form8k_body.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON,
DC 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of
report (Date of earliest event reported): November 28,
2007
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE CORPORATION
(Exact
Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Delaware
1-9273 75-1285071
(State or Other
Jurisdiction (Commission (IRS
Employer
of
Incorporation) File
Number) Identification
No.)
4845 US Hwy. 271
N.
Pittsburg,
Texas 75686-0093
(Address of Principal Executive
Offices) (ZIP
Code)
Registrant's
telephone number, including area code: (903) 434-1000
Not
Applicable
(Former
Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check
the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
q Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
q Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
q
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
|
q
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act
(17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
|
Item
5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in
Fiscal Year.
On
November 28, 2007, the Board of Directors of Pilgrim’s Pride Corporation (the
“Company”) approved the amendment and restatement of the Company's
Bylaws. Article 7 of the Bylaws was amended to provide that the
Company may issue shares of its capital stock with or without certificates.
This
amendment was made in response to the listing requirements of the New York
Stock
Exchange (the "NYSE") that require all NYSE-listed companies to be eligible
to
participate in a direct registration system by January 1, 2008.
In
addition, Article 5 of the Bylaws was amended to specifically designate the
Senior Chairman of the Board as an officer of the Company, and to remove
the
section specifically designating the Vice Chairman of the Board as an officer
position. Article 2, Article 7 and Article 8 were amended to update and
consolidate into one Article the provisions regarding record
dates. Section 2.13 of the previous version of the Bylaws denying
preemptive rights was deleted because the deleted provision was unnecessary
to
deny preemptive rights under the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware (the "DGCL") and the deleted provision was redundant.
In
addition, a number of other technical updates and edits were made to conform
the
Bylaws to the newly amended provisions and the current DGCL, including ,
among
other things, with respect to the Company's designation of its registered
office
and agent (Section 1.2); the timing of the annual stockholder meetings, remote
participation in stockholder meetings, voting lists and adjournment of
stockholder meetings (Sections 2.2, 2.4, 2.5 and 2.6); the ability to appoint
proxies by electronic transmission (Section 2.9); procedures for submitting
stockholder proposals (Section 2.12); qualification of Directors (Section
3.2);
voting on Directors (Section 3.4); removal of Directors (Section 3.6);
Directors' meetings and action without a meeting (Sections 3.7 and 3.8);
Board
Committees (Section 3.9); interested Directors and officers (Section 3.12);
notice of meetings (Sections 4.1 and 4.2); removal of officers (Section 5.6);
indemnification (Article 6); signatures on stock certificates and restrictions
on transfer (Sections 7.2 and 7.6); dividends (Section 8.1); annual statement
(Section 8.4 of the previous version of the Bylaws); resignations (Section
8.7);
and telephone meetings (Section 8.10).
The
description of the amendments to the Bylaws set forth above is qualified
by
reference to the full text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company,
clean and marked versions of which are filed hereto as Exhibits 3.1 and 3.2
and
are incorporated herein by reference.
Item
9.01. Financial
Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
Exhibit
Number Description
3.1 Amended
and Restated Corporate Bylaws of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation.
|
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Corporate Bylaws of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (marked
to
show changes to the version of the Bylaws in effect prior to November
28,
2007).
|
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized.
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE CORPORATION
Date: December
4, 2007
|
By:
/s/ Richard A.
Cogdill
|
|
|
Richard
A. Cogdill
|
|
Chief
Financial Officer, Secretary and
Treasurer
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
Number Description
3.1 Amended
and Restated Corporate Bylaws of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation.
|
3.2
|
Amended
and Restated Corporate Bylaws of Pilgrim's Pride Corporation (marked
to
show changes to the version of the Bylaws in effect prior to November
28,
2007).
|
ex3_1.htm
* * * * *
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CORPORATE
BYLAWS
OF
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE CORPORATION
(A
Delaware corporation)
* * * * *
ARTICLE
1
|
NAME
AND OFFICES
|
1
|
|
1.2
|
Registered
Office and Agent
|
1
|
|
2.8
|
Withdrawal
of Quorum
|
4
|
|
(b)
|
Exercise
of Voting Power; Proxies
|
4
|
|
(c)
|
Election
of Directors
|
5
|
|
(a)
|
Record
Date for Meetings and Distributions
|
5
|
|
(b)
|
Record
Date for Action by Written Consent
|
5
|
|
2.11
|
Action
Without Meetings
|
5
|
|
2.12
|
Stockholder
Proposals
|
6
|
|
3.2
|
Number
and Qualification
|
8
|
|
3.4
|
Voting
on Directors
|
9
|
|
3.5
|
Vacancies
and New Directorships
|
9
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
(e)
|
Notice
and Waiver of Notice
|
11
|
|
3.8
|
Action
Without Meetings
|
11
|
|
(a)
|
Designation
and Appointment
|
11
|
|
(b)
|
Members;
Alternate Members; Terms
|
12
|
|
(i)
|
Quorum;
Requisite Vote
|
12
|
|
(k)
|
Action
Without Meetings
|
13
|
|
3.11
|
Maintenance
of Records
|
13
|
|
3.12
|
Interested
Directors and Officers
|
13
|
ARTICLE
5
|
OFFICERS
AND AGENTS
|
15
|
|
5.2
|
Election
of Officers
|
15
|
|
5.9
|
Senior
Chairman of the Board
|
17
|
|
5.10
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
17
|
|
5.11
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
18
|
|
5.12
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
18
|
|
5.13
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
19
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
5.17
|
Assistant
Secretaries
|
20
|
|
5.19
|
Assistant
Treasurers
|
21
|
ARTICLE
6
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
21
|
|
6.1
|
Mandatory
Indemnification
|
21
|
|
6.2
|
Determination
of Indemnification
|
22
|
|
6.3
|
Advance
of Expenses
|
23
|
|
6.4
|
Permissive
Indemnification
|
24
|
|
6.5
|
Nature
of Indemnification
|
24
|
ARTICLE
7
|
STOCK
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER REGULATIONS
|
25
|
|
7.1
|
Description
of Certificates
|
25
|
|
7.4
|
Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
|
27
|
|
(d)
|
Other
Requirements
|
27
|
|
7.5
|
Registration
of Transfers
|
28
|
|
(b)
|
Guaranty
and Effectiveness of Signature
|
28
|
|
(d)
|
Collection
of Taxes
|
28
|
|
(e)
|
Additional
Requirements Satisfied
|
28
|
|
7.6
|
Restrictions
on Transfer and Legends on Certificates
|
28
|
|
(a)
|
Shares
in Classes or Series
|
29
|
|
(b)
|
Restriction
on Transfer
|
29
|
ARTICLE
8
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
29
|
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
|
8.4
|
Contracts
and Negotiable Instruments
|
30
|
|
8.8
|
Amendment
of Bylaws
|
31
|
|
8.10
|
Telephone
Meetings
|
31
|
|
8.11
|
Table
of Contents; Captions
|
32
|
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CORPORATE
BYLAWS
OF
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE CORPORATION
(a
Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE
1
NAME
AND
OFFICES
1.1 Name. The
name of the Corporation is PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION, hereinafter referred
to
as the "Corporation."
1.2 Registered
Office and
Agent. The Corporation shall establish, designate and
continuously maintain a registered office and agent in the State of
Delaware.
1.3 Other
Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other
places within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors
may,
from time to time, determine the business of the Corporation may
require.
ARTICLE
2
STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 Place
of
Meetings. Each meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation
is to be held at the principal offices of the Corporation or at such other
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be specified
in
the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof.
2.2 Annual
Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation
shall be held each calendar year on such date and at such time as shall
be
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, which date shall
be
within thirteen (13) months of the last annual meeting
of
stockholders, and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed
waiver of notice of such meeting. At such meeting, the stockholders shall
elect
Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before
the
meeting.
2.3 Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any
purpose or purposes, may be called by the Board of Directors, Senior Chairman
of
the Board, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or
President. The notice of a special meeting shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting and the business to be transacted at any
such
special meeting of stockholders, and shall be limited to the purposes stated
in
the notice therefor.
2.4 Notice. Written
or printed notice of the meeting stating the place, if any, day and hour
of the
meeting, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders
and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such
meeting,
and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which
the
meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) nor more than
sixty
(60) days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record
entitled
to vote at such meeting as determined in accordance with the provisions
of
Section 2.10 hereof, except as otherwise provided herein or required by
law
(meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware
General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation). If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered
when deposited in the United States Mail, with postage thereon prepaid,
addressed to the stockholder entitled thereto at his address as it appears
on
the stock ledger of the Corporation.
2.5 Voting
List. The officer having charge and custody of the stock
ledger of the Corporation shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before
each
meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at
such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and
showing
the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in
the name
of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of
any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary
business hours for a period of not less than ten (10) days prior to such
meeting
at the principal office of the Corporation. If the meeting is to be
held at a place, 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 stockholder
during the entire time of the meeting. The original stock ledger
shall be the only evidence as to identity of the stockholders entitled
to
examine such list and to vote at any such meeting of the
stockholders.
2.6 Quorum. The
holders of a majority of the combined voting power of the capital stock
issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, represented in person or
by proxy,
shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the
stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise required
by
statute, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. If,
however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any such meeting
of
the stockholders, (a) holders of a majority of the combined voting power
of the
capital stock entitled to vote thereat, present in person, or represented
by
proxy, or (b) the Chairman of the Board shall have the 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. If the
adjournment is for more than thirty (30) days, or if
after
the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the reconvened meeting,
a notice
of said meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at
said
meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted
which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
notified.
2.7 Requisite
Vote. If a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the
holders of a majority of the total outstanding voting power of Common Stock,
present in person or
represented
by proxy, shall determine any question brought before such meeting, unless
the
question is one upon which, by express provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a different vote shall be required, in
which
case such express provision shall govern and control the determination
of such
question.
2.8 Withdrawal
of
Quorum. If a quorum is present at the time of commencement of
any meeting, the stockholders present at such duly convened meeting may
continue
to transact any business which may properly come before said meeting until
adjournment thereof, notwithstanding the withdrawal from such meeting of
sufficient holders of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereat
to
leave less than a quorum remaining.
2.9 Voting
at
Meeting. Voting at meetings of stockholders shall be conducted
and exercised subject to the following procedures and regulations:
(a) Voting
Power. In the exercise of voting power with respect to each
matter properly submitted to a vote at any meeting of stockholders, each
holder
of the capital stock of the Corporation having voting power shall be entitled
to
such number of votes as shall be specified in the Certificate of
Incorporation.
(b) Exercise
of Voting Power;
Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting or to
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may vote or consent
either in person or authorize another person or persons to act for him
by proxy
duly appointed by instrument in writing or by transmission permitted by
law;
provided, however, no such appointment of proxy shall be valid, voted or
acted
upon after the expiration of three (3) years from the date of such proxy,
unless
otherwise stated therein. A proxy shall be revocable unless expressly
designated therein as irrevocable and coupled with an
interest. Proxies coupled with an interest include the appointment as
proxy of: (a) a pledgee; (b) a person who purchased or
agreed to purchase or owns or holds an option to purchase the shares voted;
(c) a creditor of the Corporation who extended its credit under terms
requiring the appointment; (d) an employee of the Corporation whose
employment contract requires the appointment; or (e) a party to a voting
agreement created under Section 218 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware,
as amended. Each proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the
Corporation prior to or at the time of the meeting. Any vote may be
taken by voice vote or by show of hands unless someone entitled to vote
at the
meeting objects, in which case written ballots shall be used.
(c) Election
of
Directors. In all elections of Directors, cumulative voting
shall be prohibited.
2.10 Record
Date. A record date shall be fixed or determined in the
following manner.
(a) Record
Date for Meetings and
Distributions. In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders,
or
to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of
any
rights or 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, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date,
which
record date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the
record
date is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60)
nor less
than ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor
more than
sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore
described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board
of
Directors, 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, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise any
rights
of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the
record
date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.
