EX-3.2 3 a08-11739_2ex3d2.htm EX-3.2

Exhibit 3.2

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

GUARANTY BANCORP

 

ARTICLE I

 

Stockholders

 

SECTION 1.                                                             Annual Meeting.  The annual meeting of the stockholders of Guaranty Bancorp (the “Corporation”) shall be held on such date, at such time and at such place within or without the State of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors, for the purpose of electing Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.

 

SECTION 2.                                                             Special Meetings.  A special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the Chairman to be held at such date, time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as may be stated in the notice of the meeting.  A special meeting of stockholders shall be called by the Secretary upon the written request, stating the purpose of the meeting, of stockholders who together own of record twenty-five (25) percent of the outstanding shares of each class of stock entitled to vote at the meeting, such meeting to be held at such date, time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as may be stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

SECTION 3.                                                             Notice of Meetings.  Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or as required by law, a written notice of each meeting of the stockholders shall be given not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting.  The notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 4.                                                             Quorum.  At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority in number of the total outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum of the stockholders for all purposes, unless the representation of a larger number of shares shall be required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, in which case the representation of the number of shares so required shall constitute a quorum; provided that at any meeting of the stockholders at which the holders of any class of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to vote separately as a class, the holders of a majority in number of the total outstanding shares of such class,

 



 

present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for purposes of such class vote unless the representation of a larger number of shares of such class shall be required by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 5.                                                             Adjourned Meetings.  Whether or not a quorum shall be present in person or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority in number of the shares of stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting may adjourn such meeting from time to time; provided, however, that if the holders of any class of stock of the Corporation are entitled to vote separately as a class upon any matter at such meeting, any adjournment of the meeting in respect of action by such class upon such matter shall be determined by the holders of a majority of the shares of such class present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting; provided further, that the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to adjourn any meeting of stockholders without a vote of the stockholders.  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 stockholders, or the holder of any class of stock entitled to vote separately as a class, as the case may be, may transact any business which might have been transacted by them at the original meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty 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 adjourned meeting.

 

SECTION 6.                                                             Organization.  The Chairman or, in the Chairman’s absence, the Chief Executive Officer, or in the Chief Executive Officer’s absence, the President shall call all meetings of the stockholders to order, and shall act as chairman of such meetings.  In the absence of the Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer and the President, the Board of Directors shall designate a chairman to preside over the meeting, or in the absence of such designation, the holders of a majority in number of the shares of stock of the Corporation present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote at such meeting shall elect a chairman to preside over the meeting.

 

The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the stockholders; but in the absence of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

The order of business at each such meeting shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.  The chairman of the meeting shall have the right and authority to adjourn a meeting of stockholders without a vote of stockholders and to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts and things as are necessary or desirable for the proper conduct of the meeting and are not inconsistent with any rules or regulations adopted by the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, including the establishment of procedures for the maintenance of order and safety, limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments on the affairs of the Corporation, restrictions on entry to such meeting after the time prescribed for the

 

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commencement thereof and the opening and closing of the voting polls for each item upon which a vote is to be taken.

 

SECTION 7.                                                             Voting; Proxies.  Except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or by law, each stockholder shall be entitled to one vote for each share of the capital stock of the Corporation registered in the name of such stockholder upon the books of the Corporation.  Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.  A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power, regardless of whether the interest with which it is coupled is an interest in the stock itself or an interest in the Corporation generally.  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.  Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot unless so directed by the chairman of the meeting or the Board of Directors.  In all matters, unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the votes cast for or against the matter at the meeting by stockholders entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.

 

Shares of the capital stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of Directors of such other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes.

 

SECTION 8.                                                             Inspectors.  When required by law or directed by the presiding officer or upon the demand of any stockholder entitled to vote, but not otherwise, the polls shall be opened and closed, the proxies and ballots shall be received and taken in charge, and all questions touching the qualification of voters, the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided at any meeting of the stockholders by one or more Inspectors who may be appointed by the Board of Directors before the meeting, or if not so appointed, shall be appointed by the presiding officer at the meeting.  If any person so appointed fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment in like manner.  In determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the Inspectors shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted therewith, any information provided by a stockholder who submits a proxy by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission from which it can be determined that the proxy was authorized by the stockholder, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, and they may also consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the stockholder holds of record.

