Exhibit
3.2
A M E N D
E D B Y - L A W S
OF
FARMERS &
MERCHANTS BANCORP
(a
Delaware corporation)
Last
Amended September 19, 2008
TABLE OF
CONTENTS
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Page
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ARTICLE
I OFFICES
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1
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Section
1.1
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REGISTERED
OFFICE
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1
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Section
1.2
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PRINCIPAL
EXECUTIVE OFFICE
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1
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Section
1.3
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OTHER
OFFICES
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1
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ARTICLE
II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
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1
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Section
2.1
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PLACE
OF MEETINGS
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1
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Section
2.2
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ANNUAL
MEETING
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1
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Section
2.3
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SPECIAL
MEETING
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1
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Section
2.4
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NOTICE
OF STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING
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1
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Section
2.5
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MANNER
OF GIVING NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
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2
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Section
2.6
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AGENDAS
FOR ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
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2
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Section
2.7
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QUORUM
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3
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Section
2.8
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ADJOURNED
MEETING; NOTICE
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3
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Section
2.9
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VOTING
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4
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Section
2.10
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WAIVER
OF NOTICE OR CONSENT BY ABSENT STOCKHOLDERS
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4
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Section
2.11
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STOCKHOLDER
ACTION BY WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
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5
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Section
2.12
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RECORD
DATE FOR STOCKHOLDER NOTICE, VOTING, AND GIVING CONSENTS
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5
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Section
2.13
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PROXIES
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6
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Section
2.14
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INSPECTORS
OF ELECTION
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7
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Section
2.15
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CONDUCT
OF MEETINGS
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7
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ARTICLE
III BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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8
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Section
3.1
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POWERS
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8
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Section
3.2
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NUMBER
AND QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
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8
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Section
3.3
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ELECTION
AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
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8
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Section
3.4
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NOMINATIONS
FOR DIRECTORS
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8
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Section
3.5
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VACANCIES
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9
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Section
3.6
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PLACE
OF MEETINGS AND MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
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9
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Section
3.7
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ANNUAL
MEETING
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9
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Section
3.8
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OTHER
REGULAR MEETINGS
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10
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Section
3.9
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SPECIAL
MEETINGS
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10
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Section
3.10
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ACTION
ON NON AGENDA ITEMS
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10
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Section
3.11
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QUORUM
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10
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Section
3.12
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WAIVER
OF NOTICE
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10
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Section
3.13
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ADJOURNMENT
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10
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Section
3.14
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NOTICE
OF ADJOURNMENT
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11
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Section
3.15
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ACTION
WITHOUT MEETING
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11
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Section
3.16
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FEES
AND COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
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11
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Section
3.17
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HONORARY
DIRECTORS
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11
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Section
3.18
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ADDITIONAL
DIRECTOR QUALIFICATIONS
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11
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ARTICLE
IV COMMITTEES
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12
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Section
4.1
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COMMITTEES
OF DIRECTORS
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12
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Section
4.2
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MEETINGS
AND ACTION OF COMMITTEES
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12
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ARTICLE
V OFFICERS
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13
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Section
5.1
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OFFICERS
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13
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Section
5.2
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DUTIES
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13
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Section
5.3
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ELECTION
OF OFFICERS
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13
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Section
5.4
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SUBORDINATE
OFFICERS
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13
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Section
5.5
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REMOVAL
AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
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13
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Section
5.6
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VACANCIES
IN OFFICES
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13
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Section
5.7
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CHAIRMAN
OF THE BOARD
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13
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Section
5.8
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VICE
CHAIRMAN
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14
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Section
5.9
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PRESIDENT
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14
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Section
5.10
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EXECUTIVE
VICE PRESIDENT
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14
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Section
5.11
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CHIEF
FINANCIAL OFFICER
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14
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Section
5.12
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SENIOR
CREDIT OFFICER
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14
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Section
5.13
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SECRETARY
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15
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ARTICLE
VI RECORDS AND REPORTS
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15
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Section
6.1
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MAINTENANCE
AND INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER
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15
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Section
6.2
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MAINTENANCE
AND INSPECTION OF BY-LAWS
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16
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Section
6.3
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MAINTENANCE
AND INSPECTION OF OTHER CORPORATION RECORDS
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16
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Section
6.4
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INSPECTION
BY DIRECTORS
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16
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ARTICLE
VII GENERAL CORPORATE MATTERS
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16
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Section
7.1
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RECORD
DATE FOR PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING
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16
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Section
7.2
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NOTICE
BY ELECTRONIC TRANSIMISSION.
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17
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Section
7.3
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CHECKS,
DRAFTS, EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS
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17
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Section
7.4
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CORPORATE
CONTRACTS AND INSTRUMENTS; HOW EXECUTED
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17
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Section
7.5
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CERTIFICATE
FOR SHARES
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17
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Section
7.6
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LOST
CERTIFICATES
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18
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Section
7.7
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REPRESENTATION
OF SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
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18
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ARTICLE
VIII DIVIDENDS
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18
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ARTICLE
IX FISCAL YEAR
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18
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ARTICLE
X CORPORATE SEAL
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19
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ARTICLE
XI INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER CORPORATE
AGENTS
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19
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Section
11.1
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RIGHT
TO INDEMNIFICATION
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19
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Section
11.2
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RIGHT
OF CLAIMANT TO BRING SUIT
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20
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Section
11.3
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NONEXCLUSIVITY
OF RIGHTS
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20
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Section
11.4
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INSURANCE
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20
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ARTICLE
XII AMENDMENTS
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20
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Section
12.1
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AMENDMENT
BY STOCKHOLDERS
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20
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Section
12.2
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AMENDMENT
BY DIRECTORS
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21
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Section
12.3
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CONSTRUCTION
AND DEFINITION
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21
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A M E N D
E D B Y - L A W S
OF
Farmers &
Merchants Bancorp
(a
Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE
I
OFFICES
Section
1.1
REGISTERED
OFFICE
. The
registered office of Farmers & Merchants Bancorp (“the Corporation”),
within the State of Delaware is located at 1209 Orange Street in the City
of Wilmington, County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware and Corporation
Trust Company is the registered agent.