(b) Record
Date for Action by
Written Consent. In order that the Corporation may determine
the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting,
(including by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission as permitted
by law), the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not
precede
the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by
the
Board of Directors, and which record date shall be not more than ten (10)
days
after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is
adopted. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors
and no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the record date shall be the first date on which
a
consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered
to
the Corporation in the manner prescribed by law. If no record date
has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board
of
Directors is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect
to
the proposed action by consent of the stockholders without a meeting, the
record
date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action
without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which
the
Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
2.11 Action Without
Meetings. Any action permitted or required to be taken at a
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting,
without prior
notice,
and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth
the
action so taken, shall be signed by the holder or holders of the outstanding
stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary
to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled
to
vote thereon were present and voted, and such written consent shall have
the
same force and effect as the requisite vote of the stockholders
thereon. Any such executed written consent, or an executed
counterpart thereof, shall be placed in the minute book of the
Corporation. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature
of each stockholder who signs the consent. No written consent shall
be effective to take the action that is the subject of the consent unless,
within sixty (60) days after the date of the earliest dated consent delivered
to
the Corporation in the manner required by law, a consent or consents signed
by
the holders of the minimum number of shares of the capital stock issued
and
outstanding and entitled to vote on and approve the action that is the
subject
of the consent are delivered to the Corporation. Prompt notice of the
taking of any action by stockholders without a meeting by less than unanimous
written consent shall be given to those stockholders who did not consent
in
writing to the action.
2.12 Stockholder
Proposals. At the annual meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, only such business shall be conducted and only such proposals
shall
be acted upon as shall have
been
properly brought before such annual meeting. To be properly brought
before an annual meeting, business or proposals must (i) be specified in
the notice relating to the meeting (or any supplement
thereto)
given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with
these
Bylaws or (ii) be properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of
the Corporation who (A) is a stockholder of
record
at
the time of the giving of such stockholder's notice provided for herein,
(B) shall be entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (C) complies
with the requirements of this Section, and otherwise be
proper
subjects for stockholder action under the
Delaware
General Corporation Law and be properly introduced at the annual
meeting. For a proposal to be properly brought before the annual
meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation, in addition to any other applicable
requirements, such stockholder must have given timely advance notice thereof
in
writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, such
stockholder's notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 120 days nor
more
than 270 days prior to the scheduled annual meeting date, regardless of
any
postponements, deferrals or adjournments of such annual meeting to a later
date. Any such stockholder's notice to the Secretary of the
Corporation shall set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes
to bring
before the annual meeting (i) a description of the proposal desired to
be
brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business
at
the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of such
stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal
is
made; (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner,
if
any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the name and address, as they
appear
on the Corporation's books, of such stockholder proposing such business,
any
other stockholders of the Corporation known by such stockholder to be in
favor
of such proposal and of such beneficial owner; and (iii) the class and
number of
shares of capital stock of the Corporation owned of record and beneficially
by
such stockholder and such beneficial holder on the date of such
notice. The presiding officer of the meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation shall determine whether the requirements of this Section have
been
met with respect to any stockholder proposal. If the presiding
officer determines that any stockholder proposal was not made in accordance
with
the terms of this Section, he shall so declare at the meeting and any such
proposal shall not be acted upon at the meeting.
At
a
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, only such business
shall be
conducted and only such proposals shall be acted upon as shall have been
properly brought before such special meeting. To be properly brought
before such a special meeting, business or proposals must (i) be specified
in the notice relating to the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given
by or at
the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws
or
(ii) constitute matters incident to the conduct of the meeting as the
presiding officer of the meeting shall determine to be
appropriate. In addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section,
a stockholder of the Corporation shall also comply with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the
rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set
forth in
this Section.
ARTICLE
3
DIRECTORS
3.1 Management
Powers. The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or
under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation
shall be
managed under the direction of 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, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws directed or
required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
3.2 Number
and
Qualification. The Board of Directors shall consist of not
less than one (1) member. The number of Directors shall be fixed from
time to time by the Board of Directors. Directors
need
not
be residents of the State of Delaware nor stockholders of the
Corporation. The number of Directors shall be fixed, and may be
increased or decreased, from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors
without the necessity of a written
amendment
to the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, no decrease shall
have the
effect of shortening the term of any incumbent Director.
3.3 Election
and
Term. Members of the Board of Directors shall hold office
until the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and until
their
successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the annual
meeting of stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote in an election
of
Directors shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding
annual
meeting of the stockholders. Each Director shall hold office for the
term for which he is elected, and until his successor shall be elected
and
qualified or until his death, resignation or removal, if earlier.
3.4 Voting
on
Directors. Directors shall be elected by the vote of the
holders of a plurality of the combined voting power of the shares entitled
to
vote in the election of Directors and represented in person or by proxy
at a
meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present. Cumulative
voting in the election of Directors is expressly prohibited.
3.5 Vacancies
and New
Directorships. Vacancies and newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors elected
by all
the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled
by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, although
less
than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, or by the requisite vote
of the
stockholders at an annual meeting of the stockholders or at a special meeting
of
the stockholders called for that purpose, and the Directors so elected
shall
hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. If the
holders of any class or classes of stock or series of stock of the Corporation
are entitled to elect one or more Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation
or Certificate of Designations applicable to such class or series, vacancies
and
newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled
by
a majority of
the
Directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof then in office,
or
by a sole remaining Director so elected, and the Directors so elected shall
hold
office until the next election of the class for which such Directors shall
have
been chosen, and until their successors shall be elected and
qualified. For purposes of these Bylaws, a "vacancy" shall be defined
as an unfilled directorship arising by virtue of the death, resignation
or
removal of a Director theretofore duly elected to serve in such capacity
in
accordance with the relevant provisions of these Bylaws.
3.6 Removal. Except
as otherwise required by law, any Director may be removed either for or
without
cause at any duly convened special or annual meeting of stockholders by
the
affirmative vote of a majority of the combined voting power of the shares
of the
stockholders entitled to vote at an election of Directors.
3.7 Meetings. The
meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held and conducted subject
to the
following regulations:
(a) Place. Meetings
of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, annual, regular or special,
are to
be held at the principal office or place of business of the Corporation,
or such
other place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be
specified
in the respective notices, or waivers of notice, thereof.
(b) Annual
Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet each year
immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders, at the place
where
such meeting of the stockholders has been held (either within or without
the
State of Delaware), for the purpose of organization, election of officers,
and
consideration of any other business that may properly be brought before
the
meeting. No notice of any kind to either old or new members of the
Board of Directors for such annual meeting shall be required.
(c) Regular
Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held without notice at such time and at such place or places as shall from
time
to time be determined and designated by the Board.
(d) Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called by the Senior Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer or President of the Corporation on notice of two (2)
days to
each Director either personally or by mail or by telegram, telex, facsimile
transmission or electronic
transmission
and delivery. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
called by the Senior Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer, President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice
on
the written request of two (2) Directors.
(e) Notice
and Waiver of
Notice. 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 at the beginning of the meeting 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 meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in
the
notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
(f) Quorum. At
all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total authorized
number of Directors (the "Whole Board") shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, unless a greater number is required by law or
by the
Certificate 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.
(g) Requisite
Vote. 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, the Certificate
of
Incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.8 Action
Without
Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted by law
to be
taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof,
may be
taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board or of such committee,
as
the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission,
and
such writing or electronic transmission is filed in the minutes or proceedings
of the Board of Directors or committee.
3.9 Committees. Committees
designated and appointed by the Board of Directors shall function subject
to and
in accordance with the following regulations and procedures:
(a) Designation
and
Appointment. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted
by a majority of the Whole Board, designate and appoint one or more committees
under such name or names and for such purpose or function as may be deemed
appropriate.
(b) Members;
Alternate Members;
Terms. Each committee thus designated and appointed shall
consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation, one of whom,
in the
case of the Executive Committee, shall be the Chief Executive Officer of
the
Company. The Board of Directors may designate one or more of its
members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any
limitations imposed by the Whole Board, replace absent or disqualified
members
at any meeting of that committee. The members or alternate members of
any such committee shall serve at the pleasure of and subject to the discretion
of the Board of Directors.
(c) Authority. Each
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board creating
same,
shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board
of
Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation
as
the Board of Directors may direct and delegate, except, however, those
matters
which are required by statute to be reserved unto or acted upon by the
Whole
Board.
(d) Records. Each
such committee shall keep and maintain regular records or minutes of its
meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when
required.
(e) Change
in
Number. The number of members or alternate members of any
committee appointed by the Board of Directors, as herein provided, may
be
increased or decreased from time to time by appropriate resolution adopted
by
the Whole Board.
(f) Vacancies. Vacancies
in the membership of any committee designated and appointed hereunder shall
be
filled by the Board of Directors, at a regular or special meeting of the
Board
of Directors, in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Section
3.9.
(g) Removal. Any
member or alternate member of any committee appointed hereunder may be
removed
by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Whole
Board.
(h) Meetings. The
time, place and notice (if any) of committee meetings shall be determined
by the
members of such committee.
(i) Quorum;
Requisite
Vote. At meetings of any committee appointed hereunder, a
majority of the number of members designated by the Board of Directors
shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a
majority of the members and alternate members of the committee present
at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee,
except
as otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation
or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of such
committee, the members of such committee present may adjourn the meeting
from
time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting,
until a
quorum is present.
(j) Compensation. Appropriate
compensation for members and alternate members of any committee appointed
pursuant to the authority hereof may be authorized by the action of a majority
of the Whole Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.10
hereof.
(k) Action
Without
Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of any committee may be taken without a meeting if all members
of such
committee consent thereto in writing or by electronic
transmission. Such consent shall have the same force and effect as a
unanimous vote at a meeting.
(l) Responsibility. Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary herein, the designation and appointment of
a
committee and the delegation of authority to it shall not operate to relieve
the
Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed
upon it
or him by law.
3.10 Compensation. By
appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors, the Directors may be
reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the
Board of
Directors and may be paid a fixed sum (as determined from time to time
by the
vote of a majority of the Directors then in office) for attendance at each
meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as Director, or
both. No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the
Corporation in another capacity and receiving compensation
therefor. Members of special or standing committees may, by
appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors, be allowed similar
reimbursement of expenses and compensation for attending committee
meetings.
3.11 Maintenance
of
Records. The Directors may keep the books and records of the
Corporation, except such as are required by law to be kept within the State,
outside the State of Delaware or at such place or places as they may, from
time
to time, determine.
3.12 Interested
Directors and
Officers. No contract or other transaction between the
Corporation and one or more of its Directors or officers, or between the
Corporation and any 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 of the Board) of the Corporation, which authorizes the contract
or
transaction, or solely because such Director's or officer's votes are counted
for such purpose, if (a) the material facts of such relationship or
interest and as to the contract or transaction shall be disclosed or known
to
the Board of Directors (or the committee) and the Board of Directors (or
the
committee) shall, nevertheless in good faith, authorize such contract or
transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested Directors
even though the disinterested Directors be less than a quorum; (b) the
material facts of such 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 the vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction is fair
to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified
by the
Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the stockholders. The
provisions of this Section shall not be construed to invalidate any contract
or
other transaction which would otherwise be valid under the common and statutory
law applicable thereto.
ARTICLE
4
NOTICES
4.1 Method
of
Notice. To the fullest extent permitted by law, whenever under
the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the Certificate
of Incorporation or of these
Bylaws,
notice is required to be given to any Director or stockholder, it shall
not be
construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing
and
delivered personally, through the United
States
mail, by a recognized delivery service (such as Federal Express) or by
means of
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or electronic transmission, addressed
to
such Director or stockholder, at his address
or
telex
or facsimile transmission
number,
as the case may be, as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with
postage and fees thereon prepaid. Such notice shall be deemed to be
given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States
Mail or
with an express delivery service or when transmitted by telex, facsimile
transmission, electronic transmission or personally delivered, as the case
may
be.
4.2 Waiver. Whenever
any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of the
General
Corporation Law of Delaware or under the provisions of the Certificate
of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the
person
or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission
by
the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated
therein,
shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance
by such person or persons, whether in person or by proxy, at any meeting
requiring notice shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except
where such person attends the meeting for the express purpose of objecting
at
the beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because
the
meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE
5
OFFICERS
AND
AGENTS
5.1 Designation. The
officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and
shall
consist of the offices of:
(a) Senior
Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer,
Chief
Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President, Vice President,
Treasurer
and Secretary; and
(b) Such
other offices and officers (including one or more additional Vice Presidents)
and assistant officers and agents as the Board of Directors shall deem
necessary.
5.2 Election
of
Officers. Each officer designated in Section 5.1(a) hereof
shall be elected by the Board of Directors on the expiration of the term
of
office of such officer, as herein
provided,
or whenever a vacancy exists in such office. Each officer or agent
designated in Section 5.1(b) above may be elected by the Board of Directors
at
any meeting.
