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

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 3, 2014 (September 29, 2014)

 

MISONIX, INC.

 

  (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York 1-10986 11-2148932
(State or other jurisdiction of (Commission File Number) (IRS Employer
incorporation)   Identification No.)

 

1938 New Highway, Farmingdale, NY 11735
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code (631) 694-9555

 

 

 

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)

 

 

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:

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

 
 

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

(d) The Board of Directors of Misonix, Inc. (the “Company”) elected on September 29, 2014 Patrick A. McBrayer, 62, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Howard Alliger on December 3, 2013. The Board of Directors has determined that Mr. McBrayer is independent according to the corporate governance standards of The NASDAQ Stock Market.

 

Mr. McBrayer will serve as a director until the next annual meeting of the shareholders of the Company and until his successor is duly elected and qualified. The committees of the Board of Directors on which Mr. McBrayer may serve are unknown as of the date of filing of this Current Report on Form 8-K. Mr. McBrayer will participate in the Company’s compensation and indemnification arrangements for non-employee members of the Board of Directors.

 

Mr. McBrayer has served as President and Chief Executive Officer and as a Director of privately-held AxioMed Spine Corporation from February 2006 to the present time. AxioMed is a medical device company focused on restoring the native function of the spine. Prior to joining AxioMed, he held positions with Xylos Corporation (medical biomaterials); Exogen, Inc. (treatment of musculoskeletal injury and disease); Osteotech, Inc. (tissue technology); and Johnson & Johnson Products, Inc. (healthcare products). Mr. McBrayer holds a B.S. in General Engineering from the United States Military Academy.

 

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

 

On September 29, 2014 the Board of Directors of the Company adopted an amendment (the “Amendment”) to the By-Laws of the Company (the “By-Laws”). The Amendment is effective as of September 29, 2014. Set forth below is a description of the Amendment to the By-Laws including the prior provision of the By-Law so amended.

 

Article I, Section 1.1, of the By-Laws has been amended to provide that the annual meeting of shareholders of the Company (the “Annual Meeting”) shall be held on such date as the Board of Directors, from time to time, shall determine. Previously, the By-Laws provided that the Annual Meeting shall be held each year within a specific time following the close of the Company’s fiscal year.

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits.

 

Exhibit 3(b) By-Laws of MISONIX, INC., as amended as of September 29, 2014.

 

 
 

 

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.

 

 

Date: October 3, 2014 MISONIX, INC.
     
     
  By: /s/ Richard Zaremba  
    Richard Zaremba
    Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

 
 

 

EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No. Description
   
   
Exhibit 3(b) By-Laws of MISONIX, INC., as amended as of September 29, 2014

 

 

 

Exhibit 3.(b)

 

MISONIX, INC.

 

BY-LAWS

 

 

ARTICLE I

SHAREHOLDERS

 

 

1.1 Time of Shareholder Meetings

 

The annual meeting of shareholders shall be held each year on such date as the Board of Directors, from time to time, shall determine, for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly come before the meeting.

 

Special meetings of shareholders shall be held on the date fixed by the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board or the President or the shareholders of the Company calling the special meeting of shareholders pursuant to Section 1.3.

 

1.2 Place of Shareholder Meetings

 

Annual meetings and special meetings of shareholders shall be held at such place, within or without the State of New York, as the Board of Directors, or in the case of special meetings of shareholders, at such place as the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Company calling the special meeting of shareholders pursuant to Section 1.3, may from time to time fix, either by resolution or by inclusion in the notice of meeting. In the event of a failure to fix such place, the meeting shall be held at the office of the Company in the State of New York.

 

1.3 Calling of Shareholder Meetings

 

Annual meetings of shareholders will be called by the Board of Directors, by an officer instructed by the Board of Directors to call meetings or by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or President of the Company. Special meetings of shareholders may be called by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or President of the Company or at the request in writing by shareholders owning a majority in amount of the shares issued and outstanding.

 

 
 

 

1.4 Notice of Shareholder Meetings, Waiver

 

The notice of all meetings shall be written or printed, shall state the place, date, and hour of the meeting, and in case of a special meeting of shareholders, shall indicate the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. A copy of the notice of all meetings shall be given, personally or by mail, not less than ten days or more than fifty days before the date of the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting at his record address or at such other address which he may have furnished in writing to the Secretary of the Company. If action is proposed to be taken that might entitle shareholders to payment for their shares, the notice shall include a statement of that purpose and to that effect. If a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, and, if any announcement of the adjourned time or place is made at the meeting, it shall not be necessary to give notice of the adjourned meeting unless the directors, after adjournment, fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

Notice of any meeting need not be given to any shareholder who submits a signed waiver of notice before or after the meeting. The attendance of a shareholder at a meeting without protesting prior to the conclusion of the meeting the lack of notice of such meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice by him.

