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EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - VALSPAR CORPd383000dex991.htm
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8-K - FORM 8-K - VALSPAR CORPd383000d8k.htm

Exhibit 3.2

 

 

THE VALSPAR CORPORATION

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

JUNE 1, 2017


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

        

Page

ARTICLE I    MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

  1

Section 1.

   Time and Place of Meetings   1

Section 2.

   Annual Meeting   1

Section 3.

   Special Meetings   1

Section 4.

   Notice of Meetings   2

Section 5.

   Quorum   2

Section 6.

   Voting   3

Section 7.

   Action Without Meeting   3

ARTICLE II    DIRECTORS

  6

Section 1.

   Powers   6

Section 2.

   Number and Term of Office   6

Section 3.

   Vacancies and New Directorships   7

Section 4.

   Regular Meetings   7

Section 5.

   Special Meetings   7

Section 6.

   Quorum   7

Section 7.

   Written Action   7

Section 8.

   Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone   8

Section 9.

   Committees   8

Section 10.

   Compensation   9

Section 11.

   Rules   9

ARTICLE III    NOTICES

  9

Section 1.

   Generally   9

Section 2.

   Notice to the Corporation   10

Section 3.

   Waivers   10

ARTICLE IV    OFFICERS

  10

Section 1.

   Generally   10

Section 2.

   Compensation   11

Section 3.

   Succession   11

 

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

        

Page

Section 4.

   Authority and Duties   11

Section 5.

   Execution of Documents and Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations   11

ARTICLE V    STOCK

  12

Section 1.

   Certificates   12

Section 2.

   Transfer   12

Section 3.

   Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates   12

Section 4.

   Record Date   13

ARTICLE VI    INDEMNIFICATION

  14

ARTICLE VII    GENERAL PROVISIONS

  20

Section 1.

   Fiscal Year   20

Section 2.

   Corporate Seal   20

Section 3.

   Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records   20

Section 4.

   Time Periods   20

Section 5.

   Dividends   21

ARTICLE VIII    AMENDMENTS

  21

Section 1.

   Amendments   21

 

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BYLAWS

(these “Bylaws”)

OF THE VALSPAR CORPORATION

(the “Corporation”)

ARTICLE I

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Time and Place of Meetings. All meetings of the Stockholders (each, a “Stockholder”) for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware (“Delaware”), as may be designated by the Board of the Corporation (“the Board”), or by the Chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”), the President of the Corporation (the “President”) or the Secretary of the Corporation (the “Secretary”) in the absence of a designation by the Board, and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof. Stockholders may participate in an annual or special meeting of the Stockholders by use of any means of communication by which all Stockholders participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Stockholder’s participation in a meeting by any such means of communication constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

Section 2. Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the Stockholders shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board, at which meeting the Stockholders shall elect by a plurality vote the directors to succeed those whose terms expire and shall transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation of the


Corporation, as may be amended (the “Charter”), may be called by the Board, the Chairman or the President.

Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Notice of every meeting of the Stockholders, stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, and delivered in accordance with Section 1 of Article III hereof, shall be given not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each Stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or by law. When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof and the means of remote communication, if any, are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

Section 5. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law or by the Charter. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the Stockholders, the Stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented.

 

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Section 6. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Charter, each Stockholder shall be entitled at every meeting of the Stockholders to one vote for each share of stock having voting power standing in the name of such Stockholder on the books of the Corporation on the record date for the meeting and such votes may be cast either in person or by written proxy. Every proxy must be duly executed and filed with the Secretary. A Stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing a later date with the Secretary. The vote upon any question brought before a meeting of the Stockholders may be by voice vote, unless the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at such meeting shall so determine. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock that has voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question properly brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision of law, the Charter or these Bylaws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.

Section 7. Action Without Meeting.

(a) Unless otherwise provided in the Charter, any action required by the Delaware General Corporation Law (“DGCL”) to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the Stockholders, or any action that may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such Stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing or by telecopy, telex, telegram, email or other electronic transmission (collectively, an “electronic transmission”), setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes

 

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that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted and shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded (an “Approved Delivery”); provided, however, that action by written consent to elect directors, if less than unanimous, shall be in lieu of holding an annual meeting only if all the directorships to which directors could be elected at an annual meeting held at the effective time of such action are vacant and are filled by such action. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

(b) Every written consent or electronic transmission under this Article I, Section 7 shall bear the date of signature of each Stockholder who signs the consent, and no written consent or electronic transmission shall be effective to take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60 days of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the manner herein required, written consents or electronic transmissions signed by a sufficient number of Stockholders to take action are delivered to the Corporation by an Approved Delivery. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.