5.3 Qualifications. No
officer or agent need be a stockholder of the Corporation or a resident
of
Delaware. No officer or agent is required to be a Director, except
the Senior Chairman of the Board and the Chairman of the Board. Any
two or more offices may be held by the same person.
5.4 Term
of
Office. Unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors
at the time of election or appointment, or by the express provisions of
an
employment contract approved by the Board, the term of office of each officer
and each agent shall expire on the date of the first meeting of the Board
of
Directors next following the annual meeting of stockholders each
year. Each such officer or agent, unless elected or appointed to an
additional term, shall serve until the expiration of the term of his office
or,
if earlier, his death, resignation or removal.
5.5 Authority. Officers
and agents shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management
of the Corporation as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be determined
by
resolution of the Board of Directors not inconsistent with these
Bylaws.
5.6 Removal. Any
officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be
removed
with or without cause by the Board of Directors. Such removal shall
be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so
removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of
itself create contract rights.
5.7 Vacancies. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation (by death, resignation,
removal or otherwise) shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
5.8 Compensation. The
compensation of all officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed
from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
5.9 Senior
Chairman of the
Board. The Senior Chairman shall have the power to call
special meetings of the stockholders and of the Directors for any purpose
or
purposes, and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Senior
Chairman
shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Senior
Chairman shall advise and counsel the other officers of the Corporation
and
shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be assigned
to or
required of him from time to time by the Board of Directors. The
Senior Chairman shall be authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds,
mortgages, leases and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal
of the
Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise
executed
and except where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by
the Board
of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
5.10 Chairman
of the
Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among
the Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall have the power to call
special meetings of the stockholders and of the Directors for any purpose
or
purposes, and he shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and
Board of
Directors, unless he shall be absent or unless he shall, at his election,
designate the Senior Chairman to preside in his stead. The Chairman
of the Board shall advise and counsel the Chief Executive Officer and other
officers of the Corporation and shall exercise such powers and perform
such
duties as shall be assigned to or required of him from time to time by
the Board
of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall be authorized to
execute promissory notes, bonds, mortgages, leases and other contracts
requiring
a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted
by
law to be otherwise executed and except where the execution thereof shall
be
expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to some other officer or
agent of
the Corporation.
5.11 Chief
Executive
Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general
supervision, management, direction and control of the business and affairs
of
the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board
of
Directors are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall
be authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds, mortgages, leases and
other
contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where
required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed and except where
the
execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors
to some
other officer or agent of the Corporation. In the absence of the
Chairman of the Board and the Senior Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board
of
Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall have the general powers
and duties of management usually vested in the office of chief executive
officer
of a corporation and shall perform such other duties and possess such other
authority and powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.
5.12 Chief
Financial
Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have general
financial supervision, management, direction and control of the business
and
affairs of the Corporation and shall see that all financial orders and
resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The
Chief Financial Officer shall be authorized to execute promissory notes,
bonds,
mortgages, leases and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal
of the
Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise
executed
and except where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by
the Board
of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The
chief financial officer shall have the general financial powers and duties
of
management usually vested in the office of the Chief Financial Officer
of a
corporation and shall
perform
such other duties and possess such other authority and powers as the Chairman
of
the Board and Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
5.13 Chief
Operating
Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall have general
supervision of the day to day operations of the Corporation. The
Chief Operating Officer shall have the general powers and duties of management
usually vested in the office of chief operating officer of a corporation
and
shall perform such other duties and possess such other authority and powers
as
the Chairman of the Board and Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.
5.14 President. In
the absence or disability of the Chief Operating Officer, the President
shall
perform all of the duties of the Chief Operating Officer and when so acting
shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
Chief
Operating Officer, including the power to sign all instruments and to take
all
actions which the Chief Operating Officer is authorized to perform by the
Board
of Directors or the Bylaws. The President shall have the general
powers and duties vested in the office of President as the Board of Directors
may from time to time prescribe or as the Chief Executive Officer may from
time
to time delegate.
5.15 Vice
Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be more than
one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the requisite vote
of the
Board of Directors, shall, in the prolonged 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 or as the Chief Executive Officer may from
time
to time delegate. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
Vice Presidents as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice
Presidents.
5.16 Secretary. The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings
of the stockholders of the Corporation and record all proceedings of the
meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to
be
maintained for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees 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, Senior Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board,
Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer
or
President. The Secretary 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.
5.17 Assistant
Secretaries. 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 or as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
delegate.
5.18 Treasurer. The
Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and 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 Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman
of the Board and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when
the
Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his 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 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 owned by the
Corporation. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties and have
such other authority and powers as the Board of Directors may from time
to time
prescribe or as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
delegate.
5.19 Assistant
Treasurers. 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 or as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
delegate.
ARTICLE
6
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Mandatory
Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party, or who was or is a witness without being
named a
party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, any
appeal
in such an action, suit or proceeding, and any inquiry or investigation
that
could lead to such an action, suit or proceeding (a "Proceeding"), by reason
of
the
fact that such individual is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation,
or
while a Director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the
request
of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor,
trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another corporation,
partnership, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation from and against any judgments,
penalties (including excise taxes), fines, amounts paid in settlement and
reasonable expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees) actually
incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding if it is determined
that he acted in good faith and in a manner that he reasonably believed
to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and (ii) with
respect to any Proceeding which is a criminal action, that he had no reasonable
cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
Proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of
nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself create a presumption
that the
person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed
to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with
respect
to any Proceeding which is a criminal action, had reasonable cause to believe
that his conduct was unlawful. A person shall be deemed to have been
found liable in respect of any claim, issue or matter only after the person
shall have been so adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction after
exhaustion of all appeals therefrom.
6.2 Determination
of
Indemnification. Any indemnification under the foregoing
Section 6.1 (unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) shall
be made
by the Corporation only upon a determination that indemnification of such
person
is proper in the circumstances by virtue of the fact that it shall have
been
determined that such person has met the applicable standard of
conduct. Such determination shall be made with respect to a person
who
is a
Director or officer at the time of the determination (1) by a majority vote
of the Directors who at the time of the vote are not parties to such Proceeding,
even though less than a quorum; (2) by a committee of the Board of
Directors, designated to act in the matter by a majority of such Directors,
even
though less than a quorum; (3) if there are no such Directors, or if such
Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel (in a written opinion);
or
(4) by the stockholders of the Corporation.
6.3 Advance
of
Expenses. Reasonable expenses, including court costs and
attorneys' fees, incurred by a person who was or is a witness or who was
or is
named as a defendant or respondent in a Proceeding, by reason of the fact
that
such individual is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation, or
while a
Director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request
of the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee,
employee, agent or similar functionary of another corporation, partnership,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be paid by the
Corporation at reasonable intervals in advance of the final disposition
of such
Proceeding, and without the determination set forth in Section 6.2, upon
receipt
by the Corporation of a written affirmation by such person of his good
faith
belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification
under this Article 6, and a written undertaking by or on behalf of such
person
to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Corporation if it is ultimately
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation
as
authorized in this Article 6. Such written undertaking shall be an
unlimited obligation of such person and it may be accepted without reference
to
financial ability to make repayment.
6.4 Permissive
Indemnification. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may
authorize the Corporation to indemnify employees or agents of the Corporation,
and to advance the reasonable expenses of such persons.
6.5 Nature
of
Indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided hereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any other
rights to
which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Certificate
of
Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to actions taken in an official
capacity and as to actions taken in any other capacity while holding such
office, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director,
officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of
the
heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
6.6 Insurance. The
Corporation shall have the power and authority to purchase and maintain
insurance or another arrangement on behalf of any person who is or was
a
Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or who is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner,
venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary
of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against
any
liability, claim, damage, loss or risk asserted against such person and
incurred
by such person in any such capacity or arising out of the status of such
person
as such, irrespective of whether the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify and hold such person harmless against such liability under the
provisions hereof. If the insurance or other arrangement is with a
person or entity that is not regularly engaged in the business of providing
insurance coverage, the insurance or arrangement may provide for payment
of a
liability with respect to which the
Corporation
would not have the power to indemnify the person only if including coverage
for
the additional liability has been approved by the stockholders of the
Corporation. Without limiting the power of the Corporation to procure
or maintain any kind of insurance or other arrangement, the Corporation
may, for
the benefit of persons indemnified by the Corporation, (1) create a trust
fund; (2) establish any form of self-insurance; (3) secure its
indemnity obligation by grant of a security interest or other lien on the
assets
of the Corporation; or (4) establish a letter of credit, guaranty, or
surety arrangement. The insurance or other arrangement may be
procured, maintained, or established within the Corporation or with any
insurer
or other person deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors regardless
of
whether all or part of the stock or other securities of the insurer or
other
person are owned in whole or part by the Corporation. In the absence
of fraud, the judgment of the Board of Directors as to the terms and conditions
of the insurance or other arrangement and the identity of the insurer or
other
person participating in the arrangement shall be conclusive and the insurance
or
arrangement shall not be voidable and shall not subject the Directors approving
the insurance or arrangement to liability, on any ground, regardless of
whether
the Directors participating in the approval is a beneficiary of the insurance
or
arrangement.
ARTICLE
7
STOCK
CERTIFICATES AND
TRANSFER REGULATIONS
7.1 Description
of
Certificates. The shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall be
uncertificated. Each record holder of shares represented by
certificates, upon request to the Corporation, shall be provided with a
certificate of stock representing the number of shares owned by the
holder. The shares of the capital stock of the Corporation
represented by certificates shall be signed by, or in the name of
the
Corporation
by the Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President and the Treasurer
or
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation. Each
certificate shall state on the face thereof the name of the holder, the
number
and class of shares, the par value of shares covered thereby or a statement
that
such shares are without par value, and such other matters as are required
by
law. At such time as the Corporation may be authorized to issue
shares of more than one class, every certificate shall set forth upon the
face
or back of such certificate a statement of the designations, preferences,
limitations and relative rights of the shares of each class authorized
to be
issued, as required by the laws of the State of Delaware, or may state
that the
Corporation will furnish a copy of such statement without charge to the
holder
of such certificate upon receipt of a written request therefor from such
holder.
7.2 Signatures. The
signatures of the Chairman of the Board, President, Vice President or Treasurer,
Secretary or Assistant Secretary upon a certificate may be
facsimiles. In case any officer or officers who have signed, or whose
facsimile signature or signatures have been placed upon any such certificate
or
certificates, shall cease to serve as such officer or officers of the
Corporation, or as transfer agent or registrar, whether because of death,
resignation, removal or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates
are
issued by the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless
be
adopted by the Corporation and be issued and delivered with the same effect
as
though the person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates
or
whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon had not
ceased to
serve as such officer or officers or as transfer agent or registrar of
the
Corporation.
7.3 Registered
Owners. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer
of shares of the capital stock of the Corporation in the manner set forth
in
Section 7.5 hereof, the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the
person
registered as the owner of such shares on its
books
(or
the books of its duly appointed transfer agent, as the case may be) as
the
person exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices and dividends with
respect to, and otherwise exercise all rights and powers relative to such
shares; and the Corporation shall not be bound or otherwise obligated to
recognize any claim, direct or indirect, legal or equitable, to such shares
by
any other person, whether or not it shall have actual, express or other
notice
thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
7.4 Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates. The Corporation shall issue a new certificate in
place of any certificate for shares previously issued, if the registered
owner
of the certificate satisfies the following conditions:
(a) Proof
of
Loss. Submits proof in affidavit form satisfactory to the
Corporation that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully
taken;
(b) Timely
Request. Requests the issuance of a new certificate before the
Corporation has notice that the certificate has been acquired by a purchaser
for
value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(c) Bond. Gives
a bond in such form, and with such surety or sureties, with fixed or open
penalty, as the Corporation may direct, to indemnify the Corporation (and
its
transfer agent and registrar, if any) against any claim that may be made
or
otherwise asserted by virtue of the alleged loss, destruction, or theft
of such
certificate or certificates; and
(d) Other
Requirements. Satisfies any other reasonable requirements
imposed by the Corporation.
In the event a certificate has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully
taken, and the registered owner of record fails to notify the Corporation
within
a reasonable time after he has notice of such loss,
destruction,
or wrongful taking, and the Corporation registers a transfer (in the manner
set
forth below) of the shares represented by the certificate before receiving
such
notification, such prior registered owner
of
record
shall be precluded from making any claim
against
the Corporation for the transfer required hereunder or for a new certificate
to
the fullest extent permitted by law.