Section
1.2
PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE
OFFICE
. The
principal executive office of the Corporation shall be located at such place
within or outside of the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors of the
Corporation (“Board of Directors”) from time to time shall
designate.
Section
1.3
OTHER
OFFICES
. The
Corporation may also have other offices, either within or without the State of
Delaware, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to
time appoint or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE
II
MEETINGS
OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section
2.1
PLACE OF
MEETINGS
. Meetings
of stockholders shall be held at any place within or outside the State of
Delaware designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of any
such designation, stockholders’ meetings shall be held at the principal
executive office of the Corporation.
Section
2.2
ANNUAL
MEETING
. The
annual meeting of the stockholders of this Corporation shall be held each year
on a date and at a time designated by the Board of Directors. The date so
designated shall be within fifteen (15) months after the last annual
meeting. At the annual meeting, directors shall be elected and any
other proper business may be transacted.
Section
2.3
SPECIAL
MEETING
. Special
meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation for any purpose or purposes may
be called at any time by a majority of the Board of Directors or by the holders
of at least a majority of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote thereat. Special meetings may not be called by any
other person or persons. Each special meeting shall be held at such
date and time as is requested by the person or persons calling the meeting,
within the limits fixed by the By-laws and by law.
Section
2.4
NOTICE OF
STOCKHOLDERS’ MEETING
. All
notices of meetings of stockholders shall be sent or otherwise given in
accordance with Section 2.5 of these By-Laws not less than ten (10) nor
more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. The notice
shall specify the place, date and hour of the meeting and (i) in the case
of a special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, or
(ii) in the case of the annual meeting, those matters which the Board of
Directors, at the time of giving the notice, intends to present for action by
the stockholders. The notice of any meeting at which directors are to
be elected shall include the name of any nominee or nominees whom, at the time
of the notice, management intends to present for election.
If action
is proposed to be taken at any meeting for approval of (i) a contract or
transaction in which a director has a direct or indirect financial interest,
pursuant to Section 144 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the
“DGCL”), (ii) an amendment of the Certificate of Incorporation, pursuant to
Section 242 of the DGCL, (iii) a reorganization of the Corporation,
pursuant to Subchapter XI of the DGCL, or (iv) a voluntary dissolution
of the Corporation, pursuant to Section 275 of the DGCL of that Code, the
notice shall also state the general nature of that proposal.
Section
2.5
MANNER OF GIVING
NOTICE; AFFIDAVIT OF NOTICE
. Subject
to Section 7.2 of these Bylaws and, to the extent applicable, provisions of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
promulgated pursuant thereto, notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be
given either personally or by first-class mail or telegraphic or other written
communication, charges prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at the address of
that stockholder appearing on the books of the Corporation or given by the
stockholder to the Corporation for the purpose of notice. If no such
address appears on the Corporation’s books or is given, notice shall be deemed
to have been given if sent to that stockholder by first- class mail or
telegraphic or other written communication to the Corporation’s principal
executive office, or if published at least once in a newspaper of general
circulation in the county where that office is located. Notice shall
be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally or deposited
in the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written
communication.
If any
notice addressed to a stockholder at the address of that stockholder appearing
on the books of the Corporation is returned to the Corporation by the United
States Postal Service marked to indicate that the United States Postal Service
is unable to deliver the notice to the stockholder at that address, all future
notices or reports shall be deemed to have been duly given without further
mailing if these shall be available to the stockholder on written demand of the
stockholder at the principal executive office of the Corporation for a period of
one year from the date of the giving of the notice.
An
affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
stockholders’ meeting shall be executed by the Secretary or any transfer agent
of the Corporation giving the notice, and shall be filed and maintained in the
minute book of the Corporation.
Section
2.6
AGENDAS FOR ANNUAL
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
. At
any annual meeting of stockholders only such business shall be conducted as
shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly
brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in the
notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by, or at the direction of,
the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by,
or at the direction of, the Chairman of the meeting, or (iii) otherwise
properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder entitled to vote at such
meeting. For business to be properly brought before a meeting by a
stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to
the Secretary of the Corporation and must have been a stockholder of record at
the time such notice is given. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice
shall be delivered to or mailed (by United States registered mail, return
receipt requested) and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than seventy (70) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior
to the first anniversary date of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided,
however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by
more than twenty (20) days, or delayed by more than seventy (70) days, from such
anniversary date, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered or
mailed (by U.S. registered mail, return receipt requested) and received not
earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later
than the close of business on the later of the seventieth (70th) day prior to
such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such
stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth (i) as to each matter
the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the meeting, and (ii) as to the stockholder giving the
notice (a) the name and record address of the stockholder, (b) the
class and the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by the stockholder, (c) any material interest of the
stockholder in such business and (d) whether the stockholder intends or is
part of a group which intends to solicit proxies from other stockholders in
support of such proposal and if part of a group, the names and addresses of such
group members. No business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of
stockholders unless proposed in accordance with the procedures set forth
herein. The Chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought
before the meeting in accordance with the foregoing procedure and such business
shall not be transacted. To the extent this Section 2.6 shall be
deemed by the Board of Directors or the Securities and Exchange Commission or
any applicable bank regulatory authority, or finally adjudged by a court of
competent jurisdiction, to be inconsistent with the right of stockholders to
request inclusion of a proposal in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to
Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
such rule shall prevail.
Section
2.7
QUORUM
. The
presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. The stockholders present at a duly
called or held meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business
until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to
leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is
approved by at least a majority of the shares required to constitute a
quorum.
Section
2.8
ADJOURNED MEETING;
NOTICE
. Any
stockholders’ meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present,
may be adjourned from time to time by the chairman of the meeting or by the vote
of the majority of the shares represented at that meeting, either in person or
by proxy, but in the absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted at
that meeting, except as provided in Section 2.7 of these
By-Laws.
