EX-3.34 35 a2149717zex-3_34.htm XHIBIT 3.34

Exhibit 3.34

 

BY-LAWS

 

OF

 

TICONA CELSTRAN, INC.

(hereinafter called the “Corporation”)

 

ARTICLE I

 

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1Place of Meetings.  Meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either at its registered office or any other place designated by the Board, or, if so determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion, at no place (but rather by means of remote communication), as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

Section 2Annual Meetings.  The Annual Meetings of Stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.  Written notice of the Annual Meeting stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, and 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, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting.

 

Section 3Special Meetings.  Unless otherwise prescribed by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation as amended and restated from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”), Special Meetings of Stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chairman, if there be one, or (ii) the Principal Executive Officer, (iii) any Vice President, if there be any, (iv) the Secretary or (v) any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, and shall be called by any such officer at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors or at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote.  Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.  Written notice of a Special Meeting stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, 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, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting.

 

Section 4Quorum.  Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business.  If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed.  If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.

 

Section 5Voting.  Unless otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote thereat.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, and subject to Section 5 of Article IV hereof, each stockholder represented at a meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder.  Such votes may be cast in person or by proxy but no proxy shall be voted on or after three years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.  Voting at meetings of stockholders need not be by written ballot and may be by electronic means, as determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion.

 

Section 6.  Meetings by Remote Communication. Any Annual or Special Meeting of the Stockholders may be held by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 6 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting

 

Section 7Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.  Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, an action required or permitted

 

2



 

to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting by written action signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote on that action. The written action is effective when it has been signed by all of those shareholders, unless a different effective time is provided in the written action.

 

ARTICLE II

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1Number and Election of Directors.  The Board of Directors shall consist of not less than one nor more than fifteen members, the exact number of which shall initially be fixed by the Incorporator and thereafter from time to time by the Board of Directors.  Except as provided in Section 2 of this Article IV, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at the Annual Meetings of Stockholders, and each director so elected shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting of Stockholders and until such director’s successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.  Any director may resign at any time upon notice given to the Corporation in writing or by electronic transmission.  Directors need not be stockholders.

 

Section 2Vacancies.  Unless otherwise required by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.

 

Section 3Duties and Powers.  The business of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.

 

Section 4Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may choose one of its members to be the Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present. The Chairman

 

3



 

of the Board of Directors shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5.  Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may chose one of its members to be the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors.  In the absence of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors (if any) shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors at which he or she is present.  The Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as may from time to time be assigned by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 6Meetings. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Delaware, or at no place, but rather by means of remote communication.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and at such place, if any, as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman, if there be one, the Principal Executive Officer, the Secretary, or by any director.  Notice thereof stating the place, if any, date and hour of the meeting, as well as the means of remote communication, if any, shall be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone, telefax or electronic transmission on twenty-four (24) hours’ notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.  Meetings may be held without notice, at any time and place, if all the directors are present.  A regular meeting of the Board may be held without notice immediately following each annual meeting of stockholders at the place designated for the relevant annual stockholders’ meeting.

 

Section 7Quorum.  Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

4



 

Section 8Actions of Board.  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.

 

Section 9Meetings by Means of Conference Telephone.  Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this Section 9 shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.

 

Section 10Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, establish committees having the authority of the board in the management of the business of the corporation only to the extent provided in the resolution. Each committee shall consist of one or more persons, who need not be directors, appointed by affirmative vote of a majority of the directors present. Committees may include a special litigation committee consisting of one or more independent directors or other independent persons to consider legal rights or remedies of the corporation and whether those rights and remedies should be pursued. Committees other than special litigation committees and committees formed with respect to a business combination with a shareholder, are subject at all times to the direction and control of the board.

 

Section 11Removal.  The holders of record of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors may in their discretion at any meeting duly called for the purpose, by a majority vote, remove any director or directors and elect a new director or directors in place thereof.

 

Section 12Compensation.  The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director.  No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.  Members of special or

 

5



 

standing committees may be allowed like compensation for attending committee meetings.

 

Section 13Interested Directors.  No contract or transaction between the Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because the director’s or officer’s vote is counted for such purpose if (i) the material facts as to the director’s or officer’s relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the stockholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders.  Common or interested directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.

 

ARTICLE III

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1General.  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall be a Principal Executive Officer,who shall be a President or a Vice President of the Corporation as determined by the Board, a Secretary and a Treasurer.  The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may, from time to time, also elect one or more additional Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board of Directors in each case may deem necessary or desirable for the business of the Corporation. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws.  The officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor need such officers be directors of the Corporation.

 

6



 

Section 2Election.  The Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each Annual Meeting of Stockholders (or action by written consent of stockholders in lieu of such Annual Meeting of Stockholders) shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as are set forth in these By-Laws or as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier death, resignation or removal.  Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of the Board of Directors.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term thereof by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3Voting Securities Owned by the Corporation.  Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation by the Principal Executive Officer or any Vice President, or any other officer authorized to do so by the Board of Directors, and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if present.  The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

 

Section 4Principal Executive Officer.  The Principal Executive Officer shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, be the principal executive officer of the Corporation, be the President or a Vice President of the Corporation as determined by the Board of Directors, have general supervision of the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect.  The Principal Executive Officer shall execute all bonds, mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except that the other officers of the Corporation may sign and execute documents when so authorized by these By-Laws, the Board of Directors or the Principal Executive Officer.  In the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, the Principal Executive Officer shall

 

7



 

preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Principal Executive Officer shall also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as from time to time may be assigned to him by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5Vice Presidents.  At the request of the Principal Executive Officer or in the Principal Executive Officer’s absence or in the event of the Principal Executive Officer’s inability or refusal to act, any Vice President (in the order designated by the Board of Directors), shall perform the duties of the Principal Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Principal Executive Officer.  Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe.  If there be no Vice President, the Board of Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the Principal Executive Officer or in the event of the inability or refusal of the Principal Executive Officer to act, shall perform the duties of the Principal Executive Officer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Principal Executive Officer.

