EX-3.02 2 a13-2588_1ex3d02.htm EX-3.02

Exhibit 3.02

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

OF

 

BROOKLINE BANCORP, INC.

 

(the “Corporation”)

 

Article I - Stockholders

 

1.                                      Annual Meeting.  An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of Directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which place, date and time may subsequently be changed at any time by vote of the Board of Directors.  If no annual meeting has been held for a period of thirteen (13) months after the Corporation’s last annual meeting, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held, and such special meeting shall have, for the purposes of these Bylaws or otherwise, all the force and effect of an annual meeting.  Any and all references hereafter in these Bylaws to an annual meeting or annual meetings also shall be deemed to refer to any special meeting(s) in lieu thereof.

 

2.                                      Special Meetings.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of Directors (including any unfilled vacancies on the Board of Directors).  Only those matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered or acted upon at a special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and stockholder proposals of other business shall not be brought before a special meeting of stockholders to be considered by the stockholders unless such special meeting is held in lieu of an annual meeting of stockholders in accordance with Article I, Section 1 of these Bylaws, in which case such special meeting in lieu thereof shall be deemed an annual meeting for purposes of these Bylaws and the provisions of Article I, Section 6 of these Bylaws shall govern such special meeting.

 

3.                                      Notice of Meetings.  Written notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, 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).

 

When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith.  At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting.

 



 

4.                                      Quorum.  At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation), shall constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be required by law.  Where a separate vote by a class or classes is required, a majority of those represented by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions of Article FOURTH of the Corporation’s Certificate of Incorporation) shall constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that matter.

 

If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time.

 

If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those present in person or by proxy constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law, those present in person or by proxy at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.

 

5.                                      Organization.  Such person as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in the absence of such a person, the Chairman of the Board of the Corporation or, in his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting.  In the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting shall be such person as the chairman appoints.

 

6.                                      Conduct of Business.

 

(a)                                 The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and all other matters of procedures at the meeting.  The presiding officer at any meeting of stockholders shall have the power, among other things, to adjourn such meeting at any time and from time to time, subject to Sections 3 and 4 of this Article I.  The Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof shall have the power to determine whether a stockholder nomination or proposal was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.  If neither the Board of Directors nor such designated committee makes a determination as to whether any stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6, the chairman of the stockholder meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether the stockholder proposal or nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.  If the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof or the chairman, as applicable, determines that any stockholder proposal or nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6, such proposal or nomination shall be disregarded and shall not be presented for action at the annual meeting.

 

(b)                                 At any annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (x) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (y) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is

 

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entitled to vote with respect thereto, who is present (in person or by proxy) at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(b) as to such business.  For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 6(b), (1) the business must relate to a proper subject matter for stockholder action under Delaware law, (2) the stockholder must have given Timely Notice (as defined below) thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (3) the stockholder must have provided updates or supplements to such Timely Notice at the times and in the forms required by Section 6(d) and (4) together with the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the business proposal is made, the stockholder must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the New Business Solicitation Statement (as defined below) required by this Bylaw.  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the ninetieth (90th) day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth (120th) prior to the one-year anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event the annual meeting is first convened more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, or if no annual meeting were held in the preceding year, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth (90th) day prior to the scheduled date of such annual meeting or the tenth (10th) day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made (such notice within such time periods shall be referred to as “Timely Notice”).  A stockholder’s Timely Notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

 

(i)                                     as to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting, a brief description of the business 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 each New Business Proposing Person (as defined below);

 

(ii)                                  the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the names and addresses of the other Proposing Persons (if any);

 

(iii)                               as to each Proposing Person, the following information: (A) the class or series and number of all shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially or of record by such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates (as such terms are defined in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act), including any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation as to which such Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future, (B) any proxy (other than a revocable proxy given in response to a public proxy solicitation made pursuant to, and in accordance with, the Exchange Act), agreement, arrangement, understanding or relationship pursuant to which such Proposing Person has or shares a right to, directly or indirectly, vote any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, (C) any rights to dividends or other distributions on the shares of any class or series of

