EX-3.78 82 a2173366zex-3_78.htm BYLAWS TPORT BUS

Exhibit 3.78

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

HIGHWIRE, INC.

 

 

ARTICLE I

 

Registered Office and Registered Agent

 

1.                                       The registered office of the Corporation shall be located in the state of Washington at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors upon delivery for filing of such notices as may be required by law, and the registered agent shall have a business office identical with such registered office. A registered agent so appointed shall consent to appointment in writing prior to such appointment, and such consent shall be filed with the Secretary of State of the state of Washington as part of the document first appointing the registered agent.

 

2.                                       If a registered agent changes the street address of the agent’s business office, the registered agent may change the street address of the registered office of the Corporation by notifying the Corporation in writing of the change and signing, either manually or in facsimile, and delivering to the Secretary of State for filing a statement of such change, as required by law.

 

3.                                       The Corporation may change its registered agent at any time upon delivery of an appropriate notice to the Secretary of State for filing with the written consent of the new registered agent either included in or attached to such notice.

 

4.                                       A registered agent may resign as registered agent by signing and delivering to the Secretary of State for filing, a statement of resignation.

 

ARTICLE II

 

Shareholders’ Meetings

 

1.                                       Meeting Place. All meetings of the shareholders shall be held, pursuant to proper notice as set forth in Article II, Section 5 of these Bylaws, at the principal office of the Corporation, or at such other place as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

2.                                       Annual Meeting Time. The annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held each year on such date and at such hour as may be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors from time to time. In the absence of such determination, the annual meeting shall be held each year on May 1 at the hour of 10:00 a.m. if not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, and if a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, then on the next business day following, at

 

 

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the same hour. The failure to hold an annual meeting at the time stated in these Bylaws does not affect the validity of any corporate action.

 

3.                                       Annual Meeting – Order of Business. At the annual meeting of shareholders, the order of business shall be as follows:

 

(a)                                  Call to order.

(b)                                 Proof of notice of meeting (or filing of waiver).

(c)                                  Reading of minutes of last annual meeting.

(d)                                 Reports of officers.

(e)                                  Reports of committees.

(f)                                    Election of directors.

(g)                                 Other business.

 

4.                                       Special Meetings. The Corporation shall hold a special meeting of the shareholders on call of its Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, its President, any person or persons authorized to do so by the Articles of Incorporation, or if the holders of at least ten percent of all the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered at such special meeting sign, date and deliver to the Corporation’s secretary one or more written demands for the meeting describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held. Special shareholders’ meetings shall be held at the Corporation’s principal office or at such other place as shall be identified in the notice of such meeting.

 

5.                                       Notice.

 

(a)                                  Except as provided in subsection (c) hereunder, notice of the date, time and place of the annual meeting of shareholders shall be given by delivering, personally or by mailing, a written or printed notice of the same to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not fewer than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting date.

 

(b)                                 Except as provided in subsection (c) hereunder, notice of the date, time and place of each special meeting of shareholders shall be given by delivering, personally or by mailing, a written or printed notice of the same to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting date. Such notice shall include a declaration of the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called.

 

(c)                                  Notwithstanding subsections (a) and (b) above, notice of any annual or special meeting of shareholders at which the shareholders will be called to act on an amendment to the Articles of Incorporation, a plan of merger or share exchange, a proposed sale of assets other than in the regular course of business or the dissolution of the Corporation shall be given no fewer than twenty (20) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the meeting date.

 

6.                                       Record Date. For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of a shareholders’ meeting, to demand a special meeting, to vote, to take any other action or to receive dividends or distributions, the Board of Directors shall fix in advance a record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date to be no more than seventy (70) days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, no fewer than ten (10) days (or twenty (20) days if delivered

 

 

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under Section 5(c) above) prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken.

 

7.                                       Shareholders’ List. After fixing a record date for a shareholders’ meeting, the Corporation shall prepare an alphabetical list of the names of all its shareholders on the record date who are entitled to notice of a shareholders’ meeting. Such list shall be arranged by voting group, and within each voting group by class or series of shares, and show the address of and number of shares held by each shareholder. The shareholders’ list shall be available for inspection by any shareholder, the shareholder’s agent or the shareholder’s attorney, during regular business hours and at such shareholder’s expense, at the principal office of the Corporation for a period beginning ten days prior to such meeting and also shall be available and kept open at the time and place of such meeting.

 

8.                                       Quorum. Except as otherwise required by law or the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a matter by a voting group constitutes a quorum of that voting group for action on that matter.

 

9.                                       Voting.

 

(a)                                  Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation and subject to the provisions of the laws of the state of Washington, each outstanding share, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote on each matter voted on at a shareholders’ meeting.

 

(b)                                 If a quorum exists, action on a matter, other than the election of directors, is approved by a voting group if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast within the voting group opposing the action, unless the question is one which by express provision of law or the Articles of Incorporation requires a greater number of affirmative votes.

