UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C.  20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the

Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

April 10, 2008

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

000-51150

 

20-2699372

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

 

 

 

 

1101 Skokie Boulevard, Suite 300, Northbrook, Illinois

 

60062

(Address of principal executive offices)

 

(Zip Code)

 

(847) 239-8800

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

 

o

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

 

o

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 



 

Item 1.01                Entry Into a Material Definitive Agreement

 

On April 10, 2008, the Board of Directors of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (“KapStone” or the “Company”), upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, approved the 2008 Amendment (the “Amendment”) to the KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation 2006 Incentive Plan (the “Incentive Plan”).  The Amendment permits the granting of restricted stock units in addition to restricted stock shares.  Restricted stock units represent the right of a grantee to receive a specified number of shares of KapStone common stock upon lapse of the substantial risk of forfeiture and other restrictions on such shares.  Because of the nature of the Amendment, stockholder approval of the Amendment is not required under Nasdaq rules.  The Board also approved, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, the form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement under the Incentive Plan.

 

The foregoing description of the Amendment and the form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement do not purport to be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the full text of the Amendment and the form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement, which are attached as Exhibit 99.1 and 99.2, respectively, to this report and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

The Board, upon the recommendation of the Compensation Committee, also approved the Performance Incentive Plan of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (the “PIP”), subject to stockholder approval.  The PIP provides for annual incentive awards to officers and other participating employees.  The purpose of the PIP is to promote the interests of KapStone and its stockholders by providing an incentive for participating employees to meet specified performance goals.  While the PIP itself does not require approval by stockholders, the approval of the PIP would give KapStone the benefit of U.S. income tax deduction under Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code for certain covered employees.

 

The foregoing description of the PIP does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the PIP, which is attached as Exhibit 99.3 to this report and is incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 5.02                Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangement of Certain Officers

 

The Compensation Committee on April 10, 2008 established annual base salaries for the Company’s executive officers as shown in the following table.

 

2



 

Name

 

Position

 

Base Salary

 

 

 

 

 

Roger W. Stone

 

Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer

 

$

420,000

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Kaplan

 

President

 

$

420,000

 

 

 

 

 

Tim Keneally

 

Vice President and General Manager

 

$

305,000

 

 

 

 

 

Andrea K. Tarbox

 

Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

$

275,000

 

The Compensation Committee also established potential bonus awards under the Company’s 2008 annual incentive plan.  Each of Mr. Stone and Mr. Kaplan is eligible to receive a bonus of up to 130% of his base salary based on KapStone’s EBITDA performance during 2008.  Each of Mr. Keneally and Ms. Tarbox is eligible to receive a bonus up to 63% of his or her base salary based on KapStone’s EBITDA performance during 2008 and up to an additional 27% of his or her base salary based on individual performance goals.

 

Finally, the Compensation Committee granted on April 10, 2008 the following equity awards under the Incentive Plan to KapStone’s executive officers.

 

Executive

 

Stock Options

 

Restricted Stock Units

Roger Stone

 

167,671

 

53,217

Matt Kaplan

 

167,671

 

53,217

Tim Keneally

 

60,548

 

19,217

Andrea Tarbox

 

60,548

 

19,217

 

Each of the stock options has an exercise price of $ 6.90 per share (the closing stock price on the date of grant), has a ten year  term, and vests 50% on the second anniversary of the grant date and the remaining 50% at the third anniversary of the third anniversary of the grant date.  Each restricted stock unit vests 100% on the third anniversary of the grant date.

 

Item 5.03                Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

 

The Board of Directors, adopted a resolution amending and restating KapStone’s Bylaws (as amended and restated, the “Bylaws”) effective as of April 10, 2008.

 

An overview of the provisions adopted or changed and, if applicable, the previous provision are provided below. These descriptions are summaries and are qualified in their entirety by the Bylaws filed herewith as Exhibit 99.4, the text of which is incorporated by reference in this Section 5.03.

 

Nominations and Stockholder Business

 

A new Section 2.4 was added to revise and update the procedures pursuant to which a stockholder may nominate a person for election to the Board or propose business to be

 

3



 

considered at a stockholder meeting.  Such revised and updated procedures are effective following the KapStone 2008 annual meeting of stockholders.

 

The advance notice provisions in the Bylaws require all stockholders who intend to nominate persons for election to the board of directors or make proposals at an annual meeting to give timely notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials for the previous year’s annual meeting.  In the event that the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting, stockholder notice must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120 th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90 th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10 th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.

 

The stockholder’s notice described in the preceding paragraph must satisfy all of the requirements set forth in the Bylaws, including providing:

 

 

·

as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, the name, age, business address and residence address of such person; the principal occupation or employment of such person; the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company which are beneficially owned by such person and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Company of such person, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement; and all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the nomination and of any material interest in such nomination of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made; provided, that the corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the corporation to determine the qualifications of such nominee to serve as a director of the corporation;

 

 

 

 

·

as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of any resolution proposed to be adopted at the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business, and of any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made;

 

4



 

 

·

as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Company which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Company of any such person, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement, and, in the case of such stockholder, his commitment to remain a stockholder through the date of the stockholders meeting with respect to which his notice was given; and

 

 

 

 

·

A representation that such stockholder and, if applicable, beneficial owner, intends to appear in person or by proxy at the stockholders meeting to make such nominations or bring such business before the meeting.

 

At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to KapStone’s notice of meeting.  In the event a special meeting of stockholders is properly called in accordance with the Bylaws for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, a stockholder may make nominations of persons for election to the Board at the special meeting if the stockholder delivers written notice to KapStone’s Secretary not before the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not after the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the announcement of the meeting date and of the nominees proposed to be elected at such meeting.

 

If the number of directors to be elected to the Board is increased and KapStone does not make a public announcement specifying the size of the increased Board at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s written notice of nominees for any new position created by such increase will be considered timely if it is delivered to KapStone’s Secretary by the 10th day following the announcement.

 

Previously, KapStone’s bylaws generally required written notice of a stockholder nomination or proposal not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to a meeting.  The amended and restated Bylaws provide that advance notice by stockholders of nominations to be made at, or other business to be conducted at, the Company’s 2008 annual meeting of stockholders are governed by the advance notice provisions in effect prior to the adoption of the amended and restated Bylaws.

 

Technological Updates

 

Multiple provisions were changed to reflect changes in the technologies used to perform ministerial tasks and to permit electronic communication.  Provisions were changed to allow notice to be given electronically for all meetings of stockholders (Sections 2.2 and 2.3), special meetings of the Board (Section 3.4), and as otherwise required (Section 6.1). Notice by electronic delivery will be deemed given when dispatched (Section 6.1), and any person entitled to notice may waive it by electronic transmission (Section 6.2). The members of the Board may consent to any action without a meeting by electronic transmission or transmissions (Section 3.7).   Previously, KapStone’s bylaws did not provide for electronic notices, waivers and consents.