7.5 Registration
of
Transfers. Transfers of stock shall be made upon the books of
the Corporation. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Corporation
shall register the transfer of a certificate evidencing shares of its capital
stock presented to it for transfer if:
(a) Endorsement. Upon
surrender of the certificate to the Corporation (or its transfer agent,
as the
case may be) for transfer, the certificate (or an appended stock power)
is
properly endorsed by the registered owner, or by his duly authorized legal
representative or attorney-in-fact, with proper written evidence of the
authority and appointment of such representative, if any, accompanying
the
certificate;
(b) Guaranty
and Effectiveness
of Signature. The signature of such registered owner or his
legal representative or attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, has been
guaranteed by a national banking association or member of the New York
Stock
Exchange, and reasonable assurance in a form satisfactory to the Corporation
is
given that such endorsements are genuine and effective;
(c) Adverse
Claims. The Corporation has no notice of an adverse claim or
has otherwise discharged any duty to inquire into such a claim;
(d) Collection
of
Taxes. Any applicable law (local, state or federal) relating
to the collection of taxes relative to the transaction has been complied
with;
and
(e) Additional
Requirements
Satisfied. Such additional conditions and documentation as the
Corporation (or its transfer agent, as the case may be) shall reasonably
require, including without limitation thereto, the delivery with the surrender
of such stock certificate or certificates of proper evidence of succession,
assignment or other authority to obtain transfer thereof, as the circumstances
may require, and such legal opinions with reference to the requested transfer
as
shall be required by the Corporation (or its transfer agent) pursuant to
the
provisions of these Bylaws and applicable law, shall have been
satisfied.
In
the
case of uncertificated shares, transfers will be made upon receipt of proper
transfer instructions from the record owner of such uncertificated shares,
or
from a duly authorized attorney or from an individual presenting proper
evidence
of succession, assignment or authority to transfer the stock, with such
additional conditions and documentation as the Corporation (or its transfer
agent, as the case may be) shall reasonably require.
7.6 Restrictions
on Transfer and
Legends on Certificates.
(a) Shares
in Classes or
Series. If the Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
more than one class or more than one series of any class, the certificate,
if
any, shall set forth, either on the face or back of the certificate, a
full or
summary statement of all of the powers, designations, preferences, limitations,
and relative rights of the shares of each such class or series. In
lieu of providing such a statement in full on the certificate, a statement
on
the face or back of the certificate may provide that the Corporation will
furnish such information to any stockholder without charge upon request
to the
Corporation.
(b) Restriction
on
Transfer. Any restrictions imposed by the Corporation on the
sale or other disposition of its shares or on the amount of the Corporation's
securities that may be owned by any person and on the transfer thereof
must be
noted conspicuously on the certificates, if any, representing shares to
which
the restriction applies.
ARTICLE
8
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
8.1 Dividends. Dividends
on the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation
may be
declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting and
may be
paid in cash, in property, or in shares of capital stock. Such
declaration and payment shall be at the discretion of the Board of
Directors.
8.2 Reserves. There
may be created by resolution of the Board of Directors out of any funds
of the
Corporation available for dividends such reserve or reserves as the Board
of
Directors from time to time, in its discretion, think proper to provide
for
contingencies, or to repair or maintain any property of the Corporation,
or for
such other purposes as the Board of Directors shall think beneficial to
the
Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such
reserve
in the manner in which it was created.
8.3 Books
and
Records. The Corporation shall maintain correct and complete
books and records of account and shall prepare and maintain minutes of
the
proceedings of its stockholders, its Board of Directors and each committee
of
its Board of Directors. The
Corporation
shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or
at the
office of its transfer agent or registrar, a record of original issuance
of
shares issued by the Corporation and a record of each transfer of those
shares
that have been presented to the Corporation for registration or
transfer. Such records shall contain the names and addresses of all
past and present stockholders and the number and class of the shares issued
by
the Corporation held by each.
8.4 Contracts
and Negotiable
Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
Bylaws, any contract or other instrument relative to the business of the
Corporation may be executed and delivered in the name of the Corporation
and on
its behalf by the Senior Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board,
Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Financial Officer and
Treasurer or President of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may
authorize any other officer or agent of the Corporation to enter into any
contract or execute and deliver any contract in the name and on behalf
of the
Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances
as the Board of Directors may determine by resolution. All bills,
notes, checks or other instruments for the payment of money shall be signed
or
countersigned by such officer, officers, agent or agents and in such manner
as
are permitted by these Bylaws and/or as, from time to time, may be prescribed
by
resolution of the Board of Directors. Unless authorized to do so by
these Bylaws or by the Board of Directors, no officer, agent or employee
shall
have any power or authority to bind the Corporation by any contract or
engagement, or to pledge its credit, or to render it liable pecuniarily
for any
purpose or to any amount.
8.5 Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the
Saturday closest to September 30.
8.6 Corporate
Seal. The Corporation seal shall be in such form as may be
determined by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing
it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner
reproduced.
8.7 Resignations. Any
Director, officer or agent may resign his office or position with the
Corporation by delivering written notice or notice by electronic transmission
thereof to the Senior Chairman of the Board, Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President or
Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective at the time specified
therein, or immediately upon delivery if no time is specified. Unless
otherwise specified therein, an acceptance of such resignation shall not
be a
necessary prerequisite of its effectiveness.
8.8 Amendment
of
Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and
new Bylaws adopted at any meeting of the Board of Directors or stockholders
at
which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Directors or stockholders, as the case may be, present at such meeting,
provided
notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, or repeal be contained in
the
notice of such meeting.
8.10 Telephone
Meetings. Directors or members of any committee may hold any
meeting of such Directors or committee by means of conference telephone
or other
communications
equipment which permits all persons participating in the meeting to hear
each
other and actions taken at such meetings shall have the same force and
effect as
if taken at a meeting at which persons were present and voting in
person. The Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare a memorandum
of the action taken at any such telephonic meeting.
8.11 Table
of Contents;
Captions. The table of contents and captions used in these
Bylaws have been inserted for administrative convenience only and do not
constitute matter to be construed in interpretation.
IN
DUE
CERTIFICATION WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the Secretary of PILGRIM'S
PRIDE
CORPORATION, confirms the adoption and approval of the foregoing Bylaws,
effective as of the 28th
day of
November, 2007.
/s/
Richard A.
Cogdill
RICHARD
A. COGDILL, Secretary
ex3_2.htm
* * * * *
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CORPORATE
BYLAWS
OF
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE CORPORATION
(A
Delaware corporation)
* * * * *
AMENDED
AND
RESTATED
CORPORATE
BYLAWS
OF
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE
CORPORATION
(a
Delaware
corporation)
|
1.2
|
Registered
Office and Agent
|
1
|
|
(c)
|
Change
of
Registered Office or Agent
|
1
|
ARTICLE
2
|
STOCKHOLDERS
|
21
|
|
2.8
|
Withdrawal
of Quorum
|
4
|
|
(b)
|
Exercise
of Voting Power; Proxies
|
54
|
|
(c)
|
Election
of Directors
|
5
|
|
(a)
|
Record
Date for Meetings and
Distributions
|
5
|
|
(b)
|
Record
Date for Action by Written
Consent
|
5
|
|
2.11
|
Action
Without Meetings
|
5
|
|
2.12
|
Record
Date for
Action Without Meetings
|
6
|
|
2.14
|
Stockholder
Proposals
|
86
|
|
3.2
|
Number
and Qualification
|
108
|
|
3.3
|
Election
and Term
|
109
|
|
3.4
|
Voting
on Directors
|
109
|
|
3.5
|
Vacancies
and New Directorships
|
109
|
|
(c)
|
Regular
Meetings
|
1210
|
|
(d)
|
Special
Meetings
|
1210
|
|
(e)
|
Notice
and Waiver of Notice
|
1211
|
|
3.8
|
Action
Without Meetings
|
1211
|
|
(a)
|
Designation
and Appointment
|
1311
|
|
(b)
|
Members;
Alternate Members; Terms
|
1312
|
|
(e)
|
Change
in Number
|
1312
|
|
(i)
|
Quorum;
Requisite Vote
|
1412
|
|
(k)
|
Action
Without Meetings
|
1413
|
|
3.11
|
Maintenance
of Records
|
1513
|
|
3.12
|
Interested
Directors and Officers
|
1513
|
|
4.1
|
Method
of Notice
|
1614
|
ARTICLE
5
|
OFFICERS
AND AGENTS
|
1715
|
|
5.2
|
Election
of Officers
|
1715
|
|
5.9
|
Senior
Chairman
of the
Board
|
1817
|
|
5.10
|
Vice
Chairman
19 of the Board
|
17
|
|
5.11
|
Chief
Executive Officer
|
1918
|
|
5.12
|
Chief
Financial Officer
|
2018
|
|
5.13
|
Chief
Operating Officer
|
2019
|
|
5.15
|
Vice
Presidents
|
2119
|
|
5.17
|
Assistant
Secretaries
|
2220
|
|
5.19
|
Assistant
Treasurers
|
2321
|
ARTICLE
6
|
INDEMNIFICATION
|
2321
|
|
6.1
|
Mandatory
Indemnification
|
2321
|
|
6.2
|
Determination
of Indemnification
|
2422
|
|
6.3
|
Advance
of Expenses
|
2523
|
|
6.4
|
Permissive
Indemnification
|
2624
|
|
6.5
|
Nature
of Indemnification
|
2624
|
ARTICLE
7
|
STOCK
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER REGULATIONS
|
2825
|
|
7.1
|
Description
of Certificates
|
2825
|
|
7.2
|
Entitlement
to
Certificates
|
28
|
|
7.4
|
Issuance
of
Certificates
|
29
|
|
7.5
|
Payment
for
Shares
|
29
|
|
(d)
|
Allocation
of
Consideration
|
30
|
|
7.87.3Registered
Owners3126
|
|
7.97.4Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates3127
|
|
(d)
|
Other
Requirements
|
3227
|
|
7.107.5Registration
of Transfers3228
|
|
(b)
|
Guaranty
and Effectiveness of Signature
|
3228
|
|
(d)
|
Collection
of Taxes
|
3228
|
|
(e)
|
Additional
Requirements Satisfied
|
3228
|
|
7.117.6Restrictions
on Transfer and Legends on
Certificates3328
|
|
(a)
|
Shares
in Classes or Series
|
3329
|
|
(b)
|
Restriction
on Transfer
|
3329
|
|
(c)
|
Unregistered
Securities
|
33
|
ARTICLE
8
|
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
|
3429
|
|
(a)
|
Declaration
and
Payment
|
34
|
|
8.3
|
Books
and Records
|
3429
|
|
8.5
|
Contracts
and Negotiable Instruments
|
3530
|
|
8.98.8Amendment
of Bylaws3631
|
|
8.118.10Telephone
Meetings3731
|
|
8.128.11Table
of Contents; Captions3732
|
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
CORPORATE
BYLAWS
OF
PILGRIM'S
PRIDE CORPORATION
(a
Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE
1
NAME
AND
OFFICES
1.1 Name. The
name of the Corporation is PILGRIM'S PRIDE CORPORATION, hereinafter referred
to
as the "Corporation."
1.2 Registered
Office and
Agent. The Corporation shall establish, designate and
continuously maintain a registered office and agent in the State of
Delaware, subject
to the following provisions:.
(a) Registered
Office. The
Corporation shall establish and continuously maintain in the State of Delaware
a
registered office which may be, but need not be, the same as its place of
business.
(b) Registered
Agent. The
Corporation shall designate and continuously maintain in the State of Delaware
a
registered agent, which agent may be either an individual resident of the State
of Delaware whose business office is identical with such registered office,
or a
domestic corporation or a foreign corporation authorized to transact business
in
the State of Delaware, having a business office identical with such registered
office.
(c) Change
of Registered Office
or Agent. The
Corporation may change its registered office or change its registered agent,
or
both, upon the filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of Delaware of
a
statement setting forth the facts required by law, and executed for the
Corporation by its President, a Vice President or other duly authorized
officer.
1.3 Other
Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such other
places within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may,
from time to time, determine the business of the Corporation may
require.
ARTICLE
2
STOCKHOLDERS
2.1 Place
of
Meetings. Each meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation
is to be held at the principal offices of the Corporation or at such other
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be specified
in
the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof.
2.2 Annual
Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation
shall be held each calendar year on such date and at such time as shall be
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, which date shall be within thirteen (13) months
of the
last annual meeting of
stockholders, and stated in the
notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice of such meeting.