When any
meeting of stockholders, either annual or special, is adjourned to another time
or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and
place are announced at a meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new
record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed, or unless the adjournment is for
more than thirty (30) days from the date set for the original meeting, in which
case the Board of Directors shall set a new record date. Notice of any such
adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote
at the adjourned meeting in accordance with the provisions of Sections 2.4,
2.5 and 7.2 of these By-Laws. At any adjourned meeting the
Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
Section
2.9
VOTING
. The
stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.12 these By-Laws, subject to the
provision of Sections 217 and 218 of the DGCL (relating to voting shares
held by a fiduciary or in joint ownership or subject to voting
trusts). In the discretion of the chairman of the meeting, the
stockholders’ vote as to any matter may be by voice vote or by ballot; provided,
however, that all elections of directors shall be by written ballot unless
otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation. If authorized
by the board of directors, such requirement of a written ballot shall be
satisfied by a ballot submitted by electronic transmission, provided that any
such electronic transmission must either set forth or be submitted with
information from which it can be determined that the electronic transmission was
authorized by the stockholder or proxy holder.
On any
matter other than elections of directors, any stockholder may vote part of the
shares in favor of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or
vote them against the proposal, but, if the stockholder fails to specify the
number of shares which the stockholder is voting affirmatively, it will be
conclusively presumed that the stockholder’s approving vote is with respect to
all shares that the stockholder is entitled to vote. If a quorum is
present, the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares represented at the
meeting and entitled to vote on any matter (other than the election of
directors) shall be the act of the stockholders, unless the vote of a greater
number or voting by classes is required by the DGCL or by the Certificate of
Incorporation.
At a
stockholders’ meeting at which directors are to be elected, no stockholder shall
be entitled to cumulate votes (i.e., cast for any one or more candidates a
number of votes greater than the number of stockholder’s shares) unless
cumulative voting shall be required under Section 2115 of the California
Corporations Code and unless the candidates’ names have been placed in
nomination prior to commencement of the voting in accordance with
Section 3.4 of these By-Laws and a stockholder has given notice to the
secretary of the Corporation at least two (2) days prior to the date of the
meeting of the stockholder’s intention to cumulate votes. If any
stockholder has given such a notice, then every stockholder entitled to vote may
cumulate votes for candidates in nomination and give one candidate a number of
votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied by the number of
votes to which that stockholder’s shares are entitled, or distribute the
stockholder’s votes on the same principle among any or all of the candidates, as
the stockholder thinks fit. The candidates receiving the highest
number of votes, up to the number of directors to be elected, shall be
elected.
Section
2.10
WAIVER OF NOTICE OR
CONSENT BY ABSENT STOCKHOLDERS
. The
transactions of any meeting of stockholders, either annual or special, however
called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as though taken at a
meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present either
in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each person
entitled to vote, who was not present in person or by proxy, signs a written
waiver of notice or a consent to a holding of the meeting, or any approval of
the minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify either
the business to be transacted or the purpose of any annual or special meeting of
stockholders, except that if action is taken or proposed to be taken for
approval of any of those matters specified in the second paragraph of
Section 2.4 of these By-Laws, the waiver of notice or consent shall state
the general nature of the proposal. All such waivers, consents or
approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the
minutes of the meeting.
Attendance
by a person at a meeting shall also constitute a waiver of notice of that
meeting, except when the person objects at the beginning of the meeting to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened, and except that attendance at a meeting is not a waiver of any right
to object to the consideration of matters not included in the notice of the
meeting if that objection is expressly made at the meeting.
Section
2.11
STOCKHOLDER ACTION BY
WRITTEN CONSENT WITHOUT A MEETING
. Any
action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of
this Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special
meeting of stockholders, may be taken without a meeting and without prior
notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by
the holders of outstanding shares 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 on such action were present and voted,
provided that the Board of Directors, by resolution, shall have previously
approved any such action. In the case of election of directors, a
consent otherwise conforming to the requirements of the preceding sentence shall
be effective only if signed by the holders of all outstanding shares entitled to
vote for the election of directors; provided, however, that a director may be
elected at any time to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors that has not
been filled by the directors by the written consent of the holders of a majority
of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for the election of
directors. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary of the
Corporation and shall be maintained in the corporate records. Any
stockholder giving a written consent, or the stockholder’s proxy holders, or a
transferee of the shares or a personal representative of the stockholder or
their respective proxy holders, may revoke the consent by a writing received by
the Secretary of the Corporation before written consents of the number of shares
required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the
Secretary.
If the
consents of all stockholders entitled to vote have not been solicited in
writing, and if the unanimous written consent of all such stockholders shall not
have been received, the Secretary shall give prompt notice of the corporate
action approved by the stockholders without a meeting. This notice
shall be given in the manner specified in Sections 2.5 and 7.2 of these By-
Laws. In the case of approval of (i) contracts or transactions
in which a director has a direct or indirect financial interest, pursuant to
Section 144 of the DGCL, (ii) indemnification of agents of the
Corporation, pursuant to Section 145 of the DGCL of that Code, and
(iii) a reorganization of the Corporation, pursuant to Subchapter XI
of the DGCL of that Code, the notice shall be given at least ten (10) days
before the consummation of any action authorized by that approval.
Section
2.12
RECORD DATE FOR
STOCKHOLDER NOTICE, VOTING, AND GIVING CONSENTS
. For
purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of any meeting or to
vote or entitled to give consent to corporate action without a meeting, the
Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more
than sixty (60) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of any such
meeting nor more than sixty (60) days before any such action without a meeting,
and in this event only stockholders of record on the date so fixed are entitled
to notice and to vote or to give consents, as the case may be, notwithstanding
any transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record
date, except as otherwise provided in the DGCL.
If the
Board of Directors does not so fix a record date:
1. The
record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the business day
next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the business day next preceding the day on which the
meeting is held.
2. The
record date for determining stockholders entitled to give consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, (i) when no prior action by the Board
has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is given, or
(ii) when prior action of the Board has been taken, shall be at the close
of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating to that
action, or the sixtieth (60th) day before the date of such other action,
whichever is later.