 

5



 

Conduct of Stockholder Meetings

 

Section 2.6 was revised to:  (a) specify that the Secretary of KapStone shall act as secretary of all meetings of stockholders; and (b) that the chairman of the meeting may generally establish rules to maintain order for the conduct of the meeting.   Previously, the bylaws were silent on these matters.

 

Section 2.7 was revised to permit proxies to be in writing or transmitted as permitted by law (e.g., electronically, via internet, interactive voice response system).  Previously, the bylaws provided that all proxies shall be executed in writing.

 

A new Section 2.13 was added to provide for the appointment of one or more inspectors of election for stockholder meetings to conduct the duties prescribed by Delaware law. Previously, the bylaws provided for two judges to decide upon the qualifications of voters, count the votes and declare the result.

 

General

 

Section 3.11 was revised to provide that the Board shall have the authority to fix the compensation of directors for services to KapStone.  Previously, KapStone’s bylaws were silent on this matter.  A new Section 5.04 was added to allow the Board to provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of stock issued by KapStone will be uncertificated shares.  Such a resolution will not apply to currently certificated shares until such certificate is surrendered to KapStone.  In addition, Section 8.3 was revised to provide that no stockholder shall have the right to inspect KapStone’s books and records, except as conferred by Delaware law, unless and until authorized to do so by resolution of the Board or stockholders.  Section 8.6 was revised to clarify that the use of the corporate seal of KapStone is not mandatory.  Section 8.7 was revised to clarify the Board’s power to alter, amend, change, add or repeal the Bylaws.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d)

 

Exhibits

 

 

 

99.1

 

2008 Amendment to KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation 2006 Incentive Plan

 

 

 

99.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement

 

 

 

99.3

 

Performance Incentive Plan of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation

 

 

 

99.4

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of KapStone Paper and Packing Corporation

 

6



 

SIGNATURE

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date:  April 11, 2008

 

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING
CORPORATION

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Roger W. Stone

 

Name:

Roger W. Stone

 

Title:

Chief Executive Officer

 

7



 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit
No.

 

Description

99.1

 

2008 Amendment to KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation 2006 Incentive Plan

 

 

 

99.2

 

Form of Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement

 

 

 

99.3

 

Performance Incentive Plan of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation

 

 

 

99.4

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of KapStone Paper and Packing Corporation

 

8


Exhibit 99.1

 

2008 AMENDMENT

TO THE

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION 2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

(FORMERLY KNOWN AS THE STONE ARCADE ACQUISITION CORPORATION 2006 INCENTIVE PLAN)

 

The Board of Directors of Kapstone Paper and Packaging Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“Kapstone”) pursuant to the right reserved in Section 15 of the Company’s 2006 Incentive Plan (the “Plan”), hereby further amends the Plan as follows:

 

1.                                        Section 8 of the Plan is amended by redesignating subsections 8(a) through 8(g) as subsections 8(b) through 8(h), respectively, and adding a new subsection 8(a) to read as follows:

 

(a)                                   Type of Restricted Stock .   Restricted Stock granted under the Plan may be either Restricted Stock Shares (“RS Shares”) or Restricted Stock Units (“RS Units”). “Restricted Stock Shares” means Shares which are issued and awarded to Grantees subject to a substantial risk of forfeiture and restrictions on transfer of such Shares during the during a specified period as provided in subsection (b). “Restricted Stock Units” means bookkeeping units that represent the right of a Grantee to receive the specified number of Shares upon lapse of the substantial risk of forfeiture and other restrictions on such Shares during the specified period as provided in subsection (b).

 

2.                                        Subsection 8(c) (after redesignation as provided above) is amended to read as follows:

 

(c)                                   Restricted Stock Grant Agreement .  Restricted Stock shall be granted under a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement that shall specify whether the Restricted Stock is an Award of Restricted Stock Shares or Restricted Stock Units, the number of RS Shares or RS Units granted, and the terms of the restrictions referred to in subsection (b).   If the Award is made in the form of RS Shares, then (i) the Award shall be further evidenced by certificates for the Shares registered in the name of the Grantee and bearing an appropriate legend referring to the terms, conditions, and restrictions applicable to such RS Shares; (ii) the Award of RS Shares shall be entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company as soon as practicable after the Award; but (iii) the Company may retain physical possession of any such certificates, and the Company may require a Grantee awarded RS Shares to deliver a stock power to the Company, endorsed in blank, relating to the RS Shares for so long as the Restricted Stock is subject to a risk of forfeiture.

 

3.                                        Subsection 8(e) (after redesignation as provided above) is amended to read as follows:

 

(d)                                  Repurchase Right .  The Committee may in its sole discretion provide that a Restricted Stock Grant Agreement shall grant the Company the right to repurchase the Shares awarded as Restricted Stock upon the termination for specified reasons or any reason of the purchaser’s status as an employee, officer or director of, or consultant or advisor to, the Company,  The purchase price for the Restricted Stock repurchased by the Company pursuant to such repurchase

 



 

right and the rate at which such repurchase right shall lapse (if any) shall be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion and shall be set forth in the Restricted Stock Grant Agreement.

 

4.                                        Subsection 8(g) (after redesignation as provided above) is amended to read as follows:

 

(f)                                     Rights as a Shareholder .  Unless otherwise provided in the Restricted Stock Grant Agreement:

 

i                                              A Grantee awarded RS Shares that have not been forfeited shall have the rights of a stockholder with respect to such RS Shares from and after the date that the Award of RS Shares is entered upon the records of the duly authorized transfer agent of the Company, including without limitation the right to vote such RS Shares and the right to receive dividends declared on the RS Shares; provided , however , that any dividend in Shares on RS Shares shall be held subject to the same restrictions and for the same period as the RS Shares to which they relate.

 

ii.                                        A Grantee awarded RS Units that have not been forfeited shall have no rights as a stockholder (unless and until Shares are issued in respect of such RS Units upon lapse of the substantial risk of forfeiture), including without limitation no right to vote Shares represented by such RS Units; provided , however , that if dividends (other than dividends in Shares) are paid on Shares represented by RS Units, then the Company will cumulate amounts equivalent to the amount of dividends and pay to the Grantee such amount when the restrictions lapse; and if dividends in Shares are paid on Shares, the Company will credit the Grantee with additional RS Units equal to the per-share dividend on RS Units that have not yet either vested or been forfeited, with such additional RS Units being subject to the same restrictions and for the same period as the RS Units to which they relate.

 

5.                                        The foregoing amendments shall be effective April 10, 2008.

 

Certificate

 

Matt Kaplan certifies that he is the duly elected and acting Secretary of Kapstone Paper and Packaging Corporation and that the foregoing amendment was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of Kapstone Paper and Packaging Corporation on April 10, 2008.

