EX-1.18 18 a2142994zex-1_18.htm EXHIBIT 1.18

Exhibit 1.18

 

HERMANN MARKETING, INC.

 

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BY-LAWS

 

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ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

 

Section 1.                                            The registered office shall be located in St. Louis, Missouri.

 

Section 2.                                            The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of Missouri as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

 

ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                            All meetings of shareholders for the election of directors shall be held in St. Louis, State of Missouri, or at such other place as may be fixed from time to time by the board of directors.

 

Section 2.                                            Annual meetings of shareholders, commencing with the year 1998, shall be held on the third Tuesday of March, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, at 10:00 AM, at which they shall elect by a plurality vote a board of directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

Section 3.                                            Written or printed notice of the annual meeting stating the place, day and hour of the meeting shall be delivered not less than ten nor more than seventy days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the president, or the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

 

SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 1.                                            Special meetings of shareholders for any purpose other than the election of directors may be held at such time and place within or without the State of Missouri as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.

 

Section 2.                                            Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the articles of incorporation, may be called by the

 



 

board of directors or by such other person or persons as may be provided in the articles of incorporation.

 

Section 3.                                            Written or printed notice of a special meeting stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten nor more than seventy days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the president, or the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

Section 4.                                            The business transacted at any special meeting of shareholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

QUORUM AND VOTING OF STOCK

 

Section 1.                                            The holders of majority of the shares of stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the shareholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the articles of incorporation.  If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the shareholders, the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented.  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 notified.

 

Section 2.                                            If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of stock represented at the meeting shall be the act of the shareholders unless the vote of a greater number of shares of stock is required by law or the articles of incorporation.

 

Section 3.                                            Each outstanding share of stock, having voting power, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders.  A shareholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.

 

Unless otherwise provided by the articles of incorporation, each shareholder in electing directors shall have the right to cast as many votes in the aggregate as shall equal the number of votes held by him in the corporation multiplied by the number of directors to be elected at the election, and each shareholder may cast the whole number of votes, either in person or by proxy, for one candidate, or distribute them among two or more candidates.

 

Section 4.                                            Any action required to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                            The number of directors shall be one (1).  The director need not be a resident of the State of Missouri nor a shareholder of the corporation.  The director, other than the first board of directors, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the shareholders, and shall serve until the next succeeding annual meeting and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.  The first board of directors shall hold office until the first annual meeting of shareholders.

 

Section 2.                                            Unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, any vacancy occurring in the board of directors and any newly created directorship resulting from any increase in the number of directors to constitute the board of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, until the next election of directors by the shareholders.

 

Section 3.                                            The business affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its 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 articles of incorporation or by these bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders.

 

Section 4.                                            The directors may keep the books of the corporation, except such as are required by law to be kept within the state, outside of the State of Missouri, at such place or places as the directors may from time to time determine.

 

Section 5.                                            The board of directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and irrespective of any personal interest of any of its members, shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation of all directors for services to the corporation as directors, officers or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1.                                            Meetings of the board of directors, regular or special, may be held either within or without the State of Missouri.

 

Section 2.                                            The first meeting of each newly elected board of directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be fixed by the vote of the shareholders at the annual meeting and no notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present, or it may convene at such place and time as shall be fixed by the consent in writing of all the directors.

 

Section 3.                                            Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held upon such notice, or without notice, and at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the board.

 

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Section 4.                                            Special meetings of the board of directors may be called by the president on ten (10) days’ notice to each director, either personally or by mail or by facsimile telecommunication; special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the written request of a majority of the directors.

 

Section 5.                                            Attendance of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

Section 6.                                            A majority of the full board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business unless a greater number is required by statute or by the articles of incorporation.  The act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by statute or by the articles of incorporation.  If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 7.                                            Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the directors, or of the executive committee or any other committee of the directors, may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the members of the board or of the committee entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.

 

Section 8.                                            Unless otherwise restricted by the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, members of the board of directors, or any committee designated by the board of directors, may participate in a meeting of the board of directors or committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment whereby all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in this manner shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

 

Section 1.                                            The board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the number of directors fixed by the bylaws or otherwise, may designate two or more directors to constitute an executive committee, which committee, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have and exercise all of the authority of the board of directors in the management of the corporation, except as otherwise required by law.  Vacancies in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the board of directors at a regular or special meeting of the board of directors.  The executive committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the board when required.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

 

NOTICES

 

Section 1.                                            Whenever, under the provisions of the statutes or of the articles of incorporation or of these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any director or shareholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail, addressed to such director or shareholder, at his 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.  Notice to directors may also be given by facsimile telecommunication.

