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

 

May 5, 2016

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)

 

SUMMER INFANT, INC.

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Charter)

 

DELAWARE

 

001-33346

 

20-1994619

(State or Other

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Jurisdiction of Incorporation)

 

 

 

Identification No.)

 

1275 PARK EAST DRIVE

WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND 02895

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)  (Zip Code)

 

(401) 671-6550

(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 ( see General Instruction A.2. below):

 

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

 

Effective May 5, 2016, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Summer Infant, Inc. (the “Company”) approved amendments to the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws to implement majority voting in uncontested director elections as well as other minor corrections (the “Bylaw Amendments”).  Under the Bylaw Amendments, each director in an uncontested election will be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election.  For purposes of these provisions, a majority of votes cast means that the number of votes cast “for” a director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that director’s election.  “Abstentions” and “broker non-votes” will not be counted as votes cast either “for” or “against” a director’s election.  Contested director elections will continue to be decided by a plurality vote.

 

In connection with the Bylaw Amendments, the Company also amended its Corporate Governance Guidelines to require that director nominees tender irrevocable resignations that will be effective only upon (i) the failure to receive the required vote in an uncontested election at the next stockholder meeting at which they face re-election and (ii) acceptance of such resignation by the Board.  If an incumbent director fails to receive the required vote for reelection, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board will make a recommendation to the Board on whether to accept or reject the resignation, or whether other action should be taken. The Board will act on the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee’s recommendation and publicly disclose its decision and the rationale behind it within 90 days from the date of the certification of the director election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept a director’s resignation.

 

The foregoing description of the Bylaw Amendments does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended by the Bylaws Amendments, that are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated by reference herein.  The Corporate Governance Guidelines, as amended and restated, are available on the Company’s website at http://investor.summerinfant.com/investors under the section “Corporate Governance — Governance Documents.”

 

Item 9.01.              Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d)            Exhibits .

 

Exhibit

 

 

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Summer Infant, Inc., as amended through May 5, 2016

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

 

 

 

SUMMER INFANT, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Date: May 9, 2016

 

By:

/s/ William E. Mote, Jr.

 

 

 

William E. Mote, Jr.

 

 

 

Chief Financial Officer

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit

 

 

No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.1

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws of Summer Infant, Inc., as amended through May 5, 2016

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

SUMMER INFANT, INC.

(as of January 25, 2013 May 5, 2016 )

 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

 

Section 1.1.                                 Registered Office .  The registered office of Summer Infant, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be maintained at 615 S. DuPont Highway, Kent County, Dover, Delaware and National Corporate Research, Ltd. shall be the registered agent of the corporation in charge thereof.

 

Section 1.2.                                 Other Offices .  The Corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the board of directors 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

 

Section 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.

 

Section 2.2.                                 Annual Meetings .

 

(a)                                  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 Amended and Restated Bylaws (as they may be amended from time to time, the “Bylaws”).

 

(b)                                  Written notice of an annual meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled  to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the annual meeting.  The written notice of the annual meeting shall state (i) the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, (ii) 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 (iii) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting.  Such notice may specify the business to be transacted and actions to be taken at such meeting.  No action shall be taken at such meeting unless such notice is given, or unless waiver of such notice is given by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes necessary to take

 

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such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were voted.  Prompt notice of all action taken in connection with such waiver of notice shall be given to all stockholders not present or represented at such meeting.

 

(c)                                   Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively to stockholders, any notice to stockholders given by the Corporation under any provision of Delaware law, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation (the “Certificate of Incorporation”) or these Bylaws shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission as authorized by Delaware law.  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 Delaware law.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at an address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation.  A written waiver of any such notice signed by the person entitled thereto, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

(d)                                  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 an annual meeting of stockholders may, by means of remote communication, participate in the annual meeting of stockholders, and be deemed present in person and vote at the annual 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 annual 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 annual meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, which includes 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 annual meeting by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.