 

(c)                                  Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, in any election of directors the candidates elected are those receiving the largest numbers of votes cast by the shares entitled to vote in the election, up to the number of directors to be elected by such shares.

 

10.                                 Proxies. A shareholder may vote either in person or by appointing a proxy by signing an appointment form, either personally or by the shareholder’s attorney-in-fact or agent. An appointment of a proxy is effective when received by the person authorized to tabulate votes for the Corporation. An appointment of a proxy is valid for eleven months unless a longer period is expressly provided in the appointment form.

 

11.                                 Action by Shareholders Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted by law to be taken at a meeting of shareholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all the shareholders entitled to vote on the action. The action must be

 

 

 

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evidenced by one or more written consents describing the action taken, signed by all the shareholders entitled to vote on the action, and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Corporation’s records. Action taken in accordance with this section shall be effective when all written consents have been delivered to the Corporation, unless the consent specifies a later effective date.

 

12.                                 Waiver of Notice. A written waiver of any notice required to be given to any shareholder, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein for the meeting, shall be deemed the giving of such notice by the Corporation, provided that such waiver has been delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Corporations records. A shareholder’s attendance at a meeting waives any objection to lack of notice or defective notice, unless the shareholder at the beginning of the meeting objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting.

 

13.                                 Action of Shareholders by Communications Equipment. Shareholders may participate in any meeting of shareholders by any means of communication by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other during the meeting. A shareholder participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Shares of Stock

 

1.                                       Issuance of Shares. No shares of the Corporation shall be issued unless authorized by the Board of Directors. Such authorization shall include the number of shares to be issued, the consideration to be received and a statement regarding the adequacy of the consideration. Shares may but need not be represented by certificates. Unless otherwise provided by law, the rights and obligations of shareholders are identical whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

 

2.                                       Certificated Shares. If shares are represented by certificates, certificates of stock shall be issued in numerical order, and each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed, either manually or in facsimile, by the President, or a Vice President, and the Secretary, and such certificate may bear the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. If an officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate ceases to be such officer before the certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if the person were an officer on the date of issue.

 

At a minimum each certificate of stock shall state on its face:

 

(a)                                  the name of the Corporation;

 

(b)                                 that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the state of Washington;

 

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(c)                                  the name of the person to whom the certificate is issued;

 

(d)                                 the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, the certificate represents;

 

(e)                                  if the Corporation is authorized to issue different classes of shares or different series within a class, the designations, relative rights, preferences and limitations applicable to each class and the variations in rights, preferences and limitations determined for each series, and the authority of the Board of Directors to determine variations for future series, must be summarized either on the front or back of the certificate. Alternatively, the certificate may state conspicuously on its front or back that the Corporation will furnish the shareholder this information without charge on request in writing; and

 

(f)                                    if there are any restrictions on transfer or registration of transfer of shares, such restriction shall be noted conspicuously on the front or back of the certificate.

 

In case of any mutilation, loss or destruction of any certificate of stock, another certificate may be issued in its place on proof of such mutilation, loss or destruction. The Board of Directors may impose conditions on such issuance and may require the giving of a satisfactory bond or indemnity to the Corporation in such sum as it might determine or establish such other procedures as it deems necessary or appropriate.

 

3.                                       Uncertificated Shares.

 

(a)                                  Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the Board of Directors may authorize the issue of any of the Corporation’s classes or series of shares without certificates. This authorization does not affect shares already represented by certificates until they are surrendered to the Corporation.

 

(b)                                 Within a reasonable time after the issuance of shares without certificates, the Corporation shall send the shareholder a complete written statement of the information required on certificates as provided in Article III, Section 2 of these Bylaws.

 

4.                                       Transfers.

 

(a)                                  Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the stock transfer records of the Corporation, which records shall be kept at the registered office of the Corporation or at its principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, open a share register in any state of the United States, and may employ an agent or agents to keep such register and to record transfers of shares therein.

 

(b)                                 Shares of certificated stock shall be transferred by delivery of the certificates therefor, accompanied either by an assignment in writing on the back of the certificate or an assignment separate from certificate, or by a written power of attorney to sell, assign and transfer the same, signed by the holder of said certificate. No shares of certificated

 

 

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stock shall be transferred on the records of the Corporation until the outstanding certificates therefor have been surrendered to the Corporation or to its transfer agent or registrar.

 

(c)                                  Shares of uncertificated stock shall be transferred upon receipt by the Corporation of a written request for transfer signed by the shareholder. Within a reasonable time after the transfer of shares without certificates, the Corporation shall provide the new shareholder a complete written statement of the information required on certificates as provided in Article III, Section 2 of these Bylaws.

