EX-3.1 2 a08-21651_1ex3d1.htm EX-3.1

Exhibit 3.1

 

LIBERTY MEDIA CORPORATION

 

A Delaware Corporation

 

BYLAWS

 


 

ARTICLE I

 

STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1.1      Annual Meeting.

 

An annual meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing directors and of transacting any other business properly brought before the meeting pursuant to these Bylaws shall be held each year at such date, time and place, either within or without the State of Delaware or, if so determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, at no place (but rather by means of remote communication), as may be specified by the Board of Directors in the notice of meeting.

 

Section 1.2      Special Meetings.

 

Except as otherwise provided in the terms of any series of preferred stock or unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation, for the transaction of such business as may properly come before the meeting, may be called  by the Secretary of the Corporation only (i) upon written request made in compliance with the advance notice requirements of these Bylaws of the holders of not less than 662/3% of the total voting power of the outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting or (ii) at the request of not less than 75% of the members of the Board of Directors then in office.  Only such business may be transacted as is

 



 

specified in the notice of the special meeting.  The Board of Directors shall have the sole power to determine the time, date and place, either within or without the State of Delaware, for any special meeting of stockholders.  Following such determination, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting that a meeting will be held at the time, date and place and in accordance with the record date determined by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 1.3      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 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, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date:  (i) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware, not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, and  (ii) in the case of any other lawful action, shall not be more than sixty (60) days prior to such other action.  If no record date is fixed by the Board of Directors: (i) 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, and (ii) 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

 

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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 1.4      Notice of Meetings.

 

Notice of all stockholders meetings, stating the place, if any, date and hour thereof; the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting; the place within the city, other municipality or community or electronic network at which the list of stockholders may be examined; and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered in accordance with applicable law and applicable stock exchange rules and regulations by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat at least ten (10) days but not more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, unless a different period is prescribed by law, or the lapse of the prescribed period of time shall have been waived.

 

Section 1.5      Notice of Stockholder Business.

 

(a)        Annual Meetings of Stockholders.

 

(1)      At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  To be properly brought before an annual meeting, nominations for persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof), or (iii) 

 

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otherwise properly be requested to be brought before the meeting by a stockholder in compliance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.5.

 

(2)      In addition to any other requirements under applicable law and the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, for a nomination for election to the Board of Directors or the proposal of business to be properly requested to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such proposed business, other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, must constitute a proper matter for stockholder action.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (x) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that is within thirty (30) days before or after the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of stockholders, not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the meeting, and (y) in the case of an annual meeting that is called for a date that is not within thirty (30) days before or after the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was communicated to stockholders or public disclosure of the date of the meeting was made, whichever occurs first.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a meeting of stockholders commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder notice as described herein.  To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice to the Secretary shall set forth in writing (x) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as a director (i) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in

 

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each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and (ii) such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected; (y) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (ii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Corporation, the language of the proposed amendment), and (iii) any material interest of the stockholder and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, in such business; and (z) as to such stockholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such stockholder and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class or series and number of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation that are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iii) a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and/or beneficial owner and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the proposals are to be made by such stockholder, (iv) a representation that such stockholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination set forth in its notice, (v) a representation (A) whether any such person or such stockholder has received any financial assistance, funding or other consideration from any other person in respect of the nomination (and the details thereof) (a “Stockholder Associated Person”) and (B) whether and the extent to which any hedging, derivative or other transaction has been

 

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entered into with respect to the Corporation within the past six months by, or is in effect with respect to, such stockholder, any person to be nominated by such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person, the effect or intent of which transaction is to mitigate loss to or manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such stockholder, nominee or any such Stockholder Associated Person, and (vi) a representation whether the stockholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that intends to (1) deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (2) otherwise solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such proposal, and (vii) any other information relating to such stockholder or beneficial owner that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of such proposal pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act, and any rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.  The foregoing notice requirements of this Section 1.5 shall not apply to any proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act.  A proposal to be made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act shall be deemed satisfied if the stockholder making such proposal complies with the provisions of Rule 14a-8 and has notified the Corporation of his or her intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 and such stockholder’s proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting.  The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine (x) the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and (y) whether the nominee would be considered “independent” under the

 

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independence requirements set forth in the Corporate Governance Rules of NASDAQ (or the rules and regulations of the principal securities exchange on which the Corporation’s equity securities are then listed) in effect from time to time.