 

(e)                                   At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such nominations for persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and only such other business shall be conducted or considered, as shall have been brought properly before the meeting.  To be brought  properly before the annual meeting, nominations and proposals of other business must be (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of annual meeting (or any supplement or amendment thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting  by a stockholder of the Corporation in accordance with these Bylaws.  In addition to any other applicable requirements, for nominations by a stockholder of persons for election to the Board of Directors or proposals by a stockholder of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, a stockholder must (1) be a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice of such annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors and at the time of the annual meeting, (2) be entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (3) comply with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such business or nomination.  The immediately preceding

 

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sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or other business proposals (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

(f)                                    For nominations by a stockholder of persons for election to the Board of Directors or proposals by a stockholder of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting, the stockholder must have given proper and timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with Article VI of these Bylaws.  Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.2. The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the annual meeting that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.2, and if such officer should so determine, such officer shall so declare to the annual meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

Section 2.3.                                 Special Meetings .  Unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the stockholders may only be called by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board of Directors, 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 and shall comply with the provisions of Article VI of these Bylaws.  Special meetings may be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the person(s) calling the meeting may specify.  Unless otherwise provided by law, written notice of a special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, not less than ten (10) or more than sixty (60) days before the date fixed for the meeting.  The written notice of the special meeting shall state (a) the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, (b) 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, (c) the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting if such date is different from the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of the meeting, and (d) the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  No action shall be taken at such meeting unless such notice is given, or unless waiver of such notice is given by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes necessary to take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were voted.  Business transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice of meeting.

 

Section 2.4.                                 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, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

Section 2.5.                                 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

 

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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.

 

Section 2.6.                                 Voting and Proxy Representation .

 

(a)                                  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 or applicable law .  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 .  Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, each director shall be elected to the Board of Directors by the vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s election at any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors at which a quorum is present; provided that if, as of the tenth (10th) day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders, or, at any time thereafter, the number of nominees for director exceeds the number of directors to be elected (a “contested election”), the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of stockholders.  For purposes of this Section 2.6(a), a majority of the votes cast in respect of the election of any director means that the number of votes cast “for” such director’s election must exceed the number of votes cast “against” such director’s election, and an abstention or broker non-vote will not count as a vote “for” or “against” a director’s election.  All other matters presented to the stockholders at any meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall, unless a different or minimum vote is required by the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or any applicable law, in which case such different or minimum vote shall the applicable vote on the matter, be decided by the vote of a majority of the votes cast on such matter .

 

(b)                                  Every stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a stockholder is entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, objecting to or voting or participating at a meeting, or expressing consent or dissent without a meeting.  Every proxy must be signed by the stockholder or by his attorney-in-fact in writing or by a transmission permitted by law.  Any copy, facsimile, telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this Section 2.6 (b) may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile, telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.  No proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period.  Except as otherwise provided by law, a stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting for which the proxy was given and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary of the Corporation.  A duly executed proxy

 

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shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and, if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.  A proxy may be made irrevocable regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.  The authorization of a proxy may but need not be limited to specified action, provided, however, that if a proxy limits its authorization to a meeting or meetings of stockholders, unless otherwise specifically provided such proxy shall entitle the holder thereof to vote at any adjourned session but shall not be valid after the final adjournment thereof.

 

Section 2.7.                                 Action of Stockholders 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.  Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within sixty (60) days of the earliest dated consent delivered in the manner required herein to the corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business or to the Corporation’s Secretary. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

 

Section 2.8.                                 Stockholder List .  The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, or shall cause to be prepared and made, 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 meeting, either (a) 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 so specified, at the place where said meeting is to be held, or (b) 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.  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.

 

Section 2.9.                                 Stock Ledger .  The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to the stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list required by Section 2.8 or the books of the Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.

 

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Section 2.10.                          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.  If the time and place of the adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, no further notice of the adjourned meeting need be given.  Further notice of the adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy, 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.