 

Section 6Secretary.  The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for the standing committees of the Board of Directors when required.  The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Principal Executive Officer, under whose supervision the Secretary shall be.  If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the Board of Directors or the Principal Executive Officer may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given.  The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary.  The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by such officer’s signature.  The Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or filed, as the case may be.

 

8



 

Section 7Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors.  The Treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Principal Executive Officer and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.  If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of the Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the Treasurer’s possession or under the Treasurer’s control belonging to the Corporation.

 

Section 8.   Assistant Secretaries.  Except as may be otherwise provided in these By-Laws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Principal Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be any, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of the Secretary’s disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Secretary.

 

Section 9Assistant Treasurers.  Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Principal Executive Officer, any Vice President, if there be any, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of the Treasurer’s disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer.  If required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of the office of Assistant Treasurer and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Assistant Treasurer’s death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in the Assistant

 

9



 

Treasurer’s possession or under the Assistant Treasurer’s control belonging to the Corporation.

 

Section 10Other Officers.  Such other officers as the Board of Directors may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.

 

Section 11Compensation.  The Board shall have power to fix the compensation of all officers of the Corporation.  It may authorize any officer, upon whom the power of appointing subordinate officers may have been conferred, to fix the compensation of such subordinate officers.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

STOCK

 

Section 1Form of Certificates.  Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation (i) by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Principal Executive Officer or any Vice President and (ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by such stockholder in the Corporation.

 

Section 2Signatures.  Any or all of the signatures on a certificate may be a facsimile.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.

 

Section 3Lost Certificates.  The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.  When

 

10



 

authorizing such issue of a new certificate, 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 the owner’s legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity 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 certificate.

 

Section 4Transfers.  Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in these By-Laws.  Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by such person’s attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate therefor, which shall be cancelled before a new certificate shall be issued.

 

Section 5Record Date.  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty days nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action.  A determination 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 6Record Owners.  The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.

 

11



 

ARTICLE V

 

NOTICES

 

Section 1Notices.  Whenever written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given in writing by mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at such person’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States mail.  Written notice may also be given personally or by telefax or electronic transmission, provided, however, that such director, member of a committee or stockholder consents to the form of electronic transmission in which the notice is given

 

Section 2Waivers of Notice.  Whenever any notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed, by the person or persons entitled to said notice or a waiver of notice thereof by electronic transmission, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

Section 1Dividends.  Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the requirements of the Minnesota Business Corporation Act and the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the Corporation’s capital stock.  Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

12



 

Section 2Disbursements.  All checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

 

Section 3Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year unless otherwise determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4Corporate Seal.  The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Minnesota”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

 

Section 5.  Electronic Transmission.  As used in these By-Laws, “electronic transmission” shall mean any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated process.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

INDEMNIFICATION

 

Section 1.                                            Right to Indemnification.  The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person (an “Indemnitee”) who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a “proceeding”), by reason of the fact that he, or a person for whom he is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer or employee of the corporation or, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, is or was serving at the written request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, non-profit entity, or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by such Indemnitee.  Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, except as otherwise provided in Section 3, the Corporation shall be required to indemnify an Indemnitee in connection with a proceeding (or part thereof)

 

13



 

commenced by such Indemnitee only if the commencement of such proceeding (or part thereof) by the Indemnitee was authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 2.                                            Prepayment of Expenses.  The Corporation shall pay the expenses (including attorneys’ fees) reasonably incurred by an Indemnitee who is a director and/or officer of the Corporation (a “Director and/or Officer Indemnitee”) in defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however, that such payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the Director and/or Officer Indemnitee to repay all amounts advanced if it should be ultimately determined that the Director and/or Officer Indemnitee is not entitled to be indemnified under this Article VII or otherwise.

 

Section 3.                                            Claims.  If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Article VII is not paid in full within sixty (60) days after a written claim therefor by the Indemnitee has been received by the Corporation, the Indemnitee 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 actual and reasonable expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in prosecuting such claim.  In any such action the Corporation shall have the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to the requested indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.

 

Section 4.                                            Nonexclusivity of Rights.  The rights conferred on any Indemnitee by this Article VII shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such Indemnitee may have or hereafter acquire under any Statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these By-Laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

 

Section 5.                                            Other Sources.  The Corporation’s obligation if any, to indemnify or to advance expenses to any Indemnitee who was or is serving at its request as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, enterprise or nonprofit entity, including an employee benefit plan, shall be reduced by any amount such Indemnitee may collect as indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, limited liability company, trust, non-profit entity or other enterprise including an employee benefit plan.

 

14



 

Section 6.                                            Amendment or Repeal.  Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VII shall not adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any Indemnitee in respect of any act or omission occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.

 

Section 7.                                            Other Indemnification and Prepayment of Expenses.  This Article VII shall not limit the right of the Corporation, to the extent and in the manner permitted by law, to indemnify persons other than Indemnitees, and to advance expenses to persons other than Director and/or Officer Indemnitees when and as authorized by appropriate corporate action.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 1Amendments.  These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors subject to the power of the stockholders, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stockholders entitled to vote, at any meeting, to change or repeal such By-Laws, provided that notice of such proposed amendment shall have been given in the notice of such meeting.  The Board of directors shall not make or alter any By-Law fixing their qualifications, classifications, term of office or number except the Board may make or alter any By-Law to increase their number.

 

15