 

(3)      Notwithstanding anything in paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 1.5 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least one hundred (100) days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 1.5 shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

(b)        Special Meetings of Stockholders.  Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of 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 such stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 1.5 (substituting special meeting for annual meeting as applicable) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the

 

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later of the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting.  In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)        General.  (1)  Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.5 shall be eligible to be elected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.5.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (i) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.5 (including whether the stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such stockholder’s nominee or proposal in compliance with such stockholder’s representation as required by clause (a)(2)(z)(vi) of this Section 1.5) and (ii) if any proposed nomination or proposed business was not made or proposed in compliance with this Section 1.5, to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted..  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.5, if the stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation to present the nomination to the Board of

 

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Directors or to present the proposed business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 1.5, to be considered a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

 

(2)      For purposes of this Section 1.5, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

 

(3)      Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.5, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 1.5.  Nothing in this Section 1.5 shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation.

 

Section 1.6      Quorum.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise provided by law or in the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, at any meeting of stockholders, the holders of a majority in total voting power of the outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall be present or represented by proxy in order to constitute a

 

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quorum for the transaction of any business.  The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a quorum is present at any meeting of the stockholders.  Shares of its own stock 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; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the right of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the Corporation to vote stock, including, but not limited to, its own stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.  In the absence of a quorum, the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.7 hereof until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 1.7      Adjournment.

 

Any meeting of stockholders, annual or special, may be adjourned from time to time solely by the chairman of the meeting because of the absence of a quorum or for any other reason and to reconvene at the same or some other time, date and place, if any.  Notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time, date and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.  The chairman of the meeting shall have full power and authority to adjourn a stockholder meeting in his sole discretion even over stockholder opposition to such adjournment.  The stockholders present at a meeting shall not have the authority to adjourn the meeting.  If the time, date and place, if any, thereof, and the means of remote communication, if any, by

 

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which the stockholders and the proxy holders may be deemed to be present and in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken and the adjournment is for less than thirty (30) days, no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days and the time, date and place, if any, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which the stockholders and the proxy holders may be deemed to be present and in person are not announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, then notice shall be given by the Secretary as required for the original meeting.  At the adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business that might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

Section 1.8      Organization.

 

The Chairman of the Board, or in his absence the President, or in their absence any Vice President, shall call to order meetings of stockholders and preside over and act as chairman of such meetings.  The Board of Directors or, if the Board fails to act, the stockholders, may appoint any stockholder, director or officer of the Corporation to act as chairman of any meeting in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the President and all Vice Presidents.  The date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting and announced at the meeting.  The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the meeting shall have the exclusive right to determine the order of business and to prescribe other such rules, regulations and procedures and shall have the authority in his discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting.  Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation, the following:  (i) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (ii) limitations on attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iii) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for

 

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the commencement thereof; and (iv) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.  Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

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

 

Section 1.9      Postponement or Cancellation of Meeting.

 

  Any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be postponed or canceled by resolution of the Board of Directors upon public notice given prior to the time previously scheduled for such meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 1.10    Voting.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock and except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws and except for the election of directors, at any meeting duly called and held at which a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the stockholders.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, at any meeting duly called and held for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the combined voting power of the outstanding shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the election of directors.

 

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ARTICLE II

 

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 2.1      Number and Term of Office.

 

(a)        The governing body of this Corporation shall be a Board of Directors.  Subject to any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect additional directors, the Board of Directors shall be comprised of not less than three (3) members, or such other number as may be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of 75% of the members of the Board of Directors then in office.  Directors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.  The Corporation shall nominate the persons holding the offices of Chairman of the Board and President for election as directors at any meeting at which such persons are subject to election as directors.