 

Section 2.11.                          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.

 

Section 2.12.                          Inspectors .

 

(a)                                  The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The corporation may designate one (1) or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of the duties of inspector, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of such inspector’s ability.

 

(b)                                  The inspector(s) shall (i) ascertain the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each; (ii) determine the shares represented at a meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots; (iii) count all votes and ballots; (iv) determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any determination by the inspector(s); and (v) certify their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and their count of all votes and ballots.

 

(c)                                   The inspector(s) may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the inspector(s) in the performance of the duties of the inspectors.

 

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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

 

Section 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 Section 3.1 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.

 

Section 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 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.

 

Section 3.3.                                 Nominations .

 

(a)                                  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be made at such meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, by any committee or persons appointed by the Board of Directors, or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in these Bylaws.  Such nominations by any stockholder shall be made pursuant to timely notice under Section 2.2 and Article VI of these Bylaws in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  A proposed nominee must submit to the Corporation a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, and (iii) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation publicly disclosed from time to time.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such

 

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other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation.  No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein and in Section 2.2 and Article VI of these Bylaws.

 

(c)                                   The officer of the Corporation presiding at an annual or special meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedure set forth in this Section 3.3, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

Section 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 is elected and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to legally constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without call or 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 Chairman of the Board of Directors, 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  (a) by mail addressed to him at his usual or last known business or residence address not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances, or (b) in person or by telephone, facsimile, telegram or e-mail 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.

 

Section 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 then in office 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.

 

Section 3.6.                                 Organization of Meetings .

 

(a)                                  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 Bylaws, 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.

 

(b)                                  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.

 

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Section 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 writings or electronic transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or of such committee.  Such consent shall be treated for all purposes as the act of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be.  Such filing shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.

 

Section 3.8.                                 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 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 directors so removed.  No director removed (except where a right to receive compensation shall be expressly provided in a duly authorized written agreement with the Corporation) shall have any right to receive compensation as such director for any period following his removal, or any right to damages on account of such removal, whether his compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise; unless the body acting on the removal shall in their or its discretion provide for compensation.

 

Section 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.  No director resigning shall have any right to receive compensation as such director for any period following his resignation, whether his compensation be by the month or by the year or otherwise, unless the Board of Directors shall in its discretion provide for compensation.

 

Section 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 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.

 

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Section 3.11.                          Compensation .  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix from time to time the compensation of directors.  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 service on such committees.

 

Section 3.12.                          Interested Directors And Officers .  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 (a) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s 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 (b) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s 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 (c) 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.

 

Section 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

 

Section 4.1.                                 General .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors and may consist of: a Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial 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 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 may be, but need not be, stockholders of the Corporation, and the officers of the Corporation may be, but need not be, directors of the Corporation.

 

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Section 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.

 

Section 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.

 

Section 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 day-to-day management of the 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.

 

Section 4.5.                                 Chief Financial Officer .  The Chief Financial Officer shall have general supervision, direction and control of the financial affairs 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.  In the absence of a named Treasurer, the Chief Financial Officer shall also have the powers and duties of the Treasurer as hereinafter set forth and shall be authorized and empowered to sign as Treasurer in any case where such officer’s signature is required.

 

Section 4.6.                                 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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Section 4.7.                                 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.

 

Section 4.8.                                 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.

 

Section 4.9.                                 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.

 

Section 4.10.                          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 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

 

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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.

 

Section 4.11.                          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.

 

Section 4.12.                          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.

 

Section 4.13.                          Vacancies .  The Board of Directors shall have the power to fill any vacancies in any office occurring from whatever reason.

 

Section 4.14.                          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.

 

Section 4.15.                          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

 

Section 5.1.                                 Form of Certificates .  The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the board of directors of the corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the corporation.  Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate stating the number and the class and the designation of the series, if any, of the shares held by him, in such form as shall, in conformity to law, the Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Such certificate shall be signed (a) by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President or a Vice-President and (b) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.