 

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SECTION 9.                                                             List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote.  It shall be the duty of the Secretary to prepare and make, at least ten (10) days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.  Such list shall be open, at the principal place of business of the Corporation and at the place where the meeting is to be held, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, and shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present.

 

SECTION 10.                                                       Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees for Director and Other Stockholder Proposals.

 

(a) The matters to be considered and brought before any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall be limited to only such matters, including the nomination and election of directors, as shall be brought properly before such meeting in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 10.

 

(b)                                 For any matter to be properly brought before any annual meeting of stockholders, the matter must be (i) specified in the notice of annual meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) brought before the annual meeting in the manner specified in this Section 10(b) (x) by a stockholder that holds record stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the annual meeting on such matter (including any election of a director) or (y) by a person (a “Nominee Holder”) that holds such stock through a nominee or “street name” holder of record of such stock and can demonstrate to the Corporation such indirect ownership of, and such Nominee Holder’s entitlement to vote, such stock on such matter.  In addition to any other requirements under applicable law, the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws, persons nominated by stockholders for election as directors of the Corporation and any other proposals by stockholders shall be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders only if notice in the manner contemplated hereby of any such matter to be presented by a stockholder at such meeting (a “Stockholder Notice”) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred and twenty (120) days prior to the first anniversary date of the annual meeting for the preceding year; provided, however, that if and only if the annual meeting is not scheduled to be held within a period that commences thirty (30) days before such anniversary date and ends thirty (30) days after such anniversary date (an annual meeting date outside such period being referred to herein as an “Other Meeting Date”), such Stockholder Notice shall be given in the manner provided herein by the later of (i) the close of business on the date ninety (90) days prior to such Other Meeting Date or (ii) the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which such Other Meeting Date is first publicly announced or disclosed.  Any stockholder entitled to nominate any person or persons (as the case may be) for election as a director or directors of the Corporation shall deliver, as part of such Stockholder Notice, a statement in

 

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writing setting forth the name of the person or persons to be nominated, the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Corporation owned of record and beneficially by each such person, as reported to such stockholder by such person, the information regarding each such person required by paragraphs (a), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation subsequently adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission applicable to the Corporation), each such person’s signed consent to serve as a director of the Corporation if elected, such stockholder’s name and address, the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Corporation owned of record and beneficially by such stockholder and any direct or indirect short interest of such stockholder in any security of the Corporation and, in the case of a Nominee Holder, evidence establishing such Nominee Holder’s indirect ownership of stock and entitlement to vote such stock for the election of directors at the annual meeting.  Any stockholder who gives a Stockholder Notice of any matter (other than a nomination for director) proposed to be brought before an annual meeting of stockholders shall deliver, as part of such Stockholder Notice, the text of the proposal to be presented (including the text of any resolutions to be proposed for consideration by stockholders) and a brief written statement of the reasons why such stockholder favors the proposal and setting forth such stockholder’s name and address, the number and class of all shares of each class of stock of the Corporation owned of record and beneficially by such stockholder, any material interest of such stockholder in the matter proposed (other than as a stockholder), if applicable, and, in the case of a Nominee Holder, evidence establishing such Nominee Holder’s indirect ownership of stock and entitlement to vote such stock on the matter proposed at the annual meeting.  As used in these Bylaws, shares “beneficially owned” shall mean all shares which such person is deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”).  If a stockholder is entitled to vote only for a specific class or category of directors at a meeting (annual or special), such stockholder’s right to nominate one or more individuals for election as a director at the meeting shall be limited to such class or category of directors.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine whether the nominee would be considered “independent” under the various rules and standards applicable to the Corporation.

 

Notwithstanding any provision of this Section 10 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at the next annual meeting of stockholders is increased by virtue of an increase in the size of the Board of Directors and either all of the nominees for director at the next annual meeting of stockholders or the size of the increased Board of Directors is not publicly announced or disclosed by the Corporation at least one hundred (100) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a Stockholder Notice shall also be considered timely hereunder, but only with respect to nominees to stand for election at the next annual meeting as the result of any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the first day on

 

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which all such nominees or the size of the increased Board of Directors shall have been publicly announced or disclosed.