 

(b)        Except as otherwise fixed by the Certificate of Incorporation relating to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock to separately elect additional directors, which additional directors are not required to be classified pursuant to the terms of such series of preferred stock, the Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes:  Class I, Class II and Class III.  Each class shall consist, as nearly as possible, of a number of directors equal to one-third (331/3%) of the then authorized number of members of the Board of Directors.  The term of office of the initial Class I directors shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2008; the term of office of the initial Class II directors shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2009; and the term of office of the initial Class III directors shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2007.  At each annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation the successors of that class of directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected to hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders held in the third

 

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year following the year of their election.  The directors of each class will serve until the earliest to occur of their death, resignation, removal or disqualification or the election and qualification of their respective successors.

 

Section 2.2      Resignations.

 

Any director of the Corporation, or any member of any committee, may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President or Secretary of the Corporation.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time be not specified therein, then upon receipt thereof.  The acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated therein.

 

Section 2.3      Removal of Directors.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, directors may be removed from office only for cause upon the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the total voting power of the then outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of directors voting together as a single class.

 

Section 2.4      Newly Created Directorships and Vacancies.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, removal, disqualification or other cause, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of directors on the Board of Directors, shall be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors then in office (even though less than a quorum) or by the sole remaining director at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.  Any director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence shall hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred or to which the new directorship is apportioned, and until such

 

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director’s successor shall have been elected and qualified.  No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director, except as may be provided in the terms of any series of preferred stock with respect to any additional director elected by the holders of such series of preferred stock.  Notwithstanding Article 1 of these Bylaws, in case the entire Board of Directors shall die or resign, the President or Secretary of the Corporation, or any ten (10) stockholders may call and cause notice to be given for a special meeting of stockholders in the same manner that the Chairman of the Board may call such a meeting, and directors for the unexpired terms may be elected at such special meeting.

 

Section 2.5      Meetings.

 

The annual meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors may be held on such date and at such time and place as the Board of Directors determines.  The annual meeting may be held immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, and if so held, no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to hold the meeting legally, provided that a quorum shall be present thereat.

 

Notice of each regular meeting shall be furnished in writing to each member of the Board of Directors not less than five (5) days in advance of said meeting, unless such notice requirement is waived in writing by each member.  No notice need be given of the meeting immediately following an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be designated in the notice of the meeting.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, and shall be called by the President or Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of not less than 75% of the members of the Board of Directors then in office.

 

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Section 2.6      Notice of Special Meetings.

 

The Secretary, or in his absence any other officer of the Corporation, shall give each director notice of the time and place of holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors by mail at least ten (10) days before the meeting, or by facsimile transmission, electronic mail or personal service at least twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting unless such notice requirement is waived in writing by each member.  Unless otherwise stated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at any meeting without specification of such business in the notice.

 

Section 2.7      Conference Telephone Meeting.

 

Members of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of telephone conference or other similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other and communicate with each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 2.8      Quorum and Organization of Meetings.

 

A majority of the total number of members of the Board of Directors as constituted from time to time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but, if at any meeting of the Board of Directors (whether or not adjourned from a previous meeting) there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another time, date and place, and the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice or waiver.  Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present may decide any question brought before such meeting.  Meetings shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or in his absence by such other person as the directors may select.  The Board of Directors

 

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shall keep written minutes of its meetings.  The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

The Board may 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 to replace absent or disqualified members at any meeting of such committee.  If a member of a committee shall be absent from any meeting, or disqualified from voting thereat, the remaining member or members present and not disqualified from voting, whether or not such member or members constitute a quorum, may, by a unanimous vote, appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in place of any such absent or disqualified member.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in a resolution of the Board of Directors passed as aforesaid, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be impressed on all papers that may require it, but no such committee shall have the power or authority of the Board of Directors in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by the laws of the State of Delaware to be submitted to the stockholders for approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any Bylaw of the Corporation.  Such committee or committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.  Unless otherwise specified in the resolution of the Board of Directors designating a committee, at all meetings of such committee a majority of the total number of members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the vote of a majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at

 

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which there is a quorum shall be the act of the committee.  Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings.  Unless the Board of Directors otherwise provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter and repeal rules for the conduct of its business.  In the absence of such rules each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article 2 of these Bylaws.

 

Section 2.9      Indemnification.