 

Dated: April 10, 2008

            /s/ Matt Kaplan

 

Matt Kaplan

 

2


Exhibit 99.2

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

 

2006 INCENTIVE PLAN

 

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

 

KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, a Delaware corporation formerly known as Stone Arcade Acquisition Corporation, (the “Company”), hereby grants to                                    (“you” or the “Grantee”), an employee of the Company, an award (the “Award”) of Restricted Stock Units (the “Units”) representing the right to receive the number of shares of the Company’s common stock, $.0001 par value (“Shares”), on the terms and conditions set forth below.

 

This Award is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement, in the attached Exhibit A to this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement, and in the attached Kapstone Paper and Packaging Corporation 2006 Incentive Plan, as amended from time to time before or after the date of this Award (the “Plan”), all of which are an integral part of and are hereby incorporated into this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement.  You may obtain a copy of any amendments to the Plan from the Company upon request.  Capitalized terms used but not defined in this Agreement have the meanings specified in the Plan.

 

Date of Grant

 

                                         

Number of Restricted Stock Units Granted

 

                                         

 

Restricted Stock Units will become vested in installments as follows:

 

Date Vesting

 

Percentage

 

No. of Units
Becoming
Vesting

 

Cumulative No.
of Units
Vesting

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Before                                               

 

0

%

0

 

0

On or after                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

and before                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

On or after                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

and before                                        

 

 

 

 

 

 

On or after                                        

 

100

%

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING

 

 

CORPORATION

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

By:

 

 

 

Its:

 

 

 

For the Committee

 

 

 

ACKNOWLEDGED AND AGREED

 

 

TO BY:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

EXHIBIT A

to

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT GRANT AGREEMENT

 

1.              Form of Award .  This is an award (“Award”) of Restricted Stock Units, which will become vested under the schedule stated in the Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement.  Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units will be delivered to you upon vesting of the Restricted Stock Units.

 

2.              Effect of Termination of Employment .  Immediately upon your termination of status as an employee of the Company for any reason other than your death or Disability, the Restricted Stock Units granted to you that have not vested prior to such time will no longer vest and you shall forfeit all rights (and the Company shall have no further obligation) with respect to such Restricted Stock Units.  In the event of your death or Disability, the Restricted Stock Units shall immediately vest in full.

 

3.              Rights as Shareholder .  Except as provided below you will have no rights as a shareholder of the Company with respect to Shares underlying the Restricted Stock Units unless and until Shares are delivered to you in respect of such Restricted Stock Units upon vesting.  Notwithstanding the above, if dividends are paid on Shares represented by the Restricted Stock Units awarded to you that have not yet either vested or been forfeited:

 

(i)             If such dividends are cash dividends, the Company will cumulate amounts equivalent to the amount of dividends and pay to you such amount when the restrictions lapse; and

 

(ii)            If such dividends are Share dividends, the Company will credit you with a number of additional Restricted Stock Units equal to the number of Shares of per-Share dividends that would have been paid to you if your Restricted Stock Units had been Shares, with such additional Restricted Stock Units being subject to the same restrictions and for the same period as the Restricted Stock Units to which such dividend credits relate.

 

4.              Taxes .  The Company is not required to deliver Shares pursuant to this Award unless you first pay to the Company the minimum amount that the Company is required to withhold for federal, state, local or foreign income, FICA or other taxes relating to vesting a delivery of such Shares.  The Company will notify you of such minimum amount at or prior to the time the Restricted Stock Units vest.  You may satisfy this obligation by any one or a combination of the following means:

 

(i)             delivering cash, negotiable personal check or electronic funds transfer in an amount that is equal to the amount to be withheld;

 

(ii)            delivering of Mature Shares having a Fair Market Value on the effective date of such exercise equal to the aggregate Option Price for the number of Shares being purchased.  “Mature Shares” means Shares that are fully paid, free and clear of all liens and encumbrances and properly endorsed for transfer that either (A) you have owned for at least six months (or such longer period as the Committee determines is required by applicable accounting standards to avoid a charge to the Company’s earnings) or (B) you purchased on the open market; or

 



 

(iii)           requesting the Company to withhold from those Shares that would otherwise be delivered pursuant to this Award a number of Shares having a Fair Market Value on the effective date of vesting of such Shares that is equal to the amount to be withheld.

 

5.              Award Not Transferable .  This Award is not transferable by you except by will or the laws of descent and distribution, and may not be assigned, negotiated, or pledged by you in any way (whether by operation of law or otherwise), and shall not be subject to execution, attachment or similar process.

 

6.              Amendments .  The Committee may by written instrument amend this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement prospectively or retroactively in any manner; but no such amendment may adversely affect your rights without your written consent unless such amendment is required or permitted to comply with securities, tax or other laws.  By accepting this Award you thereby give your consent to any amendment of this Agreement reasonably determined by the Committee to be required or permitted by the preceding sentence.  The Committee retains with respect to this Award all of the rights, powers and authorities described in the Plan, whether or not set forth in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement, unless expressly provided to the contrary in this Restricted Stock Unit Grant Agreement.

 

7.              Notices .  Any notice to be given under the terms of this Agreement to the Company shall be addressed to the Company in care of its Secretary.  Any notice to be given to you shall be addressed to you at the address listed in the Company’s records.  By a notice given pursuant to this Section, either party may designate a different address for notices.  Any notice shall have been deemed given when actually delivered.

 

8.              Severability .  If any part of this Agreement is declared by any court or governmental authority to be unlawful or invalid, such unlawfulness or invalidity shall not serve to invalidate any part of this Agreement not declared to be unlawful or invalid.  Any part so declared unlawful or invalid shall, if possible, be construed in a manner which gives effect to the terms of such part to the fullest extent possible while remaining lawful and valid.

 

9.              Applicable Law .  This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Delaware other than its laws respecting choice of law.

 

10.            Headings .  Headings are provided herein for convenience only and are not to serve as a basis for interpretation or construction of this Agreement.

 

2


Exhibit 99.3

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

 

PERFORMANCE INCENTIVE PLAN

 

ARTICLE I
Plan Objective

 

1.1.         Purpose .  The purposes of this KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation Performance Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) are to promote the interests of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (the “Company”) by providing additional incentive for participating officers and other employees who contribute to the improvement of operating results of the Company and to reward outstanding performance on the part of those individuals whose decisions and actions most significantly affect the growth, profitability and efficient operation of the Company.

 

1.2.         Code Section 162(m) .  The Plan is designed to permit Awards to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption; however, the Committee may grant Awards that do not qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.

 

1.3.         Effective Date; Shareholder Approval .  The Plan is effective as of April 10, 2008.  The Plan is subject to approval by the Company’s stockholders at the May 29, 2008 Annual Meeting.  Any Awards under this Plan made prior to stockholder approval are subject to stockholder approval.

