTION 2.01. Annual Meetings

1

SECTION 2.02. Special Meetings

1

SECTION 2.03. Notice and Business of Meetings

1

SECTION 2.04. Waiver of Notice

4

SECTION 2.05. Adjournments

5

SECTION 2.06. Quorum

5

SECTION 2.07. Voting

5

SECTION 2.08. Action Without Meeting

6

SECTION 2.09. Organization

6

 

 

ARTICLE III

 

BOARD

 

 

SECTION 3.01. General Powers

6

SECTION 3.02. Number and Term of Office

6

SECTION 3.03. Resignation

7

SECTION 3.04. Removal

7

SECTION 3.05. Vacancies

7

SECTION 3.06. Meetings

7

SECTION 3.07. Committees of the Board

9

SECTION 3.08. Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting

10

SECTION 3.09. Compensation

10

SECTION 3.10. Other Constituencies

10

SECTION 3.11. Interested Directors; Quorum

11

 

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

 

SECTION 4.01. Officers

11

SECTION 4.02. Authority and Duties

11

 

i



 

SECTION 4.03. Term of Office, Resignation and Removal

11

SECTION 4.04. Vacancies

12

SECTION 4.05. The Chairman and Vice Chairman

12

SECTION 4.06. The Chief Executive Officer and President

12

SECTION 4.07. Vice Presidents

12

SECTION 4.08. The Secretary

13

SECTION 4.09. Assistant Secretaries

13

SECTION 4.10. The Treasurer

13

SECTION 4.11. Assistant Treasurers

13

 

 

ARTICLE V

 

CHECKS, DRAFTS, NOTES, AND PROXIES

 

 

SECTION 5.01. Checks, Drafts and Notes

14

SECTION 5.02. Execution of Proxies

14

 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

SHARES AND TRANSFERS OF SHARES

 

 

SECTION 6.01. Certificates Evidencing Shares

14

SECTION 6.02. Stock Ledger

14

SECTION 6.03. Transfers of Shares

15

SECTION 6.04. Addresses of Stockholders

15

SECTION 6.05. Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates

15

SECTION 6.06. Regulations

15

SECTION 6.07. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record

15

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

SEAL

 

 

SECTION 7.01. Seal

16

 

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

 

SECTION 8.01. Fiscal Year

16

 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

 

SECTION 9.01. Indemnification

16

SECTION 9.02. Insurance for Indemnification

18

 

ii



 

ARTICLE X

 

AMENDMENTS

 

 

SECTION 10.01. Amendments

18

 

iii



 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

HSW INTERNATIONAL, INC.

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

SECTION 1.01. Registered Office . The registered office of HSW International, Inc. (the “ Corporation ”) in the State of Delaware shall be at the principal office of National Registered Agents, Inc. in the City of Dover, County of Kent, and the registered agent in charge thereof shall be National Registered Agents, Inc.

 

SECTION 1.02. Other Offices . The Corporation may also have an office or offices at any other place or places within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of the Corporation (the “ Board ”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may from time to time require.

 

ARTICLE II

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

SECTION 2.01. Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation for the election of directors of the Corporation, and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before such meeting, shall be held at such date, time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be fixed by the Board and designated in the notice or waiver of notice of such annual meeting.

 

SECTION 2.02. Special Meetings . Special meetings of stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Board, to be held at such date, time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated in the notice or waiver of notice thereof. Only business within the purposes described in the notice required by Section 2.03 of this Article II may be conducted at the special meeting. The ability of the stockholders to call a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation is specifically denied.

 

SECTION 2.03. Notice and Business of Meetings . (a)  General . Except as otherwise provided by law, written notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be given either by delivering a notice personally or mailing a notice to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat. If mailed, the notice shall be directed to the stockholder in a postage-prepaid envelope at his address as it appears on the stock books of the Corporation unless, prior to the time of mailing, he shall have filed with the Secretary a written request that notices intended for him be mailed to some other address, in which case it shall be mailed to the address designated in such request. Notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be in such form as is approved by the Board and shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, the date and time when and the place where it is to be held, and shall be delivered personally or mailed not more than sixty (60) days and not less than ten (10) days before the day of the meeting. Except

 



 

as otherwise provided by law, the business which may be transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall consist of and be limited to the purpose or purposes so stated in such notice. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the transfer agent of the Corporation shall, after giving such notice, make an affidavit stating that notice has been given, which shall be filed with the minutes of such meeting.