Section
2.13
PROXIES
. Every
person entitled to vote for directors or on any other matter shall have the
right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written
proxy signed by the person and filed with the Secretary of the
Corporation. A validly executed proxy which does not state that it is
irrevocable shall continue in full force and effect unless (i) revoked by
the person executing it, before the vote pursuant to that proxy, by a writing
delivered to the Corporation stating that the proxy is revoked, or by a
subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance at the meeting and voting in person
by, the person executing the proxy; or (ii) written notice of the death or
incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received by the Corporation before the
vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided, however, that no proxy shall
be valid after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date of the proxy,
unless otherwise provided in the proxy. The revocability of a proxy
that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by the
provisions of Section 212 of the DGCL.
A
stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder
as proxy by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram,
cablegram, or other means of electronic or written transmission to the person
who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy
support service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who
will be the holder of the proxy to receive such transmission, provided that any
such telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic or written transmission
must either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be
determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic or
written transmission was authorized by the stockholder. If it is
determined that such telegrams, cablegrams or other electronic or written
transmissions are valid, the inspectors or, if there are no inspectors, such
other persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which
they relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reliable
reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to the preceding
sentences of this paragraph 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.
Section
2.14
INSPECTORS OF
ELECTION
. Before
any meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons
other than nominees for office to act as inspectors of election at the meeting
or its adjournment. If no inspectors of election are so appointed,
the Chairman of the meeting may, and on the request of any stockholder or a
stockholder’s proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election at the
meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three
(3). If inspectors are appointed at a meeting on the request of one
or more stockholders or proxies, the holders of a majority of shares or their
proxies present at the meeting shall determine whether one (1) or three (3)
inspectors are to be appointed. If any person appointed as inspector
fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the Chairman of the meeting may, and
upon the request of any stockholder or a stockholder’s proxy shall, appoint a
person to fill that vacancy.
These
inspectors shall:
1. determine
the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares
represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity,
validity, and effect of proxies;
2. receive
votes, ballots, or consents;
3. hear
and determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with
the right to vote;
4. count
and tabulate all votes or consents;
5. determine
the result; and
6. do
any other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness
to all stockholders.
Section
2.15
CONDUCT OF
MEETINGS
. The
date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon
which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting
by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may
adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of
stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent
inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and
authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such
acts as, in the judgment of such Chairman, are appropriate for the proper
conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures,
whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the Chairman of the
meeting, may include, without limitation, the following: (i) the
establishment of an agenda or order of business for the meeting, (ii) rules
and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those
present, (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting
to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and
constituted proxies or such other persons as the Chairman of the meeting shall
determine, (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed
for the commencement thereof (v) limitations on the time allotted to
questions or comments by participants, and (v) determine when the polls
shall close as to any matter to be addressed at the meeting. Unless
and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the
meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance
with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE
III
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section
3.1
POWERS
. Subject
to the provisions of the DGCL and any limitations in the Certificate of
Incorporation and these By-Laws relating to action required to be approved by
the stockholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or
under the direction of the Board of Directors.
Section
3.2
NUMBER AND
QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS
. The
authorized number of directors shall not be less than seven (7) nor greater than
fifteen (15) and the exact number shall be ten (10) until changed, within the
limits specified above, by a resolution amending such exact number, duly adopted
by the Board of Directors. The minimum and maximum number of
Directors may be changed by a duly adopted amendment to the Certificate of
Incorporation or by an amendment to this By-Law adopted by the vote or written
consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to
vote.
Section
3.3
ELECTION AND TERM OF
OFFICE OF DIRECTORS
. Directors
shall be elected at each annual meeting of the stockholders to hold office until
the next annual meeting. Each director, including a director elected
to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which
elected and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
Section
3.4
NOMINATIONS FOR
DIRECTORS
. Nominations
for election to the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or
by any holder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote for the election of directors. Nominations, other
than those made by the Board of Directors, shall be made by notification in
writing delivered or mailed to the President of the Corporation not less than
thirty (30) days or more than sixty (60) days prior to any meeting of
stockholders called for election of directors, provided, however, that if less
than twenty-one (21) days’ notice of the meeting is given to stockholders, such
nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the President of the Corporation not
later than the close of business on the seventh (7th) day following the day on
which the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall
contain the following information as to each proposed nominee and as to each
person, acting alone or in conjunction with one or more other persons, in making
such nomination or in organizing, directing or financing such nomination or
solicitation of proxies to vote for the nominee: (a) the name,
age, residence address and business address of each proposed nominee and each
such person and the date as of which such nominee commenced residency at such
residence address; (b) the principal occupation or employment, the name,
type of business and address of the Corporation or other organization in which
such employment is carried on of each proposed nominee and of each such person;
(c) if the proposed nominee is an attorney, a statement as to whether or
not either he or she or any firm with whom he or she has a relationship as
partner, associate, of counsel, employee, or otherwise, acts as legal counsel
for any banking Corporation, affiliate or subsidiary thereof, or bank holding
company, industrial loan company, savings bank or association or finance
company; (d) a statement as to each proposed nominee and a statement as to
each such person stating whether the nominee or person concerned has been a
participant in any proxy contest within the past ten years, and, if so, the
statement shall indicate the principals involved, the subject matter of the
contest, the outcome thereof, and the relationship of the nominee or person to
the principals; (e) the amount of stock of the Corporation owned
beneficially, directly or indirectly, by each proposed nominee or by members of
his or her family residing with him or her and the names of the registered
owners thereof; (f) the amount of stock of the Corporation owned of record
but not beneficially by each proposed nominee or by members of his or her family
residing with him or her and by each such person or by members of his or her
family residing with him or her and the names of the beneficial owners thereof;
(g) if any shares specified in (e) or (f) above were acquired in the last
two (2) years, a statement of the dates of acquisition and amounts acquired on
each date; (h) a statement showing the extent of any borrowings to purchase
shares of the Corporation specified in (e) or (f) above acquired within the
preceding two years, and if funds were borrowed otherwise than pursuant to a
margin account or bank loan in the regular course of business of a bank, the
material provisions of such borrowings and the names of the lenders;
(i) the details of any contract, arrangement or understanding relating to
the securities of the Corporation, to which each proposed nominee or to which
each such person is a party, such as joint venture or option arrangements, puts
or calls, guaranties against loss, or guaranties of profit or arrangements as to
the division of losses or profits or with respect to the giving or withholding
of proxies, and the name or names of the persons with whom such contracts,
arrangements or understandings exist; (j) the details of any contract,
arrangement, or understanding to which each proposed nominee or to which such
person is a party with any other banking corporation, affiliate or subsidiary
thereof, other than a subsidiary of the Corporation, or bank holding company,
industrial loan company, savings bank or association or finance company, or with
any officer, director, employee, agent, nominee, attorney, or other
representative thereof; (k) a description of any arrangement or
understanding of each proposed nominee and of each such person with any person
regarding future employment or with respect to any future transaction to which
the Corporation will or may be a party; (l) a statement as to each proposed
nominee and a statement as to each such person as to whether or not the nominee
or person concerned will bear any part of the expense incurred in any proxy
solicitation, and, if so, the amount thereof; (m) a statement as to each
proposed nominee and a statement as to each such person describing any
conviction for a felony that occurred during the preceding ten years involving
the unlawful possession, conversion or appropriation of money or other property,
or the payment of taxes; (n) the total number of shares that will be voted
for each proposed nominee; (o) the amount of stock, if any, owned, directly
or indirectly, by each proposed nominee or by members of his family residing
with him or her, in any banking corporation, affiliate or subsidiary thereof, or
bank holding company, industrial loan company, savings bank or association or
finance company, other than the Corporation; and (p) the identity of any
other banking corporation, affiliate or subsidiary thereof, other than a
subsidiary of the Corporation, or bank holding company or industrial loan
company, savings bank or association or finance company as to which such nominee
or any other such person serves as a director, officer, employee, agent,
consultant, advisor, nominee or attorney together with a description of such
relationship. The chairman of the meeting may, in his or her
discretion, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination not made in
accordance with the foregoing procedure shall be disregarded.