 

ARTICLE II
Definitions

 

The terms used herein will have the following meanings:

 

“Award” means the opportunity to earn cash or equity compensation under the Plan, subject to the achievement of one or more Performance Goals and such other terms and conditions as the Committee may impose.

 

“Board” means the Board of Directors of the Company.

 

“Change-in-Control” means a change-in-control of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to Item 6(e) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”), provided that such a change-in-control will be deemed to have occurred at such time as (i) any “person” (as that term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d)(2) of the Exchange Act) is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) directly or indirectly, of securities representing 35% or more of the combined voting power for election of directors of the then outstanding securities of the Company or any successor of the Company; (ii) during any period of two consecutive years or less, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted the Board cease, for any reason, to constitute at least a majority of the Board, unless the election or nomination for election of each new director was approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office who were directors at the beginning of the period; (iii) the stockholders of the Company approve

 



 

any merger or consolidation as a result of which its stock will be changed, converted or exchanged (other than a merger with a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company) or any liquidation of the Company or any sale or other disposition of 50% or more of the assets or earning power of the Company; or (iv) the stockholders of the Company approve any merger or consolidation to which the Company is a party as a result of which the persons who were share owners of the Company immediately prior to the effective date of the merger or consolidation will have beneficial ownership of less than 50% of the combined voting power for election of directors of the surviving corporation following the effective date of such merger or consolidation; provided, however, that no Change-in-Control will be deemed to have occurred if, prior to such time as a Change-in-Control would otherwise be deemed to have occurred, the Board determines otherwise.

 

“Code” means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and any regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

“Company” means KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

 

“Committee” means the Compensation Committee of the Board or any successor committee or subcommittee of the Board comprised solely of two or more members of the Board, each of whom is an “outside director” within the meaning of Code Section 162(m)(4)(C)(i) and related regulations, or any successor thereto and nonemployee directors within the meaning of Rule 16b-3(b)(3) under the Exchange Act.

 

“Covered Employee” means an Employee whose compensation is subject to the deduction limitations imposed by Code Section 162(m).

 

“Employee” means any person regularly employed on a full-time or part-time basis by the Company or a Related Company whose compensation is within the purview of the Committee pursuant to the Committee’s practices and policies.

 

“Participant” means an Employee who is determined to be eligible for the Plan by the Committee pursuant to Article IV of the Plan.

 

“Performance Goal” means the objective performance goals established by the Committee for each Performance Period.  For any Performance Period for which an Award is intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, Performance Goals for Potential Covered Employees shall be established by the Committee within the time period required to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.  The Performance Goals may be based upon the performance of the Company, of any Related Company, of a division or unit thereof, or of an individual Participant, or groups of individuals, using one or more of the Performance Measures selected by the Committee.  Performance Goals may be absolute, or may be relative to the comparable measure at comparison companies or a defined index.  Separate Performance Goals may be established by the Committee for the Company or a Related Company, or division thereof, or an individual, and different Performance Measures may be given different weights.  With respect to Participants who are not Potential Covered Employees, and for Awards not intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, the Committee may establish other subjective or objective goals, including individual Performance Goals, which it deems appropriate.

 

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“Performance Measure” means one or more of the following criteria, on which Performance Goals may be based, subject to Section 5.3:  (i) increase in stockholder value; (ii) earnings growth or earnings per share; (iii) net income; (iv) return on or net assets; (v) return on stockholder’s equity; (vi) cash flow or cash flow per share; (vii) operating profit or operating margins; (viii) gross or net revenue growth of the Company; (ix) operating expenses or attainment of expense levels; (x) return on capital; (xi) return on invested capital; (xii) earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization (EBITDA); (xiii) goals relating to acquisitions or divestitures; (xiv) operating income; (xv) gross or net revenue; (xvi) gross or net profit before or after tax; (xvii) free cash flow (either in the aggregate or on a per-share basis); (xviii) total stockholder return; (xix) economic value added, (xx) price-to-earnings growth; and (xxi)strategic business criteria consisting of one or more objectives based on the Company’s meeting specified goals relating to revenue, market penetration or business expansion.

 

“Performance Period” means a calendar year or other period of time (which may be longer or shorter than a calendar year) set by the Committee.

 

“Potential Covered Employee” means an Employee designated by the Committee at the time an Award is granted who, in the Committee’s judgment, may be a Covered Employee at the time the Award is paid.

 

“Related Company” means any corporation or business organization in which the Company owns, directly or indirectly, during the relevant time, either (i) 50% or more of the voting stock or capital where such entity is not publicly held, or (ii) an interest which causes the other entity’s financial results to be consolidated with the Company’s financial results for financial reporting purposes.

 

“Section 162(m)” means Section 162(m) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time, and the regulations thereunder.

 

“Section 162 (m) Exemption” means the exemption from the limitation on deductibility imposed by Code Section 162(m) as set forth in Code Section 162(m)(4)(c), and the regulations thereunder.

 

ARTICLE III
Administration

 

3.1.         Authority of Committee .  The Plan will be administered by the Committee.  No person, other than members of the Committee, shall have any discretion concerning decisions regarding the Plan.  The Committee, in its sole discretion, will determine which of the Participants to whom, and the time or times at which, Awards will be granted under the Plan, and the other conditions of the grant of the Awards.  The provisions and conditions of the grants of Awards need not be the same with respect to each Participant or with respect to each Award.

 

The Committee will, subject to the provisions of the Plan, establish such rules and regulations as it deems necessary or advisable for the proper administration of the Plan, and will make determinations and will take such other action in connection with or in relation to accomplishing the objectives of the Plan as it deems necessary or advisable.

 

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3.2.         Effect of Determinations .  Each determination or other action made or taken by the Committee pursuant to the Plan, including interpretation of the Plan and the specific conditions and provisions of the Awards granted hereunder will be final, conclusive and binding for all purposes and upon all persons including, but without limitation, the Company, any Related Company, the Committee, the Board, officers, the Employees, and any Participant or former Participant under the Plan, as well as their respective successors in interest.

 

ARTICLE IV
Eligibility and Participation

 

4.1.         Eligibility .  Eligibility for participation in the Plan is limited to those Employees who are officers and other management of the Company or a Related Company who can make an appreciable contribution to the attainment of overall business objectives as determined in the sole discretion of the Committee.

 

The fact that an Employee is eligible to participate in the Plan for one Performance Period does not guarantee that the Employee will be eligible to participate in any subsequent Performance Period.  The payment of an Award for any Performance Period does not guarantee any person eligibility for or payment of an Award for any other Performance Period.  The Committee will determine an Employee’s eligibility for participation in the Plan from time to time prior to each Performance Period.