 

Section 2.                                            Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes or under the provisions of the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

OFFICERS

 

Section 1.                                            The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors and shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer.  The board of directors may also choose additional vice-presidents, and one or more assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.

 

Section 2.                                            The board of directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of shareholders shall choose a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer, none of whom need be a member of the board.

 

Section 3.                                            The board of directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the board of directors.

 

Section 4.                                            The salaries of all officers and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors.

 

Section 5.                                            The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify.  Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the board of directors.

 

THE PRESIDENT

 

Section 6.                                            The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and the board of directors, shall

 

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have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.

 

Section 7.                                            He shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation.

 

THE VICE-PRESIDENTS

 

Section 8.                                            The vice-president, or if there shall be more than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the president, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the president and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES

 

Section 9.                                            The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the shareholders and record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required.  He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the shareholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president, under whose supervision he shall be.  He shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation and he, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the signature of 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 his signature.

 

Section 10.                                      The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.

 

THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS

 

Section 11.                                      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.

 

Section 12.                                      He 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 president and the board of directors, at its regular meetings, or when the board of directors so

 

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requires, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.

 

Section 13.                                      If required by the board of directors, he 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 his office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the corporation.

 

Section 14.                                      The assistant treasurer, or, if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, 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.

 

ARTICLE X

 

CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES

 

Section 1.                                            The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates signed by the president or a vice-president and the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer of the corporation, and sealed with the seal of the corporation or a facsimile thereof.

 

Section 2.                                            The signatures of the officers of the corporation upon a certificate may be facsimiles.  In case any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issue.

 

LOST CERTIFICATES

 

Section 3.                                            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 or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the board of directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may prescribe such terms and conditions as it deems expedient, and may require such indemnities as it deems adequate, to protect the corporation from any claim that may be made against it with respect to any such certificate alleged to have been lost or destroyed.

 

TRANSFERS OF SHARES

 

Section 4.                                            Upon surrender to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate representing shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, a new certificate shall be issued to the person entitled thereto, and the old certificate canceled and the transaction recorded upon the books of the corporation.

 

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CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS

 

Section 5.                                            The board of directors shall have power to close the transfer books of the corporation for a period not exceeding seventy days preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders or the date for payment of any dividend or the date for the allotment of rights or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of shares shall go into effect; provided, however, that in lieu of closing the transfer books, the board of directors may fix in advance a date, not exceeding seventy days preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of shares shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at the meeting, and any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of the dividend, or entitled to any such allotment of rights, or entitled to exercise the rights in respect of the change, conversion or exchange of shares, and in such case, only the shareholders who are shareholders of record on the date of closing the transfer books or on the record date so fixed shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, the meeting, and any adjournment thereof, or to receive payment of the dividend, or to receive the allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the corporation after the date of closing of the transfer books or the record date fixed as aforesaid.  If the board of directors does not close the transfer books or set a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote at, a meeting of shareholders, only the shareholders who are shareholders of record at the close of business on the twentieth day preceding the date of the meeting shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at, the meeting, and any adjournment of the meeting; except that, if prior to the meeting, written waivers of notice of the meeting are signed and delivered to the corporation by all of the shareholders of record at the time the meeting is convened, only the shareholders who are shareholders of record at the time the meeting is convened shall be entitled to vote at the meeting, and any adjournment of the meeting.

 

REGISTERED SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 6.                                            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 the laws of Missouri.

 

LIST OF SHAREHOLDERS

 

Section 7.                                            The officer or agent having charge of the transfer books for shares shall make, at least ten days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each and the number of shares held by each, which list, for a period of ten days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office of the corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business hours.  Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting.  The original share ledger or

 

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transfer book, or a duplicate thereof, shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such list or share ledger or transfer book or to vote at any meeting of the shareholders.

 

ARTICLE XI

 

GENERAL PROVISIONS

 

DIVIDENDS

 

Section 1.                                            Subject to the provisions of the articles of incorporation relating thereto, if any, dividends may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the capital stock, subject to any provisions of the articles of incorporation.

 

Section 2.                                            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 directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

CHECKS

 

Section 3.                                            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.

 

FISCAL YEAR

 

Section 4.                                            The fiscal year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.

 

SEAL

 

Section 5.                                            The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Missouri”.  The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner reproduced.

 

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