Section
3.5
VACANCIES
. Vacancies
in the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining
directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, except
that a vacancy created by the removal of a director by the vote or written
consent of the stockholders or by court order may be filled only by the vote of
a majority of the shares entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting at
which a quorum is present, or by the written consent of holders of a majority of
the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Each
director so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the
stockholders and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
A vacancy
or vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist in the event of
the death, resignation, or removal of any director, or if the Board of Directors
by resolution declares vacant the office of a director who has been declared of
unsound mind by an order of court or convicted of a felony, or if the authorized
number of directors is increased, or if the stockholders fail, at any meeting of
stockholders at which any director or directors are elected, to elect the number
of directors to be voted for at that meeting.
The
stockholders may elect a director or directors at any time to fill any vacancy
or vacancies not filled by the directors, but any such election by written
consent shall require the consent of a majority of the outstanding shares
entitled to vote.
Any
director may resign effective on giving written notice to the Chairman of the
Board, the President, the Secretary, or the Board of Directors, unless the
notice specifies a later time for that resignation to become
effective. If the resignation of a director is effective at a future
time, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to take office when the
resignation becomes effective.
No
reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of
removing any director before that director’s term of offices
expires.
Section
3.6
PLACE OF MEETINGS AND
MEETINGS BY TELEPHONE
. Regular
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place within or without
the State of Delaware that has been designated from time to time by resolution
of the Board. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings
shall be held at the principal executive office of the
Corporation. Special meetings of the Board shall be held at any place
within or outside the State of Delaware that has been designated in the notice
of the meeting or, if not stated in the notice or there is no notice, at the
principal executive office of the Corporation. Any meeting, regular or special,
may be held by conference telephone or similar communication equipment, so long
as all directors participating in the meeting can hear one another, and all such
directors shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section
3.7
ANNUAL
MEETING
. Following
each annual meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors shall meet for the
purpose of organization, any desired election of officers, and the transaction
of other business. Notice of this meeting shall not be
required.
Section
3.8
OTHER REGULAR
MEETINGS
. Other
regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without call at such
time as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of
Directors. Such regular meetings may be held without
notice.
Section
3.9
SPECIAL
MEETINGS
. Special
meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose or purposes may be called at
any time by the Chairman the Board or the President of the
Corporation.
Special
meetings of the Board shall be held upon four (4) days’ notice by first-class
mail or twenty-four (24) hours’ notice delivered personally or by telephone,
including a voice messaging system or other system or technology designed to
record and communicate messages, telegraph, facsimile, electronic mail or other
electronic means. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone
may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office or home
of the director who the person giving the oral notice reasonably believes will
promptly communicate it to the director. A notice need not specify
the purpose of any special meeting of the Board nor the place if the meeting is
to be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation.
Section
3.10
ACTION ON NON AGENDA
ITEMS
. No
action may be taken at any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of
Directors with respect to any matter that was not previously included on the
agenda or in the notice for such meeting delivered or announced to the directors
prior to the meeting if more than one-fourth (1/4) of the directors present at
such meeting are opposed to taking action at such meeting with respect to such
matter.
Section
3.11
QUORUM
. A
majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in Section 3.13 of these
By-laws. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the
directors present at a meeting duly held at which a quorum is present shall be
regarded as the act of the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of
Section 144 of the DGCL (as to approval of contracts or transactions in
which a director has a direct or indirect material financial interest), Section
141(c) of the DGCL (as to appointment of committees), and Section 145 of
the DGCL (as to indemnification of directors). A meeting at which a
quorum is initially present may continue to transact business notwithstanding
the withdrawal of directors, if any action taken is approved by at least a
majority of the required quorum for that meeting.
Section
3.12
WAIVER OF
NOTICE
. The
transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and
noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting duly held
after regular call and notice if a quorum is present and if, either before or
after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver of
notice, a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the
minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose
of the meeting. All such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be
filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the
meeting. Notice of a meeting shall also be deemed given to any
director who attends the meeting without protesting before or at its
commencement the lack of notice to that director.
Section
3.13
ADJOURNMENT
. A
majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum, may
adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
Section
3.14
NOTICE OF
ADJOURNMENT
. Notice
of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given, unless
the meeting is adjourned for more than twenty-four hours, in which case notice
of the time and place shall be given before the time of the adjourned meeting,
in the manner specified in Section 3.9 of these By-Laws, to the directors
who were not present at the time of the adjournment.