 

(b)           Advance Notice Provisions for Business to be Transacted at Annual Meeting . (i)  No business may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is either (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (B) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board (or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (C) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any stockholder of the Corporation who (1) is a stockholder of record on both (x) the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.03 and (y) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (2) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.03(b).

 

(ii)           In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation.
 

(A)          To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by more than sixty (60) days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be delivered not earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made; provided further that for purposes of the annual meeting of stockholders held following the end of the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2006, the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting shall be deemed to be February 15, 2006.

 

(B)           To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (1) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (2) the name and record address of such stockholder, (3) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder, (4) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder in such business and (5) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the meeting. As used in these by-laws, “ beneficially owned ” means all shares which such person is deemed to

 

2



 

beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “ Exchange Act ”).

 

(iii)          No business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03, provided , however , that, once business has been properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with such procedures, nothing in this Section 2.03 shall be deemed to preclude discussion by any stockholder of any such business. If the chairman of an annual meeting determines that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such business shall not be transacted.
 

(c)           Advance Notice Provisions for Election of Directors . (i)  In addition to any other applicable requirements, for a nomination for election of a director to be made by a stockholder of the Corporation, such stockholder must (A) be a stockholder of record on both (1) the date of the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 2.03 and (2) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (B) have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation. If a stockholder is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of directors at a meeting of the stockholders, such stockholder’s right to nominate one or more persons for election as a director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of directors.

 

(ii)           To be timely in connection with the annual meeting of the stockholders, the stockholder’s notice required by Section 2.03(c)(ii) hereof shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided , however , that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than thirty (30) days or delayed by more than sixty (60) days from such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be delivered not earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made; provided further that for purposes of the annual meeting of stockholders held following the end of the fiscal year ending on December 31, 2006, the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting shall be deemed to be February 15, 2006. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board, any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of such director(s) at such meeting and satisfying the requirements specified in Section 2.03(c)(i) may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as are specified in the Corporation’s notice of such meeting, but only if the stockholder notice required by Section 2.03(c)(iii) hereof shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the first day on which the date of the special meeting and either the names of all nominees proposed by the Board to be elected at such meeting or the number of directors to be elected shall have been publicly announced.
 
(iii)          To be in proper written form, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth (A) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a

3



 

director (1) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (3) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation, if any, which are owned beneficially or of record by the person and (4) any other information relating to the person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (B) as to the stockholder giving notice (1) the name and record address of such stockholder, (2) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder, (3) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder, (4) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the person(s) named in its notice and (5) any other information relating to such stockholder that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to being named as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected.
 
(iv)          No such nominee of a stockholder shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.03(c). If the chairman of an annual meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be disregarded.
 
(v)           This Section 2.03(c) shall not apply to (A) any nomination of a director  by a stockholder under any stockholder or other agreement under which such stockholder has the contractual right to nominate such director or (B) any nomination of a director in an election in which only the holders of one or more series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation issued pursuant to the Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended from time to time (the “ Certificate of Incorporation ”) are entitled to vote (unless otherwise provided in the terms of such series of Preferred Stock).
 

(d)           Adjournment . In no event shall the adjournment of an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, or any announcement thereof, commence a new period for the giving of notice under this Section 2.03.

 

(e)           Definition of Publicly Announced . For purposes of this Section 2.03, a matter shall be deemed to have been “publicly announced” if such matter is disclosed in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SECTION 2.04. Waiver of Notice . Notice of any annual or special meeting of stockholders need not be given to any stockholder who files a written waiver of notice with the Secretary, signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after such meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of stockholders need be

 

4



 

specified in any written waiver of notice thereof. Attendance of a stockholder at a meeting, in person or by proxy, shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when such stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business on the grounds that the notice of such meeting was inadequate or improperly given.

 

SECTION 2.05. Adjournments . Whenever a meeting of stockholders, annual or special, is adjourned to another date, time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the date, time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat. At the adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

SECTION 2.06. Quorum . Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, the recordholders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders, whether annual or special. In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the chairman of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all action taken by the holders of a majority of the votes cast, excluding abstentions, at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation; provided , however , that 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 on the election of directors. Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes or series, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter and, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the majority (plurality, in the case of the election of directors) of the votes cast, including abstentions, by the holders of shares of such class or classes or series shall be the act of such class or classes or series.

