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8-K - 8-K - Bats Global Markets, Inc.a15-23678_128k.htm
EX-3.1 - EX-3.1 - Bats Global Markets, Inc.a15-23678_12ex3d1.htm

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS OF

 

BATS GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.

 

Dated as of April 20, 2016

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

PAGE

 

 

 

Article I    OFFICES

1

 

 

 

Section 1.01.

Registered Office

1

Section 1.02.

Other Offices

1

 

 

 

Article II    STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

1

 

 

 

Section 2.01.

Place of Meetings

1

Section 2.02.

Annual Meeting

1

Section 2.03.

Special Meetings

4

Section 2.04.

Notice of Meetings

5

Section 2.05.

Quorum; Vote Requirements

5

Section 2.06.

Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings

5

Section 2.07.

Voting Rights

6

Section 2.08.

Joint Owners of Stock

6

Section 2.09.

List of Stockholders

6

Section 2.10.

Action Without Meeting

7

Section 2.11.

Organization

7

 

 

 

Article III    DIRECTORS

7

 

 

 

Section 3.01.

Number and Term of Office

7

Section 3.02.

Powers

8

Section 3.03.

Vacancies

8

Section 3.04.

Resignation

8

Section 3.05.

Removal

8

Section 3.06.

Meetings

8

Section 3.07.

Quorum and Voting

9

Section 3.08.

Action Without Meeting

10

Section 3.09.

Fees and Compensation

10

Section 3.10.

Committees

10

Section 3.11.

Organization

11

Section 3.12.

Preferred Stock Directors

11

 

 

 

Article IV    OFFICERS

11

 

 

 

Section 4.01.

Officers Designated

11

Section 4.02.

Tenure and Duties of Officers

12

Section 4.03.

Delegation of Authority

13

Section 4.04.

Resignations

13

Section 4.05.

Removal

13

 

 

 

Article V   EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION

14

 

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Section 5.01.

Execution of Corporate Instruments

14

Section 5.02.

Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation

14

 

 

 

Article VI    SHARES OF STOCK

15

 

 

 

Section 6.01.

Form and Execution of Certificates

15

Section 6.02.

Lost Certificates

15

Section 6.03.

Transfers

16

Section 6.04.

Fixing Record Dates

16

Section 6.05.

Registered Stockholders

17

 

 

 

Article VII    OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION

17

 

 

 

Article VIII    DIVIDENDS

17

 

 

 

Section 8.01.

Declaration of Dividends

17

Section 8.02.

Dividend Reserve

18

 

 

 

Article IX    FISCAL YEAR

18

 

 

 

Article X    NOTICES

18

 

 

 

Section 10.01.

Notices

18

 

 

 

Article XI    AMENDMENTS

19

 

 

 

Article XII    SRO FUNCTIONS OF EXCHANGES

20

 

 

 

Section 12.01.

Non-Interference

20

Section 12.02.

Confidentiality

20

Section 12.03.

Books and Records, etc.

20

Section 12.04.

Compliance with Securities Laws; Cooperation with the Securities and Exchange Commission

21

Section 12.05.

Consent to Jurisdiction

21

Section 12.06.

Consent to Application

21

 

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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
BATS GLOBAL MARKETS, INC.

 

ARTICLE I
OFFICES

 

Section 1.01.        Registered Office.  The registered office of Bats Global Markets, Inc. (the “Corporation”) in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware 19801, or at such other location within the State of Delaware as the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) may from time to time designate. The name of its registered agent at such address is The Corporation Trust Company.

 

Section 1.02.        Other Offices.  The Corporation may have such other office or offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate or as the purposes of the Corporation may require from time to time.

 

ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

 

Section 2.01.        Place of Meetings.  Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation (the “Stockholders”) shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.02.        Annual Meeting.

 

(a)        An annual meeting of Stockholders for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine.