 

1.5 Record Date for Shareholders

 

For the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to or dissent from any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the distribution or allotment of any rights or evidences of interests arising out of any change, conversion, or exchange of capital stock, or for the purpose of any other action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders. Such date shall not be more than fifty days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than fifty days prior to any other action. When a determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting has been made as provided in this Section 1.5, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date under this Section 1.5 for the adjourned meeting. Only shareholders of record on a record date fixed for determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the distribution or allotment of any rights or evidences of interests arising out of any change, conversion, or exchange of capital stock, shall be entitled to receive such dividend, rights or interests.

 

2
 

 

1.6 Conduct of Meetings

 

Meetings of the shareholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board, or in his absence, by the President, or in the President's absence, by any Vice President as directed by the Chairman of the Board or the President. The Secretary of the Company, or in his absence, any Assistant Secretary selected by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

1.7 Proxy Representation

 

Every shareholder may authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy in all matters in which a shareholder is entitled to participate, whether by waiving notice of any meeting, voting or participating at a meeting or expressing consent or dissent without a meeting. Every proxy must be in writing and signed by the shareholder or his attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of eleven months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the shareholder executing it, except as otherwise provided by the Business Corporation Law of the State of New York.

 

3
 

 

1.8 Quorum

 

The holders of record of a majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of shareholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws; provided that, when any specified action is required to be voted upon by a class of stock voting as a class, the holders of a majority of the shares of such class shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of such specified action. When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, it is not broken by the subsequent withdrawal of any shareholders. The shareholders present may adjourn the meeting despite the absence of a quorum. At the meeting to which such adjourned meeting is reconvened, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as first convened had there been a quorum.

 

1.9 Voting

 

Each shareholder entitled to vote on any action proposed at a meeting of shareholders shall be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of voting stock held of record by him, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation. The vote for directors shall be by a ballot, and the election of each director shall be decided by a plurality vote. Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, by other certificate filed pursuant to law or by these By-Laws, votes on any other matters coming before any meeting of shareholders shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented at such meeting, in person or by proxy, and entitled to vote on the specific matter. Except as required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation, by other certificate filed pursuant to law or by these By-Laws, the chairman presiding at any meeting of shareholders may rule on questions of order or procedure coming before the meeting or submit such questions to the vote of the meeting, with each shareholder entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share of voting stock held of record by him, which vote may at the direction of the chairman at the meeting be by ballot.

 

4
 

 

1.10 Written Consent of Shareholders

 

Any action that may be taken by vote may be taken without meeting on written consent, setting forth the action so taken, signed by the holders of all the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon or signed by such lesser number of holders as may be provided for in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

ARTICLE II

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

 

2.1 Qualifications and Number

 

Each director shall be at least 21 years of age. A director need not be a shareholder, a citizen of the United States, or a resident of the State of New York. The number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) directors, the exact number to be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors shall be increased beyond the foregoing limit, to the extent required, in the event that (and for so long as) the holders of any Preferred Stock of the Company, voting as a separate class or series under any provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be entitled to elect any directors.

 

5
 

 

2.2 Election and Term

 

At each annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholders shall elect directors to hold office until the next annual meeting. Each director shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which he is elected and until his successor has been elected and qualified, or until his prior resignation or removal.

 

2.3 Vacancies

 

Any vacancy in the Board of Directors, whether caused by resignation, death, increase in the number of directors, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office after the vacancy has occurred, although less than a quorum (except that a vacancy created by the removal of a director by shareholders for cause or without cause may be filled by the shareholders at the meeting at which the director is removed or, if not so filled, then by the remaining directors) and provided that any vacancies with respect to directors elected by holders of any Preferred Stock of the Company voting as a separate class or series under any provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation shall be filled as provided in the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to any such Preferred Stock. Any director elected by the Board to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next meeting of shareholders at which the election of directors is in the regular order of business, and until his successor has been elected and qualified. At such meeting, if the term of the class in which such director has been elected does not then expire, the shareholders shall elect a director to fill the unexpired term.

 

6
 

 

2.4 Time of Board Meetings

 

An annual meeting of the Board shall be held in each year immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders or if such meeting be adjourned, the final adjournment thereof at the same place as such meeting of shareholders. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board.

