OF
LIMITED
BRANDS, INC.
Adopted
September 26, 2008
ARTICLE
I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.01. Annual
Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders of this
corporation, for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other
business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held on such date, at
such time, and at such place as may be designated by the Board of
Directors.
Section 1.02. Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called
at any time by the chairman of the board, any vice chairman of the board, or in
case of the death, absence, or disability of the chairman (and, if elected, a
vice chairman of the board), the president, or in case of the president’s death,
absence, or disability, the vice president, if any, authorized to exercise the
authority of the president, or a majority of the Board of Directors acting with
or without a meeting and may not be called by any other person or persons,
provided, that if and to the extent that any special meeting of stockholders may
be called by any other person or persons specified in any provision of the
certificate of incorporation or any amendment thereto or any certificate filed
under Section 151(g) of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or its successor
statute as in effect from time to time), then such special meeting may also be
called by such person or persons. A special meeting shall be held
only in the manner, at the times and for the purposes specified on the notice of
meeting or at the meeting by the person or persons properly calling the
meeting.
Section 1.03. Place of
Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at the
principal office of the corporation in the State of Ohio, unless the Board of
Directors decides that a meeting shall be held at some other place and causes
the notice thereof to so state.
Section 1.04. Notices of
Meetings. Unless waived, a written, printed, typewritten, or
electronically delivered notice of each annual or special meeting, stating the
date, hour, and place and the purpose or purposes thereof shall be served upon,
mailed, or delivered in any other manner permitted under Delaware law,
including, but not limited to, electronic delivery, to each stockholder of
record entitled to vote or entitled to notice, not more than 60 days nor less
than 10 days before any such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be directed
to a stockholder at his or her address as the same appears on the records of the
corporation. If a meeting is adjourned to another time or place and such
adjournment is for 30 days or less and no new record date is fixed for the
adjourned meeting, no further notice as to such adjourned meeting need be given
if the time and place to which it is adjourned are fixed and announced at such
meeting. In the event of a transfer of shares after notice has been given and
prior to the holding of the meeting, it shall not be necessary to serve notice
on the transferee. Such notice shall specify the place where the stockholders
list will be open for examination prior to the meeting if required by Section
1.08 hereof.
Section 1.05. Fixing Date
for Determination of Stockholders of Record. In order that the
corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at
any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive
payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or
entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any other change, conversion, or
exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of
Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60
nor less than 10 days before the date of such meeting, nor more than 60 days
prior to any other action. If the Board shall not fix such a record date, (i)
the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at
a meeting of stockholders shall be the close of business on the day next
preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the
close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is
held, and (ii) in any case involving the determination of stockholders for any
purpose other than notice of or voting at a meeting of stockholders, the record
date for determining stockholders for such purpose shall be the close of
business on the day on which the Board of Directors shall adopt the resolution
relating thereto. Determination of stockholders entitled to notice of
or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of such
meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 1.06.
Organization. At each meeting of the stockholders, the
chairman of the board, or in the chairman’s absence, any vice chairman of the
board, or in the absence of any vice chairman, the president, or, in the
president’s absence, any vice president, or, in the absence of the chairman of
the board, any vice chairman of the board, the president, and any vice
president, a chairman chosen by a majority in interest of the stockholders
present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote, shall act as chairman, and
the secretary of the corporation, or, if the secretary of the corporation not be
present, the assistant secretary, or if the secretary and the assistant
secretary not be present, any person whom the chairman of the meeting shall
appoint, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 1.07.
Quorum. A stockholders’ meeting duly called shall not be
organized for the transaction of business unless a quorum is present. Except as
otherwise expressly provided by law, the certificate of incorporation, these
bylaws, or any certificate filed under Section 151 (g) of the Delaware General
Corporation Law (or its successor statute as in effect from time to time), (i)
at any meeting called by the Board of Directors, the presence in person or by
proxy of holders of record entitling them to exercise at least one-third of the
voting power of the corporation shall constitute a quorum for such meeting, and
(ii) at any meeting called other than by the Board of Directors, the presence in
person or by proxy of holders of record entitling them to exercise at least a
majority of the voting power of the corporation shall constitute a quorum for
such meeting. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting can continue
to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough
stockholders to leave less than a quorum. If a meeting cannot be organized
because a quorum has not attended, a majority in voting interest of the
stockholders present may adjourn, or, in the absence of a decision by the
majority, any officer entitled to preside at such meeting may adjourn the
meeting from time to time to such time (not more than 30 days after the
previously adjourned meeting) and place as they (or such officer) may determine,
without notice other than by announcement at the meeting of the time and place
of the adjourned meeting. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is
present any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the
meeting as originally called.