 

ARTICLE V
Awards

 

5.1.         Grant of Awards .  In connection with the grant of each Award, the Committee shall (i) establish the Performance Goal(s) and the Performance Period applicable to such Award, (ii) establish the formula for determining the amounts payable based on achievement of the applicable Performance Goal, (iii) determine the consequences for the Award of the Participant’s termination of employment for various reasons or the Participant’s demotion or promotion during the Performance Period, (iv) specify the consequences for the Award of the occurrence of a Change-in-Control of the Company during a Performance Period, and (v) establish such other terms and conditions for the Award as the Committee deems appropriate.  For Awards intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, the foregoing shall be accomplished within the time period required to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption.

 

5.2.         Certification of Awards .  The Committee shall, promptly after the date on which the necessary financial, individual or other information for a particular Performance Period becomes available, and in any event prior to the payment of any Award intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption to a Covered Employee, determine and certify the degree to which each of the Performance Goals have been attained.

 

5.3.         Permitted Adjustments .  Except as permitted under Section 5.4, Awards shall be paid solely in accordance with the applicable formula for the Performance Period, based upon the level of achievement of Performance Goals.  Performance Goals shall, to the extent applicable, be based upon generally accepted accounting principles, but shall be adjusted by the Committee to take into account the effect of the following:  changes in accounting standards that may be required by the Financial Accounting Standards Board after the Performance Goal is

 

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established; realized investment gains and/or losses; extraordinary, unusual, non-recurring or infrequent items; currency fluctuations; acquisitions; divestitures; litigation losses; financing activities; expenses for restructuring or productivity initiatives; other non-operating items; new laws, cases or regulatory developments that result in unanticipated items of gain, loss, income or expense; executive severance arrangements; investment returns relating to investment vehicles which are unaffiliated with a Company or divisional operating strategy; bonus expense; the impact on pre-tax income of interest expense attributable to the repurchase of Company stock; extraordinary dividends or stock dividends; the effect of corporate reorganizations or restructuring, spinoff, or a sale of a business unit; and other items as the Committee determines to be required so that the operating results of the Company, division, or a Related Company shall be computed on a comparative basis from Performance Period to Performance Period; in each case as those terms are defined under generally accepted accounting principles and provided in each case that such excluded items are objectively determinable by reference to the Company’s financial statements, notes to the Company’s financial statements, and/or management’s discussion and analysis in the Company’s financial statements.  Determination by the Committee or its designee shall be final and conclusive on all parties, but shall be based on relevant objective information or financial data.

 

5.4.         Committee Discretion .  The Committee shall have the discretion to reduce, eliminate, or increase any Award for any Participant, to reflect individual performance and/or unanticipated factors, or any other factors the Committee deems appropriate.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the following sentence, with respect to the Awards of Potential Covered Employees intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption, the Committee shall not increase such Awards above the amount determined under the applicable formula for the Performance Period, or waive the achievement of applicable Performance Goals.  In the event a Potential Covered Employee is determined at the end of the Performance Period not to be a Covered Employee, and to the extent it would not cause the Potential Covered Employee to become a Covered Employee, the Committee may exercise its discretion to increase the amount of such Potential Covered Employee’s Award above the amount generated under the applicable formula for the Performance Period.

 

5.5.         Change in Employment Status .  Subject to Article X, an Employee who is selected as a Participant after the beginning of a Performance Period or a Participant who retires or who dies prior to the end of such Performance Period will be eligible to receive a pro rata share of an Award based on the number of months of participation during any portion of such Performance Period only if the applicable Performance Goals are achieved and such Award is paid at the time Awards for such Performance Period are paid to other Participants in accordance with Article VI.  Except as provided in this Section or in Article X, a Participant whose employment is otherwise terminated prior to the end of such Performance Period will not be eligible for payment of any Award.

 

ARTICLE VI
Payment of Awards

 

Awards will be paid by the Company no later than two and one-half months after the end of the calendar year in which the applicable Performance Period ends provided the Performance Goals have been met and certified in accordance with Section 5.2.  Except with regard to

 

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Participants who retire or die during a Performance Period or are involuntarily terminated as provided in Article X, to be eligible for payment of any Award, the Participant must be employed by the Company or a Related Company on the date of payment of the Award.

 

ARTICLE VII
Method of Payment of Awards

 

7.1.         Payment of Awards .  Except as otherwise provided in this Plan, Awards will be paid in cash and paid at the time described in Article VI unless the Committee specifies in writing a different medium of payment before the beginning of the Performance Period to which such Award pertains.  The Committee may specify the medium of payment on a case-by-case basis in its sole discretion and may include conditions or additional time vesting requirements in addition to the satisfaction of applicable Performance Goals.  In no event will the maximum potential value of any Award to a Participant for any Performance Period exceed the amount of $10,000,000 on the date the Award is granted.

 

Alternative mediums of payment the Committee may specify in its sole discretion are one of, or any combination of cash and, the following:

 

(i)            Stock Options .  The Committee may, in its sole discretion, pay any Award through the grant of stock options under KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation 2006 Stock Incentive Plan, as amended, or any successor equity plan approved by stockholders (the “Stock Incentive Plan”).  The grant date is the date the Award would otherwise be paid in cash, unless the Committee provides otherwise in its discretion.  Any Award issued in the form of stock options shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Incentive Plan and related grant agreement.

 

(ii)           Restricted Stock or Restricted Stock Units . The Committee may, in its sole discretion, pay any Award by issuing to a Participant restricted stock or restricted stock units under the Stock Incentive Plan.  Any Award issued in the form of restricted stock or restricted stock unit shall be subject to the terms and conditions of the Stock Incentive Plan and related grant agreement.

 

7.2.         Withholding for Taxes .  The Company will have the right to deduct from any and all payments made under the Plan, any federal, state, local or foreign taxes required by law to be withheld with respect to such payments.  The Participant shall be solely responsible for the satisfaction of any federal, state, local or foreign taxes on payments under the Plan.  The Company and any Related Company (i) make no representations or undertaking regarding the treatment of any taxes in connection with any Award; and (ii) do not commit to structure the terms of the Award to reduce or eliminate the Participant’s liability for taxes.

 

7.3.         Payments to Estates .  Awards and interest thereon, if any, which are due to a Participant pursuant to the provisions hereof and which remain unpaid at the time of his or her death will be paid in full to the Participant’s estate.

 

7.4.         Offset for Monies Owed .  Any payments made under this Plan may be offset for any monies that the Committee determines are owed to the Company or any Related Company.

 

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ARTICLE VIII
Amendment and Termination

 

The Committee may amend, modify, suspend or terminate this Plan in whole or in part at any time or from time to time without the approval of the stockholders of the Company, except as otherwise provided in this Article; provided, however, that no such action will adversely affect any right or obligation with respect to any Award theretofore made.  Any amendment to the Plan that changes the Performance Goals, Performance Measures or increases the maximum dollar amount that may be paid to a Participant for a Performance Period shall not be effective with respect to Awards to Covered Employees intended to qualify for the Section 162(m) Exemption unless the amendment is approved by stockholders before the Award is paid.