 

Special meetings of the Board may be called pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.6 hereof.

 

2.5 Place of Board Meetings

 

Regular and special meetings of the Board shall be held at such place within or without the State of New York as shall be fixed by the Board. The annual meeting of a newly elected Board shall be held at the same place where the meeting of the shareholders at which the election of the new Board is held or as fixed in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board.

 

2.6 Calling of Board Meetings

 

No call shall be required for the annual or any regular meetings of the Board for which the time and place have been fixed. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or by the Secretary on written request of two directors.

 

2.7 Notice of Board Meetinqs

 

No notice shall be required for the annual meeting of a newly elected Board and for regular meetings for which the time and place have been fixed. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of each special meeting of the Board shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least two days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or shall be sent addressed to him at such place by telegraph, cable or wireless, or be delivered personally or by telephone, not later than the day before the day on which such meeting is to be held. The notice of any meeting need not specify the purpose of the meeting. Any requirement of furnishing a notice shall be waived by any director who signs a waiver of notice before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to him.

 

7
 

 

2.8 Quorum and Action

 

A majority of the entire Board shall constitute a quorum except when a vacancy or vacancies prevent such majority, whereupon a majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum, provided such majority shall constitute at least one-third of the entire Board of Directors. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn a meeting to another time and place. Notice need not be given of any adjourned meeting.

 

Except as herein otherwise provided, the act of the Board shall be the act, at a meeting duly assembled, by vote of a majority of the directors present at the time of the vote, a quorum being present at such time.

 

2.9 Chairman of the Meeting

 

The Chairman of the Board, or in his absence, the President of the Company, if a director and if present shall preside at all meetings. Otherwise, any other director, chosen by the Board shall preside. The Secretary of the Company, or in his absence any person appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

8
 

 

2.10 Resignation or Removal of Directors

 

Any director may resign at any time and such resignation shall take effect upon receipt thereof by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary unless otherwise specified in the resignation. No director of the Company shall be removed from office as a director except (i) for cause by the vote of (A) the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at an election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) or (B) a majority of the entire Board of Directors or (ii) without cause by the vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at an election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class), provided that this provision shall not apply to any directors elected by holders of any Preferred Stock voting as a separate class or series under any provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, which directors may be removed only as provided in the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation relating to any such Preferred Stock.

 

2.11 Committees

 

By resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, the directors may designate from their number one or more directors, to constitute an Executive Committee and other committees, each of which, to the extent provided in the resolution designating it, shall have the authority of the Board of Directors with the exception of any authority the delegation of which is prohibited by the New York Business Corporation Law. All committees so appointed shall keep regular minutes of the business transacted at their meeting. Each Committee established by the Board of Directors shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, which may fill vacancies in any such Committee.

 

2.12 Action in Lieu of Meeting

 

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or the committee consent in writing to the adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written consents thereto shall be filed with minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.

 

9
 

 

2.13 Telephone Participation

 

One or more members of the Board or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee by means of a telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

OFFICERS

 

 

3.1 Election

 

The Board of Directors at its first meeting after the annual meeting of shareholders, or as soon as practicable after the election of directors in each year, shall elect or appoint from their number a Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall elect or appoint a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, none of whom need be members of the Board, and may also elect or appoint one or more Vice Presidents and such other officers as they may deem proper setting forth the powers and duties of said officers in the resolution by which they are elected or appointed. Any two of the aforesaid offices, except those of President and Vice President, or President and Secretary, may be held by the same person.

 

3.2 Term of Office

 

Each officer shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board. The Board of Directors may remove any officer for cause or without cause. Any officer may resign his office at any time, such resignation to take effect upon receipt of written notice thereof by the Company unless otherwise specified in the resignation. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board.

 

10
 

 

3.3 The Chairman of the Board

 

The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the shareholders.

 

3.4 The President

 

The President shall be the chief executive and chief operating officer of the Company and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the shareholders. He shall have final authority, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, over the general policy and business of the Company and shall have the general control and management of the business and affairs of the Company. The President shall have the power, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, to appoint or discharge and to prescribe the duties and to fix the compensation of such agents and employees of the Company as he may deem necessary. He shall make and sign bonds, mortgages and other contracts and agreements in the name and on behalf of the Company, except when the Board of Directors by resolution instruct the same to be done by some other officer or agent. He shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. In general, he shall perform the duties and have the powers incident to the chief executive and chief operating officer and such further duties and powers as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws prescribe, subject however, to his right and the right of the directors to delegate any specific powers, except such as may by statute be exclusively conferred upon the President, to any other officer or officers of the Company.