 

(b)        At an annual meeting of the Stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be:  (A) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (B) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (C) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a Stockholder.  For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a Stockholder, the Stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”).  To be timely, a Stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day or earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and fiftieth (150th) day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting was held in the previous year or the date of the annual

 

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meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30) days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous year’s proxy statement, notice by the Stockholder to be timely must be so received no earlier than the close of business on the one hundred and twentieth (120th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the seventieth (70th) day prior to such annual meeting or, in the event public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation fewer than seventy (70) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation.  A Stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the Stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:  (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend these bylaws of the Corporation (the “Bylaws”) the language of the proposed amendment), and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the Stockholder proposing such business, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is being made, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the Stockholder, (iv) any material interest of the Stockholder or such beneficial owner in such business, (v) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the Stockholder and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the proposal is to be made by the Stockholder, (vi) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Stockholder or any such beneficial owner with respect to the Corporation’s securities, (vii) a representation as to whether such Stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (A) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from Stockholders in support of such proposal, (viii) any other information that would be required to be provided by the Stockholder pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), in his or her capacity as a proponent of a Stockholder proposal and (ix) such other information relating to any proposed item of business as the Corporation may reasonably require to determine whether such proposed item of business is a proper matter for Stockholder action. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in order to include information with respect to a Stockholder proposal in the proxy statement and form of proxy for a Stockholder’s meeting, Stockholders must provide notice as required by the regulations promulgated under the 1934 Act.  Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (b).  The chairman of the

 

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annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph (b), and, if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare at the meeting that any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

(c)        Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c) of Section 2.02 shall be eligible for election as directors.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of Stockholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any Stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this paragraph (c).  Such nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this  Section 2.02.  Such Stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person, if any, whom the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director:  (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (C) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the Stockholder and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by the Stockholder, (E) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, regardless of the form of settlement, any derivative, long or short positions, profit interests, forwards, futures, swaps, options, warrants, convertible securities, stock appreciation or similar rights, hedging transactions and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding that has been made, the effect or intent of which is to create or mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such Stockholder or any such beneficial owner or any such nominee with respect to the Corporation’s securities, (F) a representation that the Stockholder is a Stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the meeting, (G) a representation as to whether such Stockholder or any such beneficial owner intends or is part of a group that intends to (a) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the voting power of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to elect each such nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from Stockholders in support of such nomination and (H) any other information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the 1934 Act (including without limitation such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement, if any, as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (ii) as to the Stockholder giving notice, and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the notice was given, the information required to be provided by a Stockholder proposing business pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 2.02.  At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by a Stockholder for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in the Stockholder’s notice of nomination which

 

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pertains to the nominee.  No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this paragraph (c).  The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare at the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare at the meeting, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(d)        Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 2.02(b) and Section 2.02(c), unless otherwise required by law, if a Stockholder (or a qualified representative of the Stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation to present a nomination or other proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded or such proposed business shall not be transacted, as the case may be, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation and counted for purposes of determining a quorum.  For purposes of paragraph (d) of this Section 2.02, to be considered a qualified representative of the Stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Stockholder to act for such Stockholder as proxy at the meeting of Stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of Stockholders.

 

(e)        Without limiting the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.02, a Stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the 1934 Act, and the rules and regulations thereunder, with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 2.02; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the 1934 Act or such rules and regulations are not intended to and shall not limit any requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to this  Section 2.02, and compliance with this Section 2.02 shall be the exclusive means for a Stockholder to make nominations or submit other business (other than as provided in paragraph (f) of this Section 2.02).

 

(f)         Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the notice requirements set forth herein with respect to the proposal of any business pursuant to paragraph (b) of Section 2.02 shall be deemed satisfied by a Stockholder if such Stockholder has submitted a proposal to the Corporation in compliance with Rule 14a-8 under the 1934 Act and such Stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for the meeting of Stockholders.

 

Section 2.03.        Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Stockholders may be called only by the Board of Directors acting pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock, as defined in the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as may be amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors, such holders may call, pursuant to the terms of the resolution or resolutions

 

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adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of holders of such Preferred Stock.

 

Section 2.04.        Notice of Meetings.  Except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, written notice of each meeting of Stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each Stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, such notice to specify the place, date and hour and purpose or purposes of the meeting.  Notice of the time, place and purpose of any meeting of Stockholders may be waived in writing, signed by the person entitled to notice thereof, either before or after such meeting, and will be waived by any Stockholder by his or her attendance thereat in person or by proxy, except when the Stockholder attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Any Stockholder so waiving notice of such meeting shall be bound by the proceedings of any such meeting in all respects as if due notice thereof had been given.