 

ARTICLE IX
Miscellaneous

 

9.1.         No Funding .  Cash Awards shall be paid solely from the general assets of the Company.  To the extent any person acquires a right to receive payments from the Company under the Plan, the right is no greater than the right of any other unsecured general creditor.  No absolute right to any Award shall be considered as having accrued to any Participant prior to the payment of the Award.

 

9.2.         Governing Law .  The Plan and all rights to an Award hereunder shall be construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois, except that any matters relating to the internal governance of the Company shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

 

9.3.         Awards Not Transferable .  Subject to Section 7.3, a Participant’s rights and interest under the Plan may not be assigned or transferred.  Any attempted assignment or transfer shall be null and void and shall extinguish, in the Committee’s sole discretion, the Company’s obligation under the Plan to pay Awards with respect to the Participant.

 

9.4.         Employment .  Neither the adoption of the Plan nor its operation shall in any way affect the rights and power of the Company or any Related Company to dismiss or discharge any Participants.  The Plan is not a contract between the Company or any Related Company and any Employee or Participant.

 

ARTICLE X
Change-in-Control

 

If there is a Change-in-Control after Awards have been granted under the Plan but before completion of the applicable Performance Period, a Participant who is terminated by the Company, a Related Company or a successor thereto following a Change-in-Control if such termination occurs prior to payment of the applicable Award in accordance with Article VI, will be eligible to receive a pro rata share of an Award based on the number of months of participation during any portion of such Performance Period only if the applicable Performance Goals are achieved.  Such pro rata portion of an Award will be paid at the time Awards for such Performance Period are paid to other Participants in accordance with Article VI.

 

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EXHIBIT 99.4

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY LAWS

 

OF

 

KAPSTONE PAPER AND PACKAGING CORPORATION

 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

 

1.1.          Registered Office .  The registered office of KapStone Paper and Packaging Corporation (the “Corporation”) (successor of Stone Arcade Acquisition Corporation) in the State of Delaware shall be established and maintained at 615 South DuPont Highway, Kent County, Dover, Delaware 19901 and National Corporate Research, Ltd. shall be the registered agent of the Corporation in charge thereof.

 

1.2.          Other Offices .  The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

2.1.          Place of Meetings .  All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

2.2.          Annual Meetings .  The annual meeting of stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction of only such other business as is properly brought before the meeting in accordance with these Bylaws (the “Bylaws”).  The Board of Directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the Delaware General Corporation Law, as amended (the “DGCL”).  If authorized by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, and subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board of Directors may adopt, stockholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication: (a) participate in a meeting of stockholders and (b) be deemed present in person and vote at a meeting of stockholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or solely by means of remote communication; provided, that (i) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxyholder, (ii) the Corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide such stockholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with such

 



 

proceedings and (iii) if any stockholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.  Notice of any annual meeting of stockholders shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting in accordance with Article VI of these Bylaws.

 

2.3.          Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), may only be called by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be called by the Secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount of the entire capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.  Notice of any special meeting of stockholders shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting in accordance with Article VI of these Bylaws.

 

2.4.          Business at Meetings of Stockholders .

 

(a)            Annual Meeting .

 

(1)  Nomination of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (x) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (y) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (z) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Article II, Section 4, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Article II, Section 4.

 

(2)  At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (z) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Article II, Section 4, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 90th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days from the anniversary date of the previous year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (w) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, the name, age, business address and residence address of such person; the principal occupation or employment of such person; the class and number of shares of capital stock of the

 

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Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Corporation of such person, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement; and all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected, a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the nomination and of any material interest in such nomination of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made; provided, that the Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may be reasonably required by the Corporation to determine the qualifications of such nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation; (x) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of any resolution proposed to be adopted at the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business, and of any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (y) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner and any other direct or indirect pecuniary or economic interest in any capital stock of the Corporation of any such person, including, without limitation, any derivative instrument, swap, option, warrant, short interest, hedge or profit sharing arrangement, and, in the case of such stockholder, his commitment to remain a stockholder through the date of the stockholders meeting with respect to which his notice was given and (z) a representation that such stockholder and, if applicable, beneficial owner, intends to appear in person or by proxy at the stockholders meeting to make such nominations or bring such business before the meeting.

 

(3)  Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) of this Article II, Section 4 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased board made by the Corporation at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the mailing of proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Article II, Section 4 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)            Special Meetings .  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting in accordance with these Bylaws.  Nominations of persons for

 

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election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting in accordance with these Bylaws (x) by or at the direction of the board or (y) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Article II, Section 4, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Article II, Section 4.  In the event a special meeting of stockholders is properly called in accordance with these Bylaws for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Article II, Section 4 shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)            Generally .  (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article II, Section 4 shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article II, Section 4.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.  The chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that any nomination or business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws, and if he should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting, and any such nomination or business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

(2)   For purposes of this Article II, Section 4, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(3)   Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article II, Section 4, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Article II, Section 4.  The requirements of this Article II, Section 4 apply to all stockholder nominations and all stockholder proposals, whether or not such nominations or proposals are sought to be included in the Corporation’s proxy statement; provided, however, that nothing in this Article II, Section 4 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the

 

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Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

(d)  Advance notice by stockholders of nominations to be made at or other business to be conducted at the Corporation’s 2008 annual meeting of stockholders shall be governed by the advance notice provisions included in Section 2.2 of these Bylaws as in effect immediately prior to the adoption of this paragraph (d).

 

2.5.          Quorum .  The holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation.  If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (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 at the meeting.

 

2.6.          Organization .  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall act as chairman of meetings of the stockholders.  The Board of Directors may designate any other officer or director of the Corporation to act as chairman of any meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, and the Board of Directors may further provide for determining who shall act as chairman of any stockholders meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and such designee.  The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the stockholders, but in the absence of the Secretary the presiding officer may appoint any other person to act as secretary of any meeting.  At each meeting of stockholders, the chairman or the secretary of the meeting shall fix and announce the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at the meeting and shall determine the order of business and all other matters of procedure.  Except to the extent inconsistent with any such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting may establish rules, which need not be in writing, to maintain order for the conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, restricting attendance to bona fide stockholders of record and their proxies and other persons in attendance at the invitation of the chairman and making rules governing speeches and debates.

 

2.7.          Voting .  Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any question (other than the election of directors) brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat.  At all meetings of stockholders for the election of directors, a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. Each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder, unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express

 

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consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for him by a proxy which is in writing or transmitted as permitted by law, including, without limitation, electronically, via internet, interactive voice response system, or other means of electronic transmission executed or authorized by such stockholder or his attorney-in-fact, but no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  Any such proxy shall be delivered to the secretary of the meeting at or prior to the time designated in the order of business for so delivering such proxies. Any proxy transmitted electronically shall set forth information from which it can be determined by the secretary of the meeting that such electronic transmission was authorized by the stockholder.  Unless required by law or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any question need not be by ballot.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a meeting of stockholders, in his discretion, may require that any votes cast at such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.