Section 1.08. List of
Stockholders. The secretary of the corporation shall prepare
and make a complete list of the stockholders of record as of the applicable
record date entitled to vote at the 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 at least 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 be held. The list shall also be produced and kept
at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be
inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 1.09. Order of
Business and Procedure. The order of business at all meetings
of the stockholders and all matters relating to the manner of conducting the
meeting shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. Meetings shall be
conducted in a manner designed to accomplish the business of the meeting in a
prompt and orderly fashion and to be fair and equitable to all stockholders, but
it shall not be necessary to follow any manual of parliamentary
procedure.
Section 1.10.
Voting. (a) Each stockholder shall, at each meeting of the
stockholders, be entitled to vote in person or by proxy each share or fractional
share of the stock of the corporation having voting rights on the matter in
question and which shall have been held by such person and registered in such
person’s name on the books of the corporation on the date fixed pursuant to
Section 1.05 of these bylaws as the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting.
(b) Shares
of its own stock belonging to the corporation or to another corporation, if a
majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors in such
other corporation is held, directly or indirectly, by the corporation, shall
neither be entitled to vote nor be counted for quorum purposes.
(c) Any
such voting rights may be exercised by the stockholder entitled thereto or by
such person’s proxy appointed by an instrument in writing or in any other manner
then permitted by law, subscribed by such person or such person’s attorney
thereunto authorized in any manner then permitted by law and delivered to the
secretary of the meeting in sufficient time to permit the necessary examination
and tabulation thereof before the vote is taken; provided, however, that no
proxy shall be valid after the expiration of three years after its date of
execution, unless the stockholder executing it shall have specified therein the
length of time it is to continue in force. At any meeting of the stockholders
all matters, except as otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation,
in these bylaws, or by law, shall be decided by the vote of a majority in voting
interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy and voting thereon, a
quorum being present. The vote at any meeting of the stockholders on
any question need not be by ballot, unless so directed by the chairman of the
meeting or required by the certificate of incorporation. On a vote by ballot,
each ballot shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such person’s
proxy, if there be such proxy, and it shall state the number of shares
voted.
Section 1.11.
Inspectors. The Board of Directors, in advance of any meeting
of the stockholders, may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.
If inspectors
are not so
appointed, the person presiding at the meeting may appoint one or more
inspectors. If any person so appointed fails to appear or act, the vacancy may
be filled by appointment made by the Board of Directors in advance of the
meeting or at the meeting by the person presiding thereat. Each inspector,
before entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an
oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at the meeting with strict
impartiality and according to the best of such person’s ability. The Inspectors
so appointed shall determine the number of shares outstanding, the shares
represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the authenticity,
validity, and effect of proxies and shall receive votes, ballots, waivers,
releases, or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising
in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots,
waivers, releases, or consents, determine and announce the results, and do such
acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all
stockholders. On request of the person presiding at the meeting, the inspectors
shall make a report in writing of any challenge, question, or matter determined
by them and execute a certificate of any fact found by them. Any report or
certificate made by them shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated and
of the vote as certified by them.
Section 1.12. Notice of
Business. At any meeting of the stockholders, only such
business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (a) by
or at the direction of Board of Directors or such other person or persons
authorized to present business to a meeting of stockholders in accordance with
Section 1.02 of these bylaws or (b) by any stockholder of the corporation who is
a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this
Section 1.12, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies
with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.12; provided that,
notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 1.12, (i) in the case
of special meetings, the provisions of Section 1.02 shall govern and (ii) in the
case of nominations of directors, the provisions of Section 2.04 shall
govern. For business to be properly brought before a stockholder
meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof
in writing to the secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a
stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 60 days nor more
than 90 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual
meeting of stockholders; provided, that, (i) in the event that
the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to such
anniversary date or delayed more than 60 days after such anniversary date then
to be timely such notice must be received by the corporation no later than the
later of 70 days prior to the meeting or the 10th day
following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting was
made and (ii) a stockholder may deliver or mail the notice contemplated by this
Section 1.12 prior to the time periods specified above if earlier delivery or
mailing is required under Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act (as defined below), as
such Rule may be amended from time to time. A stockholder’s notice to
the secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to
bring before the meeting:
(a) a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting and
the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting;
(b) the
name and address, as they appear on the corporation’s books, of the stockholder
proposing such business and any Stockholder Associated Person covered by clauses
(c) and (d) below;
(c) (i)
the class and number of shares of the corporation which are held of record or
are beneficially owned by such stockholder or by any Stockholder Associated
Person with respect to the corporation’s securities and (ii) any derivative
positions held or beneficially held by the stockholder or by any Stockholder
Associated Person and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other
transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of,
or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made, the effect
or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of, such
stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the
corporation’s securities; and
(d) any
material interest of the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person in
such business.