 

5.                                       Fractional Shares or Scrip. The Corporation may:

 

(a)                                  issue fractions of a share;

 

(b)                                 arrange for the disposition of fractional shares by the shareholders;

 

(c)                                  pay in money the value of fractions of a share; and

 

(d)                                 issue scrip in registered or bearer form entitling the holder to receive a full share upon the surrender of enough scrip to equal a full share.

 

6.                                       Shares of Another Corporation. Shares owned by the Corporation in another corporation, domestic or foreign, may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the Board of Directors may determine or, in the absence of such determination, by the President of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Board of Directors

 

1.                                       Powers. All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation managed under the direction of, the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise provided by these Bylaws, the Articles of Incorporation or by law.

 

2.                                       General Standards for Directors. A director shall discharge the duties of a director, including duties as a member of a committee:

 

(a)                                  in good faith;

 

(b)                                 with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances; and

 

(c)                                  in a manner the director reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation.

 

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3.                                       Number and Term. The initial Board of Directors shall consist of two (2) person(s). Directors shall be elected by the shareholders at each annual shareholders’ meeting to hold office until the next annual meeting of the shareholders and until their respective successors are elected and qualified or there is a decrease in the number of directors. Directors need not be shareholders or residents of the state of Washington and need not meet any other qualifications. The terms of the initial directors shall expire at the first shareholders’ meeting at which directors are elected.

 

4.                                       Change of Number. The number of directors may at any time be increased or decreased by amendment to these Bylaws or by resolution of either the shareholders or directors at any annual, special or regular meeting; provided, that no decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director, except as provided in Sections 6 and 7 of this Article IV.

 

5.                                       Vacancies. Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, if a vacancy occurs on the Board of Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors:

 

(a)                                  the shareholders may fill the vacancy;

 

(b)                                 the Board of Directors may fill the vacancy; provided that, if the directors in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the Board of Directors, they may fill the vacancy by an affirmative vote of a majority of all directors in office; or

 

(c)                                  if the vacant office was held by a director elected by holders of one or more authorized classes or series of shares, only the holders of those classes or series of shares are entitled to vote to fill the vacancy.

 

A director elected to fill a vacancy shall hold office until the next shareholders’ meeting at which directors are elected and until his or her successor is elected and qualified.

 

6.                                       Resignation. A director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board of Directors, its Chairperson, the President or the Secretary. A resignation is effective when the notice is delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date.

 

7.                                       Removal of Directors. At a special meeting called for that purpose, the shareholders may remove one or more directors, with or without cause, unless the Articles of Incorporation provide that the directors may be removed only for cause. If a director is elected by holders of one or more authorized classes or series of shares, only the holders of those classes or series of shares may participate in the vote to remove that director. A director or directors may be removed only if the number of votes cast to remove the director exceeds the number of votes cast not to remove the director. The notice of such special meeting must state that the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the director or directors, as the case maybe.

 

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8.                                       Regular Meetings. Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, regular meetings of the Board of Directors or any committee may be held without notice at the principal place of business of the Corporation or at such other place or places, either within or without the state of Washington, as the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, may from time to time designate. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without notice immediately after adjournment of the annual meeting of shareholders.

 

9.                                       Special Meetings.

 

(a)                                  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the President or by any director, to be held at the principal place of business of the Corporation or at such other place or places as the Board of Directors or the person or persons calling such meeting may from time to time designate; provided, however, if a director calls the meeting, the meeting shall be held in Seattle, Washington. Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, notice of all special meetings of the Board of Directors, stating the date, time and place thereof, shall be given at least two (2) days prior to the date of the meeting, in accordance with the provisions set forth in Article VII of these Bylaws. Such notice need not specify the business to be transacted at, or the purpose of, the meeting.

 

(b)                                 Special meetings of any committee of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by such person or persons and with such notice as shall be specified for such committee by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such specification, in the manner and with the notice required for special meetings of the Board of Directors.

 

10.                                 Waiver of Notice. A director may waive any notice required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws before or after the time stated for the meeting, and such waiver shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice. Such waiver must be in writing, signed by the director entitled to such notice and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate records. A director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to the director of the meeting unless the director at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon the director’s arrival, objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.

 

11.                                 Quorum. Unless the Articles of Incorporation require a greater or lesser number, a quorum of the Board of Directors consists of a majority of the number of directors specified or fixed in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If a quorum is present when a vote is taken, the affirmative vote of a majority of directors present is the act of the Board of Directors unless the Articles of Incorporation require a greater number of directors.

 

12.                                 Registering Dissent. A director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors when action is taken is deemed to have assented to the action taken unless:

 

(a)                                  the director objects at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon the director’s arrival, to holding it, or transacting business at the meeting;

 

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(b)                                 the director’s dissent or abstention from the action is entered in the minutes of the meeting; or

 

(c)                                  the director delivers written notice of the director’s dissent or abstention to the presiding officer of the meeting before its adjournment or to the Corporation within a reasonable time after adjournment of the meeting. The right of dissent or abstention is not available to a director who voted in favor of the action taken.