 

Section 2.05.        Quorum; Vote Requirements.  At all meetings of Stockholders, except where otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, the presence, in person or by proxy duly authorized, of the holders of a majority of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  In the absence of a quorum, any meeting of Stockholders may be adjourned, from time to time, either by the chairman of the meeting or by vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares represented thereat, but no other business shall be transacted at such meeting.  The Stockholders present at a duly called or convened meeting, at which a quorum is present, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Stockholders to leave less than a quorum.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all action taken by the holders of a majority of the votes cast at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.  Where a separate vote by a class or classes or series is required, except where otherwise provided by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (“Delaware Law”) or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the voting power of the outstanding 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 and, except where otherwise provided by the statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the affirmative vote of the majority (plurality of the votes of the shares present in person or represented by proxy, in the case of the election of directors) of the votes present in person or represented by proxy, excluding abstentions, by the holders of shares of such class or classes or series shall be the act of such class or classes or series. Abstentions and broker non-votes shall not be counted as votes cast.

 

Section 2.06.        Adjournment and Notice of Adjourned Meetings.  Any meeting of Stockholders, whether annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time by the

 

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Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each Stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 2.07.        Voting Rights.  For the purpose of determining those Stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the Stockholders, except as otherwise provided by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, only persons in whose names shares stand on the stock records of the Corporation on the record date, as provided in Section 6.04, shall be entitled to vote at any meeting of Stockholders. Any share of capital stock of the Corporation held by the Corporation shall have no voting rights, except where such shares are held in a fiduciary capacity by the Corporation. Every person entitled to vote or execute consents shall have the right to do so either in person or by an agent or agents authorized by a proxy granted in accordance with Delaware Law.  An agent so appointed need not be a Stockholder.  No proxy shall be voted after three (3) years from its date of creation unless the proxy provides for a longer period.

 

Section 2.08.        Joint Owners of Stock.  If shares or other securities having voting power stand of record in the names of two (2) or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, or otherwise, or if two (2) or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:  (a) if only one (1) votes, his or her act binds all; (b) if more than one (1) votes, the act of the majority so voting binds all; (c) if more than one (1) votes, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each faction may vote the securities in question proportionally, or may apply to the Delaware Court of Chancery for relief as provided in Section 217(b) of Delaware Law.  If the instrument filed with the Secretary shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even split for the purpose of clause (c) above shall be a majority or even split in interest.

 

Section 2.09.        List of Stockholders.  The Secretary shall prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of Stockholders, a complete list of the Stockholders entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the address of each Stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each Stockholder.  Such list shall be open to the examination of any Stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held.  The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of meeting during the whole time thereof and may be inspected by any Stockholder who is present.

 

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Section 2.10.        Action Without Meeting.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, as may be set forth in the certificate of designations for such class or series of Preferred Stock, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of Stockholders may be taken only upon the vote of Stockholders at an annual or special meeting duly noticed and called in accordance with Delaware Law and may not be taken by written consent of Stockholders without a meeting.

 

Section 2.11.        Organization.

 

(a)        At every meeting of Stockholders, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman of the Board of Directors has not been appointed or is absent, the Chief Executive Officer, or, if the Chief Executive Officer is absent, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares entitled to vote at a meeting of the Stockholders, present in person or by proxy, shall act as chairman.  The Secretary, or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary directed to do so by the Chief Executive Officer, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

(b)        The Board of Directors shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings of Stockholders as it shall deem necessary, appropriate or convenient.  Subject to such rules and regulations of the Board of Directors, if any, the chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such meeting to Stockholders of record of the Corporation and their duly authorized and constituted proxies and such other persons as the chairman shall permit, restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting on matters which are to be voted on by ballot.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of Stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS

 

Section 3.01.        Number and Term of Office.  The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more directors, with the exact number of directors to be determined from time to time solely by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.  As set forth in Article Sixth(c) of the Certificate of Incorporation, the directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be practicable, of one-third of the total number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors.  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, each director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of Stockholders next following the annual meeting at which

 

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such director was elected. Notwithstanding the foregoing, each director shall hold office until such director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until the earlier of such director’s death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be Stockholders unless so required by the Certificate of Incorporation.  If for any cause the directors shall not have been elected at an annual meeting, they may be elected as soon thereafter as convenient at a special meeting of the Stockholders called for that purpose in the manner provided in these Bylaws.  No person that is subject to any statutory disqualification (as defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the 1934 Act) may be a director of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.02.                         Powers.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation.  The Board of Directors shall have the power to interpret these Bylaws and any interpretation made by it shall be final and conclusive.

 

Section 3.03.                         Vacancies.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal or otherwise and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors shall, except as otherwise required by Delaware Law, be filled solely by a majority of the directors then in office (although less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director, and each director so elected shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the term of the Class to which such director shall have been elected.  If there are no directors in office, then an election of directors may be held in accordance with Delaware Law.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, when one or more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office as provided in the filling of the other vacancies.