 

The Corporation shall indemnify members of the Board of Directors and officers of the Corporation and their respective heirs, personal representatives and successors in interest for or on account of any action performed on behalf of the Corporation, to the fullest extent permitted by the laws of the State of Delaware and the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation, as now or hereafter in effect.

 

Section 2.10    Indemnity Undertaking.

 

To the extent not prohibited by law, the Corporation shall indemnify any person who is or was made, or threatened to be made, a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (a “Proceeding”), whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including, without limitation, an action by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor, by reason of the fact that such person, or a person of whom such person is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving in any capacity at the request of the Corporation for any other corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprises (an “Other Entity”), against judgments, fines, penalties, excise taxes, amounts paid in settlement and costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys’ fees and disbursements). Persons who are not directors or officers of the Corporation may be similarly indemnified in respect of service to the Corporation or to an Other Entity at the request of the Corporation to the extent the Board of

 

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Directors at any time specifies that such persons are entitled to the benefits of this Section 2.10.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.12 hereof, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the person was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.11    Advancement of Expenses.

 

The Corporation shall, from time to time, reimburse or advance to any director or officer or other person entitled to indemnification hereunder the funds necessary for payment of expenses, including attorneys’ fees and disbursements, incurred in connection with any Proceeding in advance of the final disposition of such Proceeding; provided, however, that, if required by the laws of the State of Delaware, such expenses incurred by or on behalf of any director or officer or other person may be paid in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding only upon receipt by the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such director or officer (or other person indemnified hereunder), to repay any such amount so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial decision from which there is no further right of appeal that such director, officer or other person is not entitled to be indemnified for such expenses.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.12 hereof, the Corporation shall be required to reimburse or advance expenses incurred by a person in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof) commenced by such person only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the person was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.12    Claims.

 

If a claim for indemnification or advancement of expenses under this Article 2 is not paid in full within thirty (30) days after a written claim therefor by the person seeking indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses has been received by the

 

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Corporation, the person may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim and, if successful, in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such claim.  In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the person seeking indemnification or reimbursement or advancement of expenses is not entitled to the requested indemnification, reimbursement or advancement of expenses under applicable law.

 

Section 2.13    Amendment, Modification or Repeal.

 

Any amendment, modification or repeal of the foregoing provisions of this Article 2 shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person entitled to indemnification under Section 2.9 hereof in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Section 2.14    Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, may designate an executive committee, all of whose members shall be directors, to manage and operate the affairs of the Corporation or particular properties or enterprises of the Corporation.  Subject to the limitations of the law of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation, such executive committee shall exercise all powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation including, but not limited to, the power and authority to authorize the issuance of shares of common or preferred stock.  The executive committee shall keep minutes of its meetings and report to the Board of Directors not less often than quarterly on its activities and shall be responsible to the Board of Directors for the conduct of the enterprises and affairs entrusted to it.  Regular meetings of the executive committee, of which no notice shall be necessary, shall be held at such time, dates and places as shall be fixed by resolution adopted by the executive committee.  Special meetings of the executive committee shall be called at the

 

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request of the President or of any member of the executive committee, and shall be held upon such notice as is required by these Bylaws for special meetings of the Board of Directors, provided that oral notice by telephone or otherwise shall be sufficient if received not later than the day immediately preceding the day of the meeting.

 

Section 2.15    Other Committees of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors may by resolution establish committees other than an executive committee and shall specify with particularity the powers and duties of any such committee.  Subject to the limitations of the laws of the State of Delaware and the Certificate of Incorporation, any such committee shall exercise all powers and authority specifically granted to it by the Board of Directors, which powers may include the authority to authorize the issuance of shares of common or preferred stock.  Such committees shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors, keep minutes of their meetings and have such names as the Board of Directors by resolution may determine and shall be responsible to the Board of Directors for the conduct of the enterprises and affairs entrusted to them.

 

Section 2.16    Directors’ Compensation.

 

Directors shall receive such compensation for attendance at any meetings of the Board and any expenses incidental to the performance of their duties as the Board of Directors shall determine by resolution.  Such compensation may be in addition to any compensation received by the members of the Board of Directors in any other capacity.

 

Section 2.17    Action Without Meeting.