 

(c)                                  Only such matters shall be properly brought before a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of such meeting.  In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of such director(s) at such meeting may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as are specified in the Corporation’s notice of such meeting, but only if the Stockholder Notice required by Section 10(b) hereof shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the first day on which the date of the special meeting and either the names of all nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting or the number of directors to be elected shall have been publicly announced or disclosed.

 

(d)                                 For purposes of this Section 10, a matter shall be deemed to have been “publicly announced or disclosed” if such matter is disclosed in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, the Associated Press or a comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

(e)                                  In no event shall the postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting or a special meeting, or any announcement thereof, commence a new period (or extend any time period) for the giving of notice as provided in this Section 10.  This Section 10 shall not apply to any stockholder proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

(f)                                    The chairman of any meeting of stockholders, in addition to making any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall have the power and duty to determine whether notice of nominees and other matters proposed to be brought before a meeting has been duly given in the manner provided in this Section 10 and, if not so given, shall direct and declare at the meeting that such nominees and other matters are not properly before the meeting and shall not be considered.

 

SECTION 11.                                                       Approval of Stockholder Proposals.  Except as otherwise required by law, any matter (other than a nomination for director) that has been properly brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation by a stockholder (including a Nominee Holder) in compliance with the procedures set forth in Section 10 of this Article, or with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, shall require for approval thereof the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, with all shares of capital stock considered for this purpose as a single class.  Any vote of stockholders required by this Section 11 shall be in addition to any other vote of

 

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stockholders of the Corporation that may be required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, by any agreement with a national securities exchange or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Board of Directors

 

SECTION 1.                                                             Number and Term of Office.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors, none of whom need be stockholders of the Corporation.  The number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by resolution passed by a majority of the Board of Directors.  The Directors shall, except as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation with respect to filling vacancies, be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders in the manner described in Section 2 of this Article II, and shall hold office until their respective successors are elected and qualified or until their earlier resignation or removal.

 

SECTION 2.                                                             Election.  Except as may be otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation, each director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast (meaning the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such nominee) at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, provided that the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast (instead of by votes cast for or against a nominee) at any meeting at which a quorum is present for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice pursuant to these Bylaws that a stockholder intends to nominate a director or directors and (ii) such proposed nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or prior to the tenth day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders.

 

SECTION 3.                                                             Removal; Vacancies.  No director may be removed and no vacancy may be filled except as provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.

 

SECTION 4.                                                             Place of Meeting.  The Board of Directors may hold its meetings in such place or places in the State of Delaware or outside the State of Delaware as the Board from time to time shall determine.

 

SECTION 5.                                                             Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times and places as the Board of Directors from time to time shall determine and if so determined, notice thereof shall not be required to be given.

 

SECTION 6.                                                             Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held whenever called by direction of the Chairman, or by any two of the Directors then in office.

 

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Notice of the day, hour and place of holding of each special meeting shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting by mailing the same at least two days before the meeting or by causing the same to be transmitted by facsimile, telegram or telephone at least one day before the meeting to each Director.  Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business other than an amendment of these Bylaws may be transacted at any special meeting, and an amendment of these Bylaws may be acted upon if the notice of the meeting shall have stated that the amendment of these Bylaws is one of the purposes of the meeting.  At any meeting at which every Director shall be present, even though without any notice, any business may be transacted, including the amendment of these Bylaws.

 

SECTION 7.                                                             Quorum; Action.  Subject to the provisions of Section 3 of this Article II, a majority of the members of the Board of Directors in office (but in no case less than one-third of the total number of Directors) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the vote of the majority of the Directors present at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  If at any meeting of the Board there is less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time.

 

SECTION 8.                                                             Organization.  The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors.  In the absence of the Chairman, a Vice Chairman shall be elected from the Directors present.  The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Directors; but in the absence of the Secretary, the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

SECTION 9.                                                             Committees.  The Board of Directors 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.  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.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members 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.  Any such committee, to the extent provided by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and the affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers, as appropriate; but no such committee shall have the power or authority in reference to amending the Certificate of Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the Corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending these Bylaws; and unless such resolution, these Bylaws, or the Certificate of Incorporation expressly so provide, no such committee shall have the power or authority to declare a dividend or to authorize the issuance of stock.