 

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capital stock of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, and (D) any performance-related fees (other than an asset based fee) that such Proposing Person, directly or indirectly, is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation (the disclosures to be made pursuant to the foregoing clauses (A) through (D) are referred to, collectively, as “Material Ownership Interests”);

 

(iv)                              a description of the material terms of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether or not in writing) entered into by any Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates with any other person for the purpose of acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

 

(v)                                 (A) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings by and among any of the Proposing Persons, or by and among any Proposing Persons and any other person, pertaining to the other business proposed to be brought before the meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), and (B) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such other business proposal(s), and to the extent known the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

 

(vi)                              a statement whether or not the stockholder giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of, in the case of a business proposal, at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation required under applicable law to approve the proposal (such statement, the “New Business Solicitation Statement”).

 

For purposes of this Section 6(b) and Section 6(c) below, the term “Proposing Person” shall mean the following persons: (i) the stockholder of record providing the notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting, and (ii) the beneficial owner(s), if different, on whose behalf the nominations or business proposed to be brought before a stockholders’ meeting is made.

 

Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) or in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act (or any successor provision thereto).  The Officer of the Corporation or other person presiding over the annual meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b) and, if he should so determine, he shall so declare to

 

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the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.

 

At any special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

 

(c)                                  Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as Directors.  Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (x) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (y) by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting, who is present (in person or by proxy) at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6(c) as to such nomination.  For nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to this Section 6(c), (1) the stockholder must have given Timely Notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation, (2) the stockholder must have provided updates or supplements to such Timely Notice at the times and in the forms required by Section 6(d) and (3) together with the beneficial owner(s), if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, the stockholder must have acted in accordance with the representations set forth in the Nomination Solicitation Statement (as defined below) required by this Bylaw.  A stockholder’s Timely Notice to the Secretary shall set forth:

 

(i)                                     as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);

 

(ii)                                  the name and address of the stockholder giving the notice, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and the names and addresses of the other Proposing Persons (if any);

 

(iii)                               as to each Proposing Person, any Material Ownership Interests;

 

(iv)                              a description of the material terms of all agreements, arrangements or understandings (whether or not in writing) entered into by any Proposing Person or any of its affiliates or associates with any other person for the purpose of acquiring, holding, disposing or voting of any shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

 

(v)                                 (A) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings by and among any of the Proposing Persons, or by and among any Proposing Persons and any other person (including with any proposed nominee(s)), pertaining to the nomination(s) proposed to be brought before the

 

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meeting of stockholders (which description shall identify the name of each other person who is party to such an agreement, arrangement or understanding), and (B) identification of the names and addresses of other stockholders (including beneficial owners) known by any of the Proposing Persons to support such nomination(s), and to the extent known the class and number of all shares of the Corporation’s capital stock owned beneficially or of record by such other stockholder(s) or other beneficial owner(s); and

 

(vi)                              a statement whether or not the stockholder giving the notice and/or the other Proposing Person(s), if any, will deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of voting power of all of the shares of capital stock of the Corporation reasonably believed by such Proposing Person to be sufficient to elect the nominee or nominees proposed to be nominated by such stockholder (such statement, the “Nomination Solicitation Statement”).

 

No person shall be eligible for election as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(c).  The Officer of the Corporation or other person presiding at the meeting shall, if the facts so warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with such provisions and, if he or she shall so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

 

(d)                                 A stockholder providing Timely Notice of nominations or business proposed to be brought before an annual meeting shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information (including, without limitation, the Material Ownership Interests information) provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to Section 6(b) or Section 6(c) shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to such annual meeting, and such update and supplement shall be received by the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) business day after the record date for the annual meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date), and not later than the close of business on the eighth (8th) business day prior to the date of the annual meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting).

 

(e)                                  Notwithstanding anything in Section 6(c) to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors made by the Corporation at least ten (10) days before the last day a stockholder may deliver a notice of nomination in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(c), a stockholder’s notice required by Section 6(c) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be received by the Secretary of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 6(e), “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press

 

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release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

 

(f)                                   Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 6 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other stockholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director or any other matter of business submitted by a stockholder.

