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8-K - FORM 8-K - COMMERCIAL METALS Co | d77114e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 3.1
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
COMMERCIAL METALS COMPANY
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Delaware Office.
The Delaware registered office shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State
of Delaware.
Section 2. Other Offices.
The corporation may also have offices at such other places as the board of directors may from
time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings.
All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such places as shall be determined by the
board of directors. The board of directors may, in its sole discretion, determine that the meeting
shall not be held at any place but may instead be held solely by means of remote communication.
Shareholders and proxyholders not physically present at a meeting of shareholders may, by means of
remote communication, participate in a meeting of shareholders and be deemed present in person and
vote at a meeting of shareholders whether such meeting is to be held at a designated place or
solely by means of remote communication provided (a) the corporation shall implement reasonable
measures to verify that each person deemed present and permitted to vote by remote communication is
a shareholder or proxyholder, (b) the corporation shall implement reasonable measures to provide
such shareholders and proxyholders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to
vote on matters submitted to the shareholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the
proceedings, and (c) if any shareholder or proxyholder votes or takes other action at the meeting
by means of remote communication, a record of such vote or other action shall be maintained by the
corporation.
Section 2. Annual Meeting.
An annual meeting of shareholders shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time
as the board of directors shall each year fix, at which the shareholders shall elect a board of
directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting. All
election of directors shall be by written ballot. The board of directors may authorize that the
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 shareholder or
proxyholder.
Section 3. Advance Shareholder Notice for Annual Meeting.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the board of directors and the proposal of business
to be transacted by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (a) pursuant
to the corporations proxy materials with respect to such meeting, (b) by or at the direction of
the board of directors, or (c) by any shareholder of record of the corporation (the Record
Shareholder) at the time of the giving of the notice required in the following paragraph, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this
section. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a
shareholder to make nominations or propose business (other than business included in the
corporations proxy materials pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (such act, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, the Exchange Act)) at an
annual meeting of shareholders.
(2) For nominations or business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Record
Shareholder pursuant to clause (c) of the foregoing paragraph, (a) the Record Shareholder must have
given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the corporation, (b) any such business
must be a proper matter for shareholder action under Delaware law and (c) the Record Shareholder
and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf any such proposal or nomination is made, must
have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Solicitation Statement required
by these bylaws. To be timely, a Record Shareholders notice shall be received by the secretary at
the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 90 or more than 120 days prior to
the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders; provided,
however, that, subject to the last sentence of this Section 3(2), if the meeting is
convened more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the anniversary of the
preceding years annual meeting, or if no annual meeting was held in the preceding year, for notice
by the Record Shareholder to be timely, it must be so received not later than the close of business
on the later of (i) the 90th day before such annual meeting or (ii) the 10th day following the day
on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made; provided, further, that
subject to the immediately preceding proviso, solely with respect to the next annual meeting of
shareholders immediately following the adoption of these Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, for
notice by the Record Shareholder to be timely, it must be so received not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which a copy of these Second Amended and
Restated Bylaws was first filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as an exhibit to a
Current Report on Form 8-K of the corporation disclosing such amendments to these bylaws.
Notwithstanding anything in the preceding sentence to the contrary, in the event that the number of
directors to be elected to the board of directors is increased and there has been no public
announcement naming all of the nominees for director or indicating the increase in the size of the
board of directors made by the corporation at least 10 days before the last day a Record
Shareholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the preceding sentence, a Record
Shareholders notice required by this bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect
to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the
secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the
corporation. In no event shall an adjournment, or postponement of an annual meeting for which
notice has been given, commence a new time period for the giving of a Record Shareholders notice.