Section
3.15
ACTION WITHOUT
MEETING
. Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken
without a meeting, if all members of the Board shall individually or
collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by
written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the
Board of Directors. Such written consent or consents shall be filed
with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section
3.16
FEES AND COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
. Directors
and members of committees may receive such compensation, if any, for their
services, and such reimbursement of expenses, as may be fixed or determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section
3.17
HONORARY
DIRECTORS
. The
Board of Directors may elect a director emeritus as an honorary director of the
Corporation.
Section
3.18
ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR
QUALIFICATIONS
. No
person shall be a member of the Board of Directors (a) who has not been a
resident for a period of at least two years immediately prior to his or her
election of a county in which a subsidiary of the Corporation maintains a
banking office unless the election of such person shall be approved by the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board of
Directors of this Corporation then in office, or (b) who owns, together
with his or her family residing with him or her, directly or indirectly, more
than one percent of the outstanding shares of any other banking corporation,
affiliate or subsidiary thereof, or bank holding company or industrial loan
company, savings bank or association or finance company unless the election of
such person shall be approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds
(2/3) of the Board of Directors then in office, or (c) who is a director,
officer, employee, agent, nominee, or attorney of any other banking corporation,
affiliate, or subsidiary thereof, or bank holding company or industrial loan
company, savings bank or association or finance company, other than a subsidiary
of the Corporation, unless the election of such person shall be approved by the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Board of
Directors then in office, or (d) who has or is the nominee of anyone who
has any contract, arrangement or understanding with any other banking
corporation, or affiliate or subsidiary thereof, or bank holding company or
industrial loan company, savings bank or association or finance company or with
any officer, director, employee, agent, nominee, attorney or other
representative thereof that he or she will reveal or in any way utilize
information obtained as a director of this Corporation or that he or she will,
directly or indirectly, attempt to effect or encourage any action of this
Corporation.
ARTICLE
IV
COMMITTEES
Section
4.1
COMMITTEES OF
DIRECTORS
. The
Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized
number of directors, designate one or more committees, each consisting of two or
more directors to serve at the pleasure of the Board. The Board may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. Any
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have all
the authority of the Board, except with respect to:
(a) the
approval of any action which, under the DGCL, also requires stockholders’
approval or approval of the outstanding shares;
(b) the
filling of vacancies on the Board of the Directors or in any
committee;
(c) the
fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board or on any
committee;
(d) the
amendment or repeal of By-Laws or the adoption of new By-Laws;
(e) the
amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by its
express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(f) a
distribution to the stockholders of the Corporation, except at a rate or in a
periodic amount or within a price range determined by the Board of Directors;
or
(g) the
appointment of any other committees of the Board of Directors or the members of
these committees.
Section
4.2
MEETINGS AND ACTION
OF COMMITTEES
. Meetings
and action of committees shall be governed by, and held and taken in accordance
with, the provisions of Sections 3.6 (place of meetings), 3.8 (regular
meetings), 3.9 (special meetings and notice), 3.11 (quorum), 3.12 (waiver of
notice), 3.13 (adjournment), 3.14 (notice of adjournment), 3.15 (action without
meeting), and Section 3.16 (on compensation) of these By-Laws with such changes
in the context of those By-Laws as are necessary to substitute the committee and
its members for the Board of Directors and its members, except that the time of
regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of the
Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee, special meetings of
committees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors and notice
of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate members,
who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee. The
Board of Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not
inconsistent with the provisions of these By-laws.
ARTICLE
V
OFFICERS
Section
5.1
OFFICERS
. The
officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Chief Financial Officer, a
Senior Credit Officer and a Secretary, and may also include, at the discretion
of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice-Chairman and one or
more Executive Vice Presidents. Any number of offices may be held by
the same person.
Section
5.2
DUTIES
. All
officers, as between themselves and the Corporation, shall have such authority
and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as may be provided
in these By-Laws, or, to the extent not so provided, as may be provided by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section
5.3
ELECTION OF
OFFICERS
. The
officers of the Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in
accordance with the provisions of Section 5.4 or Section 5.7 of these
By-Laws, shall be chosen by the Board of Directors, and each shall serve at the
pleasure of the Board, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any
contract of employment.
Section
5.4
SUBORDINATE
OFFICERS
. The
Board of Directors may appoint, and may empower the President to appoint, such
other officers as the business of the Corporation may require, each of whom
shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties
as are provided in the By-Laws or as the Board of Directors may from time to
time determine.
Section
5.5
REMOVAL AND
RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS
. Subject
to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any
officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors,
at any regular or special meeting of the Board, or, except in case of an officer
chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom such power of removal
may be conferred by the Board of Directors.
Any
officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the
Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the
receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and,
unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation
shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is
without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract
to which the officer is a party.
Section
5.6
VACANCIES IN
OFFICES
. A
vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification
or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these By-Laws for
regular appointments to that office.
Section
5.7
CHAIRMAN OF THE
BOARD
. The
Chairman of the Board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if present, preside
at meetings of the Board of Directors and exercise and perform such other powers
and duties as may be from time to time assigned to him by the Board of Directors
or prescribed by the By- Laws. If there is no President or if the
Board of Directors so specifies, the Chairman of the Board shall in addition be
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall have the powers and
duties prescribed in Section 5.9 of these By-Laws.
Section
5.8
VICE
CHAIRMAN
. In
the absence or disability of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, if any, shall
perform all the duties of the Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall have
such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or
these By-Laws.
Section
5.9
PRESIDENT
. Subject
to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to
the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an officer, the President shall be
the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control
of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of
the business and the officers of the Corporation. He shall preside at
all meetings of the stockholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board and Vice Chairman, or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of
Directors. He shall have the general powers and duties of management
usually vested in the office of president of a corporation, and shall have such
other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these
By- Laws.
Section
5.10
EXECUTIVE VICE
PRESIDENT
. In
the absence or disability of the President, the Executive Vice Presidents, if
any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not
ranked, an Executive Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall
perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the
powers of, and be subject to all the restrictions upon, the
President. The Executive Vice Presidents shall have such other powers
and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them
respectively by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws, and the President, or the
Chairman of the Board.