 

11
 

 

3.5 Vice Presidents

 

Each Vice President shall have such title and powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by the President or the Board of Directors. In case of the absence or inability to act of the President, the duties of his office shall, unless otherwise specified by these By-Laws, be performed by the Vice Presidents in the order of seniority or priority established by the Board or by the President, unless and until the Board shall otherwise direct, and, when so acting, the duly authorized Vice President shall have all the powers of, and be subject to the restrictions upon, the President.

 

3.6 The Secretary

 

The Secretary shall attend all sessions of the Board and all meetings of the shareholders and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings and shall perform like duties for committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the shareholders and meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the President. He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Company and shall see that it is affixed to all documents, the execution of which, on behalf of the Company, under its seal, is necessary or proper, and when so affixed may attest the same. In his absence or disability an Assistant Secretary may perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary.

 

3.7 The Treasurer

 

The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities, except as otherwise provided by the Board, and shall cause to be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Company and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the President and the directors, at the regular meetings of the Board, or whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company. In his absence or disability an Assistant Treasurer may perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer.

 

12
 

 

3.8 Duties of Officers may be Delegated

 

In the case of the absence of any officer, or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient, the President or the Board may delegate for the time being the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or to any director.

 

ARTICLE IV

CAPITAL STOCK

 

4.1 Stock Certificates and Uncertificated Shares

 

The shares of stock of the Company may be represented by certificates or may be uncertificated. Each holder of stock in the Company shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Company by, the Chairman of the Board, President or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by him in the Company. Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Company or its employee, or by a registrar other than the Company or its employee, any other signature on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue. Absent a specific request for such a certificate by the registered owner or transferee thereof, all shares may be uncertificated upon the original issuance thereof by the Company or upon surrender of the certificate representing such shares to the Company or its transfer agent.

 

13
 

 

4.2 Lost Stock Certificates

 

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

 

4.3 Transfers of Stock

 

Transfers of record of shares of the capital stock of the Company shall be made upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and upon either the surrender of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares, properly endorsed or accompanied by a properly endorsed stock power, or upon presentation of proper transfer instructions from the holder of record of uncertificated shares.

 

14
 

 

4.4 Regulations

 

Except to the extent that the exercise of such power shall be prohibited or circumscribed by these By-Laws, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or other certificate filed pursuant to law, or by statute, the Board of Directors shall have power to make such rules and regulations concerning the issuance, registration, transfer and cancellation of stock certificates and uncertificated shares as it shall deem appropriate.

 

ARTICLE V

SEAL

 

The seal of the Company shall be circular in form, shall bear the name of the Company and shall contain in the center the year in which the Company was incorporated and the words “Corporate Seal, New York”.

 

ARTICLE VI

FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Company shall end on such date and shall consist of such accounting periods as may be fixed by the Board.

 

ARTICLE VII

VOTING SECURITIES

 

Unless otherwise directed by the Board, the Chairman of the Board, or, in the case of his absence or inability to act, the President, or, in the case of the President's absence or inability to act, the Vice Presidents, in order of their seniority, shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Company to attend and to act and to vote, or to execute in the name or on behalf of the Company a proxy authorizing an agent or attorney-in-fact for the Company to attend and vote at any meetings of security holders of corporations in which the Company may hold securities, and at such meetings he or his duly authorized agent or attorney-in-fact 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 Company might have possessed and exercised if present. The Board by resolution from time to time may confer like power upon any other person or persons.

 

15
 

 

ARTICLE VIII

BOOKS AND RECORDS

 

The Company shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, of the Board of Directors, and any committee which the directors may appoint, and shall keep at the office of the Company in the State of New York or at the office of the transfer agent or registrar, if any, in said State, a record containing the names and addresses of all shareholders, the number held by each, and the dates when they respectively became the owners of record thereof. Any of the foregoing books, minutes, or records may be in written form or in any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time.