 

SECTION 2.07. Voting . Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by such stockholder which has voting power upon the matter in question. The ability of the stockholders to engage in cumulative voting is specifically denied. If the Certificate of Incorporation provides for more or less than one vote for any share on any matter, every reference in these Bylaws to a majority or other proportion of shares of stock shall refer to such majority or other proportion of the votes of such shares of stock. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary before such meeting of stockholders. A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if

 

5



 

it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power, regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary. Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot unless so directed by the chairman of the meeting or the Board.

 

SECTION 2.08. Action Without Meeting . No action shall be taken by the stockholders except at an annual or special meeting of stockholders called in accordance with these Bylaws, and no action shall be taken by the stockholders by written consent without a meeting.

 

SECTION 2.09. Organization . (a)  At every meeting of stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, or, if a Chairman has not been appointed or is absent, the Vice Chairman, or, if the Vice Chairman is absent, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority in interest of the stockholders entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall act as chairman. The Secretary, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary or another person directed to do so by the Chairman of the Board, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

(b)           The Board shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient. Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot. Unless and to the extent determined by the Board or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

ARTICLE III

 

BOARD

 

SECTION 3.01. General Powers . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by stockholders.

 

SECTION 3.02. Number and Term of Office . The Board shall consist of seven (7) members. Directors need not be stockholders. At all times, a majority of the directors on the

 

6



 

Board shall be independent directors and the independent directors (including those designated by any stockholder) shall meet all requirements regarding the independence of directors as may be applicable to the Corporation pursuant to applicable law or the rules of the stock exchange on which the shares of Common Stock are listed. Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders. If for any cause, the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these Bylaws. Each director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.

 

SECTION 3.03. Resignation . Any director may resign at any time by delivering his written resignation to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board. If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board. When one or more directors shall resign from the Board, a majority of the remaining directors then in office shall have power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect on the later of the date of such vote or when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place shall be vacated and until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

SECTION 3.04. Removal . Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, (a) any director, or the entire Board, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of record of outstanding shares representing a majority of the voting power of all the shares of capital stock of the Corporation then entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, and (b) any director may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board.

 

SECTION 3.05. Vacancies . Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or other causes, and any newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board. Any director elected to fill a vacancy in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the director with respect to which the vacancy was created or occurred and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified, and any director so elected to fill a newly-created directorship shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until such director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified. A vacancy on the Board shall be deemed to exist under this Bylaw in the case of the death, removal or resignation of any director.

 

SECTION 3.06. Meetings . (a)  Annual Meetings . The annual meeting of the Board shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of stockholders and may be at the place where such meeting is held. No notice of an annual meeting of the Board shall be necessary and such meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may lawfully come before it.

 

7



 

(b)           Regular Meetings . Except as hereinafter otherwise provided, regular meetings of the Board shall be held in the office of the Corporation required to be maintained pursuant to Section 1.02 hereof. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board may also be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware which has been designated by resolution of the Board or the written consent of all directors.

 

(c)           Special Meetings . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board or any two of the directors.

 

(d)           Telephone Meetings . Any member of the Board, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting 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 by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

(e)           Notice of Meetings . Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board shall be oral or in writing, by telephone, facsimile, electronic mail, telegraph or telex, during normal business hours in the Eastern time zone in the United States, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or sent in writing to each director by first class mail, charges prepaid, at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the 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.

 

(f)            Waiver of Notice . The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though passed at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall sign a written waiver of notice. All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

(g)           Quorum and Manner of Acting . Except as otherwise expressly required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall be present in person at any meeting of the Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the vote of a majority of those directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary for the passage of any resolution or act of the Board. In the absence of a quorum for any such meeting, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn such meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.

 

(h)           Organization . At each meeting of the Board, one of the following shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside, in the following order of precedence:

 

 

8



 

(i)            the Chairman;
 
(ii)           the Vice Chairman;
 
(iii)          any director chosen by a majority of the directors present.
 