 

Section 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

 

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Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 5.3.                                 Lost Certificates .  The Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock or uncertificated shares in place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, and the Corporation may require the owner of the lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative to give the corporation a bond sufficient to indemnify it against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate or uncertificated shares.

 

Section 5.4.                                 Transfers .  Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these Bylaws.  Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by his attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be canceled before a new certificate shall be issued.  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.

 

ARTICLE VI
NOTICES

 

Section 6.1.                                 Advance Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations at Annual Meetings .

 

(a)                                  Without qualification or limitation, subject to Section 6.3(d) of these Bylaws, for any nominations or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 2.2 of these Bylaws, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof (including, in the case of nominations, the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 3.3(b) of these Bylaws) and timely updates and supplements thereof in writing to the Secretary and such other business must otherwise 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 earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90 th ) day and not later than the close of business on the sixtieth (60 th ) day prior to the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than seventy (70) days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the annual meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder, to be timely, must be received no later than the close of business on the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made, whichever first occurs.  In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.  Notwithstanding anything in the immediately preceding paragraph to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased by the Board of Directors, and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 6.1 shall also be

 

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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 tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)                                  In addition, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

Section 6.2.                                 Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominations at Special Meetings .  Subject to Section 6.3(d) of these Bylaws, in the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) to be elected as specified in the Corporation’s notice calling the meeting, provided that the stockholder gives timely notice thereof (including the completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 3.3(b) of these Bylaws) and timely updates and supplements thereof in writing to the Secretary. In order to be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the sixtieth ninetieth ( 60 90 th ) day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the sixtieth (60 th ) day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such special meeting, the tenth (10 th ) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. In addition, to be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

 

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Section 6.3.                                 Proper Form of Stockholder’s Notice .

 

(a)                                  To be in proper form, a stockholder’s notice (whether given pursuant to Section 6.1 or Section 6.2 of these Bylaws) to the Secretary must include the following, as applicable:

 

(i)                                      As to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, a stockholder’s notice must set forth: (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such beneficial owner, if any, and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (B) (1) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder, such beneficial owner and their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (2) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard to whether the stockholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such stockholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, (3) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such stockholder has a right to vote any class or series of shares of the Corporation, (4) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, “Short Interests”), (5) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, (6) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership, (7) any performance related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including

 

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without limitation any such interests held by members of such stockholder’s immediate family sharing the same household, (8) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such stockholder, and (9) any direct or indirect interest of such stockholder in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement), and (C) any other information relating to such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder;

 

(ii)                                   If the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (i) above, also set forth: (A) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest of such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, in such business, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), and (C) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder;

 

(iii)                                As to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (i) above, also set forth: (A) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 under Regulation S-K if the stockholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and

 

(iv)                               With respect to each person, if any, whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a stockholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraphs (i) and (iii) above, also include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by Section 3.3(b) of these Bylaws.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to

 

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serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

 

(b)                                  For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a 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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

(c)                                   Notwithstanding the provisions of these Bylaws, 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 these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Section 2.2 or Section 2.3 of these Bylaws.

 

(d)                                  Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Subject to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any stockholder, or give any stockholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Corporation’s proxy statement any nomination of director or directors or any other business proposal.

 

Section 6.4.                                 Form of Notice .  Whenever, under the provisions of law, or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or stockholder, such notice may be given  (unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws) (a) by mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail, or, (b) if permitted by law, by facsimile, electronic mail or other form of electronic communication or electronic transmission that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.  In the case of a required notice to stockholders, such notice may be given in the manner provided in Section 232 of Delaware’s General Corporation Law.  Oral notice or other in-hand delivery (in person or by telephone) shall be deemed given at the time it is actually given.  Notice given pursuant to paragraph (b) above shall be deemed given: (i) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by a posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such separate notice; and (iv) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder.