“Stockholder
Associated Person” of any stockholder means (A) any person controlling, directly
or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) any beneficial
owner of shares of stock of the corporation owned of record or beneficially by
such stockholder and (C) any person controlling, controlled by or under common
control with such Stockholder Associated Person. The term “beneficially” held
(or any similar term) includes direct or indirect holdings and has the meaning
set forth in Rule 13d-3 (or any successor thereto) under the Exchange Act (as
defined below).
Notwithstanding
anything in the bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a
stockholder meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Article I. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought
before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws, and if
he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business
not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. The
provisions of this Section 1.12 are in addition to the applicable requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder
(the “Exchange Act”). Accordingly, notwithstanding the foregoing
provisions of this Section 1.12, a stockholder shall also comply with all
applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set
forth in this Section 1.12.
ARTICLE
II
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Section 2.01. General Powers
of Board. The powers of the corporation shall be exercised,
its business and affairs conducted, and its property controlled by the Board of
Directors, except as otherwise provided by the law of Delaware or in the
certificate of incorporation.
Section 2.02. Number of
Directors. The number of directors of the corporation
(exclusive of directors to be elected by the holders of any one or more series
of Preferred Stock voting separately as a class or classes) shall not be less
than 6 nor more than 15, the exact number of directors to be such number as may
be set from time to time within the limits set forth above by resolution adopted
by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. As used in
these Bylaws, the term “whole Board” means the total number of directors that
the corporation would have if there were no vacancies.
Section 2.03. Election of
Directors.
2.03.01.
Except as otherwise provided in these bylaws, each director shall be elected by
the vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to that director’s
election at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is
present. For purposes of this Section 2.03, a majority of votes cast
means that the number of votes “for” a director’s election must exceed 50% of
the votes cast with respect to that director’s election. Any
“withhold” or “against” votes in a director’s election will count as a vote
cast, but “abstentions” will not count as a vote cast with respect to that
director’s election. In a contested election, the nominees receiving
a plurality of the votes cast by holders of shares entitled to vote in the
election at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
elected. A “contested election” is one in which, as of the last date
by which stockholders may submit notice to nominate a person for election as a
director pursuant to Section 2.04 of these bylaws, the number of nominees for
any election of directors, exceeds the number of directors to be
elected.
2.03.02. (a)
In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee for further service on
the Board of Directors, such person must submit an irrevocable resignation,
which resignation shall become effective upon (i) that person not receiving a
majority of the votes cast in an election that is not a contested election and
(ii) acceptance by the Board of Directors of that resignation in accordance with
any policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors for such
purpose.
(b) In
order for any other person to become a nominee for service on the Board of
Directors, such person must submit an irrevocable commitment that, if elected,
such individual will tender, promptly upon such person’s election, an
irrevocable resignation, which resignation shall become effective upon (i) that
person not receiving a majority of the votes cast in the next election that is
not a contested election following such person’s initial election to the Board
of Directors and (ii) acceptance by the Board of Directors of that resignation
in accordance with any policies and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors
for such purpose.
2.03.03.
In the event an incumbent director does not receive a majority of the votes cast
with respect to that director’s election at any meeting for the uncontested
election of directors at which a quorum is present, the Board of Directors,
acting on the recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, shall
no later than at its first regularly scheduled meeting following certification
of the shareholder vote for the election of directors determine whether to
accept the resignation of the incumbent director or whether to take other
action.
2.03.04.
The Nominating and Governance Committee, in making any such recommendation, and
the Board of Directors, in making its determination, may consider any factors or
other information that they believe appropriate and relevant.
2.03.05.
If the Board of Directors determines to accept the resignation contemplated by
Section 2.03.02 of a nominee, the Nominating and Governance Committee shall
promptly either recommend a candidate to the Board of Directors to fill the
office formerly held by such person or recommend a reduction in the size of the
Board of Directors.
2.03.06.
The Nominating and Governance Committee and the Board of Directors shall take
the actions required under this Section 2.03 without the participation of any
nominee whose resignation, as contemplated by Section 2.03.02, is under
consideration, except that (i) if every member of the Nominating and Governance
Committee is such a nominee, then a majority of the Board of Directors shall
appoint a Board committee of independent directors for the purpose of
considering the tendered resignations and making a recommendation to the Board
of Directors whether to accept or reject them; and (ii) if the number of
independent directors who are not such nominees is three or fewer, all directors
may participate in the decisions under this Section 2.03. As used
above, the term “independent director” shall mean a director who complies with
the “independent director” requirements under the rules of the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc.