The Secretary or, in the case of his absence, any person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if an Assistant Secretary is present) whom the chairman of the meeting shall appoint shall act as secretary of such meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

SECTION 3.07. Committees of the Board . (a)  The Board may, by resolution passed by at a majority of the entire board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more directors. The Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire board, designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee and if the Board has not designated one or more alternates (or if such alternate(s) are then absent or disqualified), 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 director to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member or alternate. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board designating such committee or in the Bylaws, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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; provided, however, that no such committee shall have such power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation (except that such a committee may, to the extent authorized in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of shares of stock adopted by the Board as provided in Section 151(a) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (“ General Corporation Law ”), fix the designations and any of the preferences or rights of such shares relating to dividends, redemption, dissolution, any distribution of assets of the Corporation or the conversion into, or the exchange of such shares for, shares of any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation or fix the number of shares of any series of stock or authorize the increase or decrease of the shares of any series), adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation under Section 251 or 252 of the General Corporation Law, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or the revocation of a dissolution, or amending the Bylaws; provided further, however, that, unless expressly so provided in the resolution of the Board designating such committee, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock, or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the General Corporation Law. Each committee of the Board shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board when so requested by the Board.

 

(b)           In addition to any other committees that may be established by the Board, the Corporation shall have four standing committees: the special committee (the “ Special Committee ”), the audit committee (the “ Audit Committee ”), the compensation committee (the “ Compensation Committee ”) and the nominating committee (the “ Nominating Committee ”). Each such standing committee shall consist of at least three (3) directors. Except as otherwise

 

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provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, each such standing committee shall have such powers and authority as shall be determined by resolution of the Board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all members of the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Nominating Committee shall also qualify as “independent” as defined by the Marketplace Rules of the Nasdaq Stock Market (the “ Nasdaq Rules ”) applicable to each such committee, and members of the Audit Committee may not receive compensation from the Corporation other than for service as a board or committee member.

 

SECTION 3.08. Directors’ Consent in Lieu of Meeting . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the members of the Board or such committee and such consent or electronic transmission or transmissions is filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or such 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.

 

SECTION 3.09. Compensation . Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board may determine the compensation of directors. In addition, as determined by the Board, directors may be reimbursed by the Corporation for their expenses, if any, in the performance of their duties as directors. No such compensation or reimbursement shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

 

SECTION 3.10. Other Constituencies . In taking any action, including action that may involve or relate to a change or potential change in the control of the Corporation, a director of the Corporation may consider, among other things, both the long-term and short-term interest of the Corporation and its stockholders and the effects that the Corporation’s actions may have in the short term or long term upon any one or more of the following matters:

 

(a)           the prospects for potential growth, development, productivity and profitability of the Corporation;

 

(b)           the Corporation’s current employees;

 

(c)           the Corporation’s employees and other beneficiaries receiving or entitled to receive retirement, welfare or similar benefits from or pursuant to any plan sponsored, or agreement entered into, by the Corporation;

 

(d)           the Corporation’s customers and creditors;

 

(e)           the ability of the Corporation to provide, as a going concern, goods, services, employment opportunities and employment benefits and otherwise to contribute to the communities in which it does business; and

 

(f)            such other additional factors as a director may consider appropriate in such circumstances.

 

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Nothing in this Section 3.10 shall create any duty owed by any director of the Corporation to any person or entity to consider, or afford any particular weight to, any of the foregoing matters or to limit his or her consideration to the foregoing matters. No such employee, former employee, beneficiary, customer, creditor or community or member thereof shall have any rights against any director of the Corporation or the Corporation under this Section 3.10.

 

SECTION 3.11. Interested Directors; Quorum . No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, limited liability corporation, joint venture, trust, association or other organization or other entity in which one or more of its directors or officers serve as directors, officers, trustees or in a similar capacity or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because the directors’ or officers’ votes are counted for such purpose, if:  (i) the material facts as to the directors’ or officers’ relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board or the committee, and the Board or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to the directors’ or officers’ relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by a vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board, a committee thereof or the stockholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

 

SECTION 4.01. Officers . The officers of the Corporation shall be the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Secretary and the Treasurer and may also include a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The Board may also choose such other officers, or leave positions vacant, as it shall determine.

 

SECTION 4.02. Authority and Duties . All officers shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as may be provided in these Bylaws or, to the extent not so provided, by resolution of the Board.