 

(g)                                  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, if the nominating or proposing stockholder (or a qualified representative of the stockholder) does not appear at the annual meeting to present a nomination or any business, such nomination or business shall be disregarded, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Corporation.  For purposes of this Section 6, to be considered a qualified representative of the proposing stockholder, a person must be authorized by a written instrument executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such written instrument or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the written instrument or electronic transmission, to the presiding officer at the meeting of stockholders.

 

7.                                      Proxies and Voting.  Stockholders shall have one vote for each share of stock entitled to vote owned by them of record according to the stock ledger of the Corporation as of the record date, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation.  At any meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing filed in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting.  Any facsimile telecommunication or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant to this paragraph, may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or transmission.

 

Proxies shall be filed in accordance with the procedures established for the meeting of stockholders.  Except as otherwise limited therein or as otherwise provided by law, proxies authorizing a person to vote at a specific meeting shall entitle the persons authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting, but they shall not be valid after final adjournment of such meeting.  A proxy with respect to stock held in the name of two or more persons shall be valid if executed by or on behalf of any one of them unless at or prior to the exercise of the proxy the Corporation receives a specific written notice to the contrary from any one of them.

 

The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof.  The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act.  If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.  Each inspector, before

 

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entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.

 

A nominee for Director shall be elected as a Director only if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast as to such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives notice that a stockholder has nominated an individual for election as Director in accordance with these Bylaws, and (ii)  such nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or before the tenth (10th) day before the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders, such that the number of nominees for members of the Board of Directors exceeds the number of Directors to be elected.

 

Any incumbent Director who fails to receive the required vote for reelection shall offer to resign from the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors will consider such Director’s offer to resign, taking into consideration any such factors that the Board of Directors deems relevant in deciding whether to accept such Director’s resignation.  Any Director whose offer to resign is under consideration may not participate in any deliberation or vote of the Board of Directors (or committee thereof) regarding such offer, but may participate in the deliberation or vote of any other business transacted by the Board of Directors (or committee thereof).  Within ninety (90) days after the date of certification of the election results, the Board of Directors will determine whether to accept or reject such Director’s offer to resign.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that no nominee for Director receives the vote required pursuant to this Section 7, any and all Directors may participate in the Board of Directors’ deliberation and vote regarding the Directors’ offers to resign.

 

All other matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast.

 

8.                                      Stock List.  A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where 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 beheld.  The stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is present.

 

9.                                      Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of series of preferred stock of the Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such stockholders.

 

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Article II - Board of Directors

 

1.             General Powers Number and Term of Office.  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors.  The number of Directors of the Corporation shall be such number as the Board of Directors shall from time to time have designated, except in the absence of such designation such number shall be 14.  The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board from among its members who shall, when present, preside at its meetings.

 

The Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which they severally hold office, into three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of the second class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders one year thereafter and the term of office of the third class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders two years, thereafter, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  At each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to succeed those Directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their election, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.

 

2.             Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.  Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to which they have been elected expires and until such Director’s successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.  No decrease in the number of authorized directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

 

3.             Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors.  A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.

 

4.             Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third (1/3) of the Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), by the Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix.  Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given each Director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile transmission of the same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting.  Unless otherwise indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a special meeting.

 

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5.             Quorum.  At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the total number of Directors (including any unfilled vacancies on the Board of Directors) shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.  If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.

 

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

 

7.             Conduct of Business.  At any meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.  Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

 

8.             Powers.  The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the unqualified power:

 

(1)           To declare dividends, from time to time in accordance with law;

 

(2)           To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges on such terms as it shall determine;

 

(3)           To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in connection therewith;

 

(4)           To remove any Officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any Officer upon any other person for the time being;

 

(5)           To confer upon any Officer of the Corporation the power to appoint, remove and suspend subordinate Officers, employees and agents;

 

(6)           To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus or other compensation plans for Directors, Officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;

 

(7)           To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit plans for Directors, Officers, employees and agents of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and,

 

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(8)           To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, for the management of the Corporation’s business and affairs.