 

13.                                 Action by Directors Without a Meeting.

 

(a)                                  Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, any action required or permitted by law to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors, or of a committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board of Directors or all of the members of such committee, as the case may be. The action must be evidenced by one or more written consents setting forth the action taken, signed by each of the directors or by each of the members of the committee, as the case may be, either before or after the action taken, and delivered to the Corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the Corporation’s records.

 

(b)                                 Action taken under this section is effective when the last director signs the consent, unless the consent specifies a later effective date. A consent signed under this Section 13 has the effect of a meeting vote and may be described as such in any document.

 

14.                                 Participation by Means of Communications Equipment. Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, any or all directors may participate in a regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors (or of a committee thereof) by, or may conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all directors participating can hear each other during the meeting. A director participating in a meeting by this means shall be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.

 

15.                                 Committees.

 

(a)                                  Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the Board of Directors may create one or more committees of directors. The creation of a committee and appointment of members to it must be approved by a majority of all the directors in office when the action is taken or the number of directors required by Article IV, Section 11 of these Bylaws. Each committee must have two or more members who serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. To the extent specified by the Board of Directors or the Articles of Incorporation, each committee may exercise the authority of the Board of Directors as set forth in Article IV, Section 1 of these Bylaws. A committee may not, however:

 

(i)                                     authorize or approve a distribution except according to a general formula or method prescribed by the Board of Directors;

 

(ii)                                  approve or propose to shareholders action that by law is required to be approved by shareholders;

 

 

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(iii)                               fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or any of its committees;

 

(iv)                              amend the Articles of Incorporation;

 

(v)                                 adopt, amend or repeal these Bylaws;

 

(vi)                              approve a plan of merger not requiring shareholder approval; or

 

(vii)                           authorize or approve the issuance or sale or contract for sale of shares, or determine the designation and relative rights, preferences and limitations of a class or series of shares, except that the Board of Directors may authorize a committee (or a senior executive officer of the Corporation) to do so within limits specifically prescribed by the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                 The creation of, delegation of authority to, or action by a committee does not alone constitute compliance by a director with the standards of conduct described in the Washington business corporation act and these Bylaws.

 

16.                                 Remuneration. No stated salary shall be paid directors, as such, for their service, but by resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee thereof; provided, that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

 

ARTICLE V

 

Officers

 

1.                                       Designation and Term. The officers of the Corporation shall be the President, the Secretary and at the discretion of the Board of Directors, one or more Vice Presidents and a Treasurer, and any other officers appointed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by any other officer empowered to do so. The Board of Directors shall have sole power and authority to appoint executive officers. As used herein, the term “executive officer” shall mean the President, any Vice President in charge of a principal business unit, division or function or any other officer who performs a policy-making function. The Board of Directors or the President may appoint such other officers and assistant officers to hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as may be prescribed. The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer the power to appoint any subordinate officers and to prescribe their respective terms of office, authority and duties. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. Unless an officer dies, resigns or is removed from office, he or she shall hold office until his or her successor is appointed.

 

The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may elect a Chairman from among its members to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors, who, when present, shall preside at all meetings

 

 

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of the Board of Directors and the shareholders, and who shall have such other powers as the Board may determine.

 

2.                                       Powers and Duties. If the Board of Directors appoints persons to fill the following positions, such officers shall have the power and duties set forth below:

 

(a)                                  The President. The President of the Corporation shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation and, subject to the direction and control of the Board of Directors, shall have general control and management of the business affairs and policies of the Corporation. The President shall act as liaison from and as spokesman for the Board of Directors. The President shall participate in long-range planning for the Corporation and shall be available to the other officers of the Corporation for consultation. The President shall possess power to sign all certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation. Unless a Chairman of the Board of Directors has been appointed and is present, the President shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors. The President shall perform all such other duties as are incident to the office of President or are properly required by the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                 Vice Presidents. During the absence or disability of the President, the Executive or Senior Vice Presidents, if any, and the Vice Presidents, if any, in the order designated by the Board of Directors, shall exercise all the functions of the President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and discharge such duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors.

 

(c)                                  The Secretary. The Secretary shall issue notices for all meetings, except for notices for special meetings of the shareholders and special meetings of the directors which are called by the requisite percentage of shareholders or number of directors, shall keep minutes of all meetings, shall have charge of the seal and the Corporation’s books, and shall make such reports and perform such other duties as are incident to the office of Secretary, or are properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors.