 

Section 6.5.                                 Waiver of Notice .  Whenever notice is required to be given under the provisions of law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether executed or transmitted before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such

 

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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 meeting of the stockholders, directors or members of a committee of the directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.

 

Section 6.6.                                 Record Date .

 

(a)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting.  If the Board of Directors so fixes a date, such date shall also be the record date for determining the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting unless the Board of Directors determines, at the time it fixes such record date, that a later date on or before the date of the meeting shall be the date for making such determination.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of and 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.  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 determination of stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall also fix as the record date for stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of stockholders entitled to vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 6.6 at the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date of action without a meeting is adopted by the Board of Directors.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is required, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is 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.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors is required, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

(c)                                   In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any right or the stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the

 

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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, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

 

Section 7.1.                                 Right to Indemnification .  Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “Proceeding”), by reason of the fact (a) that he or she is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or (b) that he or she, being at the time a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, member, employee, fiduciary or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to an employee benefit plan (collectively, “Another Enterprise” or “Other Enterprise”), shall, subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VII, be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, with respect to alleged action or inaction occurring prior to such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than permitted prior thereto), against all expense, liability and loss (including, without limitation, attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees and expenses, claims, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection therewith (“Losses”).  Without diminishing the scope of indemnification provided by this Section 7.1, such persons shall also be entitled to the further rights set forth below.

 

Section 7.2.                                 Actions, Suits or Proceedings Other Than Those by or in the Right of the Corporation .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding (other than an action by or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that such person is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or, being at the time a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, member, employee, fiduciary or agent of Another Enterprise, against all Losses, reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with such Proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any 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 reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.

 

Section 7.3.                                 Actions, Suits or Proceedings by or in the Right of the Corporation .  Subject to the terms and conditions of this Article VII, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that such person is or was a

 

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director or officer of the Corporation, or being at the time a director or officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, member, employee, fiduciary or agent of Another Enterprise against all Losses reasonably incurred or suffered by such person in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if such person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation 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 (or if no action was brought, any court of competent jurisdiction) shall determine upon application that, 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.

 

Section 7.4.                                 Authorization of Indemnification .  Any indemnification under this Article VII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of a person is proper in the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct required by Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 of these Bylaws, as the case may be.  Such determination shall be made (as provided for in Section 7.11 of these Bylaws) in a reasonably prompt manner (a) by a majority vote of Disinterested Directors, whether or not they constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors, (b) if there are no Disinterested Directors, or if the Disinterested Directors so direct, by Independent Legal Counsel in a written opinion or by the stockholders, or (c) as Delaware law may otherwise permit.  To the extent, however, 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 described above, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ and other professionals’ fees) reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith, without the necessity of authorization in the specific case.

 

Section 7.5.                                 “Good Faith” Defined .  For purposes of any determination under Section 7.4 of these Bylaws, a person shall be deemed to have acted in good faith if the action is based on (a) the records or books of account of the Corporation or Another Enterprise, or on information supplied to such person by the officers of the Corporation or Another Enterprise in the course of their duties, or on (b) the advice of Independent Legal Counsel for the Corporation or Another Enterprise, or on information or records given or reports made to the Corporation or Another Enterprise by an independent certified public accountant, independent financial adviser, appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the Corporation or the Other Enterprise.  The provisions of this Section 7.5 shall not be deemed to be exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct.

 

Section 7.6.                                 Definitions .  For purposes of this Article VII:

 

(a)                                  “Disinterested Directors” shall mean directors of the Corporation who are not parties to a Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by a claimant.