 

Section 3.04.                         Resignation.  Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her written resignation to the Secretary, such resignation to specify whether it will be effective at a particular time, upon receipt by the Secretary or at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.  If no such specification is made, it shall be deemed effective at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3.05.                         Removal.  No director may be removed from office by the Stockholders except for cause with the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the total voting power of all then-outstanding securities of the Corporation generally entitled to vote in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.

 

Section 3.06.                         Meetings.

 

(a)                        Annual Meetings.  The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of Stockholders and at the place where such meeting is held.  No notice of an annual meeting of the Board of Directors

 

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shall be necessary and such meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may lawfully come before it.

 

(b)                        Regular Meetings.  Unless otherwise specified by the Certificate of Incorporation, regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at any place within or without the State of Delaware which has been designated by resolution of the Board of Directors or the written consent of all directors.

 

(c)                         Special Meetings.  Unless otherwise specified by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time and place within or without the State of Delaware whenever called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or any two of the directors.

 

(d)                        Telephone Meetings.  Any member of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting by such means shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

(e)                         Notice of Meetings.  Notice of the time and place of all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be orally or in writing, by telephone, facsimile, telegraph or telex, during normal business hours, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the date and time of the meeting, or sent in writing to each director by first class mail, charges prepaid, at least three (3) days before the date of the meeting.  Notice of any meeting may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

(f)                          Waiver of Notice.  The transaction of all business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, however called or noticed, or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had been brought at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the directors not present shall sign a written waiver of notice.  All such waivers shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting.

 

Section 3.07.                         Quorum and Voting.

 

(a)                        Unless the Certificate of Incorporation requires a greater number, a quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of a majority of the exact number of directors fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation; provided, however, at any meeting whether a quorum be present or otherwise, a majority of the directors present may adjourn from time to time until the time fixed for the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.

 

(b)                        At each meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present, all questions and business shall be determined by the affirmative vote of a majority of the

 

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directors present, unless a different vote is required by Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

 

Section 3.08.                         Action Without Meeting.  Unless otherwise restricted by Delaware Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and such writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee.

 

Section 3.09.                         Fees and Compensation.  Directors shall be entitled to such compensation for their services as may be approved by the Board of Directors, including, if so approved, by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors and at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors.  Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise and receiving compensation therefor.

 

Section 3.10.                         Committees.  (a) The Board of Directors may designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to the following matters: (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the Stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by Delaware Law to be submitted to the Stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing these Bylaws.

 

(b)                        Each member of a committee of the Board of Directors shall serve a term on the committee coexistent with such member’s term on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of paragraph (a) of this Section 3.10, may at any time increase or decrease the number of members of a committee or terminate the existence of a committee. The membership of a committee member shall terminate on the date of his or her death or voluntary resignation from the committee or from the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may at any time for any reason remove any individual committee member, and the Board of Directors may fill any committee vacancy created by death, resignation, removal or increase in the number of members of the committee. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee, and, in addition, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.

 

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(c)                         Unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, regular meetings of any committee appointed pursuant to this Section 3.10(c) shall be held at such times and places as are determined by the Board of Directors, or by any such committee, and when notice thereof has been given to each member of such committee, no further notice of such regular meetings need be given thereafter. Special meetings of any such committee may be held at any place which has been determined from time to time by such committee, and may be called by any director who is a member of such committee, upon written notice to the members of such committee of the time and place of such special meeting given in the manner provided for the giving of written notice to members of the Board of Directors of the time and place of special meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of any special meeting of any committee may be waived in writing at any time before or after the meeting and will be waived by any director by attendance thereat, except when the director attends such special meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. A majority of the authorized number of members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.

 

Section 3.11.                         Organization.  At every meeting of the directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or, if a Chairman of the Board of Directors has not been appointed or is absent, the Chief Executive Officer, or if the Chief Executive Officer is absent, the President, or if the President is absent, the most senior Vice President, or, in the absence of any such officer, a chairman of the meeting chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall preside over the meeting.  The Secretary, or in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary directed to do so by the Chief Executive Officer, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

 

Section 3.12.                         Preferred Stock Directors.  Notwithstanding anything else contained herein, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of Preferred Stock shall have the right, voting separately as a class or series, to elect directors (“Preferred Stock Directors”), the election, term of office, filling of vacancies, removal and other features of such preferred stock directorships shall be governed by the terms of the applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, and the provisions of this Article III regarding such matters shall not be applicable to Preferred Stock Directors unless otherwise expressly provided therein.