 

ARTICLE IX

INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OPFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

 

9.1 General

 

The Company shall indemnify any officer or director of the Company made, or threatened to be made, a party to an action or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and including an action by or in the right of the Company or by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, which any director or officer of the Company served in any capacity at the request of the Company (any such action or proceeding being hereinafter referred to as an "Action"), by reason of the fact that he, his testator or intestate was a director or officer of the Company, or served such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses, including attorney's fees incurred as a result of such Action, or any appeal therein, provided that no indemnification shall be made to or on behalf of any director or officer if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to such director or officer establishes that (i) his or her acts were committed in bad faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either case, were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he or she personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or she was not legally entitled. The Company may indemnify and advance expenses to any other person to whom the Company is permitted to provide indemnification or the advancement of expenses to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, whether pursuant to rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the New York Business Corporation Law or other law, or other rights created by an agreement approved by the Board, or resolution of shareholders or the Board, and the adoption of any such resolution or the entering into of any such agreement approved by the Board is hereby authorized.

 

16
 

 

9.2 Expense Advances

 

The Company shall, from time to time, advance to any director or officer of the Company expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred in defending any Action in advance of the final disposition of such Action; provided that no such advancement shall be made until receipt of any undertaking by or on behalf of such director or officer to repay such amount as, and to the extent, required by law.

 

9.3 Procedure for Indemnification

 

Indemnification and advancement of expenses under this Article IX shall be made promptly and, in any event, no later than thirty (30) days in the case of indemnification and fifteen (15) days in the case of expense advancement following the request of the person entitled to such indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder, as the case may be. The Board shall promptly (but, in any event, within such thirty (30) or fifteen (15) day period, as the case may be) take all such actions (including, without limitation, any authorizations and findings required by law) as may be necessary to indemnify, and advance expenses to, each person entitled thereto pursuant to this Article IX. If the Board is or may be disqualified by law from granting any authorization, making any finding or taking any other action necessary or appropriate for such indemnification or advancement, then the Board shall use its best efforts to cause appropriate person(s) to promptly so authorize, find or act.

 

17
 

 

9.4 Insurance

 

The Company shall be permitted to purchase and maintain insurance for its own indemnification and that of its directors and officers and any other proper persons to the maximum extent permitted by law.

 

9.5 Non-Exclusivity

 

Nothing contained in this Article IX shall limit the right to indemnification and advancement of expenses to which any person would be entitled by law in the absence of this Article IX, or shall be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may have or hereafter be entitled under any law, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, By-Law, agreement approved by the Board, or resolution of shareholders or directors; and the adoption of any such resolution or entering into of any such agreement approved by the Board is hereby authorized.

 

18
 

 

9.6 Continuity of Rights

 

The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article IX shall (i) continue as to a person who has ceased to serve in a capacity which would entitle such person to indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant to this Article IX with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to such cessation, (ii) inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of a person entitled to the benefits of this Article IX, (iii) apply with respect to acts or omissions occurring prior to the adoption of this Article IX to the fullest extent permitted by law and (iv) survive the full or partial repeal or restrictive amendment hereof with respect to events occurring prior thereto. This Article IX shall constitute a contract between the Company and each person eligible for indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder.

 

9.7 Enforcement

 

The right to indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article IX shall be enforceable by any person entitled to indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder in any court of competent jurisdiction. In such an enforcement action, the burden shall be on the Company to prove that the indemnification and advancement of expenses being sought are not appropriate. Neither the failure of the Company to determine whether indemnification or the advancement of expenses is proper in the circumstances nor an actual determination by the Company thereon adverse to the person seeking such indemnification or advancement shall constitute a defense to the action or create a presumption that such person is not so entitled. Without limiting the scope of section 9.1, (a) a person who has been successful on the merits or otherwise in the defense of an Action shall be entitled to indemnification as authorized in section 9.1 and (b) the termination of any Action by judgment, settlement, conviction or plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not in itself create a presumption that such person has not met the standard of conduct set forth in section 9.1. Such person's reasonable expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing such person's right to indemnification or advancement or expenses, in whole or in part, in any such proceeding shall also be indemnified by the Company.

 

19
 

 

9.8 Severability

 

If this Article IX or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Company nevertheless shall indemnify and advance expenses to each person otherwise entitled thereto to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article IX that shall not have been invalidated.

 

ARTICLE X

AMENDMENT

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws may be amended, altered, changed, added to or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at an election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class).

 

Except as otherwise provided in the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, at any regular or at any special meeting, by a majority vote of the whole Board, may amend, alter, change, add to or repeal these By-Laws, provided that such amendments are not inconsistent with any By-Laws adopted by the shareholders, and provided further that if any By-Law regulating an impending election of directors is adopted or amended or repealed by the Board, there shall be set forth in the notice of the next shareholders meeting for the election of directors the By-Laws so adopted or amended or repealed, together with a concise statement of the changes made.

 

 

 

20