 

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

 

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Section 7.7.                                 Proceedings Initiated by Directors or Officers Seeking Indemnification and/or Advancement; Proceedings Initiated by the Corporation .  Notwithstanding any provisions of this Article VII to the contrary:

 

(a)                                  The Corporation shall not indemnify any director or officer or make advance payments of expenses in respect of Losses to any director or officer in connection with any Proceeding (or portion thereof) initiated against the Corporation by such director or officer unless such Proceeding (or portion thereof) is authorized by the Board of Directors or its designee.  This prohibition against indemnification and advancement shall apply to all claims, issues or matters that may be alleged or asserted against the Corporation by such director or officer, which include claims, issues or matters that may be alleged or asserted by means of counterclaim, cross-claim or third-party claim.

 

(b)                                  The Corporation shall not indemnify any director or officer or make advance payments of expenses in respect of Losses to any director or officer in connection with any Proceeding (or portion thereof) if the Proceeding (or portion thereof) is initiated by the Corporation against the director or officer unless indemnification is mandated by Delaware law.

 

Section 7.8.                                 Indemnification By A Court .  Notwithstanding any contrary determination in the specific case under Section 7.4 of these Bylaws or the absence of any determination thereunder, and in addition to any claim a director or officer may have as prescribed in Section 7.11 of these Bylaws, a director or officer may apply to any court of competent jurisdiction for indemnification, and such court shall grant the application if it is determined that, in view of all the circumstances of the case, the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses that the court shall deem proper.  Notice of any application for indemnification pursuant to this Section 7.8 shall be given to the Corporation promptly upon the filing of such application.  If the court grants the application, in whole or in part, the director or officer shall be entitled to be paid the expense incurred by such director or officer in connection with the application.

 

Section 7.9.                                 Expenses Payable in Advance .  Subject to Section 7.7 of these Bylaws, Losses reasonably incurred by a director or an officer in defending any pending Proceeding may be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article VII.

 

Section 7.10.                          Communications With The Corporation .  Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under Article VII of these Bylaws shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by telecopy, telex, telegram, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage paid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary of the Corporation.

 

Section 7.11.                          Claims .  If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article VII is not paid in full within sixty days after a written claim therefor by the director or officer has been received by the Secretary as prescribed in this Article VII, the director or officer may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall

 

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be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim.  In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the director or officer was not entitled to the requested indemnification or advancement of expenses.

 

Section 7.12.                          Non-exclusivity and Survival of Indemnification .  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by or granted pursuant to this Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under the Certificate of Incorporation, any Bylaw, agreement, contract, vote of stockholders or of Disinterested Directors, or pursuant to the direction (howsoever embodied) of any court of competent jurisdiction or otherwise.  The provisions of this Article VII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any person who is not specified in Sections 7.1, 7.2 or 7.3 of these Bylaws but whom the Corporation has the power to indemnify (and pursuant to Section 7.4 of these Bylaws determines to indemnify) or an obligation to indemnify under the provisions of Delaware law, or otherwise.  The rights conferred by this Article VII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of such person and the heirs, executors, administrators and other comparable legal representatives of such person.  The rights conferred in this Article VII shall be enforceable as contract rights, and shall continue to exist after any rescission or restrictive modification hereof with respect to events occurring prior thereto.  No rights are conferred in this Article VII for the benefit of any person (including, without limitation, directors and officers of subsidiaries of the Corporation) in any capacity other than as explicitly set forth herein.

 

Section 7.13.                          Meaning of Certain Terms in Connection with Employee Benefit Plans, etc .  For purposes of this Article VII, references to “fines” shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; references to “serving at the request of the Corporation” shall include any service as a director or officer of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director or officer with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who has acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner “not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation” as referred to in this Article VII.

 

Section 7.14.                          Insurance .  The Corporation may, but shall not be required to, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, or, being at the time a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, member, employee, fiduciary or agent of Another Enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify such person against such liability under the provisions of this Article VII.

 

ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 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

 

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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.

 

Section 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.

 

Section 8.3.                                 Annual Statement . The Board of Directors shall present at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition of the Corporation.

 

Section 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.

 

Section 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.

 

Section 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.

 

Section 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 or, if the Certificate of Incorporation so provides, by the Board of Directors.  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.

 

Section 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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