 

ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS

 

Section 4.01.                         Officers Designated.  The officers of the Corporation shall include, if and when designated by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, one or more Vice Presidents, the Secretary, the Chief Financial Officer, the Treasurer, and the Controller, all of whom shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Controllers and such other officers and agents

 

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with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary.  The Board of Directors may assign such additional titles to one or more of the officers as it shall deem appropriate.  Any one person may hold any number of offices of the Corporation at any one time unless specifically prohibited therefrom by law.  The salaries and other compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner designated by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4.02.                         Tenure and Duties of Officers.

 

(a)                        General.  All officers shall hold office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, unless sooner removed.  Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the Board of Directors.  If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board of Directors.  No person that is subject to any statutory disqualification (as defined in Section 3(a)(39) of the 1934 Act) may be an officer of the Corporation.

 

(b)                        Duties of Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the Stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, unless the Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present.  Unless some other officer has been elected Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation.  The Chief Executive Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his or her  office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.  In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, or if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in this paragraph (b).

 

(c)                         Duties of President.  The President shall be a senior executive officer of the Corporation and shall perform such duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.  In the absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer, or if there is no Chief Executive Officer, the President shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in paragraph (b) of this Section 4.02.

 

(d)                        Duties of Vice Presidents.  The Vice Presidents shall perform duties commonly incident to their office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.

 

(e)                         Duties of Secretary.  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors and shall record all acts and proceedings thereof in the minute book of the Corporation.  The Secretary shall give notice in conformity with these Bylaws of all meetings of the Stockholders and of all meetings of the Board of Directors and any committee thereof requiring notice.  The Secretary shall

 

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perform all other duties given to him or her in these Bylaws and other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors shall designate from time to time.  The Chief Executive Officer may direct any Assistant Secretary to assume and perform the duties of the Secretary in the absence or disability of the Secretary, and each Assistant Secretary shall perform other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.

(f)                          Duties of Chief Financial Officer.  The Chief Financial Officer shall keep or cause to be kept the books of account of the Corporation in a thorough and proper manner and shall render statements of the financial affairs of the Corporation in such form and as often as required by the Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer.  The Chief Financial Officer, subject to the order of the Board of Directors, shall have the custody of all funds and securities of the Corporation.  The Chief Financial Officer shall perform other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.  The Chief Executive Officer may direct the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Controller or any Assistant Controller to assume and perform the duties of the Chief Financial Officer in the absence or disability of the Chief Financial Officer, and each Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer and each Controller and Assistant Controller shall perform other duties commonly incident to his or her office and shall also perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall designate from time to time.

 

Section 4.03.                         Delegation of Authority.  The Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officer or agent, notwithstanding any provision hereof.

 

Section 4.04.                         Resignations.  Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or to the Chief Executive Officer or to the Secretary.  Any such resignation shall be effective when received by the person or persons to whom such notice is given, unless a later time is specified therein, in which event the resignation shall become effective at such later time.  Unless otherwise specified in such notice, the acceptance of any such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.  Any resignation shall be without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the Corporation under any contract with the resigning officer.

 

Section 4.05.                         Removal.  Any officer may be removed from office at any time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors in office at the time, or by the unanimous written consent of the directors in office at the time, or by any committee or superior officers upon whom such power of removal may have been conferred by the Board of Directors.

 

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ARTICLE V
EXECUTION OF CORPORATE INSTRUMENTS AND VOTING
OF SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION

 

Section 5.01.                         Execution of Corporate Instruments.  The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, determine the method and designate the signatory officer or officers, or other person or persons, to execute on behalf of the Corporation any corporate instrument or document, or to sign on behalf of the Corporation the corporate name without limitation, or to enter into contracts on behalf of the Corporation, except where otherwise provided by law or these Bylaws, and such execution or signature shall be binding upon the Corporation.

 

Unless otherwise specifically determined by the Board of Directors or otherwise required by law, promissory notes, deeds of trust, mortgages and other evidences of indebtedness of the Corporation, and other corporate instruments or documents requiring the corporate seal, and certificates of shares of stock owned by the Corporation, shall be executed, signed or endorsed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or any Vice President, and by the Secretary or Treasurer or any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.  All other instruments and documents requiring the corporate signature, but not requiring the corporate seal, may be executed as aforesaid or in such other manner as may be directed by the Board of Directors.