Section
5.11
CHIEF FINANCIAL
OFFICER
. The
Chief Financial Officer and Secretary shall keep and maintain, or cause to be
kept and maintained, adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the
properties and business transactions of the Corporation, including accounts of
its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital,
retained earnings, and shares. The books of account shall at all reasonable
times be open to inspection by any director.
The Chief
Financial Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and
to the credit of the Corporation with such depositaries as may be designated by
the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the
Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the
President and directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his
transactions as Chief Financial Officer and of the financial condition of the
Corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, these By-Laws, the President, or
the Chairman of the Board.
Section
5.12
SENIOR CREDIT
OFFICER
. The
Senior Credit Officer of the Corporation shall be generally responsible for the
credit policies of the Corporation and each subsidiary thereof, and shall have
such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Board of Directors, these By-Laws, the President, or the Chairman of the
Board.
Section
5.13
SECRETARY
. The
Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or
such other places as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes of all
meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors, and stockholders,
with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and, if special,
how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at directors’
meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented at
stockholders’ meetings, and the proceedings. The Secretary need not
keep minutes of all advisory committee meetings.
The
Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office or
at the office of the Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share
register, showing the names of all stockholders and their addresses, the number
and classes of shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued
for the same, and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate
surrendered for cancellation.
The
Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board of Directors required by the By-Laws or by law to
be given, and he shall keep the seal of the Corporation if one be adopted, in
safe custody, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as
may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or these By-Laws, and the President,
or the Chairman of the Board.
ARTICLE
VI
RECORDS
AND REPORTS
Section
6.1
MAINTENANCE AND
INSPECTION OF SHARE REGISTER
. The
Corporation shall keep at its principal executive office, or at the office of
its transfer agent or registrar, if either be appointed and as determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors, a record of its stockholders, giving the
names and addresses of all stockholders and the number and class of shares held
by each stockholder.
A
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at each meeting of
stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each
such stockholder and the number of shares of stock registered in the name of
each such stockholder, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for
any purpose germane to such meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a
period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within
the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of such meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting
is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time
and place of the meeting and during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected
by any stockholder who is present. The record of stockholders shall
also be open to inspection on the written demand of any stockholder or holder of
a voting trust certificate, at any time during usual business hours, for a
purpose reasonably related to the holder’s interest as a stockholder or as the
holder of a voting trust certificate. Any inspection and copying
under this Section 6.1 may be made in person or by an agent or attorney of
the stockholder or holder of a voting trust certificate making the
demand.
Section
6.2
MAINTENANCE AND
INSPECTION OF BY-LAWS
. The
Corporation shall keep at its principal executive office, or if its principal
executive office is not in the State of Delaware, at its principal business
office in the State of California, the original or a copy of the By-Laws as
amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the stockholders at all
reasonable times during office hours. If the principal executive
office of the Corporation is outside the State of Delaware and the Corporation
has no principal business office in the State of California, the Secretary
shall, upon the written request of any stockholder, furnish to that stockholder
a copy of the By-Laws as amended to date.
Section
6.3
MAINTENANCE AND
INSPECTION OF OTHER CORPORATION RECORDS
. The
accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the stockholders and
the Board of Directors and any committee or committees of the Board of Directors
shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board of Directors, or,
in the absence of such designation, at the principal executive office of the
Corporation. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the
accounting books and records shall be kept either in written form or in any
other form capable of being converted into written form. The minutes
and accounting books and records shall be open to inspection upon the written
demand of any stockholder or holder of a voting trust certificate, at any
reasonable time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to
the holder’s interests as a stockholder or as the holder of a voting trust
certificate. The inspection may be made in person or by an agent or
attorney, and shall include the right to copy and make
extracts. These rights of inspection shall extend to the records of
each subsidiary corporation of the Corporation. No such right of
inspection shall extend to any confidential information relating to the
customers of any banking subsidiary of the Corporation, or other information
which the Corporation may not disclose under applicable laws.
Section
6.4
INSPECTION BY
DIRECTORS
. Every
director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all
books, records and documents of every kind and the physical properties of the
Corporation and each of its subsidiary Corporations. This inspection
by a director may be made in person or by an agent or attorney, and the right of
inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of
documents.
ARTICLE
VII
GENERAL
CORPORATE MATTERS
Section
7.1
RECORD DATE FOR
PURPOSES OTHER THAN NOTICE AND VOTING
. For
purposes of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any other lawful action (other than action by
stockholders by written consent without a meeting), the Board of Directors may
fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days
before any such action, and in that case only stockholders of record on the date
so fixed are entitled to receive the dividend, distribution, or allotment of
rights or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any
transfer of any shares on the books of the Corporation after the record date so
fixed, except as otherwise provided in the DGCL.
If the
Board of Directors does not so fix a record date, the record date for
determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board adopts the applicable resolution or the sixtieth
(60th) day before the date of that action, whichever is later.
Section
7.2
NOTICE BY ELECTRONIC
TRANSMISSION. 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 the certificate of incorporation, or the
bylaws, or pursuant to the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated pursuant
thereto, shall be effective if given by a form of electronic
transmission consented to by the stockholder to whom the notice is given. Any
such consent shall be revocable by the stockholder by written notice to the
Corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (1) the Corporation is
unable to deliver by electronic transmission 2 consecutive notices given by the
Corporation in accordance with such consent and (2) such inability becomes known
to the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation or to the transfer
agent, or other person responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however,
the inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not
invalidate any meeting or other action.
Notice
given pursuant to this section shall be deemed given: (1) if by facsimile
telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the stockholder has
consented to receive notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an
electronic mail address at which the stockholder has consented to receive
notice; (3) 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 (4) if by any other form
of electronic transmission, when directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of
the secretary or an assistant secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent
of the Corporation that the notice has been given by a form of electronic
transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the
facts stated therein.