 

Nothing contained in these Bylaws shall be deemed to restrict the power of members of the Board of Directors or any committee designated by the Board of Directors to take any action required or permitted to be taken by them without a meeting.

 

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ARTICLE III

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 3.1      Executive Officers.

 

The Board of Directors shall elect from its own number, at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders, a Chairman of the Board and a President.  The Board of Directors may also elect such Vice Presidents as in the opinion of the Board of Directors the business of the Corporation requires, a Treasurer and a Secretary, any of whom may or may not be directors.  The Board of Directors may also elect, from time to time, such other or additional officers as in its opinion are desirable for the conduct of business of the Corporation.  Each officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of stockholders following their respective election.  Any person may hold at one time two or more offices; provided, however, that the President shall not hold any other office except that of Chairman of the Board.

 

Section 3.2      Powers and Duties of Officers.

 

The Chairman of the Board shall have overall responsibility for the management and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall exercise such duties as customarily pertain to the office of Chairman of the Board and such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.  He shall be the senior officer of the Corporation and in case of the inability or failure of the President to perform his duties, he shall perform the duties of the President.  He may appoint and terminate the appointment or election of officers, agents or employees other than those appointed or elected by the Board of Directors.  He may sign, execute and deliver, in the name of the Corporation, powers of attorney, contracts, bonds and other obligations.  The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of stockholders and of

 

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the Board of Directors at which he is present, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or these Bylaws.

 

The President of the Corporation shall have such powers and perform such duties as customarily pertain to a chief executive officer and the office of a president, including, without limitation, being responsible for the active direction of the daily business of the Corporation, and shall exercise such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors.  The President may sign, execute and deliver, in the name of the Corporation, powers of attorney, contracts, bonds and other obligations.  In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, the President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Board.

 

Vice Presidents shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the executive committee, if any, or the Board of Directors.  A Vice President may sign and execute contracts and other obligations pertaining to the regular course of his duties which implement policies established by the Board of Directors.

 

The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.  Unless the Board of Directors otherwise declares by resolution, the Treasurer shall have general custody of all the funds and securities of the Corporation and general supervision of the collection and disbursement of funds of the Corporation.  He shall endorse for collection on behalf of the Corporation checks, notes and other obligations, and shall deposit the same to the credit of the Corporation in such bank or banks or depository as the Board of Directors may designate.  He may sign, with the Chairman of the Board, President or such other person or persons as may be designated for the purpose by the Board of Directors, all bills of exchange or promissory notes of

 

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the Corporation.  He shall enter or cause to be entered regularly in the books of the Corporation a full and accurate account of all moneys received and paid by him on account of the Corporation, shall at all reasonable times exhibit his books and accounts to any director of the Corporation upon application at the office of the Corporation during business hours and, whenever required by the Board of Directors or the President, shall render a statement of his accounts.  He shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws.  He may be required to give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in such sum and with such surety as shall be approved by the Board of Directors.  Any Assistant Treasurer shall, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors.  The Secretary shall cause notice to be given of meetings of stockholders, of the Board of Directors, and of any committee appointed by the Board of Directors.  He shall have custody of the corporate seal, minutes and records relating to the conduct and acts of the stockholders and Board of Directors, which shall, at all reasonable times, be open to the examination of any director.  The Secretary or any Assistant Secretary may certify the record of proceedings of the meetings of the stockholders or of the Board of Directors or resolutions adopted at such meetings, may sign or attest certificates, statements or reports required to be filed with governmental bodies or officials, may sign acknowledgments of instruments, may give notices of meetings and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

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Section 3.3      Bank Accounts.

 

In addition to such bank accounts as may be authorized in the usual manner by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer, with approval of the Chairman of the Board or the President, may authorize such bank accounts to be opened or maintained in the name and on behalf of the Corporation as he may deem necessary or appropriate, provided payments from such bank accounts are to be made upon and according to the check of the Corporation, which may be signed jointly or singularly by either the manual or facsimile signature or signatures of such officers or bonded employees of the Corporation as shall be specified in the written instructions of the Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer of the Corporation with the approval of the Chairman of the Board or the President of the Corporation.