 

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SECTION 10.                                                       Conference Telephone Meetings.  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, the members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board, may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee, as the case may be, 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 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

SECTION 11.                                                       Consent of Directors or Committee in Lieu of Meeting.  Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or by 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 or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee, as the case may be.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Officers

 

SECTION 1.                                                             Election or Appointment; Powers and Duties.  The Board of Directors shall take such action as may be necessary from time to time to ensure that the Corporation has such officers as are necessary, under Article V, Section 1 of these Bylaws and the Delaware General Corporation Law as currently in effect or as the same may hereafter be amended, to enable it to sign stock certificates. In addition, the Board of Directors at any time and from time to time may elect (i) one or more Chairmen of the Board from among its members, (ii) one or more Chief Executive Officers, one or more Presidents and/or one or more Chief Financial Officers, (iii) one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Treasurers or Assistant Treasurers and/or one or more Secretaries or Assistant Secretaries and/or (iv) one or more other officers, in the case of each of (i), (ii), (iii) and (iv) if and to the extent the Board deems desirable. The Board of Directors may give any officers such further designations or alternate titles as it considers desirable. Any number of offices may be held by the same person and Directors may hold any office unless the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws otherwise provide.

 

The officers of the Corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the Corporation as shall be stated in these Bylaws or in a resolution of the Board which is not inconsistent with these Bylaws and, to the extent not so stated, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to the control of the Board.  The Board may grant to any committee of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer the power and authority to appoint officers, other than the officers set forth in paragraphs (a) through (d) below, and to prescribe their respective terms of office, powers, authority and responsibilities.

 

(a)                                  Chief Executive Officer:  The Chief Executive Officer shall have the general executive responsibility for the conduct of the business and affairs of the

 

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Corporation.  He or she shall exercise such other powers, authority and responsibilities as the Board may determine.  In the absence of or during the physical disability of the Chief Executive Officer, the Board may designate an officer who shall have and exercise the powers, authority and responsibilities of the Chief Executive Officer.

 

(b)                                 President:  The President shall have and exercise such powers, authority and responsibilities as the Board may determine.

 

(c)                                  Chief Financial Officer:  The Chief Financial Officer shall be the principal financial officer of the Corporation.  He or she shall render such accounts and reports as may be required by the Board or any committee of the Board.  The financial records, books and accounts of the Corporation shall be maintained subject to his or her direct or indirect supervision.

 

(d)                                 Secretary:  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of stockholders and directors and shall give all required notices and have charge of such books and papers as the Board may require.  The Secretary shall submit such reports to the Board or to any committee as the Board or such committee may request.  Any action or duty required to be performed by the Secretary may be performed by an Assistant Secretary.

 

SECTION 2.                                                             Term of Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies.  Unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board of Directors electing or authorizing the appointment of any officer, each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected or appointed and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or removal. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Board or to such person or persons as the Board may designate. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein no acceptance of such resignation shall be necessary to make it effective. The Board may remove any officer with or without cause at any time. Any officer authorized by the Board to appoint a person to hold an office of the Corporation may also remove such person from such office with or without cause at any time, unless otherwise provided in the resolution of the Board providing such authorization. Any such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such officer, if any, with the Corporation, but the election or appointment of any officer shall not of itself create contractual rights. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled by the Board at any regular or special meeting or by an officer authorized by the Board to appoint a person to hold such office.

 

SECTION 3.                                                             Giving of Bond by Officers, Agents and Employees.  All officers, agents and employees of the Corporation, if required to do so by the Board of Directors, shall furnish bonds to the Corporation for the faithful performance of their duties, in such penalties and with such conditions and security as the Board shall require.

 

SECTION 4.                                                             Voting Upon Stocks.  Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President shall

 

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have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to act and to vote, or in the name of the Corporation to execute proxies to vote, at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise, in person or by proxy, any and all rights, powers and privileges incident to the ownership of such stock.  The Board of Directors may from time to time, by resolution, confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Indemnification of Directors and Officers

 

SECTION 1.                                                             Nature of Indemnity.  The Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to become a Director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a Director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, and may indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to such an action, suit or proceeding by reason of the fact that such person is or was or has agreed to become an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person or on his or her behalf in connection with such action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful; except that in the case of an action or suit by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor (1) such indemnification shall be limited to expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in the defense or settlement of such action or suit, and (2) no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the Delaware Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the Delaware Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.