(3) Such Record Shareholders notice shall set forth:
a. if such notice pertains to the nomination of directors, as to each person whom the Record
Shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating
to such person as would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of
such nominees as directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, and such persons
written consent to serve as a director if elected;
b. as to any business that the Record Shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a
brief description of such business, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any
material interest in such business of such Record Shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on
whose behalf the proposal is made; and
c. as to (1) the Record Shareholder giving the notice and (2) the beneficial owner, if any, on
whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (each, a party):
(i) the name and address of each such party;
(ii) (A) the class, series, and number of shares of the corporation that are owned, directly
or indirectly, beneficially and of record by each such party, (B) any option, warrant, convertible
security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a
settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the
corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of
shares of the corporation, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement
in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the corporation or otherwise (a Derivative
Instrument) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by each such party, and any other direct or
indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the
value of shares of the corporation, (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or
relationship pursuant to which either party has a right to vote, directly or indirectly, any shares
of any security of the corporation, (D) any short interest in any security of the corporation held
by each such party (for purposes of this Section 3(3), a person shall be deemed to have a
short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract,
arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in
any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (E) any rights to
dividends on the shares of the corporation owned beneficially directly or indirectly by each such
party that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the corporation, (F) any
proportionate interest in shares of the corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or
indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which either party is a general partner or,
directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner and (G) any
performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that each such party is directly or
indirectly entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the corporation
or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any
such interests held by members of each such partys immediate family sharing the same household
(which information set forth in this paragraph shall be supplemented by such shareholder or such
beneficial owner, as the case may be, not later than 10 days after the record date for determining
the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting; provided, that if such date is after the date of
the meeting, not later than the day prior to the meeting);
(iii) any other information relating to each such party that would be required to be disclosed
in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of
proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or the election of directors in a contested election
pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and
(iv) a statement whether or not each such party will deliver a proxy statement and form of
proxy to holders of, in the case of a proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of
the shares of capital stock of the corporation required under applicable law to carry the proposal
or, in the case of a nomination or nominations, at least the percentage of voting power of all of
the shares of capital stock of the corporation reasonably believed by the Record Shareholder or
beneficial holder, as the case may be, to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed
to be nominated by the Record Shareholder (such statement, a Solicitation Statement).
(4) A person shall not be eligible for election or re-election as a director at an annual
meeting unless (i) the person is nominated by a Record Shareholder in accordance with Section
3(2)(c) of this Article II or (ii) the person is nominated by or at the direction of
the board of directors. Only such business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of shareholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
section. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and the duty to determine whether a
nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting has been made in accordance
with the procedures set forth in these bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in
compliance with these bylaws, to declare that such defectively proposed business or nomination
shall not be presented for shareholder action at the meeting and shall be disregarded.
(5) For purposes of these Bylaws, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a press
release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or a comparable national news
service or in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(6) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3, a shareholder shall
also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this Section 3. Nothing in this
Section 3 shall be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of
proposals in the corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 4. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of shareholders of the corporation, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise
prescribed by statute or the restated certificate of incorporation, may be called only by the board
of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of authorized
directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the
time such resolutions presented to the board for adoption), by the holders of no less than a
majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of any class or series of
capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (Voting
Stock), or by The Jacob Feldman and Sara B. Feldman Grantor Trust dated September 24, 1985 and the
trustees of that trust acting solely in their capacities as trustees of that trust (collectively,
the Trust), as long as the Trust is the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the Voting
Stock. As a prerequisite to calling a special meeting, the holders of a majority of the voting
power of the Voting Stock or the Trust must submit a request in writing to the president or
secretary of the corporation stating the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Section 5. Business at Special Meeting.
Business transacted at all special meetings shall be confined to the purpose or purposes
stated in the notice.
(1) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have
been brought before the meeting pursuant to Section 4 of this Article II. The
notice of such special meeting shall include the purpose for which the meeting is called.
Nominations of persons for election to the board of directors may be made at a special meeting of
shareholders at which directors are to be elected (a) by or at the direction of the board of
directors or (b) by any shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this
paragraph, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who delivers a written notice to the
secretary setting forth the information set forth in Section 3(3)(a) and 3(3)(c) of
this Article II. Nominations by shareholders of persons for election to the board of
directors may be made at such a special meeting of shareholders only if such shareholder of
records notice required by the preceding sentence shall be received by the secretary at the
principal executive offices of the corporation not later than the close of business on the later of
the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the
board of directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall an adjournment, or
postponement of a special meeting for which notice has been given, commence a new time period for
the giving of a shareholder of records notice. A person shall not be eligible for election or
reelection as a director at a special meeting unless the person is nominated (i) by or at the
direction of the board of directors or (ii) by a shareholder of record in accordance with the
notice procedures set forth in this Article I.