At
such meeting, the stockholders shall elect Directors and transact such other
business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
2.3 Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any
purpose or purposes, may be called by the Board of Directors, Senior Chairman of the Board,
Vice Chairman of
the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President. The notice of a
special meeting shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting
and
the business to be transacted at any such special meeting of stockholders,
and
shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice therefor.
2.4 Notice. Written
or printed notice of the meeting stating the place, if any, day and hour of the meeting, and the
means of remote communications, if any, by which
stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote
at
such meeting, and in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or
purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than
ten
(10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally
or by
mail, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board,
Vice Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, or
Secretary, to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting
as determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.10 hereof, except as otherwise provided herein or required
by law
(meaning, here and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware
General Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation). If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be
delivered when deposited in the United States Mail, with postage thereon
prepaid, addressed to the stockholder entitled thereto at his address as it
appears on the stock transfer
booksledger of the
Corporation.
2.5 Voting
List. The officer or agent
having
charge and custody of the stock transfer
booksledger of the Corporation,
shall prepare,
at least ten (10) days before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list
of
the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical
order and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares
having voting
privileges
registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be
open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the
meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of not less than ten (10)
days prior to such meeting either at the
principal office of the Corporation or at a place
within the
city where. If the
meeting is to be held, which place
shall be
specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place
where the meeting is to be held. Such at a place, 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 stockholder during the entire time of the
meeting. The original stock ledger or transfer book,
or a
duplicate thereof, shall be prima
faciethe only evidence as to identity of the
stockholders entitled to examine such list or stock ledger
or
transfer book and to vote at any such meeting of the
stockholders. The failure to
comply
with the requirements of this Section shall not affect the validity of any
action taken at said meeting.
2.6 Quorum. The
holders of a majority of the combined voting power of the capital stock issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, represented in person or by proxy,
shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the
stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise providedrequired
by statute, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws. If, however, such quorum shall not be
present or represented at any such meeting of the stockholders, the
stockholders(a) holders of a majority of
the combined voting power of the capital stock entitled to vote thereat,
present in person, or represented by proxy, or
(b) the Chairman
of the Board shall
have the 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 reconvened
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. If the adjournment is for more
than thirty (30) days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the reconvened meeting, a notice of said meeting shall be given to each
stockholder entitled to vote at said meeting. At any adjourned meeting, any
business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally
notified.
2.7 Requisite
Vote. If a quorum is present at any meeting, the vote of the
holders of a majority of the total outstanding voting power of Common Stock,
present in person or represented by proxy, shall determine any question brought
before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision
of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, a different vote shall
be required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control
the
determination of such question.
2.8 Withdrawal
of
Quorum. If a quorum is present at the time of commencement of
any meeting, the stockholders present at such duly convened meeting may continue
to transact any business which may properly come before said meeting until
adjournment thereof, notwithstanding the withdrawal from such meeting of
sufficient holders of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereat
to
leave less than a quorum remaining.
2.9 Voting
at
Meeting. Voting at meetings of stockholders shall be conducted
and exercised subject to the following procedures and regulations:
(a) Voting
Power. In the exercise of voting power with respect to each
matter properly submitted to a vote at any meeting of stockholders, each holder
of the capital stock of the Corporation having voting power shall be entitled
to
such number of votes as shall be specified in the Certificate of
Incorporation.
(b) Exercise
of Voting Power;
Proxies. Each stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting or to
express
consent or
dissent to corporate action in writing without a meeting may vote or consent either in person or authorize
another
person or persons to act for him by proxy duly appointed by instrument in
writing subscribed
by such stockholder or by his duly
authorized
attorney-in-factor
by transmission permitted by law; provided,
however, no such appointment of proxy shall be valid, voted or acted upon after
the expiration of three (3) years from the date of execution of
such written
instrument of appointmentsuch proxy,
unless otherwise stated therein. A proxy shall be revocable unless
expressly designated therein as irrevocable and coupled with an
interest. Proxies coupled with an interest include the appointment as
proxy of: (a) a pledgee; (b) a person who purchased or agreed to
purchase or owns or holds an option to purchase the shares voted; (c) a creditor
of the Corporation who extended its credit under terms requiring the
appointment; (d) an employee of the Corporation whose employment contract
requires the appointment; or (e) a party to a voting agreement created under
Section 218 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as
amended. Each proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the
Corporation prior to or at the time of the meeting. Any vote may be
taken by voice vote or by show of hands unless someone entitled to vote at
the
meeting objects, in which case written ballots shall be used.
(c) Election
of
Directors. In all elections of Directors, cumulative voting shall be
prohibited.
2.10 Record
Date. As more
specifically
provided in Article 7, Section 7.7 hereof, the Board of Directors may fix in
advance a record date for the purpose of determiningA record date shall be fixed or determined
in the
following manner.
(a) Record
Date for Meetings and Distributions. In order that the Corporation may determine
the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting
of
stockholdersany meeting of stockholders, or
to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any
rights or 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, except as otherwise required by law, fix a record date,
which record date shall not precede the date uponon
which the resolution fixing the record date is
adopted by the
Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10)
days
before the date of any meeting of
stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to such
meeting. In the absence of any actionthe time for such other action as hereinbefore
described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the
Board of Directors
fixing the record date, 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 beforenext
preceding the day on which notice of the
meeting is
given, or,
if notice is waived, at the close of business on the day before the meeting
is
heldnext preceding the day on which the
meeting is held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment
of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of rights or to exercise
any
rights of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose,
the
record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board
of
Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.
(b) Record
Date for Action by Written Consent. In order that the Corporation may determine
the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a meeting,
(including by telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission as permitted
by law), the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not precede
the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the
Board of Directors, and which record date shall be not more than ten (10) days
after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is
adopted. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors
and no prior action by the Board of Directors is required by the Delaware
General Corporation Law, the record date
shall be the first date on which a consent
setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the
Corporation in the manner prescribed by law. If no record date has
been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by the Board of Directors
is required by the Delaware General Corporation Law with respect to the proposed
action by consent of the stockholders without a meeting, the record date for
determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action without a
meeting shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts the resolution taking such
prior action.
2.11 Action
Without
Meetings. Any action permitted or required to be taken at a
meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting,
without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing,
setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holder or holders
of
the outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that
would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all
shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and such written consent
shall have the same force and effect as the requisite vote of the stockholders
thereon. Any such executed written consent, or an executed
counterpart thereof, shall be placed in the minute book of the
Corporation. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature
of each stockholder who signs the consent. No written consent shall
be effective to take the action that is the subject of the consent unless,
within sixty (60) days after the date of the earliest dated consent delivered
to
the Corporation in the manner required under Section
2.12
hereofby law, a consent or consents
signed by the holders of the minimum number of shares of the capital stock
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote on and approve the action that
is
the subject of the consent are delivered to the Corporation. Prompt
notice of the taking of any action by stockholders without a meeting by less
than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who did
not
consent in writing to the action.
2.12 Record
Date for Action
Without Meetings. Unless
a
record date shall have previously been fixed or determined by the Board of
Directors as provided in Section 2.10 hereof, whenever action by stockholders
is
proposed to be taken by consent in writing without a meeting of stockholders,
the Board of Directors may fix a record date for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to consent to that action, which record date shall not
precede, and shall not be more than ten (10) days after, the date upon which
the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of
Directors. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors
and the prior action of the Board of Directors is not required by statute or
the
Certificate of Incorporation, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall
be the first date
on which a signed
written consent
setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the
Corporation by delivery to its registered office, its principal place of
business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books
in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders are
recorded. Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested. Delivery to the Corporation's
principal place of business shall be addressed to the Chairman of the Board
of
the Corporation. If no record date shall have been fixed by the Board
of Directors and prior action of the Board of Directors is required by statute,
the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the
day
on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution
taking such
prior action.
2.13 Preemptive
Rights. No holder
of
shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any
right
to purchase or subscribe for any capital stock of any class which the
Corporation may issue or sell, whether or not exchangeable for any capital
stock
of the Corporation of any class or classes, whether issued out of unissued
shares authorized by the Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, or out of
shares of capital stock of the Corporation acquired by it after the issue
thereof; nor shall any holder of shares of capital stock of the Corporation,
as
such holder, have any right to purchase, acquire or subscribe for any securities
which the Corporation may issue or sell whether or not convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Corporation of any class or
classes, and whether or not any such securities have attached or appurtenant
thereto warrants, options or other instruments which entitle the holders thereof
to purchase, acquire or subscribe for shares of capital stock of any class
or
classes.
2.1412 Stockholder
Proposals. At the annual meeting of stockholders of the
Corporation, only such business shall be conducted, and only
such
proposals shall be acted upon, as shall
have
been properly brought before such annual meeting. To be properly
brought before an annual meeting, business or proposals must (i) be specified
in
the notice relating to the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or
at
the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with these Bylaws or
(ii)
be properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation
who
(A) is a stockholder of record at the time of the giving of such
stockholder’'s
notice provided for herein, (B) shall be
entitled to vote at the annual meeting and (C) complies with the requirements
of
this Section, and otherwise be proper subjects for stockholder action under the Delaware General Corporation Law and be
properly introduced at the annual meeting. For a proposal to be
properly brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder of the Corporation,
in addition to any other applicable requirements, such stockholder must have
given timely advance notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the
Corporation. To be timely, such stockholder’'s
notice must be delivered to, or mailed and
received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than
120 days nor more than 270 days prior to the scheduled annual meeting date,
regardless of any postponements, deferrals or adjournments of such annual
meeting to a later date. Any such stockholder’'s
notice to the Secretary of the Corporation
shall set forth as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before
the
annual meeting (i) a description of the proposal desired to be brought before
the annual meeting
and, the reasons for conducting such
business at the annual meeting, (ii)
and any material interest in such business of such
stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal
is
made; (ii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner,
if
any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, the name and address, as they
appear on the Corporation’'s
books, of such stockholder proposing such
business
and, any other stockholders of the
Corporation known by such stockholder to be in favor of such proposal,
and of such beneficial owner; and (iii) the
class and number of shares of capital stock
of the Corporation owned of record and
beneficially by such stockholder and such
beneficial holder on the date of such notice and (iv)
any material
interest of such stockholder in such proposal. The presiding
officer of the meeting of stockholders of the Corporation shall determine
whether the requirements of this Section have been met with respect to any
stockholder proposal. If the presiding officer determines that any
stockholder proposal was not made in accordance with the terms of this Section,
he shall so declare at the meeting and any such proposal shall not be acted
upon
at the meeting.
At
a
special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation, only such business shall
be
conducted,
and only such proposals shall be acted upon, as shall
have
been properly brought before such special meeting. To be properly
brought before such a special meeting, business or proposals must (i) be
specified in the notice relating to the meeting (or any supplement thereto)
given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors in accordance with these
Bylaws or (ii) constitute matters incident to the conduct of the meeting as
the
presiding officer of the meeting shall determine to be
appropriate. In addition to the foregoing provisions of this Section,
a stockholder of the Corporation shall also comply with all applicable
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in
this
Section.
ARTICLE
3
DIRECTORS
3.1 Management
Powers. The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or
under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall
be
managed under the direction of 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, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws directed or required to be
exercised or done by the stockholders.
3.2 Number
and
Qualification. The Board of Directors shall consist of not
less than one (1) member. The number of Directors shall initially be
fixed by the
incorporator and thereafter from time to time by the Board of
Directors. Directors need not be residents of the State of Delaware
nor stockholders of the Corporation. Each Director
shall
qualify as a Director following election as such by agreeing to act or acting
in
such capacity. The number of Directors shall be fixed, and may
be increased or decreased, from time to time by resolution of the Board of
Directors without the necessity of a written amendment to the Bylaws of the
Corporation; provided, however, no decrease shall have the effect of shortening
the term of any incumbent Director.
3.3 Election
and
Term. Members of the Board of Directors shall hold office
until the annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and until their
successors shall have been elected and qualified. At the annual
meeting of stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote in an election of
Directors shall elect Directors to hold office until the next succeeding annual
meeting of the stockholders. Each Director shall hold office for the
term for which he is elected, and until his successor shall be elected and
qualified or until his death, resignation or removal, if earlier.