 

All checks and drafts drawn on banks or other depositaries on funds to the credit of the Corporation or in special accounts of the Corporation shall be signed by such person or persons as the Board of Directors shall authorize.

 

Unless authorized or ratified by the Board of Directors or within the agency power of an officer, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render it liable for any purpose or for any amount.

 

Section 5.02.                         Voting of Securities Owned by the Corporation.  Unless otherwise instructed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall have the power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to vote at any meeting of Stockholders, members, partners or equity holders of any corporation, limited liability company, partnership or any other entity in which the Corporation may hold stock, partnership or other equity interests, as the case may be, and may exercise on behalf of the Corporation any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock, partnership or other equity interest at such meeting, and shall have the power and authority to execute and deliver proxies, waivers and consents on behalf of the Corporation in connection with the exercise by the Corporation of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock, partnership or other equity interest.  The Board of Directors may from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

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ARTICLE VI
SHARES OF STOCK

 

Section 6.01.                         Form and Execution of Certificates.  The shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares or a combination of certificated and uncertificated shares. Any such resolution that the shares of a class or series will only be uncertificated shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Except as otherwise provided by Delaware Law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same class and series shall be identical. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President or Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or Assistant Secretary, certifying the number of shares owned by such holder in the Corporation.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimiles.  In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued with the same effect as if he, she or it were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.  Each certificate shall state upon the face or back thereof, in full or in summary, all of the powers, designations, preferences, and rights and the limitations or restrictions of the shares authorized to be issued or shall, except as otherwise required by Delaware Law, set forth on the face or back a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each Stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional, or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.  Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to this Section 6.01 or otherwise required by Delaware Law or pursuant to this Section 6.01 a statement that the Corporation will furnish without charge to each Stockholder who so requests the powers, designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights. The Corporation shall not have power to issue a certificate in bearer form.

 

Section 6.02.                         Lost Certificates.  A new certificate or certificates shall be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed.  The Corporation may require, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owner’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require or to give the Corporation and/or transfer agent and/or registrar a surety bond in such form and amount

 

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as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.

 

Section 6.03.                         Transfers.

 

(a)                        Transfers of record of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made only upon its books by the holders thereof, in person or by attorney duly authorized, and upon the surrender of a properly endorsed certificate or certificates for a like number of shares.

 

(b)                        The Corporation shall have power to enter into and perform any agreement with any number of Stockholders of any one or more classes of stock of the Corporation to restrict the transfer of shares of stock of the Corporation of any one or more classes owned by such Stockholders in any manner not prohibited by Delaware Law.

 

(c)                         The Corporation shall have the right by appropriate action to impose restrictions upon the transfer of any shares of its stock, or any interest therein, from time to time, so long as such restrictions are consistent with the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

(d)                        The Board of Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificated or uncertificated shares of the stock of the Corporation, as well as for the issuance of new certificates in lieu of those which may be lost or destroyed.

 

Section 6.04.                         Fixing Record Dates.

 

(a)                        In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of Stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided that the Board of Directors may in its discretion or as required by Delaware Law fix a new record date for determination of Stockholders entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting, and in such case shall fix the same date or an earlier date as the record date for Stockholders entitled to notice of such adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                        In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the Stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon

 

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

 

Section 6.05.                         Registered Stockholders.  The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by Delaware Law.

 

ARTICLE VII
OTHER SECURITIES OF THE CORPORATION

 

All bonds, debentures and other corporate securities of the Corporation, other than stock certificates (covered in Section 6.01), may be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or Chief Executive Officer or any Vice President, or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, and the corporate seal impressed thereon or a facsimile of such seal imprinted thereon and attested by the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Chief Financial Officer or Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer; provided, however, that where any such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be authenticated by the manual signature, or where permissible facsimile signature, of a trustee under an indenture pursuant to which such bond, debenture or other corporate security shall be issued, the signatures of the persons signing and attesting the corporate seal on such bond, debenture or other corporate security may be the imprinted facsimile of the signatures of such persons.  Interest coupons appertaining to any such bond, debenture or other corporate security, authenticated by a trustee as aforesaid, shall be signed by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation or such other person as may be authorized by the Board of Directors, or bear imprinted thereon the facsimile signature of such person.  In case any officer who shall have signed or attested any bond, debenture or other corporate security, or whose facsimile signature shall appear thereon or on any such interest coupon, shall have ceased to be such officer before the bond, debenture or other corporate security so signed or attested shall have been delivered, such bond, debenture or other corporate security nevertheless may be adopted by the Corporation and issued and delivered as though the person who signed the same or whose facsimile signature shall have been used thereon had not ceased to be such officer of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII
DIVIDENDS