 

9.             Compensation Of Directors.  Directors, as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other compensation for their services as Directors, including, without limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.

 

10.          Qualifications.  Any person appointed or elected to the Board of Directors shall, in order to qualify as such, shall own at least 100 shares of the Corporation’s common stock.

 

Article III- Committees

 

1.             Committees of the Board of Directors.  The Board of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, may from time to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein, elect a Director or Directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires, other Directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.  Any committee so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide.  In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified member.

 

2.             Conduct of Business.  Each committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.  Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings; one-third (1/3) of the members shall constitute a quorum unless the committee shall consist of one (1) or two (2) members, in which event one (1) member shall constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present.  Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.

 

3.             Nominating Committee.  The Board of Directors may appoint a Nominating Committee of the Board, consisting of not less than three (3) members.  The Nominating Committee shall have authority (a) to review any nominations for election to the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to Section 6(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance with such Bylaw and (b) to recommend to the Board nominees for election to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire at the annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.

 

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Article IV - Officers

 

1.             Generally.

 

(a)           The Board of Directors as soon as may be practicable after the annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer and President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer and from time to time may choose such other officers as it may deem proper.  The Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person.

 

(b)           The term of office of all Officers shall be until the next annual election of Officers and until their respective successors are chosen but any Officer may be removed from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of Directors then constituting the Board of Directors.

 

(c)           All Officers chosen by the Board of Directors shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective Offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article IV.  Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.

 

2.             Chairman of the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board shall, subject to the provisions of these Bylaws and to the direction of the Board of Directors, serve in general executive capacity and unless the Board has designated another person, when present, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation.  The Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office of Chairman of the Board or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.  He or she shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized.

 

3.             President and Chief Executive Officer.  The President and Chief Executive Officer (the “President”) shall have general responsibility for the management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the offices of President and Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.  Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the President shall have power to sign all stock certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other Officers (other than the Chairman of the Board), employees and agents of the Corporation.

 

4.             Vice President.  The Vice President or Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the President in his absence or during his inability to act.  In addition, the Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as may be properly assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.  A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated as Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.

 

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5.             Secretary.  The Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned thereto by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.  Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.

 

6.             Treasurer.  The Treasurer shall be the Comptroller of the Corporation and shall have the responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation.  He or she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation.  The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.  Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.

 

7.             Assistant Secretaries and Other Officers.  The Board of Directors may appoint one or more Assistant Secretaries and such other Officers who shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.

 

8.             Action with Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.  Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any Officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with respect to, any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.

 

Article V — Stock

 

1.             Certificates Of Stock.  Each stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her.  Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.

 

The Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of its stock shall be uncertificated shares.  Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation.

 

2.             Transfers of Stock.  Transfers of stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation.  Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued therefor.

 

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3.             Record Date.  In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or 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 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 next day 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 or 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.

 

A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

4.             Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.  In the event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.

 

5.             Regulations.  The issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may establish.

 

Article VI — Notices

 

1.             Notices.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other courier.  Any such notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation.  The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram or other courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.

 

2.             Waivers.  A written waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such stockholder, Director, Officer, employee or agent.  Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver.

 

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Article VII — Miscellaneous

 

1.             Facsimile Signatures.  In addition to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.

 

2.             Corporate Seal.  The Board of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary.  If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or an assistant to the Treasurer.

 

3.             Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records.  Each Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each Officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of its Officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person as to matters which such Director or committee member reasonably believes are within such other person’s professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

4.             Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31 of every year.

 

5.             Time Periods.  In applying any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be done a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.

 

Article VIII — Amendments

 

The Board of Directors may amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of the Board, provided notice of the proposed change was given not less than two days prior to the meeting.  The stockholders shall also have power to amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of stockholders provided notice of the proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the voting stock required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred Stock Designation or these Bylaws, the affirmative votes of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend or repeal any provisions of these Bylaws.

 

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