 

SECTION 4.03. Term of Office, Resignation and Removal . (a)  Each officer shall be appointed by the Board and shall hold office for such term as may be determined by the Board. Each officer shall hold office until his successor has been appointed and qualified or his earlier death or resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. The Board may require any officer to give security for the faithful performance of his duties.

 

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(b)           Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified in such notice or, if the time be not specified, upon receipt thereof by the Board, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary, as the case may be. Unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

 

(c)           All officers and agents appointed by the Board shall be subject to removal, with or without cause, at any time by the Board or by the action of the recordholders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereon.

 

SECTION 4.04. Vacancies . Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation, for any reason, shall be filled by action of the Board. Unless earlier removed pursuant to Section 4.03 hereof, any officer appointed by the Board to fill any such vacancy shall serve only until such time as the unexpired term of his predecessor expires unless reappointed by the Board.

 

SECTION 4.05. The Chairman and Vice Chairman . (a) The Chairman shall have the power to call special meetings of the Board and, if present, to preside at all meetings of stockholders and all meetings of the Board. The Chairman shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chairman of the Board and all such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board or these Bylaws.

 

(b) The Vice Chairman shall have the power to call special meetings of the Board and, if Chairman is not present, to preside at all meetings of stockholders and all meetings of the Board. The Vice Chairman shall perform all duties incident to the office of Vice Chairman of the Board and all such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board or these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 4.06. The Chief Executive Officer and President . (a) The Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have general and active management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation, subject to the control of the Board, and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and all such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board or these Bylaws.

 

(b) The President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the authority of the Chief Executive Officer and the control of the Board, have responsibility for the conduct and general supervision of the business operations of the Corporation. The President shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and all such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board or these Bylaws. In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

SECTION 4.07. Vice Presidents . Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the Board, shall generally assist the Chief

 

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Executive Officer and perform such other duties as the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President shall prescribe, and in the absence or disability of the President, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President.

 

SECTION 4.08. The Secretary . The Secretary shall, to the extent practicable, attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of stockholders and shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform the same duties for any committee of the Board when so requested by such committee. He shall give or cause to be given notice of all meetings of stockholders and of the Board, shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer and shall act under the supervision of the Chairman. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and affix the same to any instrument that requires that the seal be affixed to it and which shall have been duly authorized for signature in the name of the Corporation and, when so affixed, the seal shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer of the Corporation (the “ Treasurer ”) or an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation. He shall keep in safe custody the certificate books and stockholder records and such other books and records of the Corporation as the Board, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer may direct and shall perform all other duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board, the Chairman, the Vice Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

SECTION 4.09. Assistant Secretaries . Assistant Secretaries of the Corporation (“ Assistant Secretaries ”), if any, in order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the Board, shall generally assist the Secretary and perform such other duties as the Board or the Secretary shall prescribe, and, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

 

SECTION 4.10. The Treasurer . The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds of the Corporation and shall deposit such funds in such banks or other depositories as the Board, or any officer or officers, or any officer and agent jointly, duly authorized by the Board, shall, from time to time, direct or approve. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation under the direction of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer. He shall keep a full and accurate account of all moneys received and paid on account of the Corporation and shall render a statement of his accounts whenever the Board, the Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer shall so request. He shall perform all other necessary actions and duties in connection with the administration of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the office of Treasurer of a corporation. When required by the Board, he shall give bonds for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sums and with such sureties as the Board shall approve.SECTION 4.11. Assistant Treasurers. Assistant Treasurers of the Corporation (“ Assistant Treasurers ”), if any, in order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the Board, shall generally assist the Treasurer and perform such other duties as the Board or the Treasurer shall prescribe, and, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

CHECKS, DRAFTS, NOTES, AND PROXIES

 

SECTION 5.01. Checks, Drafts and Notes . All checks, drafts and other orders for the payment of money, 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, from time to time, by resolution of the Board.