 

Section 8.01.                         Declaration of Dividends.  Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors pursuant to Delaware Law at any regular or special meeting.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

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Section 8.02.                         Dividend Reserve.  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 Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, thinks proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think conducive to the interests of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

ARTICLE IX
FISCAL YEAR

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.

 

ARTICLE X
NOTICES

 

Section 10.01.                  Notices.

 

(a)                        Notice to Stockholders.  Whenever, under any provisions of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any Stockholder, it shall be given in writing, timely and duly deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed to the Stockholder’s last known post office address as shown by the stock record of the Corporation or its transfer agent.

 

(b)                        Notice to Directors.  Any notice required to be given to any director may be given by the method stated in paragraph (a), or by facsimile, telex, telegram or electronic mail, except that such notice other than one which is delivered personally shall be sent to such address as such director shall have filed in writing with the Secretary, or, in the absence of such filing, to the last known post office address of such director.

 

(c)                         Affidavit of Mailing.  An affidavit of mailing, executed by a duly authorized and competent employee of the Corporation or its transfer agent appointed with respect to the class of stock affected, specifying the name and address or the names and addresses of the Stockholder or Stockholders, or director or directors, to whom any such notice or notices was or were given, and the time and method of giving the same, shall in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the facts therein contained.

 

(d)                        Time Notices Deemed Given.  All notices given by mail, as above provided, shall be deemed to have been given as at the time of mailing, and all notices given by facsimile, telex or telegram shall be deemed to have been given as of the sending time recorded at the time of transmission.

 

(e)                         Methods of Notice.  It shall not be necessary that the same method of giving notice be employed in respect of all directors, but one permissible method may be employed in respect of any one or more, and any other permissible method or methods may be employed in respect of any other or others.

 

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(f)                          Failure to Receive Notice.  The period or limitation of time within which any Stockholder may exercise any option or right, or enjoy any privilege or benefit, or be required to act, or within which any director may exercise any power or right, or enjoy any privilege, pursuant to any notice sent to such Stockholder or director in the manner above provided, shall not be affected or extended in any manner by the failure of such Stockholder or such director to receive such notice.

 

(g)                         Notice to Person with Whom Communication Is Unlawful.  Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of Delaware Law or of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any person with whom communication is unlawful, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required and there shall be no duty to apply to any governmental authority or agency for a license or permit to give such notice to such person.  Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to any such person with whom communication is unlawful shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.  In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of Delaware Law, the certificate shall state, if such is the fact and if notice is required, that notice was given to all persons entitled to receive notice except such persons with whom communication is unlawful.

 

(h)                        Notice to Person with Undeliverable Address.  Whenever notice is required to be given, under any provision of Delaware Law or the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, to any Stockholder to whom (i) notice of two (2)  consecutive annual meetings, and all notices of meetings or of the taking of action by written consent without a meeting to such person during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (ii) all, and at least two (2), payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest on securities during a twelve-month period, have been mailed to such person at such person’s address as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such person shall not be required.  Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to such person shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had been duly given.  If any such person shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting forth such person’s then current address, the requirement that notice be given to such person shall be reinstated.  In the event that the action taken by the Corporation is such as to require the filing of a certificate under any provision of Delaware Law, the certificate need not state that notice was not given to persons to whom notice was not required to be given pursuant to this paragraph (h).

 

ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS

 

These Bylaws or any of them, may be altered, amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may be made, by the Stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special meeting thereof or by the Board of Directors.  Unless a higher percentage is required by the Certificate of Incorporation as to any matter that is the subject of these Bylaws, all such amendments must be approved by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 662/3% of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of stock

 

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entitled to vote at a meeting of Stockholders, voting together as a single class, or by a majority of the Board of Directors. For so long as the Corporation shall control, directly or indirectly, a national securities exchange (an “Exchange”) registered under Section 6 of the 1934 Act with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), before any amendment to or repeal of any provision of these Bylaws shall be effective, those changes shall be submitted to the board of directors of each Exchange and if the same must be filed with or filed with and approved by the Commission before the changes may be effective, under Section 19 of the 1934 Act and the rules promulgated under the 1934 Act by the Commission or otherwise, then the proposed changes to these Bylaws shall not be effective until filed with or filed with and approved by the Commission, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE XII
SRO FUNCTIONS OF EXCHANGES