 

The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which the person reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the

 

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Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his or her conduct was unlawful.

 

SECTION 2.                                                             Successful Defense.  To the extent that a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in Section 1 of this Article IV or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, such person shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection therewith.

 

SECTION 3.                                                             Determination that Indemnification is Proper.  Any indemnification of a Director or officer of the Corporation under Section 1 of this Article IV (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation unless a determination is made that indemnification of the Director or officer is not proper in the circumstances because such person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1.  Any indemnification of an employee or agent of the Corporation under Section 1 (unless ordered by a court) may be made by the Corporation upon a determination that indemnification of the employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because such employer or agent has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1.  Any such determination shall be made (1) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the stockholders.

 

SECTION 4.                                                             Advance Payment of Expenses.  Unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines in a specific case, expenses incurred by a Director or officer in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the Director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that such person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as authorized in this Article IV.  Such expenses incurred by other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any, as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.  The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation’s legal counsel to represent such Director, officer, employee or agent in any action, suit or proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to such action, suit or proceeding.

 

SECTION 5.                                                             Survival; Preservation of Other Rights.  The foregoing indemnification provisions shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each Director, officer, employee and agent who serves in any such capacity at any time while these provisions as well as the relevant provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law are in effect and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any right or obligation then existing with respect to any state of facts then or previously existing or any action, suit, or proceeding previously or thereafter brought or threatened

 

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based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts.  Such a contract right may not be modified retroactively without the consent of such Director, officer, employee or agent.

 

The indemnification provided by this Article IV shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in the indemnified’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.  The Corporation may enter into an agreement with any of its Directors, officers, employees or agents providing for indemnification and advancement of expenses, including attorneys’ fees, that may change, enhance, qualify or limit any right to indemnification or advancement of expenses created by this Article IV.

 

SECTION 6.                                                             Severability.  If this Article IV or any portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Director or officer and may indemnify each employee or agent of the Corporation as to costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgment, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article IV that shall not have been invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

 

SECTION 7.                                                             Subrogation.  In the event of payment of indemnification to a person described in Section 1 of this Article IV, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to any right of recovery such person may have and such person, as a condition of receiving indemnification from the Corporation, shall execute all documents and do all things that the Corporation may deem necessary or desirable to perfect such right of recovery, including the execution of such documents necessary to enable the Corporation effectively to enforce any such recovery.

 

SECTION 8.                                                             No Duplication of Payments.  The Corporation shall not be liable under this Article IV to make any payment in connection with any claim made against a person described in Section 1 of this Article IV to the extent such person has otherwise received payment (under any insurance policy, by-law or otherwise) of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Stock-Seal-Fiscal Year

 

SECTION 1.                                                             Certificates; Uncertificated Shares.  The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors of the Corporation may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution

 

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shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.  Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution or resolutions by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, every holder of stock represented by certificates, and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by a Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors or a President or Vice President, and by a Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant Secretary, representing the number of shares of stock in the Corporation owned by such holder.  If such certificate is manually signed by one officer or manually countersigned by a transfer agent or by a registrar, any other signature on the certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation may bear such legends regarding restrictions on transfer or other matters as any officer or officers of the Corporation may determine to be appropriate and lawful.

 

If the Corporation is authorized to issue more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided that, except as otherwise required by law, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock 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 such class or series of stock and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.  Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares of any class or series of stock, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required by law to be set forth or stated on certificates representing shares of such class or series or 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 such class or series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

Except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the rights and obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and obligations of the holders of certificates representing stock of the same class and series shall be identical.

 

SECTION 2.                                                             Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of New Certificates.  The Corporation may authorize the issuance of a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon receipt of an affidavit of such fact from the person

 

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claiming the certificate to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Corporation shall require that the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate, or such owner’s legal representative, give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or other security as the Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, except where the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer finds that the circumstances justify omission of a bond.

 

SECTION 3.                                                             Stock Transfer Books.  The Corporation shall keep, or cause one or more stock transfer agents to keep, a book or set of books, to be known as the stock transfer books of the Corporation, containing the name of each stockholder of record, together with such stockholder’s address and the number and class or series of shares held by such stockholder. Transfers of shares of the Corporation shall be made only on the stock transfer books of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by such holder’s legal representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of authority to transfer, or by such holder’s attorney authorized to effect such transfer by power of attorney duly executed, and upon surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such shares (if the shares are represented by certificates).