(2) Notwithstanding
the foregoing provisions of this Section 5 of Article II,
a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules
and regulations thereunder with respect to matters set forth in this
Section 5 of
Article II. Nothing in this Section 5 of this Article II shall be deemed
to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the corporations proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 6. Notice of Meetings.
Notice of any meeting, stating the place, if any, date and time thereof, and means of remote
communication, if any, by which shareholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person
and vote at such meeting, and the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to vote at
the meeting, if such date is different from the record date for determining shareholders entitled
to notice of the meeting, shall be given to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting as of
the record date for determining the shareholders entitled to notice of the meeting not less than
ten days nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. Any notice given to the
shareholders by the corporation under the restated certificate of incorporation or these bylaws
shall be effective if given by a form of electronic transmission consented to by the shareholder to
whom notice is given. The consent shall be revocable by the shareholder by written notice to the
corporation. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked if (a) the corporation is unable to deliver
by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the corporation in accordance with such
consent and (b) 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.
Inadvertent failure to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or
other action. Notice by electronic transmission shall be deemed given (a) if by facsimile
telecommunication, when directed to a number at which the shareholder has consented to receive
notice; (b) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address at which the
shareholder has consented to receive notice; (c) if by posting on an electronic network together
with separate notice to the shareholder of such specific posting, upon the later of (i) such
posting and (ii) the giving of such separate notice; and (d) if by any other form of electronic
transmission, when directed to the shareholder.
When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned
meeting if the time and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by
which shareholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such
adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided,
however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than 30 days after the date for which
the meeting was originally noticed, notice of the place, if any, date, and time of the adjourned
meeting and the means of remote communications, if any, by which shareholders and proxyholders may
be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting, shall be given to each
shareholder in conformity herewith. If after the adjournment a new record date for shareholders
entitled to vote is fixed for the adjourned meeting, the board of directors shall fix a new record
date for notice of such adjourned meeting, which record date shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the board of directors and, except as otherwise
required by law, shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10 days before the date of such adjourned
meeting, and shall give notice of the adjourned meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to
vote at such adjourned meeting as of the record date fixed for notice of such adjourned meeting.
At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the
original meeting.
Section 7. Shareholder List.
The officer of the corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation shall
prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete list of
the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each shareholder and the number of shares registered
in the name of each shareholder; provided, however, if the record date for
determining the shareholders entitled to vote is less than 10 days before the meeting date, the
list shall reflect the shareholders entitled to vote as of the 10th day before the
meeting date. Such list shall be open to the examination of any shareholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting (a) on a reasonably
accessible electronic network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list
is provided with the notice of the meeting, or (b) during ordinary business hours, at the principal
place of business of the corporation. If the list is made available on an electronic network, the
corporation may take reasonable steps to ensure that the information is available only to
shareholders of the corporation. If the meeting is to be held at a place, the list shall be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be
inspected by any shareholder of the corporation who is present. If the meeting is to be held
solely by means of remote communication, then the list shall be open to the examination of any
shareholder during the whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and
the information required to access such a list shall be provided with the notice of the meeting.
This list shall presumptively determine (a) the identity of the shareholders entitled to examine
such stock list and to vote at the meeting and (b) the number of shares held by each of them.
Section 8. Quorum.
The holders of a majority of the voting power of all of the shares of capital stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum at all meetings of the shareholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise
provided by statute, the restated certificate of incorporation, these bylaws, or any stock exchange
upon which the corporations securities are listed.
Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, a majority of the voting
power of the shares of such class or classes or series present in person or represented by proxy
shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. If a
quorum shall
fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting to another
place, if any, date, or time.
Section 9. Required Vote.
When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares
having voting power represented in person or by proxy shall decide any question brought before such
meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of statute, the restated
certificate of incorporation, these bylaws or the rules of any stock exchange upon which the
corporations securities are listed, a different vote is required, in which case such express
provision shall govern and control the decision of such question; provided,
however, that except with respect to the right of holders of any class, classes or series
of capital stock to elect directors under specified circumstances, directors shall be elected by a
plurality of the votes of shares having voting power for the election of directors cast by the
holders of such shares, represented in person or by proxy.