 

Section 12.01.                  Non-Interference.  For so long as the Corporation shall, directly or indirectly, control an Exchange, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation shall give due regard to the preservation of the independence of the self-regulatory function of the Exchange and to its obligations to investors and the general public and shall not take actions which would interfere with the effectuation of decisions by the Board of Directors of the Exchange relating to its regulatory functions (including disciplinary matters) or which would interfere with the Exchange’s ability to carry out its responsibilities under the 1934 Act.  No present or past Stockholder, employee, beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor, regulatory authority (or member thereof) or other person or entity shall have any rights against the Corporation or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation under this Section 12.01.

 

Section 12.02.                  Confidentiality.  All books and records of the Exchange reflecting confidential information pertaining to the self-regulatory function of the Exchange (including but not limited to disciplinary matters, trading data, trading practices and audit information) that shall come into the possession of the Corporation, and the information contained in those books and records shall not be made available to any persons (other than as provided in the next sentence) other than to those officers, directors, employees and agents of the Corporation that have a reasonable need to know the contents thereof, and shall be retained in confidence by the Corporation and the members of the Board of Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation, and shall not be used for any non-regulatory purposes.  Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, nothing in these Bylaws shall be interpreted so as to limit or impede the rights of the Commission or the Exchange to access and examine such confidential information pursuant to the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder, or to limit or impede the ability of any officers, directors, employees or agents of the Corporation to disclose such confidential information to the Commission or the Exchange.

 

Section 12.03.                  Books and Records, etc.  All books and records of the Corporation shall be maintained at a location within the United States.  To the extent they are related to the operation or administration of the Exchange, the books, records, premises, officers, directors, agents, and employees of the Corporation shall be deemed to

 

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be the books, records, premises, officers, directors, agents and employees of the Exchange for the purposes of, and subject to oversight pursuant to, the 1934 Act.  For so long as the Corporation shall control, directly or indirectly, the Exchange, the Corporation’s books and records shall be subject at all times to inspection and copying by the Commission and the Exchange, provided that such books and records are related to the operation or administration of the Exchange.

 

Section 12.04.                  Compliance with Securities Laws; Cooperation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The Corporation shall comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and shall cooperate with the Commission and the Exchange pursuant to and to the extent of their respective regulatory authority.  The officers, directors, employees and agents of the Corporation, by virtue of their acceptance of such position, shall comply with the federal securities laws and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and shall be deemed to agree to cooperate with the Commission and the Exchange in respect of the Commission’s oversight responsibilities regarding the Exchange and the self-regulatory functions and responsibilities of the Exchange, and the Corporation shall take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors, employees and agents to so cooperate.  No present or past Stockholder, employee, beneficiary, agent, customer, creditor, regulatory authority (or member thereof) or other person or entity shall have any rights against the Corporation or any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation under this Section 12.04.

 

Section 12.05.                  Consent to Jurisdiction.  The Corporation and its officers, directors, employees and agents by virtue of their acceptance of such positions, shall be deemed to irrevocably submit to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts, the Commission, and the Exchange, for the purposes of any suit, action or proceeding pursuant to the United States federal securities laws, and the rules or regulations thereunder, arising out of, or relating to, the activities of the Exchange, and by virtue of their acceptance of any such position, shall be deemed to waive, and agree not to assert by way of motion, as a defense or otherwise in any such suit, action or proceeding, any claims that it or they are not personally subject to the jurisdiction of the United States federal courts, the Commission or the Exchange, that the suit, action or proceeding is an inconvenient forum or that the venue of the suit, action or proceeding is improper, or that the subject matter of that suit, action or proceeding may not be enforced in or by such courts or agency.  The Corporation and its officers, directors, employees and agents also agree that they will maintain an agent, in the United States, for the service of process of a claim arising out of, or relating to, the activities of the Exchange.

 

Section 12.06.                  Consent to Application.  The Corporation shall take reasonable steps necessary to cause its officers, directors and employees, prior to accepting a position as an officer, director or employee, as applicable, of the Corporation to consent in writing to the applicability to them of this Article XII, as applicable, with respect to their activities related to the Exchange.

 

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