3.4 Voting
on
Directors. Directors shall be elected by the vote of the
holders of a plurality of the combined voting
power of the shares entitled to vote in the election of Directors and
represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of stockholders at which a quorum
is present. Cumulative voting in the election of Directors is
expressly prohibited.
3.5 Vacancies
and New
Directorships. Vacancies and newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the authorized number of Directors elected by
all
the stockholders having the right to vote as a single class may be filled by
the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors then in office, although less
than a quorum, or by a sole remaining Director, or by the requisite vote of
the
stockholders at an annual meeting of the stockholders or at a special meeting
of
the stockholders called for that purpose, and the Directors so elected shall
hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. If the
holders of any class or classes of stock or series of stock of the Corporation
are entitled to elect one or more Directors by the Certificate of Incorporation
or Certificate of Designations applicable to such class or series, vacancies
and
newly created directorships of such class or classes or series may be filled
by
a majority of the Directors elected by such class or classes or series thereof
then in office, or by a sole remaining Director so elected, and the Directors
so
elected shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such
Directors shall have been chosen, and until their successors shall be elected
and qualified. For purposes of these Bylaws, a "vacancy" shall be
defined as an unfilled directorship arising by virtue of the death, resignation
or removal of a Director theretofore duly elected to serve in such capacity
in
accordance with the relevant provisions of these Bylaws.
3.6 Removal. AnyExcept
as otherwise required by law, any Director
may be removed either for or without cause at any duly convened special or
annual meeting of stockholders, by the
affirmative vote of a majority in number of
the combined voting power of the shares of the
stockholders present in person
or by
proxy at any meeting and entitled to vote for the election of such Director,
provided notice of intention to act upon such matter shall have been given
in
the notice calling such meetingentitled to
vote at an election of Directors.
3.73.7 Meetings. The
meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held and conducted subject to the
following regulations:
(a) Place. Meetings
of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, annual, regular or special, are
to
be held at the principal office or place of business of the Corporation, or
such
other place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as may be specified
in the respective notices, or waivers of notice, thereof.
(b) Annual
Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet each year
immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders, at the place where
such meeting of the stockholders has been held (either within or without the
State of Delaware), for the purpose of organization, election of officers,
and
consideration of any other business that may properly be brought before the
meeting. No notice of any kind to either old or new members of the
Board of Directors for such annual meeting shall be required.
(c) Regular
Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held without notice at such time and at such place or places as shall from
time
to time be determined and designated by the Board.
(d) Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called by the Senior Chairman of the
Board, Vice
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Corporation
on notice of two (2) days to each Director either personally or by mail or
by
telegram, telex
or, facsimile transmission
or electronic transmission and
delivery. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called
by the Senior Chairman of the Board,
Vice Chairman of
the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or Secretary in like manner and
on
like notice on the written request of two (2) Directors.
(e) Notice
and Waiver of
Notice. 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 at the
beginning of the meeting 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 meeting of the Board of
Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such
meeting.
(f) Quorum. At
all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total authorized number of Directors (the "Whole
Board") shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business, unless a greater number is required by law or
by
the Certificate 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.
(g) Requisite
Vote. 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, the Certificate
of
Incorporation or these Bylaws.
3.88 Action
Without
Meetings. Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted by law to be
taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may
be
taken without a meeting, if prior to such
action a
written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board or of such
committee, as the case may be, and such written
consentconsent thereto in writing or by
electronic transmission, and such writing or electronic transmission is
filed in the minutes or proceedings of the Board of Directors or
committee.
3.99 Committees. Committees
designated and appointed by the Board of Directors shall function subject to
and
in accordance with the following regulations and procedures:
(a) Designation
and
Appointment. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted
by a majority of the entireWhole
Board, designate and appoint one or more
committees under such name or names and for such purpose or function as may
be
deemed appropriate.
(b) Members;
Alternate Members;
Terms. Each committee thus designated and appointed shall
consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation, one of whom, in
the
case of the Executive Committee, shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Company. The Board of Directors may designate one or more of its
members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any
limitations imposed by the entireWhole
Board, replace absent or disqualified
members at any meeting of that committee. The members or alternate
members of any such committee shall serve at the pleasure of and subject to
the
discretion of the Board of Directors.
(c) Authority. Each
committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board creating same,
shall have and may exercise such of the powers and authority of the Board of
Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation
as
the Board of Directors may direct and delegate, except, however, those matters
which are required by statute to be reserved unto or acted upon by the entireWhole
Board of
Directors.
(d) Records. Each
such committee shall keep and maintain regular records or minutes of its
meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when
required.
(e) Change
in
Number. The number of members or alternate members of any
committee appointed by the Board of Directors, as herein provided, may be
increased or decreased (but not below
two)
from time to time by appropriate resolution adopted by a majority
of the
entireWhole
Board of
Directors.
(f) Vacancies. Vacancies
in the membership of any committee designated and appointed hereunder shall
be
filled by the Board of Directors, at a regular or special meeting of the Board
of Directors, in a manner consistent with the provisions of this Section
3.9.
(g) Removal. Any
member or alternate member of any committee appointed hereunder may be removed
by the Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board,
whenever in
its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served
therebyWhole Board.
(h) Meetings. The
time, place and notice (if any) of committee meetings shall be determined by
the
members of such committee.
(i) Quorum;
Requisite
Vote. At meetings of any committee appointed hereunder, a
majority of the number of members designated by the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a
majority of the members and alternate members of the committee present at any
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee, except
as otherwise specifically provided by statute, the Certificate of Incorporation
or these Bylaws. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of such
committee, the members of such committee present may adjourn the meeting from
time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until
a
quorum is present.
(j) Compensation. Appropriate
compensation for members and alternate members of any committee appointed
pursuant to the authority hereof may be authorized by the action of a majority
of the entireWhole
Board of Directors
pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.10 hereof.
(k) Action
Without
Meetings. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a
meeting of any committee may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing,
setting forth the action so taken, is signed by all members of such
committee consent thereto in writing or by
electronic transmission. Such consent shall have the same
force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting. The signed
consent, or a signed copy, shall become a part of the record of such
committee.
(l) Responsibility. Notwithstanding
any provision to the contrary herein, the designation and appointment of a
committee and the delegation of authority to it shall not operate to relieve
the
Board of Directors, or any member thereof, of any responsibility imposed upon
it
or him by law.
3.1010 Compensation. By
appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors, the Directors may be
reimbursed their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board
of
Directors and may be paid a fixed sum (as determined from time to time by the
vote of a majority of the Directors then in office) for attendance at each
meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as Director, or
both. No such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the
Corporation in another capacity and receiving compensation
therefor. Members of special or standing committees may, by
appropriate resolution of the Board of Directors, be allowed similar
reimbursement of expenses and compensation for attending committee
meetings.
3.1111 Maintenance
of
Records. The Directors may keep the books and records of the
Corporation, except such as are required by law to be kept within the State,
outside the State of Delaware or at such place or places as they may, from
time
to time, determine.
3.1212 Interested
Directors and
Officers. No contract or other transaction between the
Corporation and one or more of its Directors or officers, or between the
Corporation and any firm oforganization
in which one or more of its
Directors or officers are members or employees,
or
in which they are interested, or between the Corporation and any corporation
or
association of which one or more of its Directors or officers are stockholders,
members, directors,directors or
officers, or employees, or
in which
they are interestedhave a financial
interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely
because of
the presence
of such Director or Directors
or
officer or
officersis present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of
Directors (or committee of the Board) of
the Corporation, which acts upon, or
in
reference to, suchauthorizes the
contract, or
transaction, or solely because such Director's or
officer's votes are counted for such purpose, if (a) the material facts
of such relationship or interest and as to the
contract or transaction shall be disclosed or known to the Board of
Directors (or the committee) and the Board
of Directors (or the committee) shall,
nevertheless in good faith, authorize, approve and
ratify such contract or transaction by athe
affirmative vote of a majority of the Directors
present,
such interested Director or Directors to be counted in determining whether
a
quorum is present, but not to be counted in calculating the majority of such
quorum necessary to carry such votedisinterested Directors even though the
disinterested
Directors be less than a quorum; (b) the material facts of such
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 the vote of the stockholders; or (c) the contract or transaction
is fair to the Corporation as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified
by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof or the
stockholders. The provisions of this Section shall not be construed
to invalidate any contract or other transaction which would otherwise be valid
under the common and statutory law applicable thereto.
ARTICLE
4
NOTICES
4.1 Method
of
Notice. WheneverTo
the fullest extent permitted by law, whenever
under the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware or of the
Certificate of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, notice is required to be given
to any Director or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal
notice, but such notice may be given in writing and delivered personally,
through the United States mail, by a recognized delivery service (such as
Federal Express) or by means of telegram, telex or,
facsimile transmission or electronic transmission, addressed to such
Director or stockholder, at his address or telex or facsimile transmission
number, as the case may be, as it appears on the records of the Corporation,
with postage and fees thereon prepaid. Such notice shall be deemed to
be given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the United States
Mail
or with an express delivery service or when transmitted by telex or,
facsimile transmission, electronic transmission or personally
delivered, as the case may be.
4.2 Waiver. Whenever
any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware or under the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person
or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by
electronic transmission by the person entitled to notice, whether before
or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving
of
such notice. Attendance by such person or persons, whether in person
or by proxy, at any meeting requiring notice shall constitute a waiver of notice
of such meeting, except where such person attends the meeting for the express
purpose of objecting at the beginning of the
meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not
lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE
5
OFFICERS
AND
AGENTS
5.1 Designation. The
officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall
consist of the offices of:
(a) Senior
Chairman
of the Board, Vice Chairman
of
the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating
Officer, President, Vice President, Treasurer and Secretary; and
(b) Such
other offices and officers (including one or more additional Vice Presidents)
and assistant officers and agents as the Board of Directors shall deem
necessary.
5.2 Election
of
Officers. Each officer designated in Section 5.1(a) hereof
shall be elected by the Board of Directors on the expiration of the term of
office of such officer, as herein provided, or whenever a vacancy exists in
such
office. Each officer or agent designated in Section 5.1(b) above may
be elected by the Board of Directors at any meeting.
5.3 Qualifications. No
officer or agent need be a stockholder of the Corporation or a resident of
Delaware. No officer or agent is required to be a Director, except
the Senior Chairman of the Board and the
Chairman of the Board. Any two or more offices may be held by
the same person.
5.4 Term
of
Office. Unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors
at the time of election or appointment, or by the express provisions of an
employment contract approved by the Board, the term of office of each officer
and each agent shall expire on the date of the first meeting of the Board of
Directors next following the annual meeting of stockholders each
year. Each such officer or agent, unless elected or appointed to an
additional term, shall serve until the expiration of the term of his office
or,
if earlier, his death, resignation or removal.
5.5 Authority. Officers
and agents shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management
of the Corporation as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be determined
by
resolution of the Board of Directors not inconsistent with these
Bylaws.
5.6 Removal. Any
officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed
with or without cause by the Board of Directors whenever in
its judgment
the best interests of the Corporation will be served
thereby. Such removal shall be without prejudice to the
contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or
appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract
rights.
5.7 Vacancies. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation (by death, resignation,
removal or otherwise) shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
5.8 Compensation. The
compensation of all officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
5.9
Senior Chairman of the Board. The Senior
Chairman shall have the power to call special meetings
of the stockholders and of the Directors for any purpose or purposes, and,
in
the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Senior
Chairman
shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The
Senior
Chairman shall advise and counsel the other officers of the Corporation and
shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be assigned to
or
required of him from time to time by the Board of Directors. The
Senior
Chairman shall be authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds, mortgages,
leases and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation,
except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed and except
where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of
Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
5.910 Chairman
of the
Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among
the Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall have the power to call
special meetings of the stockholders and of the Directors for any purpose or
purposes, and he shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and Board
of
Directors, unless he shall be absent or unless he shall, at his election,
designate the ViceSenior
Chairman to preside in his
stead. The Chairman of the Board shall advise and counsel the Vice Chairman
of the
Board, the Chief Executive Officer and other officers of the Corporation
and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be assigned
to
or required of him from time to time by the Board of Directors. The
Chairman of the Board shall be authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds,
mortgages, leases and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the
Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed
and except where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
Board
of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation.
5.10 Vice
Chairman. The
Vice
Chairman shall have the power to call special meetings of the stockholders
and
of the Directors for any purpose or purposes, and, in the absence of the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Chairman shall preside
at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Vice
Chairman shall advise
and counsel the other officers of the Corporation and shall exercise such powers
and perform such duties as shall be assigned to or required of him from time
to
time by the Board of Directors. The Vice
Chairman shall be
authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds, mortgages, leases and other
contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where
required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed and except where the
execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to
some
other officer or agent of the Corporation.