(c) Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those Stockholders who have not consented in writing or by electronic transmission and who, if the action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents or electronic transmissions signed by a sufficient number of Stockholders to take action were delivered to the Corporation as provided in Section 228(c) of the DGCL.

 

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(d) An electronic transmission consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a Stockholder or proxyholder, or by a person or persons authorized to act for a Stockholder or proxyholder, shall be deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purposes of this Article I, Section 7, provided that any such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with information from which the Corporation can determine (i) that the electronic transmission was transmitted by the Stockholder or proxyholder or by a person or persons authorized to act for the Stockholder or proxyholder and (ii) the date on which such Stockholder, proxyholder or authorized person or persons transmitted such electronic transmission. The date on which such electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which such consent was signed. No consent given by electronic transmission shall be deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form and until such paper form shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in the Delaware, its principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded. Delivery made to the Corporation’s registered office shall be made by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Notwithstanding the foregoing limitations on delivery, consents given by electronic transmission may be otherwise delivered to the principal place of business of the Corporation or to an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of meetings of Stockholders are recorded if, to the extent and in the manner provided by resolution of the Board. Any copy, facsimile or other reliable reproduction of a consent in writing may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing for any and all purposes for which the original writing could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing.

 

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ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

Section 1. Powers. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of its Board, which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by law or by the Charter directed or required to be exercised or done by the Stockholders.

Section 2. Number and Term of Office. Except as otherwise required by any Stockholders agreement by and among the Corporation and its Stockholders, (a) the Board shall consist of one or more members and (b) the number of directors shall be fixed by resolution from time to time of the Board or by the Stockholders at the annual meeting or a special meeting. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the Stockholders, except as provided in Section 3 of this Article, and each director elected shall hold office until such director’s successor is elected and qualified or until such director’s earlier resignation or removal, in each case except as required by law. Except as otherwise required by any Stockholders agreement by and among the Corporation and its Stockholders, the Board may, at its discretion, elect a Chairman from the directors currently in office by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the Chairman so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Stockholders and until his/her successor is elected and qualified, except as required by law. Any decrease in the authorized number of directors shall not be effective until the expiration of the term of the directors then in office, unless, at the time of such decrease, there shall be vacancies on the Board which are being eliminated by such decrease.

 

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Section 3. Vacancies and New Directorships. Except as otherwise required by any Stockholders agreement by and among the Corporation and its Stockholders, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors which occur between annual meetings of the Stockholders may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualified, except as required by law.

Section  4. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held without notice immediately after the annual meeting of the Stockholders and at such other time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.

Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman or the President on one day’s notice to each director by whom such notice is not waived, given in accordance with Section 1 of Article III hereof, and shall be called by the President or the Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of any director.

Section 6. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the total number of directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time to another place, time or date, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

Section  7. Written Action. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members

 

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of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or Committee.

Section 8. Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board, or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board, or a meeting of any such committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 9. Committees. Except as otherwise required by any Stockholders agreement by and among the Corporation and its Stockholders, the Board may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation and each to have such lawfully delegable powers and duties as the Board may confer and each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board. Except as otherwise required by any Stockholders agreement by and among the Corporation and its Stockholders, the Board 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. Except as otherwise provided by law, any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board 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. Any committee or committees so designated by the Board shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board. Unless otherwise prescribed by the Board, a majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the

 

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transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of such committee. Each committee shall prescribe its own rules for calling and holding meetings and its method of procedure, subject to any rules prescribed by the Board, and shall keep a written record of all actions taken by it.

Section 10. Compensation. The Board may establish such compensation for, and reimbursement of the expenses of, directors for attendance at meetings of the Board or committees, or for other services by directors to the Corporation, as the Board may determine.

Section 11. Rules. The Board may adopt such special rules and regulations for the conduct of their meetings and the management of the affairs of the Corporation as they may deem proper, not inconsistent with law or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE III

NOTICES

Section 1. Generally. Whenever by law or under the provisions of the Charter or these Bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or Stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or Stockholder, at such director’s or Stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail. Except as otherwise required or prohibited by law, notice to directors and Stockholders may also be given by facsimile, by telephone, electronic mail, posting on an electronic network together with separate notice to the director or Stockholder of such specific posting (which notice shall be deemed given upon the later of such posting and the giving of such separate notice), or by any other form of electronic transmission consented to by the Stockholder or director to whom the

 

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notice is given. Except as otherwise stated therein, notice pursuant to the preceding sentence will be deemed to be given at the time when the same is sent.

Section 2. Notice to the Corporation. Any notice, request or other communication required or permitted to be given to the Corporation under these Bylaws shall be in writing and either delivered in person or sent by an electronic transmission, overnight mail or courier service, or certified or registered mail, postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary and shall be effective only upon receipt by the Secretary.