 

(d)                                 The Treasurer. The Treasurer, if any, shall have the custody of all moneys and securities of the Corporation and shall keep regular books of account. The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation in payment of the just demands against the Corporation or as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers or receipts for such disbursements, and shall render to the Board of Directors from time to time as may be required an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties incident to his or her office or that are properly required of him or her by the Board of Directors.

 

3.                                       Standards of Conduct for Officers.

 

(a)                                  An officer with discretionary authority shall discharge such officer’s duties under that authority:

 

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(i)                                     in good faith;

 

(ii)                                  with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would exercise under similar circumstances; and

 

(iii)                               in a manner the officer reasonably believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation.

 

4.                                       Delegation. In the case of absence or inability to act of any officer of the Corporation and of any person herein authorized to act in such officer’s place, the Board of Directors (or if such officer was appointed by another officer, the officer that appointed such officer) may from time to time delegate the powers or duties of such officer to any other officer or any director or other person whom the Board of Directors (or the officer that appointed such officer) may in its sole discretion select.

 

5.                                       Vacancies. Vacancies in any office arising from any cause may be filled by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.

 

6.                                       Other Officers. The Board of Directors, or a duly appointed officer to whom such authority has been delegated by a resolution of the Board of Directors, may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary or expedient, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall perform such duties as shall be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or an officer authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the duties of other officers.

 

7.                                       Resignation. An officer may resign at any time by delivering notice to the Corporation. Such notice shall be effective when delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date. Any such resignation shall not affect the Corporation’s contract rights, if any, with the officer.

 

8.                                       Removal. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. Any officer or assistant officer, if appointed by another officer, may be removed by any officer authorized to appoint officers or assistant officers. Such removal shall not affect the Corporation’s contract rights, if any, with the officer.

 

9.                                       Salaries and Contract Rights. The salaries, if any, of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. The appointment of an officer shall not of itself create contract rights. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation.

 

 

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ARTICLE VI

 

Distributions and Finance

 

1.                                       Distributions. The Board of Directors may authorize and the Corporation may make distributions to its shareholders, subject to any restrictions in the Articles of Incorporation; provided that no distribution may be made if, after giving it effect, either:

 

(a)                                  The Corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of business; or

 

(b)                                 The Corporation’s total assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus, unless the Articles of Incorporation permit otherwise, the amount which would be needed, if the Corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential rights are superior to those receiving the distribution.

 

The Board of Directors may authorize distributions to holders of record at the close of business on any business day prior to the date on which the distribution is made. If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date for determining shareholders entitled to a distribution, the record date shall be the date on which the Board of Directors authorizes the distribution.

 

2.                                       Measure of Effect of a Distribution. For purposes of determining whether a distribution may be authorized by the Board of Directors and paid by the Corporation under Article VI, Section 1 of these Bylaws, the effect of the distribution is measured:

 

(a)                                  In the case of a distribution of indebtedness, the terms of which provide that payment of principal and interest are made only if and to the extent that payment of a distribution to shareholders could then be made under this section, each payment of principal or interest is treated as a distribution, the effect of which is measured on the date the payment is actually made; or

 

(b)                                 In the case of any other distribution:

 

(i)                                     if the distribution is by purchase, redemption, or other acquisition of the Corporation’s shares, the effect of the distribution is measured as of the earlier of the date any money or other property is transferred or debt incurred by the Corporation, or the date the shareholder ceases to be a shareholder with respect to the acquired shares;

 

(ii)                                  if the distribution is of an indebtedness other than described in subsection (a) and (b)(i) of this Section 2, the effect of the distribution is measured as of the date the indebtedness is distributed; and

 

(iii)                               in all other cases, the effect of the distribution is measured as of the date the distribution is authorized if payment occurs within 120 days after the date of authorization, or the date the payment is made if it occurs more than 120 days after the date of authorization.

 

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For purposes of determinations under this Section 2, the Board of Directors may base a determination that a distribution is not prohibited under this Section 2 either on financial statements prepared on a basis of accounting practices and principles that are reasonable in the circumstances or on a fair valuation or other method that is reasonable in the circumstances, and indebtedness of the Corporation, including indebtedness issued as a distribution, is not considered a liability if its terms provide that payment of principal and interest are made only if and to the extent that payment of a distribution to shareholders could then be made under this Section 2.

 

3.                                       Depositories. The monies of the Corporation shall be deposited in the name of the Corporation in such bank or banks or trust company or trust companies as the Board of Directors shall designate, and shall be drawn out only by check or other order for payment of money signed by such persons and in such manner as may be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

Notices

 

Except as may otherwise be required by law, any notice to any shareholder or director must be in writing and may be transmitted by: mail, private carrier or personal delivery; telegraph or teletype; or telephone, wire or wireless equipment which transmits a facsimile of the notice. Written notice by the Corporation to its shareholders shall be deemed effective when mailed, if mailed with first-class postage prepaid and correctly addressed to the shareholder’s address shown in the Corporation’s current record of shareholders. Except as set forth in the previous sentence, written notice shall be deemed effective at the earliest of the following: (i) when received; (ii) five days after its deposit in the United States mail, as evidenced by the postmark, if mailed with first-class postage, prepaid and correctly addressed; (iii) on the date shown on the return receipt, if sent by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, and receipt is signed by or on behalf of the addressee; or (iv) if sent to a shareholder’s address, telephone number, or other number appearing on the records of the Corporation, when dispatched by telegraph, teletype or facsimile equipment.