 

SECTION 4.                                                             Regulations.  The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

SECTION 5.                                                             Transfer Agent and Registrar.  The Board of Directors may appoint such transfer agents and registrars of transfers as may be deemed necessary, and may require all stock certificates to bear the signature of either or both.

 

SECTION 6.                                                             Record Date.  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, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, as the case may be, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be (i) more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, (ii) in the case of Corporate action to be taken by consent in writing without a meeting, prior to, or more than ten (10) days after, the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, or (iii) more than sixty (60) days prior to any other action.

 

If no record date is fixed, 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; the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to

 

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corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed; and the record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.  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 of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

SECTION 7.                                                             Dividends.  Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have power to declare and pay dividends upon shares of stock of the Corporation, but only out of funds available for the payment of dividends as provided by law.

 

Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, any dividends declared upon the stock of the Corporation shall be payable on such date or dates as the Board of Directors shall determine.  If the date fixed for the payment of any dividend shall in any year fall upon a legal holiday, then the dividend payable on such date shall be paid on the next day not a legal holiday.

 

SECTION 8.                                                             Corporate Seal.  The Corporation may provide a seal, containing the name of the Corporation and which shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The corporate seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.

 

SECTION 9.                                                             Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on January 1 and terminate on December 31 of each year.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Miscellaneous Provisions

 

SECTION 1.                                                             Checks, Notes, Etc.  All checks, drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances, notes or other obligations or orders for the payment of money shall be signed and, if so required by the Board of Directors, countersigned by such officers of the Corporation and/or other persons as the Board of Directors from time to time shall designate.

 

Checks, drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances, notes, obligations and orders for the payment of money made payable to the Corporation may be endorsed for deposit to the credit of the Corporation with a duly authorized depository by the Treasurer and/or such other officers or persons as the Board of Directors from time to time may designate.

 

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SECTION 2.                                                             Loans.  No loans and no renewals of any loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation except as authorized by the Board of Directors.  When authorized to do so, any officer or agent of the Corporation may effect loans and advances for the Corporation from any bank, trust company or other institution or from any firm, corporation or individual, and for such loan and advances may make, execute and deliver promissory notes, bond or other evidence of indebtedness of the Corporation.  When authorized so to do, any officer or agent of the Corporation may pledge, hypothecate or transfer, as security for the payment of any and all loans, advances, indebtedness and liabilities of the Corporation, any and all stock, securities and other personal property at any time held by the Corporation, and to that end may endorse, assign and deliver the same.  Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

SECTION 3.                                                             Contracts.  Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or by law or as otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President shall be authorized to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, all agreements, bonds, contracts, deeds, mortgages, and other instruments, either for the Corporation’s own account or in a fiduciary or other capacity, and the seal of the Corporation, if appropriate, shall be affixed thereto by any of such officers or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.  The Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Vice President designated by the Board of Directors may authorize any other officer, employee or agent to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, agreements, bonds, contracts, deeds, mortgages, and other instruments, either for the Corporation’s own account or in a fiduciary or other capacity, and, if appropriate, to affix the seal of the Corporation thereto.  The grant of such authority by the Board or any such officer may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

SECTION 4.                                                             Waivers of Notice.  Whenever any notice is required to be given by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws to any person or persons, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to the notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

 

SECTION 5.                                                             Offices Outside of Delaware.  Except as otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Corporation may have an office or offices and keep its books, documents and papers outside of the State of Delaware at such place or places as from time to time may be determined by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

Amendments

 

These Bylaws and any amendment thereof may be altered, amended or repealed, or new Bylaws may be adopted, by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting by the affirmative vote of a majority of all of the members of the Board, provided in the case of any special meeting at which all of the members of the Board are not present, that the notice of such meeting shall have stated that the amendment of these Bylaws was one of the purposes of the meeting; but these Bylaws and any amendment thereof may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by the holders of a majority of the total outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at any annual meeting or at any special meeting, provided, in the case of any special meeting, that notice of such proposed alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption is included in the notice of the meeting.

 

*                                         *                                         *                                         *                                         *

 

Amended and Restated, effective as of May 12, 2008.

 

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