Section
7.3
CHECKS, DRAFTS,
EVIDENCE OF INDEBTEDNESS
. All
checks, draft, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of or
payable to the Corporation, shall be signed or endorsed by such person or
persons and in such manner as, from time to time, shall be determined by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section
7.4
CORPORATE CONTRACTS
AND INSTRUMENTS; HOW EXECUTED
. The
Board of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws, may authorize
any officer or officers, agent or agents to enter into any contract or execute
any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and this
authority may be general or confined to specific instances; and, unless so
authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of
an officer, no officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to
bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to
render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
Section
7.5
CERTIFICATE FOR
SHARES
. A
certificate or certificates for shares of the capital stock of the Corporation
shall be issued to each stockholder when any of these shares are fully
paid. All certificates shall be signed in the name of the Corporation
by the Chairman of the Board or Vice Chairman of the Board or the President or
Executive Vice President, if any, and by the Chief Financial Officer or the
Secretary, certifying the number of shares and the class or series of shares
owned by the stockholder. Any or all of the signatures on the
certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on a
certificate shall have ceased to be that officer, transfer agent or registrar
before that certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the
same effect as if that person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at
the date of issue.
Section
7.6
LOST
CERTIFICATES
. Except
as provided in this Section 7.5, no new certificates for shares shall be
issued to replace an old certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the
Corporation and cancelled at the same time. The Board of Directors
may, in case any share certificate or certificate for any other security is
lost, stolen or destroyed, authorize the issuance of a replacement certificate
on such terms and conditions as the Board may require, including provision for
indemnification of the Corporation secured by a bond or other adequate security
sufficient to protect the Corporation against any claim that may be made against
it, including any expense or liability, on account of the alleged loss, theft or
destruction of the certificate or the issuance of the replacement
certificate.
Section
7.7
REPRESENTATION OF
SHARES OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
. The
Chairman of the board, the President, or any Executive Vice President, if any,
or any other person authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors or by any
of the foregoing designated officers, is authorized to vote on behalf of the
Corporation any and all shares of any other Corporation or Corporations, foreign
or domestic, standing in the name of the Corporation. The authority
granted to these officers to vote or represent on behalf of the Corporation any
and all shares held by the Corporation in any other corporation or corporations
may be exercised by any of these officers in person or by any person authorized
to do so by a proxy duly executed by these officers.
ARTICLE
VIII
DIVIDENDS
Subject
to any agreement to which the Corporation is a party or by which it is bound,
the Board of Directors may declare to be payable, in cash, in other property or
in stock of the Corporation of any class or series, such dividends in respect of
outstanding stock of the Corporation of any class or series as the Board of
Directors may at any time deem to be advisable. Before declaring any
such dividend, the Board of Directors may cause to be set aside any funds or
other property or assets of the Corporation legally available for the payment of
dividends.
ARTICLE
IX
FISCAL
YEAR
The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year, unless determined
otherwise by resolution of the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
X
CORPORATE
SEAL
The
Corporate Seal, if there shall be one, shall be in such form and shall bear such
words and figures as shall be approved from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
XI
INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND OTHER CORPORATE AGENTS
Section
11.1
RIGHT TO
INDEMNIFICATION
. Each
person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is
involved in any action, suit proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (hereinafter a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he or
she, or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a
director or executive officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
Corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
including service with respect to employee benefit plans, or was a director or
executive officer of a foreign or domestic Corporation which was a predecessor
of the Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor
Corporation, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an
official capacity as a director or executive officer or in any other capacity
while serving as a director or executive officer shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the DGCL, as the
same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such amendment,
only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to provide
broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to
provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss
(including attorney’s fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes of penalties
and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by
such person in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director or executive officer and shall inure
to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided,
however, that, except as provided in Section 11.2 of these By-Laws, the
Corporation shall indemnify and such person seeking indemnification in
connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if
such proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of
the Corporation. The right to indemnification conferred in this
Section 11.1 shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by
the Corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in
advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that if the DGCL requires
the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or officer in his or her
capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which
service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer,
including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) in advance
of the final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to
the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer,
to repay, all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such
director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified under this Section 11.1 or
otherwise. The Corporation may by action of its Board of Directors,
provide indemnification to employees and agents of the Corporation with the same
scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of directors and
officers. This Article XI shall create a right of
indemnification for each such indemnifiable party whether or not the proceeding
to which the indemnification relates arose in whole or in part prior to adoption
of this Article XI (or the adoption of the comparable provisions of the
By-Laws of the Corporation’s predecessor Corporation).
Section
11.2
RIGHT OF CLAIMANT TO
BRING SUIT
. If
a claim under Section 11.1 of these By-Laws is not paid in full by the
Corporation within thirty (30) days after a written claim has been received by
the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the
Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, if successful in
whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of
prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action
(other than an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required
undertaking, if any is required, has been tendered to the Corporation) that the
claimant has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under
the DGCL for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed,
but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the
Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its
Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made
a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of
the claimant is proper to the circumstances because he or she has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL nor an actual determination
by the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, independent legal counsel,
or its stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard or
conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the
claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct.
Section
11.3
NONEXCLUSIVITY OF
RIGHTS
. The
right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a
proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article XI
shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter
acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, any
Bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise.
Section
11.4
INSURANCE
. The
Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense,
liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the
DGCL.
ARTICLE
XII
AMENDMENTS
Section
12.1
AMENDMENT BY
STOCKHOLDERS
. New
By-Laws may be adopted or these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the vote
or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled
to vote; provided, however, that if the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation shall set forth the number of authorized directors of the
Corporation, the authorized number of directors may be changed only an amendment
of the Certificate of Incorporation.
Section
12.2
AMENDMENT BY
DIRECTORS
. Subject
to the rights of the stockholders as provided in Section 12.1 of these
By-Laws, By-Laws or amendments to existing By-Laws, other than a By-Law or an
amendment of a By-Law changing the authorized number of directors, may be
adopted, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors by and through the vote
of two-thirds of all directors.
Section
12.3
CONSTRUCTION AND
DEFINITION
. Unless
the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction
and definitions in the DGCL shall govern the construction of these
By-Laws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the
singular number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular,
and the term “person” includes both a corporation and a natural
person.