Section 10. Proxies.
At any meeting of the shareholders, every shareholder entitled to vote may vote in person or
by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing or by a transmission permitted by law filed in
accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication
or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to 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 11. Voting.
Unless otherwise provided by statute, the restated certificate of incorporation, or these
bylaws, each shareholder shall have one vote for each share of stock having voting power,
registered in his name on the books of the corporation.
Section 12. No Action By Written Consent.
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the corporation must be
effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation and may not
be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Section 13. Organization and Conduct of Business.
Such person as the board of directors may have designated or, in the absence of such a person,
the chairman of the board or, in his or her absence, the president of the corporation or, in his or
her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the voting power of the
shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of
the shareholders and act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the secretary of the
corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting
appoints.
The chairman of any meeting of shareholders shall determine the order of business and the
procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of
discussion as seem to him or her in order. The chairman shall have the power to adjourn the
meeting
to another place, if any, date and time. The date and time of the opening and closing of the
polls for each matter upon which the shareholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at
the meeting.
The corporation may, and to the extent required by law, shall, in advance of any meeting of
shareholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report
thereof. The corporation may designate one or more alternate inspectors to replace any inspector
who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of shareholders, the
person presiding at the meeting may, and to the extent required by law, shall, appoint one or more
inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his or her
duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict
impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. Every vote taken by ballots shall be
counted by a duly appointed inspector or inspectors.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Powers.
The business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed by a board of directors. The
board may exercise all such power of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are
not by statute, by the restated certificate of incorporation, or these bylaws directed to be
exercised or done by the shareholders.
Section 2. Number of Directors.
Except as otherwise fixed by or pursuant to the provisions of Article Fourth of the restated
certificate of incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of the preferred stock to elect
additional directors under specified circumstances, the number of directors which shall constitute
the whole board of directors shall be not less than three and shall be fixed from time to time
exclusively by the board of directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total
number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized
directorships at the time any such resolution is presented to the board of directors for adoption).
Section 3. Election and Term.
The board of directors shall be divided into three classes serving for those initial terms as
provided in Article Fifteenth of the restated certificate of incorporation. Except as provided in
Section 4 of this Article III, at each annual meeting of shareholders following
such initial classification and election, directors elected to succeed those directors whose terms
expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of
shareholders. Directors need not be shareholders. Notwithstanding any provision of this Section
3 or Section 4 of this Article, whenever the holders of the preferred stock shall have
the right to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of stockholders, the election term of
office, filling of vacancies, and other features of such directorships shall be governed by the
terms of the restated certificate of incorporation applicable thereto, and such directors so
elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to Article Fifteenth of the restated certificate
of incorporation unless expressly provided by the terms of the preferred stock.
Section 4. Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.
Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Voting Stock then outstanding,
newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors, or
any vacancies on the board of directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification, removal from office or other cause may be filled by a majority vote of the
directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and directors so chosen shall hold office for
a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders at which the term of office of the class to
which they have been elected expires. No decrease in the number of authorized directors
constituting the entire board of directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 5. Resignation, Removal.
Any director may resign at any time. Subject to the right of the holders of any class or
series of Voting Stock then outstanding, any director, or the entire board of directors, may be
removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the affirmative vote of the holders
of at least a majority of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Voting
Stock, voting together as a single class. Except as may otherwise be provided by law, cause for
removal shall exist only if the director whose removal is proposed has been convicted of a felony
by a court of competent jurisdiction and such conviction is no longer subject to direct appeal, has
failed to attend twelve consecutive meetings of the board of directors, or has been adjudged by a
court of competent jurisdiction to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his
duty to the corporation in a matter of substantial importance to the corporation, and such
adjudication is no longer subject to direct appeal.
ARTICLE IV
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD
Section l. First Meeting.
The first meeting of each newly elected board shall be held immediately following the annual
meeting of shareholders, and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected
directors in order legally to constitute the meeting provided a quorum shall be present; or the
board may meet at such place and time as shall be fixed by the consent in writing of all the
directors.