 

Section 3.4      Proxies; Stock Transfers.

 

Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or directed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President or any Vice President or their designees shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to vote upon all matters and resolutions at any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which this Corporation may hold stock, and may exercise on behalf of this Corporation any and all of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock at any such meeting, whether regular or special, and at all adjournments thereof, and shall have power and authority to execute and deliver proxies and consents on behalf of this Corporation in connection with the exercise by this Corporation of the rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock, with full power of substitution or revocation.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or directed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President or any Vice President or their designees shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to transfer, sell or dispose of stock of any corporation in which this Corporation may hold stock.

 

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ARTICLE IV

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

Section 4.1      Shares.

 

The shares of the corporation shall be represented by a certificate or shall be uncertificated.  Certificates shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President and by the Secretary or the Treasurer, and sealed with the seal of the Corporation.  Such seal may be a facsimile, engraved or printed.  Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner thereof a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to Sections 151, 156, 202(a) or 218(a) of the Delaware General Corporation Law 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 each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.

 

Any of or all the signatures on a certificate may be 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 an officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar had not ceased to hold such position at the time of its issuance.

 

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.

 

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Section 4.2      Transfer of Shares.

 

(a)        Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.  Upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares such uncertificated shares shall be cancelled, and the issuance of new equivalent uncertificated shares or certificated shares shall be made to the person entitled thereto and the transaction shall be recorded upon the books of the Corporation.

 

(b)        The person in whose name shares of stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed by the Corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.

 

Section 4.3      Lost Certificates.

 

The Board of Directors or any transfer agent of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares representing stock of the Corporation to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost,

 

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stolen or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates or uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors (or any transfer agent of the Corporation authorized to do so by a resolution of the Board of Directors) may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as the Board of Directors (or any transfer agent so authorized) shall direct to indemnify the Corporation and the transfer agent against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of such new certificates or uncertificated shares, and such requirement may be general or confined to specific instances.

 

Section 4.4      Transfer Agent and Registrar.

 

The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars, and may require all certificates for shares to bear the manual or facsimile signature or signatures of any of them.

 

Section 4.5      Regulations.

 

The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, registration, cancellation and replacement of certificates representing stock of the Corporation or uncertificated shares, which rules and regulations shall comply in all respects with the rules and regulations of the transfer agent.

 

ARTICLE V

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 5.1      Offices.

 

The Corporation shall maintain a registered office in the State of Delaware as required by the laws of the State of Delaware.  The Corporation may also have offices in such other places, either within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate or as the business of the Corporation may require.

 

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Section 5.2      Corporate Seal.

 

The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization, and the words “Corporate Seal” and “Delaware.”

 

Section 5.3      Fiscal Year.

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.4      Notices and Waivers Thereof.

 

Whenever any notice is required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to be given to any stockholder, director or officer, such notice, except as otherwise provided by law, may be given personally, or by mail, or, in the case of directors or officers, by electronic mail or facsimile transmission, addressed to such address as appears on the books of the Corporation.  Any notice given by electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be deemed to have been given when it shall have been transmitted and any notice given by mail shall be deemed to have been given three (3) business days after it shall have been deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid.

 

Whenever any notice is required to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person entitled to such notice, whether before or after the meeting or the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent in all respects to such notice to the full extent permitted by law.

 

Section 5.5      Saving Clause.

 

These Bylaws are subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.  In the event any provision of these Bylaws is inconsistent with the Certificate of Incorporation or the corporate laws of the State of Delaware, such provision shall be invalid to

 

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the extent only of such conflict, and such conflict shall not affect the validity of any other provision of these Bylaws.

 

Section 5.6      Amendments.

 

In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Board of Directors, by action taken by the affirmative vote of not less than 75% of the members of the Board of Directors then in office, is hereby expressly authorized and empowered to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the Bylaws of this Corporation.

 

Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock, these Bylaws may be adopted, amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 662/3% of the total voting power of the then outstanding capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon; provided, however, that this paragraph shall not apply to, and no vote of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be required to authorize, the adoption, amendment or repeal of any provision of the Bylaws by the Board of Directors in accordance with the preceding paragraph.

 

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