Section 3. Waivers. Whenever any notice is required to be given by law or under the provisions of the Charter or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled to such notice, in each case, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

Section 1. Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board and shall consist of a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board may also elect such other officers, as the Board deems desirable, including, without limitation, the election of a Chief Executive Officer and a Chief Financial Officer. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

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Section 2. Compensation. The compensation of all officers and agents of the Corporation who are also directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board. The Board may delegate the power to fix the compensation of other officers and agents of the Corporation to an officer of the Corporation.

Section 3. Succession. The officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified or until such officer’s earlier resignation or removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled by the Board.

Section  4. Authority and Duties. Each of the officers of the Corporation shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as are customarily incident to their respective offices, or as may be specified from time to time by the Board in a resolution which is not inconsistent with these Bylaws.

Section  5. Execution of Documents and Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations. The President shall have and is hereby given, full power and authority, except as otherwise required by law or directed by the Board, (a) to execute, on behalf of the Corporation, all duly authorized contracts, agreements, deeds, conveyances or other obligations of the Corporation, applications, consents, proxies and other powers of attorney, and other documents and instruments, and (b) to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of Stockholders, members, partners or other equity holders (or with respect to any action of such Stockholders, members, partners or other equity holders) of any other corporation, limited liability company, partnership or other entity in which the Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which the

 

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Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities. In addition, the President may delegate to other officers, employees and agents of the Corporation the power and authority to take any action which the President is authorized to take under this Section 5, with such limitations as the President may specify; such authority so delegated by the President shall not be re-delegated by the person to whom such execution authority has been delegated.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

Section 1. Certificates. Certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be determined by the Board, subject to applicable legal requirements. Such certificates shall be numbered and their issuance recorded in the books of the Corporation, and each such certificate shall exhibit the holder’s name and the number of shares and shall be signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman or Vice-Chairman of the Corporation or the President or Vice-President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures upon such certificates may be facsimiles, engraved or printed.

Section 2. Transfer. 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.

Section 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. The Secretary may direct a new certificate or certificates to 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, satisfactory to the Secretary, by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost,

 

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stolen or destroyed. As a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates the Secretary may require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or such owner’s legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Secretary may direct as indemnity against any claims that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of the new certificate.

Section 4. Record Date.

(a) In order that the Corporation is able to determine the Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting. If no record date is fixed by the Board, 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, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board, and which date shall not be more than ten days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board. If no record date has been fixed by the Board, the

 

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record date for determining Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by an Approved Delivery. Delivery made to a Corporation’s registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by law, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

(c) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any 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 may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than 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 adopts the resolution relating thereto.

ARTICLE VI

INDEMNIFICATION

Section 1. The Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) shall indemnify and hold harmless every person, his heirs, executors and administrators, against any and all expense, liability and loss (including without limitation judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties, amounts paid in settlement and attorneys’ fees), incurred or suffered by such person in connection with any claim, action, suit or

 

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proceeding (whether actual or threatened, brought by or in the right of the Corporation or otherwise, civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including appeals) (a “Proceeding”), to which he may be or is made a party by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or she is the legal representative is or was, at any time during which these Bylaws are in effect (whether such person continues to serve in such capacity at the time any indemnification or advancement of expenses pursuant hereto is sought or at the time any Proceeding relating thereto exits or is brought), a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was at any such time serving, at the request of the Corporation, as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans maintained or sponsored by the Corporation (hereinafter, a “Covered Person”), whether the basis of such Proceeding is alleged action in an official capacity as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent or in any other capacity while serving as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent; provided, however, the Corporation shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board.

Section 2. To obtain indemnification under these Bylaws, a claimant shall submit to the Corporation a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to the claimant and is reasonably necessary to determine whether and to what extent the claimant is entitled to indemnification. Upon written request by a claimant for indemnification, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to the claimant’s entitlement thereto shall be made as follows: (1) if requested by the claimant, by a law firm, a member of a law firm, or an independent practitioner, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and shall include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional

 

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conduct then prevailing, would not have a conflict of interest in representing either the Corporation or the claimant in an action to determine the claimant’s rights under these Bylaws (hereinafter, “Independent Counsel”), or (2) if no request is made by the claimant for a determination by Independent Counsel, (i) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not and were as not a party to the matter in respect of which indemnification is sought by the claimant (each a “Disinterested Director”), or (ii) if a quorum of the Board consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if obtainable, such quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by Independent Counsel in a written opinion to the Board, a copy of which shall be delivered to the claimant, or (iii) if a quorum of Disinterested Directors so directs, by a majority vote of the Stockholders. In the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by Independent Counsel, the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the Board unless there shall have occurred within two years prior to the date of the commencement of the Proceeding for which indemnification is claimed a change in control of the Corporation, in which case the Independent Counsel shall be selected by the claimant unless the claimant shall request that such selection be made by the Board. If it is so determined that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, payment to the claimant shall be made within ten days after such determination.