Section 2. Regular Meeting.
Regular meetings of the board may be held at such time and place either within or without the
State of Delaware and with such notice as shall be determined from time to time by the board.
Section 3. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the board may be called by the chairman of the board, the chief executive
officer or the president, at any time, if notice to each director is given, either personally, or
by mail, by telephone, by facsimile or electronic transmission in accordance with Section 2
of Article VII hereof. Special meetings shall be called by the chairman of the board,
the chief executive officer, the president or the secretary in like manner and on like notice on
the written request of any two directors. The Secretary or Assistant Secretary, as applicable,
shall give or cause to be given, notice of special meetings of the board of directors in accordance
with Section 2 of Article VII hereof
Section 4. Quorum and Voting.
At all meetings of the board a majority of the directors shall be necessary and sufficient to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; and the act of a majority of the directors
present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the board of directors,
except as may be otherwise specifically provided by statute, the restated certificate of
incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of directors, the
directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 5. Telephone Meetings.
Members of the board of directors of the corporation, or any committee designated by the board
of directors, may participate in a meeting of the board of directors or such committee by means of
a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this
Section 5 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
Section 6. Action by Written Consent.
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors or of
any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the board of directors
or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, or by electronic transmission and the
writing or writings or electronic transmission or electronic transmissions are filed with the
minutes of proceedings of the board of directors or committee. Such filing shall be in paper form
if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form if the minutes are
maintained in electronic form.
ARTICLE V
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees.
The board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole board, shall
designate directors to serve on the audit committee, the compensation committee, and the nominating
and corporate governance committee of the board, which committees shall constitute the standing
committees of the board.
Section 2. Other Committees.
The board of directors may similarly create other committees for such terms and with such
powers and duties as the board deems appropriate. For all committees provided for in this
Article V, the board of directors shall elect a director or directors to serve as the
member or members, designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace
any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or
disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the
member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether
or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the
board of directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.
ARTICLE VI
COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS
The board of directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of the directors and
the members of committees of the board of directors. The compensation of the directors need not be
uniform as between directors, and the compensation of the members of the committees of the board
need not be uniform either as between members of a committee or as between committees. The
directors shall be reimbursed for expenses incurred in attending meetings of the board or
committees thereof.
ARTICLE VII
NOTICES
Section 1. Methods of Notice to Shareholders.
Whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder under the provisions of any
statute, the restated certificate of incorporation, or these bylaws, it shall not be construed to
require personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing by mail addressed to such
shareholder at such address as appears on the books of the corporation, and such notice shall be
deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail with
postage thereon prepaid. Without limiting the manner by which notice may otherwise be given
effectively to shareholders, any notice to shareholders may be given by electronic transmission in
the manner provided in Section 232 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (the DGCL).
Section 2. Methods of Notice to Directors or Members of a Committee.
Whenever any notice is required to be given to any director or member of a committee under the
provisions of any statute, the restated certificate of incorporation, or these bylaws, it may be
given either personally, or by mail, by telephone, by facsimile or electronic transmission directed
to each director at the directors address, telephone number, facsimile number or electronic mail
address, as the case may be, as shown on the corporations records. If the notice is (i) delivered
personally by hand, by courier or by telephone, (ii) sent by facsimile or (iii) sent by electronic
transmission, it shall be delivered or sent at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the
holding of the meeting. If notice is sent by United States mail, it shall be deposited in the
United States mail at least four days before the time of the holding of the meeting. The notice
need not specify the place of the meeting (if the meeting is to be held at the corporations
principal executive office) nor the purpose of the meeting.
Section 3. Waiver of Notice.
Whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder, member of a committee, or
director under the provisions of any statute, the restated certificate of incorporation, or these
bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, or a
waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to said notice, whether before or after
the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance at any
meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice thereof except as provided by statute.
ARTICLE VIII
OFFICERS
Section 1. Executive Officers.