 

2.8.          Action of Shareholders Without Meeting .  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.  Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.  Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.

 

2.9.          Voting List .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the election, (a) on a reasonably accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is provided with the notice of the meeting or (b) either at a place within the city, town or village where the election is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where said meeting is to be held.  The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of election during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder of the Corporation who is present.

 

2.10.        Stock Ledger .  The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 2.9 of this Article II or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

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2.11.        Adjournment .  Any meeting of the stockholders, including one at which directors are to be elected, may be adjourned for such periods as the presiding officer of the meeting or the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall direct.

 

2.12.        Ratification .  Any transaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative suit, or any other suit to enforce alleged rights of the Corporation or any of its stockholders, on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of any director, officer or stockholder, nondisclosure, miscomputation or the application of improper principles or practices of accounting may be approved, ratified and confirmed before or after judgment by the Board of Directors or by the holders of Common Stock and, if so approved, ratified or confirmed, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned transaction had been originally duly authorized, and said approval, ratification or confirmation shall be binding upon the Corporation and all of its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned transaction.

 

2.13.        Inspectors .  The Board of Directors may, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors, who need not be stockholders, to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof.  Such inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives of the Corporation.  No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors.  One or more persons may be designated by the Board of Directors as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the board in advance of the convening of the meeting, or at the meeting by the person or officer acting as chairman.  Each inspector, before discharging his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.  The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by the DGCL.  On request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge, request or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them.

 

ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

 

3.1.          Powers; Number; Qualifications .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation.  The number of directors which shall constitute the Board of Directors shall be not less than one (1) nor more than nine (9).  The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time, within the limits specified in this Article III, Section 1 or in the Certificate of Incorporation, by the Board of Directors.  Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.  The Board may be divided into Classes as more fully described in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3.2.          Election; Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies .  Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders at which his Class stands for election or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal from office, death or incapacity.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created

 

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directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or from any other cause may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director and each director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting and until such director’s successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify, or until such director’s earlier resignation, removal from office, death or incapacity.

 

3.3.          Nominations .  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be made solely (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) by any committee or persons appointed by the Board of Directors, or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting who fully complies with the notice procedures and requirements set forth in Article II, Section 4 of these Bylaws.  No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

3.4.          Meetings .  The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware.  The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the meeting of the stockholders at which it as elected and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chief Executive Officer or a majority of the entire Board of Directors.  Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone, facsimile or electronic transmission on twenty-four (24) hours notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice of such meeting.  Any director may waive notice of any meeting in accordance with Article VI, Section 2 hereof.

 

3.5.          Quorum .  Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a majority of the entire Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, a majority of the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

3.6.          Organization of Meetings .  The Board of Directors shall elect one of its members to be Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall lead the Board of Directors in fulfilling its responsibilities as set forth in these By-Laws,

 

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including its responsibility to oversee the performance of the Corporation, and shall determine the agenda and perform all other duties and exercise all other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.

 

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in his or her absence, by the Chief Executive officer, or in the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer by such other person as the Board of Directors may designate or the members present may select.

 

3.7.          Actions of Board of Directors Without Meeting .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

3.8.          Removal of Directors by Stockholders .  The entire Board of Directors or any individual Director may be removed from office with or without cause by a majority vote of the holders of the outstanding shares then entitled to vote at an election of directors.  In case the Board of Directors or any one or more Directors be so removed, new Directors may be elected at the same time for the unexpired portion of the full term of the Director or Directors so removed.

 

3.9.          Resignations .  Any Director may resign at any time by submitting his written resignation to the Board of Directors or Secretary of the Corporation.  Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation unless another time be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so fixed.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.

 

3.10.        Committees .  The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Any such committee, to the extent provided by law and in the resolution of the Board of Directors establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution or amending the Bylaws of the Corporation; and, unless the resolution expressly so provides, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a

 

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certificate of ownership and merger.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

3.11.        Compensation .  The board of directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for services to the corporation in any capacity.  Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed amount (in cash or other form of consideration) for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director.  No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

3.12.        Interested Directors .  No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose, if (i) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative 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 his or their 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 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 of Directors, 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 of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

3.13.        Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone .  Members of the Board of Directors or any committee designed by the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

 

4.1.          General .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and may consist of:  a Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary and Treasurer.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also elect one or more Vice Presidents (including Executive Vice Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, a Controller and such other officers as in the judgment of the

 

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Board of Directors may be necessary or desirable.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person and more than one person may hold the same office, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.  The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation, nor need such officers be directors of the Corporation.

 

4.2.          Election .  The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each annual meeting of stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal.  Except as otherwise provided in this Article IV, any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of Directors.  The salaries of all officers who are directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.

 

4.3.          Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation .  Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive officer or any Vice President, and any such officer may, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

4.4.          Chief Executive Officer .  Subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive officer shall have ultimate authority for decisions relating to the general management and control of the affairs and business of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers which are or from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws, all in accordance with basic policies as established by and subject to the oversight of the Board of Directors.

 

4.5.          Vice Presidents .  At the request of the Chief Executive Officer or in the absence of the Chief Executive officer, or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Vice President or the Vice Presidents if there is more than one (in the order designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon such office.  Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe.  If there be no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer or in the event of the inability or refusal of such officer to act, shall perform the duties of such office, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon such office.

 

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4.6.          Secretary .  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for the standing committees when required.  The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be.  If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, then any Assistant Secretary shall perform such actions.  If there be no Assistant Secretary, then the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given.  The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary.  The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.  The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.

 

4.7.          Treasurer .  The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.  If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.

 

4.8.          Assistant Secretaries .  Except as may be otherwise provided in these Bylaws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, any vice President, if there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.

 

4.9.          Assistant Treasurers .  Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive officer, any Vice President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer.  If required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer

 

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shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.

 

4.10.        Controller .  The Controller shall establish and maintain the accounting records of the Corporation in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, maintain proper internal control of the assets of the Corporation and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President of the Corporation may prescribe.

 

4.11.        Other Officers .  Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

 

4.12.        Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill any vacancies in any office occurring from whatever reason.

 

4.13.        Resignations .  Any officer may resign at any time by submitting his written resignation to the Corporation.  Such resignation shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Corporation, unless another time be fixed in the resignation, in which case it shall become effective at the time so fixed.  The acceptance of a resignation shall not be required to make it effective.

 

4.14.        Removal .  Subject to the provisions of any employment agreement approved by the Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE V
CAPITAL STOCK

 

5.1.          Form of Certificates .  Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation (i) by the Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President and (ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Corporation.