 

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

Seal

 

The Corporation may adopt a corporate seal which seal shall be in such form and bear such inscription as may be adopted by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Indemnification of Officers.,
Directors, Employees and Agents

 

1.                                       Definitions. For purposes of this Article:

 

(a)                                  “Corporation” includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of the Corporation in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor’s existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.

 

(b)                                 “Director means an individual who is or was a Director of the Corporation or an individual who, while a Director of the Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation’s request as a Director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise. A Director is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the Corporation’s request if the Director’s duties to the Corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, the Director to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. “Director” includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a Director.

 

(c)                                  “Expenses” include counsel fees.

 

(d)                                 “Liability” means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine, including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan, or reasonable Expenses incurred with respect to a Proceeding.

 

(e)                                  “Official Capacity” means: (i) when used with respect to a Director, the office of Director in the Corporation; and (ii) when used with respect to an individual other than a Director, as contemplated in Article IX, Section 6 of these Bylaws the office in the Corporation held by the officer or the employment or agency relationship undertaken by the employee or agent on behalf of the Corporation. “Official Capacity” does not include service for any other foreign or domestic corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise.

 

(f)                                    “Party” includes an individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a Proceeding.

 

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(g)                                 “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit, or Proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative and whether formal or informal.

 

2.                                       Right to Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  The Corporation shall indemnify a Director who was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any Proceeding to which the Director was a Party because of being a Director of the Corporation, against all reasonable Expenses incurred by the Director in connection with the Proceeding.

 

(b)                                 Except as provided in subsection (e) of this Section 2, the Corporation shall indemnify an individual made a Party to a Proceeding because the individual is or was a Director against Liability incurred in the Proceeding if:

 

(i)                                     The individual acted in good faith; and

 

(ii)                                  The individual reasonably believed:

 

(A)                              In the case of conduct in the individual’s Official Capacity with the Corporation, that the individual’s conduct was in the Corporation’s best interests; and
 
(B)                                In all other cases, that the individual’s conduct was at least not opposed to the Corporation’s best interests; and
 

(iii)                               In the case of any criminal Proceeding, the individual had no reasonable cause to believe the individual’s conduct was unlawful.

 

(c)                                  A Director’s conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose the Director reasonably believed to be in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 2.

 

(d)                                 The termination of a Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the Director did not meet the standard of conduct described in this Section.

 

(e)                                  The Corporation shall not indemnify a Director under this Section 2:

 

(i)                                     In connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation in which the Director was adjudged liable to the Corporation; or

 

(ii)                                  In connection with any other Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to the Director, whether or not involving action in the Director’s Official

 

 

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Capacity, in which the Director was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by the Director.

 

(f)                                    Indemnification under this Article IX, Section 2 in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation is limited to reasonable Expenses incurred in connection with the Proceeding.

 

3.                                       Advance for Expenses.

 

(a)                                  The Corporation shall pay for or reimburse the reasonable Expenses incurred by a Director who is a Party to a Proceeding in advance of final disposition of the Proceeding and in advance of any determination and authorization of indemnification pursuant to Article IX, Section 5 of these Bylaws if:

 

(i)                                     The Director furnishes the Corporation a written affirmation of the Director’s good faith belief that the Director has met the standard of conduct described in Section 2 of this Article IX; and

 

(ii)                                  The Director furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking, executed personally or on the Director’s behalf, to repay the advance if it is ultimately determined that the Director did not meet the standard of conduct.

 

(b)                                 The undertaking required by subsection (a)(ii) of this Section 3 must be an unlimited general obligation of the Director but need not be secured and may be accepted without reference to financial ability to make repayment.

 

(c)                                  Authorization of payments under this Section 3 may be made by resolution adopted by the shareholders or board or Directors, or by contract.