The officers of the corporation shall consist of a chairman of the board, unless the board of
directors specifies by resolution that the chairman of the board shall not be an officer of the
corporation, in which case the chairman of the board shall be a non-executive chairman, a chief
executive officer, a president, chief operating officer, one or more vice presidents, a secretary,
and a treasurer, and such other officers as may from time to time be appointed by the board of
directors. Officers shall be elected by the board of directors at its first meeting after every
annual meeting of shareholders. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is
elected or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may be removed, with or
without cause, at any time by the board of directors. If any such office becomes vacant for any
reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the board of directors. Any number of offices may be held
by the same person. The salaries of officers elected by the board of directors shall be fixed from
time to time by the board of directors or by such officers as may be designated by resolution of
the board of directors.
Section 2. Chairman of the Board.
The chairman of the board shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and the board of
directors. He or she shall make reports to the board of directors and the shareholders, and shall
have such other powers and perform such other duties as are required of him or her from time to
time by the board of directors. The board of directors may specify in a resolution or resolutions
that the chairman of the board shall not be an officer of the corporation.
Section 3. Chief Executive Officer.
The chief executive officer shall have the general management and control of the corporation,
shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of chief
executive officer or which are delegated to him or her by the board of directors and may sign all
certificates for shares of stock for the corporation. In the absence or inability of the chairman
of the board to act, the chief executive officer shall exercise all of the powers and discharge all
of the duties of the chairman of the board. As between the corporation and third parties, any
action taken by the chief executive officer in the performance of the duties of the chairman of the
board shall be conclusive evidence that the chairman of the board is absent or unable to act.
Section 4. President.
The president, subject to the supervision of the chairman of the board and the chief executive
officer, shall have general executive charge, management, and control of the corporation in the
ordinary course of its business, with all such powers as may be reasonably incident to such
responsibilities and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to
the office of president or which are delegated to him or her by the board of directors. In the
absence or inability of the chief executive officer to act, the president shall exercise all of the
powers and discharge all of the duties of the chief executive officer. As between the corporation
and third parties, any action taken by the president in the performance of the duties of the chief
executive officer shall be conclusive evidence that the chief executive officer is absent or unable
to act. The president may sign all certificates for shares of stock of the corporation.
Section 5. Chief Operating Officer.
The chief operating officer, subject to the supervision of the chairman of the board and the
chief executive officer, shall have management and control of the operations of the corporation in
the ordinary course of its business, with all such powers with respect to such operations as may be
reasonably incident to such responsibilities and shall perform all duties and have all powers which
are commonly incident to the office of chief operating officer or which are delegated to him or her
by the board of directors. In the absence or inability of the president to act, the chief
operating officer shall exercise all of the powers and discharge all of the duties of the
president. As between the corporation and third parties, any action taken by the chief operating
officer in the performance of the duties of the president shall be conclusive evidence that the
president is absent or unable to act.
Section 6. Vice Presidents.
The vice presidents shall perform such duties as the board of directors and president may
prescribe.
Section 7. Secretary.
The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors, including, but not limited
to, all board committee meetings, and all meetings of the shareholders and record all votes and the
minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for
the standing committees when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the shareholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors and president. He or she shall keep in
safe custody the seal of the corporation and, when authorized by the board, affix the same to any
instrument requiring it, and when so affixed it shall be attested by his or her signature or by the
signature of the assistant secretary.
Section 8. Assistant Secretaries.
The assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors shall, in the
absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary
and shall perform such other duties as the board of directors and president may prescribe.
Section 9. Treasurer.
The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep
full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation
and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the
corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors. He or she shall
disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board, taking proper vouchers for
such disbursements, and shall render to the board of directors and president, whenever they may
require it, an account of all of his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of
the corporation.
Section 11. Assistant Treasurers.
The assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors shall, in the
absence or disability of the treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
treasurer and shall perform such other duties as the board of directors and president may
prescribe.
Section 12. Officers Bond.
If required by the board of directors, any officer shall give the corporation a bond (which
shall be renewed as the board may require) in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be
satisfactory to the board for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the
restoration to the corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement, or removal from
office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever kind in his
possession or under his control belonging to the corporation.
ARTICLE IX
SHARES AND SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Certificates Representing Shares.