Section 3. Each Covered Person shall have the right, without the need for any action by the Board, to be paid by the Corporation (and any successor of the Corporation by merger or otherwise) the expenses incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of its final disposition, such advances to be paid by the Corporation within 20 days after the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from the claimant requesting such advance or advances from time to time: provided, however, that if the DGCL requires, the payment of such expenses

 

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incurred by a director or officer in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and not in any other capacity in which service was or is rendered by such person while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an employee benefit plan) shall be made only upon an Approved Delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking (hereinafter, the “Undertaking”) by or on behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal (a “final disposition”) that such director or officer is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses under these Bylaws or otherwise.

Section 4. If a claim for indemnification (following final disposition of such Proceeding) under this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within 30 days after a written claim pursuant to these Bylaws has been received by the Corporation, or if a request for advancement of expenses under this Article VI is not paid in full by the Corporation within 20 days after a statement pursuant to these Bylaws and the required Undertaking, if any, have been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim for indemnification or request for advancement of expenses and, if successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action that, under the DGCL, the claimant has not met the standard of conduct which makes it permissible for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed or that the claimant is not entitled to the requested advancement of expenses, but (except where the required Undertaking, if any is required, has not been tendered to the Corporation) the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board, Independent Counsel or Stockholders) to have made a determination prior to the commencement

 

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of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the DGCL, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board, Independent Counsel or Stockholders) that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable standard of conduct. If a determination shall have been made pursuant to these Bylaws that the claimant is entitled to indemnification, the Corporation shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this paragraph. The Corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding commenced pursuant to this paragraph that the procedures and presumptions of these Bylaws are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in such proceeding that the Corporation is bound by all the provisions of these Bylaws.

Section 5. The provisions of this Article VI shall be applicable to claims, actions, suits or proceedings made or commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from acts or omissions to act occurring before or after the adoption hereof. All of the rights conferred in this Article VI, as to indemnification, advancement of expenses and otherwise, shall be contract rights between the Corporation and each Covered Person to whom such rights are extended that vest at the commencement of such Covered Person’s service to or at the request of the Corporation and (x) any amendment or modification of this Article VI that in any way diminishes or adversely affects any such rights shall be prospective only and shall not in any way diminish or adversely affect any such rights with respect to any actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission occurring prior to the time of such amendment or modification, or Proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened based in whole or in part upon any such actual or alleged state of facts, occurrence, action or omission, and (y) all of such rights

 

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shall continue as to any such Covered Person who has ceased to be a director or officer or ceased to serve at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, as described herein, and shall inure to the benefit of such Covered Person’s heirs, executors and administrators.

Section 6. The rights of indemnification provided in this Article VI (i) shall not be exclusive of any rights to which any person may otherwise be entitled under any statute, provision of the Charter, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of Stockholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise and (ii) cannot be terminated by the Corporation, the Board or the Stockholders with respect to a person’s service prior to the date of such termination.

Section 7. In addition to the protection provided to directors and officers under the Charter and to Covered Persons under the foregoing provisions of these Bylaws, their liability shall be limited to, and their rights of indemnification and expense advances shall extend to, the fullest extent permitted under applicable provisions of the DGCL as the same exists or may hereafter be amended or modified from time to time (but, in the case of any such amendment or modification, only to the extent that such amendment or modification permits the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment or modification). The provisions of these Bylaws may also be extended, at the discretion of the Board, to other employees and agents of the corporation, and shall in all events extend to the legal representatives of indemnified persons.

Section 8. If any provision or provisions of these Bylaws shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (1) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or

 

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unenforceable, that is not itself held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (2) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of these Bylaws (including, without limitation, each such portion of any paragraph of these Bylaws containing any such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or unenforceable.

ARTICLE VII

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the Board.

Section 2. Corporate Seal. The Board may adopt a corporate seal and use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

Section 3. Reliance upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each member of a committee designated by the Board and each officer of the Corporation will, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporation’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person as to matters the director, committee member or officer reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

Section 4. 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.

 

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Section 5. Dividends. The Board may from time to time declare and the Corporation may pay dividends upon its outstanding shares of capital stock, in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law and the Charter.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1. Amendments. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, or new bylaws may be adopted, by the Stockholders or by the Board.

 

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