 

5.2.          Signatures .  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile, including, but not limited to, signatures of officers of the Corporation and countersignatures of a transfer agent or registrar.  In case an 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, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

5.3.          Lost Certificates .  The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the

 

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Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

5.4.          Uncertificated Ownership .  Unless requested by the owner of stock of the Corporation, the Corporation is not required to issue certificates evidencing the ownership of stock of the Corporation, and may instead maintain stock ownership information in the books and records of the Corporation or of a registrar or stock transfer agent selected by the Board of Directors.

 

5.5.          Transfers .  Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws.  No transfer of stock shall be valid as against the Corporation for any purpose until it shall have been entered in the stock records of the Corporation by an entry showing from and to whom transferred.  Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, properly endorsed for transfer and payment of all necessary transfer taxes; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered holder of the shares or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon payment of all necessary transfer taxes and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form; provided, however, that such surrender and endorsement, compliance or payment of taxes shall not be required in any case in which the officers of the Corporation shall determine to waive such requirement.  Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transactions upon its books, unless the Corporation has a duty to inquire as to adverse claims with respect to such transfer which has not been discharged.  The Corporation shall have no duty to inquire into adverse claims with respect to such transfer unless (a) the Corporation has received a written notification of an adverse claim at a time and in a manner which affords the Corporation a reasonable opportunity to act on it prior to the issuance of a new, reissued or re-registered share certificate and the notification identifies the claimant, the registered owner and the issue of which the share or shares is a part and provides an address for communications directed to the claimant; or (b) the Corporation has required and obtained, with respect to a fiduciary, a copy of a will, trust, indenture, articles of co-partnership, Bylaws or other controlling instruments, for a purpose other than to obtain appropriate evidence of the appointment or incumbency of the fiduciary, and such documents indicate, upon reasonable inspection, the existence of an adverse claim.  The Corporation may discharge any duty of inquiry by any reasonable means, including notifying an adverse claimant by registered or certified mail at the address furnished by him or, if there be no such address, at his residence or regular place of business that the security has been presented for registration of transfer by a named person, and that the transfer will be registered unless within

 

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thirty days from the date of mailing the notification, either (a) an appropriate restraining order, injunction or other process issues from a court of competent jurisdiction; or (b) an indemnity bond, sufficient in the Corporation’s judgment to protect the Corporation and any transfer agent, registrar or other agent of the Corporation involved from any loss which it or they may suffer by complying with the adverse claim, is filed with the Corporation.  The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary or proper concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

5.6.          Fixing Record Date .  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date of action with a meeting is adopted by the Board of Directors, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.  If no record date is fixed:

 

(a)            The record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.

 

(b)            The record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent is delivered to the Corporation.

 

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

 

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

5.7.          Registered Stockholders .  Prior to due presentment and surrender to the Corporation for transfer of any share or shares, the Corporation shall treat the registered owner thereof on its books and records (or those of the registrar or stock transfer agent selected by the Board of Directors) as the person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notifications and to all other benefits of ownership with respect to such share or shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State Delaware.

 

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ARTICLE VI
NOTICES

 

6.1.          Notices to Stockholders .  Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action at a meeting, a timely written notice or electronic transmission of notice (in the manner provided in Section 232 of the DGCL) of the meeting, which shall state the place, if any, date and time of the meeting, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be sent (by mail, overnight courier, or facsimile transmission, or by any other means comparable to any of the foregoing) or transmitted electronically to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting at his address appearing on the records of the Corporation not less than 10 nor more than 60 days (unless a different period of notice is required by law) before the date of the meeting.  If mailed with postage prepaid, such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail.  When a meeting is adjourned to another date, hour or place in accordance with the DGCL, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the date, hour and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken unless otherwise required by the DGCL.

 

6.2.          Waiver of Notice .  Whenever any notice is required to be given under the provisions of law or the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws of the Corporation, a written waiver, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the meeting time stated in the notice, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the stockholders, Directors, or members of a committee of Directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

6.3.          Electronic Transmission .

 

(a)  Definition .  For purposes of these Bylaws, “electronic transmission” has the meaning ascribed to that term in Section 232(c) of the DGCL, as that section may be amended, supplemented, restated or succeeded from time to time.

 

(b)  Limitations on Electronic Transmission .  Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, notice by a form of electronic transmission shall not apply to those matters specified in Section 232(e) of the DGCL, as that section may be amended, supplemented, restated or succeeded from time to time.

 

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

7.1.          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

 

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Corporation) by reason of the fact that he 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 him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he 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 his conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he 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 his conduct was unlawful.

 

7.2.          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 he 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 him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he 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 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.

 

7.3.          To the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 or 2 of this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection therewith.

 

7.4.          Any indemnification under sections 1 or 2 of this Article (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 director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in such section.  Such determination shall be made:

 

(a)            By the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or

 

(b)            If such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or

 

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(c)            By the stockholders.

 

7.5.          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 he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Section.  Such expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.

 

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

 

7.7.          The Corporation shall have power to 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 him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article.

 

7.8.          For purposes of this Article, references to “the Corporation” shall include, in addition to the resulting Corporation, any constituent Corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, and employees or agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer employee or agent of such constituent Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such constituent Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another Corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under this Article with respect to the resulting or surviving Corporation as he would have with respect to such constituent Corporation of its separate existence had continued.

 

7.9.          For purposes of this Article, references to “other enterprises” shall include employee benefit plans; references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any 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 services 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 he 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.

 

7.10.        The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as

 

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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.

 

7.11.        No director or officer of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or to any stockholder of the Corporation for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director or officer, provided that this provision shall not limit the liability of a director or officer (i) for any breach of the director’s or the officer’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) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal benefit.

 

ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

8.1.          Reliance on Books and Records .  Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer of the Corporation, shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers, by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with reasonable care.

 

8.2.          Dividends .  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.  Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Directors shall think conducive to the interest of the Corporation, and the Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

8.3.          Inspection of Books and Records .  The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time to determine to what extent and at what times and places and under what conditions and regulations the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders; and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by the DGCL, unless and until authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders of the Corporation.

 

8.4.          Checks .  All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

8.5.          Fiscal Year .  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as determined by the Board of Directors.  If the Board of Directors shall fail to do so, the Chief Executive Officer shall fix the fiscal year.

 

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8.6.          Seal .  The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Delaware”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the use of the corporate seal is not mandatory.

 

8.7.          Amendments .  The original or other Bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any regular or special meeting.  In addition, the Board of Directors shall have the power, without the assent  or vote of the stockholders, to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal these Bylaws.  The fact that such power has been so conferred upon the Board of Directors shall not divest the stockholders of the power nor limit their power to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws.

 

8.8.          Interpretation of Bylaws .  All words, terms and provisions of these Bylaws shall be interpreted and defined by and in accordance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as amended, and as amended from time to time hereafter.

 

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