The shares of the corporation shall be evidenced by certificates in such form as the
appropriate officers of the corporation may from time to time prescribe; provided that the board of
directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of the shares of classes or
series of stock of the corporation may be represented by uncertificated shares. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, each holder of uncertificated shares shall be entitled, upon request, to a
certificate representing such shares. Shares represented by certificates shall be numbered and
registered in a share register as they are issued. Share certificates shall exhibit the name of
the registered holder and the number and class of shares and the series, if any, represented
thereby and the par value of each share or a statement that such shares are without par value as
the case may be. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of
uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificated shares of the
same class and series shall be identical.
Section 7. Transfer of Shares.
Subject to valid transfer restrictions and to stop-transfer orders directed in good faith by
the corporation to any transfer agent to prevent possible violations of federal or state securities
laws, rules or regulations, or for any other lawful purpose, upon surrender to the corporation of a
certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment,
or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the
person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books. The
board of directors may also make such additional rules and regulations as it may deem expedient
concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the corporation and
concerning the registration of pledges of uncertificated shares.
Section 7. Fixing Record Date.
For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in
order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the board of directors
may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date,
in any case, to be not more than sixty days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less
than ten days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of
shareholders is to be taken. If no record date is fixed, the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be the date next
preceding the date on which the notice is mailed, and the record date for the determination of
shareholders for any other purpose shall be the date on which the board of directors adopts the
resolution relating thereto. A determination of
shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall
apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the board of directors may fix a
new record date for determination of shareholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in
such case shall also fix as the record date for shareholders entitled to notice of such adjourned
meeting the same or an earlier date as that fixed for determination of shareholders entitled to
vote in accordance with the foregoing provisions of this Section 3 at the adjourned
meeting.
Section 4. Lost Certificate.
The board of directors may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued or may
register uncertificated shares in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by
the corporation 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 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 corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity that may be
made against the corporation with respect to the alleged loss or destruction of any such
certificate, the issuance of such new certificate or the registration of such uncertificated
shares.
ARTICLE X
GENERAL
Section 1. Dividends.
The board of directors may from time to time declare, and the corporation may pay, dividends
on its outstanding shares of capital stock in cash, in property, or in its own shares, except when
the declaration or payment thereof would be contrary to statute or the restated certificate of
incorporation. Such dividends may be declared at any regular or special meeting of the board, and
the declaration and payment shall be subject to all applicable provisions of law, the restated
certificate of incorporation, and these bylaws.
Section 7. Reserves.
Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation
available for dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute
discretion, deem proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or
for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the
directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or
abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
Section 7. Annual Statements.
The chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or the board of
directors shall present at each annual meeting and when called for by vote of the shareholders at
any special meeting of the shareholders, a full and clear statement of the business and condition
of the corporation.
Section 4. Checks.
All checks or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by such officer
or officers or such other person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time
designate.
Section 5. Corporate Records.
The corporation shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or at the
office of its transfer agent or registrar, a record of its shareholders giving the names and
addresses of all shareholders and the number and class of shares held by each. All other books and
records of the corporation may be kept at such place or places within or without the State of
Delaware as the board of directors may from time to time determine.
Section 6. Seal.
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation. The seal may be
used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed, affixed or reproduced.
Section 7. Amendment.
These bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new bylaws may be adopted at any annual
meeting of the shareholders or at any special meeting of the shareholders at which a quorum is
present or represented, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled
to vote at such meeting and present or represented thereat, or by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the board of directors at any regular meeting of the board or at any special meeting of
the board. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least seventy
percent (70%) of the voting power of all of the Voting Stock then outstanding, voting together as a
single class, shall be required to alter, amend, repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with
Section 4 of Article II, Section 12 of Article II, Section
2 of Article III, Section 3 of Article III, Section 4 of
Article III, Section 5 of Article III, this Section 7 of
Article X, or Article Twelfth, Article Fifteenth, Article Sixteenth, or Article Seventeenth
of the restated certificate of incorporation; except that an amendment to extend the duration of
Article Seventeenth may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of
such voting power.
Section 8. Time Periods.
In applying any provision of these bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a
specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified
number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act
shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
ARTICLE XI
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 1. Right to Indemnification.