 

SECTION 5.02. Execution of Proxies . The Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer, or, in the absence or disability of both of them, the President or any Vice President, may authorize, from time to time, the execution and issuance of proxies to vote shares of stock or other securities of other corporations held of record by the Corporation and the execution of consents to action taken or to be taken by any such corporation. All such proxies and consents, unless otherwise authorized by the Board, shall be signed in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

SHARES AND TRANSFERS OF SHARES

 

SECTION 6.01. Certificates Evidencing Shares . Shares shall be evidenced by certificates in such form or forms as shall be approved by the Board; provided that the Board may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any class or classes or series of stock shall be uncertified shares; provided further that any such resolution shall not apply to any shares represented by a certificate theretofore issued until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board, upon request, every holder of uncertified shares shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation (as provided below) representing the number of shares in registered certificate form. Certificates shall be issued in consecutive order and shall be numbered in the order of their issue, and shall be signed by the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President and by the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In the event any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, such certificate may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar on the date of issue. Certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation may bear such legends regarding restrictions on transfer or other matters as any officer or officers of the Corporation may determine to be lawful or appropriate. The Corporation shall not have the power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

 

SECTION 6.02. Stock Ledger . A stock ledger in one or more counterparts shall be kept by the Secretary, in which shall be recorded the name and address of each person, firm or corporation owning the shares evidenced by each certificate evidencing shares issued by the Corporation, the number of shares evidenced by each such certificate, the date of issuance thereof and, in the case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Except as otherwise expressly

 

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required by law, the person in whose name shares stand on the stock ledger of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner and recordholder thereof for all purposes.

 

SECTION 6.03. Transfers of Shares . Registration of transfers of shares shall be made only in the stock ledger of the Corporation upon request of the registered holder of such shares, or of his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary, and upon the surrender of the certificate or certificates evidencing such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a stock power duly executed, together with such proof of the authenticity of signatures as the Corporation may reasonably require.

 

SECTION 6.04. Addresses of Stockholders . Each stockholder shall designate to the Secretary an address at which notices of meetings and all other corporate notices may be served or mailed to such stockholder, and, if any stockholder shall fail to so designate such an address, corporate notices may be served upon such stockholder by mail directed to the mailing address, if any, as the same appears in the stock ledger of the Corporation or at the last known mailing address of such stockholder.

 

SECTION 6.05. Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates . Each recordholder of shares shall promptly notify the Corporation of any loss, destruction or mutilation of any certificate or certificates evidencing any share or shares of which he is the recordholder. The Board may, in its discretion, cause the Corporation to issue a new certificate in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it and alleged to have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the surrender of the mutilated certificate or, in the case of loss, theft or destruction of the certificate, upon satisfactory proof of such loss, theft or destruction, and the Board may, in its discretion, require the recordholder of the shares evidenced by the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or his legal representative to give the Corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify the Corporation against any claim made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.

 

SECTION 6.06. Regulations . The Board may make such other rules and regulations as it may deem expedient, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates evidencing shares.

 

SECTION 6.07. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record . In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or 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 may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days prior to any other such action. A determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of such meeting; provided , however , that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

SEAL

 

SECTION 7.01. Seal . The Board may approve and adopt a corporate seal, which shall be in the form of a circle and shall bear the full name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware”.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

SECTION 8.01. Fiscal Year . The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the thirty-first day of December of each year unless changed by resolution of the Board.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE

 

SECTION 9.01. Indemnification . (a)  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is 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 expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the person’s conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the person’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(b)           The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that the person is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is 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 expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by the person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if the person acted in good faith and in a manner the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person

 

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shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

(c)           To the extent that a present or former director or officer of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 9.01(a) and (b) of these Bylaws, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

(d)           Any indemnification under Sections 9.01(a) and (b) of these Bylaws (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because the person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 9.01(a) and (b) of these Bylaws. Such determination shall be made, with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of such determination, (i) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, even though less than a quorum, or (ii) by a committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even though less than a quorum, or (iii) if there are no such directors, or if such directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (iv) by the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(e)           Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an officer or director in defending any civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to this Article IX. Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Corporation deems appropriate.

 

(f)            The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other Sections of this Article IX shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.

 

(g)           For purposes of this Article IX, 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

 

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or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article IX with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such person would have with respect to such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.

 

(h)           For purposes of this Article IX, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves service by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article IX.

 

(i)            The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

 

SECTION 9.02. Insurance for Indemnification . The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is 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 such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law.

 

ARTICLE X

 

AMENDMENTS

 

SECTION 10.01. Amendments . These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed at any annual meeting of stockholders, or at any special meeting of holders of shares of stock entitled to vote thereon by a vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon, or by the Board at any valid meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire board, provided that in the case of a special meeting of stockholders, notice of such proposed alteration, amendment or repeal be included in the notice of meeting.

 

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