5.1111 Chief
Executive
Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general
supervision, management, direction and control of the business and affairs
of
the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board
of
Directors are carried into effect. The Chief Executive Officer shall
be authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds, mortgages, leases and other
contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where
required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed and except where the
execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors to
some
other officer or agent of the Corporation. In the absence of the
Chairman of the Board and the ViceSenior
Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of
the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive
Officer shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested
in
the office of chief executive officer of a corporation and shall perform such
other duties and possess such other authority and powers as the Board of
Directors may from time to time prescribe.
5.1212 Chief
Financial
Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have general
financial supervision, management, direction and control of the business and
affairs of the Corporation and shall see that all financial orders and
resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The
Chief Financial Officer shall be authorized to execute promissory notes, bonds,
mortgages, leases and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the
Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise executed
and except where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
Board
of Directors to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. The
Chief Financial
Officerchief financial officer shall
have the general financial powers and duties of management usually vested in
the
office of the Chief Financial Officer of a corporation and shall perform such
other duties and possess such other authority and powers as the Chairman of
the
Board and Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
5.1313 Chief
Operating
Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall have general
supervision of the day to day operations of the Corporation. The
Chief Operating Officer shall have the general powers and duties of management
usually vested in the office of chief operating officer of a corporation and
shall perform such other duties and possess such other authority and powers
as
the Chairman of the Board and Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.
5.1414 President. In
the absence or disability of the Chief Operating Officer, the President shall
perform all of the duties of the Chief Operating Officer and when so acting
shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief
Operating Officer, including the power to sign all instruments and to take
all
actions which the Chief Operating Officer is authorized to perform by the Board
of Directors or the Bylaws. The President shall have the general
powers and duties vested in the office of President as the Board of Directors
may from time to time prescribe or as the Chief Executive Officer may from
time
to time delegate.
5.1515 Vice
Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be more than
one, the Vice Presidents in the order determined by the requisite vote of the
Board of Directors, shall, in the prolonged 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 or as the Chief Executive Officer may from
time
to time delegate. The Board of Directors may designate one or more
Vice Presidents as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice
Presidents.
5.1616 Secretary. The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings
of the stockholders of the Corporation and record all proceedings of the
meetings of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors in a book to be
maintained for that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing
committees 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, Chairman of the
Board,
ViceSenior Chairman of the Board,
Chairman
of the Board, Chief Executive
Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer or
President. The Secretary 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.
5.1717 Assistant
Secretaries. 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 or as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
delegate.
5.1818 Treasurer. The
Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation and 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 Chief Executive Officer
and Chairman of the Board and the Board of Directors, at its regular meetings,
or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all his 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 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 owned
by
the Corporation. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties and
have such other authority and powers as the Board of Directors may from time
to
time prescribe or as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
delegate.
5.1919 Assistant
Treasurers. 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 or as the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
delegate.
ARTICLE
6
INDEMNIFICATION
6.1 Mandatory
Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or is
threatened to be made a party, or who was or is a witness without being named
a
party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, claim, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, any appeal
in such an action, suit or proceeding, and any inquiry or investigation that
could lead to such an action, suit or proceeding (a "Proceeding"), by reason
of
the fact that such individual is or was a Director or officer of the
Corporation, or while a Director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer,
proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of another
corporation, partnership, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise,
shall be indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation from and against
any
judgments, penalties (including excise taxes), fines, amounts paid in settlement
and reasonable expenses (including court costs and attorneys' fees) actually
incurred by such person in connection with such Proceeding if it is determined
that he acted in good faith and reasonably believed
(i)
in the case of conduct in his official capacity on behalf of the Corporation
that his conduct was in the Corporation's best interests, (ii) in all other
cases, that his conduct wasin a manner that
he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation, and (iiiii)
with respect to any Proceeding which is a
criminal action, that he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
unlawful; provided,
however, that in the event a determination is made that such person is liable
to
the Corporation or is found liable on the basis that personal benefit was
improperly received by such person, the indemnification is limited to reasonable
expenses actually incurred by such person in connection with the Proceeding
and
shall not be made in respect of any Proceeding in which such person shall have
been found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance
of
his duty to the Corporation. The termination of any Proceeding
by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo
contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself be determinative
of
whethercreate a presumption that the
person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed
to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect
to any Proceeding which is a criminal action, had reasonable cause to believe
that his conduct was unlawful. A person shall be deemed to have been
found liable in respect of any claim, issue or matter only after the person
shall have been so adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction after
exhaustion of all appeals therefrom.
6.2 Determination
of
Indemnification. Any indemnification under the foregoing
Section 6.1 (unless ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction) shall be
made
by the Corporation only upon a determination that indemnification of such person
is proper in the circumstances by virtue of the fact that it shall have been
determined that such person has met the applicable standard of
conduct. Such determination shall be made with respect to a person who is a Director or
officer at
the time of the determination (1) by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting
ofthe Directors who at the time of
the vote are not named defendants
or
respondents in the Proceeding; (2) if such quorum cannot be obtained, by a
majority vote ofparties to such Proceeding,
even though less than a quorum; (2) by a committee of the Board of
Directors, designated to act in the matter by a majority of all Directors,
consisting
of two or more Directors who at the time of the vote are not named defendants
or
respondents in the Proceeding; (3) by specialsuch Directors, even though less than
a quorum; (3) if
there are no such Directors, or if such Directors so direct, by
independent legal counsel (in a written opinion) selected
by the Board
of Directors or a committee of the Board by a vote as set forth in Subsection
(1) or (2) of this Section, or, if such quorum cannot be established, by a
majority vote of all Directors (in which Directors who are named defendants
or
respondents in the Proceeding may participate); or (4) by the
stockholders of the Corporation in a vote that
excludes
the shares held by Directors who are named defendants or respondents in the
Proceeding.
6.3 Advance
of
Expenses. Reasonable expenses, including court costs and
attorneys' fees, incurred by a person who was or is a witness or who was or
is
named as a defendant or respondent in a Proceeding, by reason of the fact that
such individual is or was a Director or officer of the Corporation, or while
a
Director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving at the request of
the
Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee,
employee, agent or similar functionary of another corporation, partnership,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be paid by the
Corporation at reasonable intervals in advance of the final disposition of
such
Proceeding, and without the determination set forth in Section 6.2, upon receipt
by the Corporation of a written affirmation by such person of his good faith
belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification
under this Article 6, and a written undertaking by or on behalf of such person
to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Corporation if it is ultimately
determined that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this Article 6. Such written undertaking shall be
an unlimited obligation of such person and it may be accepted without reference
to financial ability to make repayment.
6.4 Permissive
Indemnification. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may
authorize the Corporation to indemnify employees or agents of the Corporation,
and to advance the reasonable expenses of such persons, to the same
extent,
following the same determinations and upon the same conditions as are required
for the indemnification of and advancement of expenses to Directors and officers
of the Corporation.
6.5 Nature
of
Indemnification. The indemnification and advancement of
expenses provided hereunder shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights
to
which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Certificate of
Incorporation, these Bylaws, any agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to actions taken in an official
capacity and as to actions taken in any other capacity while holding such
office, shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
6.6 Insurance. The
Corporation shall have the power and authority to purchase and maintain
insurance or another arrangement on behalf of any person who is or was a
Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or who is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner,
venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any
liability, claim, damage, loss or risk asserted against such person and incurred
by such person in any such capacity or arising out of the status of such person
as such, irrespective of whether the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify and hold such person harmless against such liability under the
provisions hereof. If the insurance or other arrangement is with a
person or entity that is not regularly engaged in the business of providing
insurance coverage, the insurance or arrangement may provide for payment of
a
liability with respect to which the Corporation would not have the power to
indemnify the person only if including coverage for the additional liability
has
been approved by the stockholders of the Corporation. Without
limiting the power of the Corporation to procure or maintain any kind of
insurance or other arrangement, the Corporation may, for the benefit of persons
indemnified by the Corporation, (1) create a trust fund; (2) establish any
form
of self-insurance; (3) secure its indemnity obligation by grant of a security
interest or other lien on the assets of the Corporation; or (4) establish a
letter of credit, guaranty, or surety arrangement. The insurance or
other arrangement may be procured, maintained, or established within the
Corporation or with any insurer or other person deemed appropriate by the Board
of Directors regardless of whether all or part of the stock or other securities
of the insurer or other person are owned in whole or part by the
Corporation. In the absence of fraud, the judgment of the Board of
Directors as to the terms and conditions of the insurance or other arrangement
and the identity of the insurer or other person participating in the arrangement
shall be conclusive and the insurance or arrangement shall not be voidable
and
shall not subject the Directors approving the insurance or arrangement to
liability, on any ground, regardless of whether the Directors participating
in
the approval is a beneficiary of the insurance or arrangement.
6.7 Notice. Any
indemnification or advance of expenses to a present or former Director or
officer of the Corporation in accordance with this Article 6 shall be reported
in writing to the stockholders of the Corporation with or before the notice
or
waiver of notice of the next stockholders' meeting or with or before the next
submission of a consent to action without a meeting and, in any case, within
the
next twelve month period immediately following the indemnification or
advance.
ARTICLE
7
STOCK
CERTIFICATES AND
TRANSFER REGULATIONS
7.1 Description
of
Certificates. The shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates or shall
be uncertificated. Each record holder of shares represented by
certificates, upon request to the
Corporation, shall be provided with a
certificate of stock representing the number of shares owned by the
holder. The shares of the capital stock of the Corporation
shall
be
represented by certificates in the
form approved by
the Board of Directors andshall be
signed by, or in the name of the
Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman
of the
Board, President or a Vice President orand
the Treasurer andor
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation, and
sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile
thereof. Each certificate shall state on the face thereof the
name of the holder, the number and class of shares, the par value of shares
covered thereby or a statement that such shares are without par value, and
such
other matters as are required by law. At such time as the Corporation
may be authorized to issue shares of more than one class, every certificate
shall set forth upon the face or back of such certificate a statement of the
designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights of the shares of
each
class authorized to be issued, as required by the laws of the State of Delaware,
or may state that the Corporation will furnish a copy of such statement without
charge to the holder of such certificate upon receipt of a written request
therefor from such holder.
7.2 Entitlement
to
Certificates. Every
holder
of the capital stock in the Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate
signed in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, Vice
Chairman of the Board, President or a Vice President or Treasurer and the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the class
of
capital stock and the number of shares represented thereby as owned or held
by
such stockholder in the Corporation.
7.32 Signatures. The
signatures of the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman
of the
Board, President, Vice President or Treasurer, Secretary or Assistant
Secretary upon a certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer
or officers who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have
been placed upon any such certificate or certificates, shall cease to serve
as
such officer or officers of the Corporation, or as
transfer agent or registrar, whether because of death, resignation,
removal or otherwise, before such certificate or certificates are issued and delivered
by
the Corporation, such certificate or certificates may nevertheless be adopted
by
the Corporation and be issued and delivered with the same effect as though
the
person or persons who signed such certificate or certificates or whose facsimile
signature or signatures have been used thereon had not ceased to serve as such
officer or officers or as transfer agent or
registrar of the Corporation.
7.4 Issuance
of
Certificates. Certificates
evidencing shares of its capital stock (both treasury and authorized but
unissued) may be issued for such consideration (not less than par value, except
for treasury shares which may be issued for such consideration) and to such
persons as the Board of Directors may determine from time to
time. Shares shall not be issued until the full amount of the
consideration, fixed as provided by law, has been paid.
7.5 Payment
for
Shares. Consideration
for the issuance of shares shall be paid, valued and allocated as
follows:
(a) Consideration. The
consideration for the issuance of shares shall consist of money paid, labor
done
(including services actually performed for the Corporation), or property
(tangible or intangible) actually received. Neither promissory notes
nor the promise of future services shall constitute payment of consideration
for
shares.
(b) Valuation. In
the
absence of fraud in the transaction, the determination of the Board of Directors
as to the value of consideration received shall be
conclusive.
(c) Effect. When
consideration, fixed as provided by law, has been paid, the shares shall be
deemed to have been issued and shall be considered fully paid and
nonassessable.