Each person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise
involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative (a Proceeding), by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a director or an
officer of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director,
officer or trustee of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, including service with respect
to an employee benefit plan (an Indemnitee), whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged
action in an official capacity as a director, officer or trustee or in any other capacity while
serving as a director, officer or trustee, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
corporation to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law, as the same exists or may hereafter be
amended (but, in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the
corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law permitted the corporation to
provide prior to such amendment), against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys
fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid in settlement) reasonably
incurred or suffered by such Indemnitee in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except as
provided in Section 3 of this Article XI with respect to Proceedings to enforce
rights to indemnification, the corporation shall indemnify any such Indemnitee in connection with a
Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such Indemnitee only if such Proceeding (or part thereof)
was authorized by the board of directors of the corporation.
Section 7. Right to Advancement of Expenses.
In addition to the right to indemnification conferred in Section 1 of this Article
XI, an indemnitee shall also have the right to be paid by the corporation the expenses
(including attorneys fees) incurred in defending any such Proceeding in advance of its final
disposition (an Advancement of Expenses); provided, however, that, if the DGCL requires, an
Advancement of Expenses incurred by an Indemnitee 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 indemnitee, including,
without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon delivery to the
corporation of an undertaking (an Undertaking), by or on behalf of such Indemnitee, to repay all
amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which
there is no further right to appeal (a Final Adjudication) that such Indemnitee is not entitled
to be indemnified for such expenses under this Section 2 of Article XI or
otherwise.
Section 7. Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit.
If a claim under Section 1 or 2 of this Article XI is not paid in full
by the corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the corporation,
except in the case of a claim for an Advancement of Expenses, in which case the applicable period
shall be 20 days, the Indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring suit against the corporation to
recover the unpaid amount of the claim. To the fullest extent permitted by law, if successful in
whole or in part in any such suit, or in a suit brought by the corporation to recover an
Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms of an Undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled
to be paid also the expense of prosecuting or defending such suit. In (i) any suit brought by the
Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification hereunder (but not in a suit brought by the
indemnitee to enforce a right to an Advancement of Expenses) it shall be a defense that, and (ii)
in any suit brought by the corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to the terms
of an Undertaking, the corporation shall be entitled to recover such expenses upon a Final
Adjudication that, the Indemnitee has not met any applicable standard for indemnification set forth
in the DGCL. Neither the failure of the corporation (including its directors who are not parties
to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal counsel, or its shareholders) to
have made a determination prior to the commencement of such suit that indemnification of the
Indemnitee is proper in the circumstances because the Indemnitee has met the applicable standard of
conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the corporation (including its
directors who are not parties to such action, a committee of such directors, independent legal
counsel, or its shareholders) that the Indemnitee has not met such applicable standard of conduct,
shall create a presumption that the indemnitee has not met the applicable standard of conduct or,
in the case of such a suit brought by the Indemnitee, be a defense to such suit. In any suit
brought by the Indemnitee to enforce a right to indemnification or to an Advancement of
Expenses hereunder, or brought by the corporation to recover an Advancement of Expenses pursuant to
the terms of an Undertaking, the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified, or to such Advancement of Expenses, under this Article XI or otherwise shall
be on the corporation.
Section 4. Non-Exclusivity of Rights.
The rights to indemnification and to the Advancement of Expenses conferred in this Article
XI shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter acquire
under any statute, the restated certificate of incorporation, bylaws, agreement, vote of
shareholders or directors or otherwise.
Section 5. 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 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.
Section 6. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation.
The corporation may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the board of directors,
grant rights to indemnification to any employee or agent of the corporation to the fullest extent
of the provisions of this Article XI with respect to the indemnification of directors and
officers of the corporation.
Section 7. Nature of Rights.
The rights conferred upon Indemnitees in this Article XI shall be contract rights and
such rights shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer or trustee
and shall inure to the benefit of the Indemnitees heirs, executors and administrators. Any
amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article XI that adversely affects any right of an
Indemnitee or its successors shall be prospective only and shall not limit, eliminate, or impair
any such right with respect to any Proceeding involving any occurrence or alleged occurrence of any
action or omission to act that took place prior to such amendment or repeal.
[End]