 

4.                                       Court-ordered Indemnification. A Director of the Corporation who is a Party to a Proceeding may apply for indemnification or advance of Expenses to the court conducting the Proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. On receipt of an application, the court after giving any notice the court considers necessary may order indemnification or advance of Expenses if it determines:

 

(a)                                  The Director is entitled to mandatory indemnification under Section 2(a) of this Article IX, in which case the court shall also order the Corporation to pay the Director’s reasonable Expenses incurred to obtain court-ordered indemnification;

 

(b)                                 The Director is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not the Director met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 2 of this Article IX, or was adjudged liable as described in Section 2(e) of this Article IX, but if the Director was adjudged so liable, the Director’s indemnification is limited to reasonable Expenses incurred unless the Articles of Incorporation or a Bylaw, contract, or

 

 

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resolution approved and ratified by the shareholders pursuant to Section 11 of this Article IX provides otherwise; or

 

(c)                                  In the case of an advance of Expenses, the Director is entitled pursuant to the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, or any applicable resolution or contract, to payment or reimbursement of the Director’s reasonable Expenses incurred as a Party to the Proceeding in advance of final disposition of the Proceeding.

 

5.                                       Determination and Authorization of Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  The Corporation shall not indemnify a Director under this Article IX unless authorized in the specific case after a determination has been made that indemnification of the Director is permissible in the circumstances because the Director has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 2(b) of this Article IX.

 

(b)                                 The determination shall be made:

 

(i)                                     By the Board of Directors by majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors not at the time Parties to the Proceeding;

 

(ii)                                  If a quorum cannot be obtained under (i) of this subsection, by majority vote of a committee duly designated by the Board of Directors, in which designation Directors who are Parties may participate, consisting solely of two or more Directors not at the time Parties to the Proceeding;

 

(iii)                               By special legal counsel:

 

(A)                              Selected by the Board of Directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in (i) or (ii) of this subsection; or
 
(B)                                If a quorum of the Board of Directors cannot be obtained under (i) of this subsection and a committee cannot be designated under (ii) of this subsection, selected by majority vote of the full Board of Directors, in which selection Directors who are Parties may participate; or
 

(iv)                              By the shareholders, but shares owned by or voted under the control of Directors who are at the time Parties to the Proceeding may not be voted on the determination.

 

(c)                                  Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of Expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, except that if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of Expenses shall be made by those entitled under subsection (b) (iii) of this Section to select counsel.

 

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6.                                       Indemnification of Officers

 

(a)                                  An officer of the Corporation shall be indemnified under Section 2(a) of this Article IX, and is entitled to apply for court-ordered indemnification under Section 4 of this Article IX, in each case to the same extent as a Director; and

 

(b)                                 The Corporation shall indemnify and advance Expenses under Sections 2 through 5 and Section 11 of this Article IX to an officer to the same extent as to a Director; and

 

(c)                                  The Corporation may also indemnify and advance Expenses to an officer to the extent, consistent with law, that may be provided by the Articles of Incorporation, a Bylaw, a general or specific action of its Board of Directors, or contract.

 

(d)                                 An officer who is also a Director of the Corporation is limited to the indemnification rights of Directors set forth in Sections 2 through 5 and Section 11 of this Article IX, regardless of the capacity in which the individual is made a Party to a Proceeding.

 

7.                                       Indemnification of Employees and Agents.

 

(a)                                  The Corporation may indemnify employees and agents of the Corporation under Section 2(a) of this Article IX, and may afford the right to such employees or agents to apply for court-ordered indemnification under Section 4 of this Article IX, in each case to the same extent as a Director; and

 

(b)                                 The Corporation may indemnify and advance Expenses under Sections 2 through 5 and Section 11 of Article IX to an employee or agent of the Corporation to the same extent as to a Director;

 

(c)                                  The Corporation may also indemnify and advance Expenses to an employee or agent to the extent, consistent with law, that may be provided by a general or specific action of its Board of Directors, or contract; and

 

(d)                                 An employee or agent who is also a Director of the Corporation is limited to the indemnification rights of Directors set forth in Sections 2 through 5 and Section 11 of this Article IX, regardless of the capacity in which the individual is made a Party to a Proceeding.

 

8.                                       Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is or was a Director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, or who, while a Director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise, against Liability asserted against or incurred by the individual in that capacity or arising from the individual’s status as a Director, officer, employee, or agent, whether or not the Corporation would have power to indemnify the individual against the same Liability under this Article IX.

 

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9.                                       Indemnification as a Witness. This Article IX does not limit a Corporation’s power to pay or reimburse Expenses incurred by a Director in connection with the Director’s appearance as a witness in a Proceeding at a time when the Director has not been made a named defendant or respondent to the Proceeding.

 

10.                                 Report to Shareholders. If the Corporation indemnifies or advances Expenses to a Director pursuant to this Article IX in connection with a Proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation, the Corporation shall report the indemnification or advance in writing to the shareholders with or before the notice of the next shareholders’ meeting.