2.03.07.
If the Board of Directors accepts the resignation contemplated by Section
2.03.02 of any nominee, or if a nominee for director who is not an incumbent
director does not receive more than 50% of the votes cast with respect to that
director’s election, then the Board of Directors may fill the resulting vacancy
pursuant to Section 2.06 or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors
pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.02.
Section 2.04.
Nominations.
2.04.1. At
any meeting of the stockholders, only persons who are nominated in accordance
with the procedures set forth in these bylaws shall be eligible to serve as
directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
Directors of the corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders (a) by or
at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) by or at the direction of the
Nominating and Governance Committee of the Board of Directors or (c) by any
stockholder of the corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of
giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.04, who shall be entitled to
vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the
notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.04; provided that, (i)
notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of Section 2.04, in the case of special
meetings, the provisions of Section 1.02 shall govern and (ii) all nominees must
comply with the requirements of Section 2.03.02 (in addition to all other
applicable requirements). Such nominations, other than those made by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors or its Nominating and Governance
Committee, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the secretary
of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be
delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided,
however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced more
than 30 days prior to such anniversary date or delayed more than 60 days after
such anniversary date then to be timely such notice must be received by the
corporation no later than the later of 70 days prior to the date of the meeting
or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of
the meeting was made. Each such notice shall set forth (i) the name,
age, business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee proposed
in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such
nominee, (iii) all information relating to such person that is required to be
disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors, 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), and (iv) (A) the class
and number of shares of the corporation which are held of record or beneficially
by
the
stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person and (B) any
derivative positions held or beneficially held by the stockholder or any
Stockholder Associated Person and whether and the extent to which any hedging or
other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on
behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding has been made,
the effect or intent of which is to increase or decrease the voting power of
such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to the
corporation’s securities.
Notwithstanding
anything in the bylaws to the contrary, no nomination for the election of
directors shall be made except in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section 2.04. The provisions of this Section 2.04 are in
addition to the applicable requirements of the Exchange
Act. Accordingly, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section 2.04, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements
of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section
2.04.
2.04.2.
Notice of nominations that are proposed by the Board of Directors or its
nominating committee shall be given by the chairman of the meeting.
2.04.3.
The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to the meeting that a nomination was not properly brought before the meeting and
in accordance with the provisions of the bylaws, and if he should so determine,
he shall so declare to the meeting and any such nomination not properly brought
before the meeting shall not be given effect.
Section 2.05.
Resignations. Any director of the corporation may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the chairman of the board or the secretary of the
corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified
therein, and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 2.06.
Vacancies. In the event that any vacancy shall occur in the Board of
Directors, whether because of death, resignation, removal, newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors,
the failure of the stockholders to elect the whole authorized number of
directors, or any other reason, such vacancy may be filled by the vote of a
majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum. A
director elected to fill a vacancy, other than a newly created directorship,
shall hold office for the unexpired term of such director’s
predecessor.
Section 2.07. Removal of
Directors. Directors may be removed only as provided in the certificate
of incorporation.
Section 2.08. Place of
Meeting, etc. The Board of Directors may hold any of its meetings at the
principal office of the corporation or at such other place or places as the
Board of Directors may from time to time designate. Directors may participate in
any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment pursuant to which all persons
participating in the meeting of the Board of Directors can hear each other and
such participation shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
Section 2.09. Annual
Meeting. A regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held
each year at the same place as and immediately after the annual
meeting of
stockholders, or at such other place and time as shall theretofore have been
determined by the Board of Directors, and notice thereof need not be given. At
its regular annual meeting the Board of Directors shall organize itself and
elect the officers of the corporation for the ensuing year, and it may transact
any other business.
Section 2.10. Regular
Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at such
intervals and at such times as shall from time to time be determined by the
Board of Directors. After such determination and notice thereof has been once
given to each person then a member of the Board of Directors, regular meetings
may be held at such intervals and time and place without further notice being
given.
Section 2.11. Special
Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any
time by the Board of Directors or by the chief executive officer or by a
majority of directors then in office to be held on such day and at such time as
shall be specified by the person or persons calling the meeting.