(d) Allocation
of
Consideration. The
consideration received for shares shall be allocated by the Board of Directors,
in accordance with law, between the stated capital and capital surplus
accounts.
7.6 Subscriptions. Unless
otherwise provided in the subscription agreement, subscriptions of shares,
whether made before or after organization of the Corporation, shall be paid
in
full in such installments and at such times as shall be determined by the Board
of Directors. Any call made by the Board of Directors for payment on
subscriptions shall be uniform as to all shares of the same class and
series. In case of default in the payment of any installment or call
when payment is due, the Corporation may proceed to collect the amount due
in
the same manner as any debt due to the Corporation.
7.7 Record
Date. For the
purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive
a
distribution by the Corporation (other than a distribution involving a purchase
or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend,
or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper
purpose, the Board of Directors may fix a record date for any such determination
of stockholders, 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 shall not be more than sixty (60) days, and in the case of
a
meeting of stockholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which
the particular action requiring such determination of stockholders is to be
taken. If no record date is fixed for the determination of
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders,
or
stockholders entitled to receive a distribution (other than a distribution
involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares)
or a share dividend, the date before the date on which notice of the meeting
is
mailed or the date on which the resolution of the Board of Directors declaring
such distribution or share dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be
the
record date for such determination of stockholders. When a
determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders
has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall be applied
to any adjournment thereof.
7.83 Registered
Owners. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer
of a certificate
evidencing shares of the capital stock of the Corporation in the manner
set forth in Section 7.107.5
hereof, the Corporation shall be entitled to
recognize the person registered as the owner of such shares on its books (or
the
books of its duly appointed transfer agent, as the case may be) as the person
exclusively entitled to vote, to receive notices and dividends with respect
to,
and otherwise exercise all rights and powers relative to such shares; and the
Corporation shall not be bound or otherwise obligated to recognize any claim,
direct or indirect, legal or equitable, to such shares by any other person,
whether or not it shall have actual, express or other notice thereof, except
as
otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
7.94 Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed
Certificates. The Corporation shall issue a new certificate in
place of any certificate for shares previously issued, if the registered owner of the certificate
satisfies the following conditions:
(a) Proof
of
Loss. Submits proof in affidavit form satisfactory to the
Corporation that such certificate has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully
taken;
(b) Timely
Request. Requests the issuance of a new certificate before the
Corporation has notice that the certificate has been acquired by a purchaser
for
value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;
(c) Bond. Gives
a bond in such form, and with such surety or sureties, with fixed or open
penalty, as the Corporation may direct, to indemnify the Corporation (and its
transfer agent and registrar, if any) against any claim that may be made or
otherwise asserted by virtue of the alleged loss, destruction, or theft of
such
certificate or certificates; and
(d) Other
Requirements. Satisfies any other reasonable requirements
imposed by the Corporation.
In
the
event a certificate has been lost, apparently destroyed or wrongfully taken,
and
the registered owner of record fails to notify the Corporation within a
reasonable time after he has notice of such loss, destruction, or wrongful
taking, and the Corporation registers a transfer (in the manner hereinbelow set
forth below) of the shares represented by
the certificate before receiving such notification, such prior registered owner
of record shall be precluded from making any claim against the Corporation
for
the transfer required hereunder or for a new certificate to the fullest extent permitted by
law.
7.105 Registration
of
Transfers. Transfers of stock
shall be made upon the books of the Corporation. Subject to
the provisions hereof, the Corporation shall register the transfer of a
certificate evidencing shares of its capital stock presented to it for transfer
if:
(a) Endorsement. Upon
surrender of the certificate to the Corporation (or its transfer agent, as
the
case may be) for transfer, the certificate (or an appended stock power) is
properly endorsed by the registered owner, or by his duly authorized legal
representative or attorney-in-fact, with proper written evidence of the
authority and appointment of such representative, if any, accompanying the
certificate;
(b) Guaranty
and Effectiveness
of Signature. The signature of such registered owner or his
legal representative or attorney-in-fact, as the case may be, has been
guaranteed by a national banking association or member of the New York Stock
Exchange, and reasonable assurance in a form satisfactory to the Corporation
is
given that such endorsements are genuine and effective;
(c) Adverse
Claims. The Corporation has no notice of an adverse claim or
has otherwise discharged any duty to inquire into such a claim;
(d) Collection
of
Taxes. Any applicable law (local, state or federal) relating
to the collection of taxes relative to the transaction has been complied with;
and
(e) Additional
Requirements
Satisfied. Such additional conditions and documentation as the
Corporation (or its transfer agent, as the case may be) shall reasonably
require, including without limitation thereto, the delivery with the surrender
of such stock certificate or certificates of proper evidence of succession,
assignment or other authority to obtain transfer thereof, as the circumstances
may require, and such legal opinions with reference to the requested transfer
as
shall be required by the Corporation (or its transfer agent) pursuant to the
provisions of these Bylaws and applicable law, shall have been
satisfied.
In
the case of uncertificated shares, transfers will be
made upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the record owner of
such
uncertificated shares, or from a duly
authorized attorney or from an individual
presenting proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer
the stock, with such additional conditions and documentation as the Corporation
(or its transfer agent, as the case may be) shall reasonably
require.
7.116 Restrictions
on Transfer and
Legends on Certificates.
(a) Shares
in Classes or
Series. If the Corporation is authorized to issue shares of
more than one class or more than one series of any
class, the certificate, if any,
shall set forth, either on the face or back of the certificate, a full or
summary statement of all of the powers,
designations, preferences, limitations,
and relative rights of the shares
of each such class and, if the Corporation
is authorized to issue any preferred or special class in series, the variations
in the relative rights and preferences of the shares of each such series so
far
as the same have been fixed and determined, and the authority of the Board
of
Directors to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of
subsequentor series. In
lieu of providing such a statement in full on the certificate, a statement
on
the face or back of the certificate may provide that the Corporation will
furnish such information to any stockholder without charge upon written request
to
the Corporation at
its principal place of business or registered office and that copies of the
information are on file in the office of the Secretary of
State.
(b) Restriction
on
Transfer. Any restrictions imposed by the Corporation on the
sale or other disposition of its shares or on the
amount of the Corporation's securities that may be owned by any person
and on the transfer thereof must be copied
at length or in
summary form on the face, or so copied on the back and referred to on the face,
of each certificatenoted conspicuously on
the certificates, if any, representing shares to which the restriction
applies. The
certificate may however state on the face or back that such a restriction exists
pursuant to a specified document and that the Corporation will furnish a copy
of
the document to the holder of the certificate without charge upon
written
request to the Corporation at its
principal place
of business.
(c) Unregistered
Securities. Any security
of the Corporation, including, among others, any certificate evidencing shares
of the capital stock of the Corporation or warrants to purchase shares of
capital stock of the Corporation, which is issued to any person without
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Blue Sky
laws
of any state, shall not be transferable until the Corporation has been furnished
with a legal opinion of counsel with reference thereto, satisfactory in form
and
content to the Corporation and its counsel, to the effect that such sale,
transfer or pledge does not involve a violation of the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended, or the Blue Sky laws of any state having
jurisdiction. The certificate representing the security shall bear
substantially the following legend:
THE
SECURITIES
REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAW BUT HAVE BEEN
ACQUIRED FOR THE PRIVATE INVESTMENT OF THE HOLDER HEREOF AND MAY NOT BE OFFERED,
SOLD OR TRANSFERRED UNTIL EITHER (i) A REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER SUCH
SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES LAWS SHALL HAVE BECOME
EFFECTIVE WITH REGARD THERETO, OR (ii) THE CORPORATION SHALL HAVE RECEIVED
AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL ACCEPTABLE TO THE CORPORATION AND ITS COUNSEL THAT
REGISTRATION UNDER SUCH SECURITIES ACT OR SUCH APPLICABLE STATE SECURITIES
LAWS
IS NOT REQUIRED IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH PROPOSED OFFER, SALE OR
TRANSFER.
ARTICLE
8
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
8.1 Dividends. Subject
to
the provisions of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, as amended, and
the
Certificate of Incorporation, dividends of the Corporation shall be declared
and
paid pursuant to the following regulations:(a)Declaration
and
Payment. Dividends on the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors
at
any regular or special meeting and may be paid in cash, in property, or in
shares of capital stock. Such declaration and payment shall be at the
discretion of the Board of Directors.
(b) Record
Date. The Board
of
Directors may fix in advance a record date for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend, such record date
to be
not more than sixty (60) days prior to the payment date of such dividend, or
the
Board of Directors may close the stock transfer books for such purpose for
a
period of not more than sixty (60) days prior to the payment date of such
dividend. In the absence of action by the Board of Directors, the
date upon which the Board of Directors adopt the resolution declaring such
dividend shall be the record date.
8.2 Reserves. There
may be created by resolution of the Board of Directors out of the surplusany
funds of the Corporation available for dividends such reserve or reserves
as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its discretion, think proper
to
provide for contingencies, or to repair or maintain any property of the
Corporation, or for such other purposes as the Board of Directors shall think
beneficial to the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish
any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
8.3 Books
and
Records. The Corporation shall maintain correct and complete
books and records of account and shall prepare and maintain minutes of the
proceedings of its stockholders, its Board of Directors and each committee
of
its Board of Directors. The Corporation shall keep at its registered
office or principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent
or
registrar, a record of original issuance of shares issued by the Corporation
and
a record of each transfer of those shares that have been presented to the
Corporation for registration or transfer. Such records shall contain
the names and addresses of all past and present stockholders and the number
and
class of the shares issued by the Corporation held by each.
8.4 Annual
Statement. The Board
of
Directors shall present at or before each annual
meeting of
stockholders
a full and clear statement of the business and financial condition of the
Corporation, including a reasonably detailed balance sheet and income statement
under current date.
8.5 Contracts
and Negotiable
Instruments. Except as otherwise provided by law or these
Bylaws, any contract or other instrument relative to the business of the
Corporation may be executed and delivered in the name of the Corporation and
on
its behalf by the Senior Chairman of the
Board, Vice
Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and Treasurer or President of the Corporation. The
Board of Directors may authorize any other officer or agent of the Corporation
to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any contract in the name
and
on behalf of the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined
to
specific instances as the Board of Directors may determine by
resolution. All bills, notes, checks or other instruments for the
payment of money shall be signed or countersigned by such officer, officers,
agent or agents and in such manner as are permitted by these Bylaws and/or
as,
from time to time, may be prescribed by resolution of the Board of
Directors. Unless authorized to do so by these Bylaws or by the Board
of Directors, no officer, agent or employee shall have any power or authority
to
bind the Corporation by any contract or engagement, or to pledge its credit,
or
to render it liable pecuniarily for any purpose or to any amount.
8.65 Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the
Saturday closest to September 30.
8.76 Corporate
Seal. The Corporation seal shall be in such form as may be
determined by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing
it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any manner
reproduced.
8.87 Resignations. Any
Director, officer or agent may resign his office or position with the
Corporation by delivering written notice or notice
by electronic transmission thereof to the Senior Chairman of the Board,
Vice Chairman of
the Board, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Operating Officer, President or
Secretary. Such resignation shall be effective at the time specified
therein, or immediately upon delivery if no time is specified. Unless
otherwise specified therein, an acceptance of such resignation shall not be
a
necessary prerequisite of its effectiveness.
8.98 Amendment
of
Bylaws. These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and
new Bylaws adopted at any meeting of the Board of Directors or stockholders
at
which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
Directors or stockholders, as the case may be, present at such meeting, provided
notice of the proposed alteration, amendment, or repeal be contained in the
notice of such meeting.
8.1110 Telephone
Meetings. Stockholders,
Directors or members of any committee may hold any meeting of such stockholders,
Directors or committee by means of conference telephone or similarother
communications equipment which permits all
persons participating in the meeting to hear each other and actions taken at
such meetings shall have the same force and effect as if taken at a meeting
at
which persons were present and voting in person. The Secretary of the
Corporation shall prepare a memorandum of the action taken at any such
telephonic meeting.
8.1211 Table
of Contents;
Captions. The table of contents and captions used in these
Bylaws have been inserted for administrative convenience only and do not
constitute matter to be construed in interpretation.
IN
DUE
CERTIFICATION WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the Secretary of PILGRIM'S PRIDE
CORPORATION, confirms the adoption and approval of the foregoing Bylaws,
effective as of the 1428th
day of
May,
1999.November, 2007.
/s/
Richard A.
Cogdill
RICHARD
A. COGDILL, Secretary