 

11.                                 Shareholder Authorized Indemnification.

 

(a)                                  If authorized by the Articles of Incorporation, a Bylaw adopted or ratified by the shareholders, or a resolution adopted or ratified, before or after the event, by the shareholders of the Corporation, the Corporation shall have the power to indemnify or agree to indemnify a Director made a Party to a Proceeding, or obligate itself to advance or reimburse Expenses incurred in a Proceeding, without regard to the limitations contained in Sections 2 through 5 of this Article IX; provided that no such indemnity shall indemnify any Director from or on account of:

 

(i)                                     Acts or omissions of the Director finally adjudged to be intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

(ii)                                  Conduct of the Director finally adjudged to be an unlawful distribution under RCW 23B.08.310; or

 

(iii)                               Any transaction with respect to which it was finally adjudged that such Director personally received a benefit in money, property, or services to which the Director was not legally entitled.

 

(b)                                 Unless the Articles of Incorporation, or a Bylaw, or a resolution adopted or ratified by the shareholders of the Corporation provides otherwise, any determination as to any indemnity or advance of Expenses under subsection (a) of this Section 11 shall be made in accordance with Section 5 of this Article IX.

 

12.                                 Validity of Indemnification. A provision addressing the Corporation’s indemnification of or advance for Expenses to Directors that is contained in these Bylaws, a resolution of its shareholders or Board of Directors, or in a contract or otherwise, is valid only if and to the extent the provision is consistent with RCW 23B.08.500 through 23B.08.580.

 

13.                                 Interpretation. The provisions contained in this Article IX shall be interpreted and applied to provide indemnification to Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation to the fullest extent allowed by applicable law, as such law may be amended, interpreted and applied from time to time.

 

14.                                 Savings Clause. If this Article IX or any portion thereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each Director as to reasonable Expenses and liabilities with respect to any Proceeding, whether or not brought by or in the right of the Corporation, to the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article IX that shall not have been invalidated, or by any other applicable law.

 

15.                                 Nonexclusivity of Rights. The right to indemnification under this Article IX for Directors, officers, employees and agents shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have, or hereafter acquire, under any statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, other agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested Directors, insurance policy, principles of common law or equity, or otherwise.

 

 

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ARTICLE X

 

Books and Records

 

The Corporation shall maintain appropriate accounting records and shall keep as permanent records minutes of all meetings of its shareholders and Board of Directors, a record of all actions taken by the shareholders or the Board of Directors without a meeting and a record of all actions taken by a committee of the Board of Directors exercising authority of the Board of Directors on behalf of the Corporation. In addition, the Corporation shall maintain and keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, a record of its shareholders, in a form that permits the preparation of a list of the names and addresses of all shareholders in alphabetical order by class of shares showing the number and class of shares held by each. Any such records shall be in written form or another form capable of conversion into written form within a reasonable time.

 

The Corporation shall keep a copy of the following records at its principal office:

 

1.                                       The Articles or Restated Articles of Incorporation and all amendments thereto currently in effect;

 

2.                                       The Bylaws or Restated Bylaws and all amendments thereto currently in effect;

 

3.                                       The minutes of all shareholders’ meetings, and records of all actions taken by shareholders without a meeting, for the past three years;

 

4.                                       Its financial statements for the past three years, including balance sheets showing in reasonable detail the financial condition of the Corporation as of the close of each fiscal year, and an income statement showing the results of its operations during each fiscal year. Such statements may be consolidated or combined statements of the Corporation and one or more of its subsidiaries, as appropriate.

 

5.                                       All written communications to shareholders generally within the past three years;

 

6.                                       A list of the names and business addresses of its current directors and officers; and

 

7.                                       Its most recent annual report delivered to the Secretary of State of the state of Washington.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

Amendments

 

1.                                       By Shareholders. The shareholders may alter, amend and repeal these Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws in the manner set forth in Article II, Section 9 of these Bylaws at any regular or special meeting of the shareholders. All Bylaws made by the Board of Directors may be amended, repealed, altered or modified by the shareholders.

 

 

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2.                                       By Directors. The Board of Directors may alter, amend or repeal these Bylaws, and new Bylaws may be adopted by the Board of Directors; except that the Board of Directors may not repeal or amend any Bylaw that the shareholders have expressly provided, in amending or repealing such Bylaw, may not be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may not modify the Bylaws fixing their qualifications, classifications or term of office.

 

3.                                       Emergency Bylaws. Unless the Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the Board of Directors may adopt Bylaws to be effective only in an “emergency as defined in this Section 3. The emergency Bylaws, which are subject to amendment or repeal by the shareholders, may make all provisions necessary for managing the Corporation during an emergency. All provisions of these Bylaws consistent with the emergency Bylaws remain effective during the emergency. The emergency Bylaws are not effective after the emergency ends. An “emergency exists for purposes of this Section 3 if a quorum of the Board of Directors cannot be readily assembled because of some catastrophic event.

 

Adopted by the Corporation’s Board of Directors on November 30, 1999.

 

 

 

/s/ Jeffrey M. Schoenfeld

 

 

 

Name: Jeffrey M. Schoenfeld

 

 

Title: Secretary

 

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