Section 2.12. Notice of
Meetings. Notice of each special meeting or, where required, each regular
meeting, of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director either by
being mailed on at least the third day prior to the date of the meeting or by
being delivered electronically or given personally or by telephone on at least
24 hours notice prior to the date of meeting. Such notice shall specify the
place, date, and hour of the meeting and, if it is for a special meeting, the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called. At any meeting of the Board
of Directors at which every director shall be present, even though without such
notice, any business may be transacted. Any acts or proceedings taken at a
meeting of the Board of Directors not validly called or constituted may be made
valid and fully effective by ratification at a subsequent meeting which shall be
legally and validly called or constituted. Notice of any regular meeting of the
Board of Directors need not state the purpose of the meeting and, at any regular
meeting duly held, any business may be transacted. If the notice of a special
meeting shall state as a purpose of the meeting the transaction of any business
that may come before the meeting, then at the meeting any business may be
transacted, whether or not referred to in the notice thereof. A written waiver
of notice of a special or regular meeting, signed by the person or persons
entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed the equivalent of such notice, and attendance of a director at a
meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when the
director attends the meeting and prior to or at the commencement of such meeting
protests the lack of proper notice.
Section 2.13. Quorum and
Voting. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence of a
majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, the certificate of
incorporation, or these bylaws, the vote 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. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, each director shall have
one vote.
Section 2.14.
Committees. The Board of Directors may appoint an executive committee and
any other committee of the Board of Directors, to consist of one or more
directors of the corporation, and may delegate to any such committee any of the
authority of the Board of Directors, however conferred, other than the power or
authority in reference to amending the certificate of incorporation, adopting an
agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to the stockholders the sale,
lease, or exchange of all or
substantially
all of the corporation’s property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a
dissolution of the corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the
bylaws of the corporation. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of
the Board of Directors, shall act only in the intervals between meetings of the
Board of Directors, and shall be subject to the control and direction of the
Board of Directors. Any such committee may act by a majority of its members at a
meeting or by a writing or writings signed by all of its members. Any such
committee shall keep written minutes of its meetings and report the same to the
Board of Directors at the next regular meeting of the Board of
Directors.
Section 2.15.
Compensation. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of those in office, fix the compensation of directors for service in
any capacity and may fix fees for attendance at meetings and may authorize the
corporation to pay the traveling and other expenses of directors incident to
their attendance at meetings, or may delegate such authority to a committee of
the board.
Section 2.16. Action by
Consent. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of
the board or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if a written
consent thereto is signed by all members of the board or of such committee, as
the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the board or such committee.
ARTICLE
III
OFFICERS
Section 3.01. General
Provisions. The officers of the corporation shall include the
following: a chairman of the board (who shall be a director); if elected, a vice
chairman of the board (who shall be a director); a president; such number of
vice presidents as the board may from time to time determine; a secretary; and a
treasurer. Any person may hold any two or more offices and perform the duties
thereof, except the offices of chairman of the board and vice chairman of the
board, or the offices of president and vice president.
Section 3.02. Election,
Terms of Office, and Qualification. The officers of the
corporation named in Section 3.01 of this Article III shall be elected by the
Board of Directors for an indeterminate term and shall hold office during the
pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Section 3.03. Additional
Officers, Agents, etc. In addition to the officers mentioned
in Section 3.01 of this Article III, the corporation may have such other
officers or agents as the Board of Directors may deem necessary and may appoint,
each of whom or each member of which shall hold office for such period, have
such authority, and perform such duties as may be provided in these bylaws or as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors
may delegate to any officer the power to appoint any subordinate officers or
agents. In the absence of any officer of the corporation, or for any other
reason the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the Board of Directors may
delegate, for the time being, any or all of the powers and duties of such
officer to any other officer or to any director.
Section 3.04.
Removal. Any officer of the corporation may be removed, either
with or without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of
Directors at any
meeting,
the notice (or waivers of notice) of which shall have specified that such
removal action was to be considered. Any officer appointed not by the Board of
Directors but by an officer or committee to which the Board of Directors shall
have delegated the power of appointment may be removed, with or without cause,
by the committee or superior officer (including successors) who made the
appointment or by any committee or officer upon whom such power of removal may
be conferred by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.05.
Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time by giving
written notice to the Board of Directors, or to the chairman of the board, the
vice chairman of the board, the president, or the secretary of the corporation.
Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein, and unless
otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be
necessary to make it effective.
Section 3.06.
Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation,
removal, disqualification, or otherwise shall be filled in the manner prescribed
in these bylaws for regular appointments or elections to such
office.
ARTICLE
IV
DUTIES OF
THE OFFICERS
Section 4.01. The Chairman
of the Board. The chairman of the board shall be the chief
executive officer of the corporation and shall have general supervision over the
property, business, and affairs of the corporation and over its several
officers, subject, however, to the control of the Board of Directors. The
chairman shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of
the Board of Directors. The chairman may sign, with the secretary, treasurer, or
any other proper officer of the corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of
Directors, certificates for shares in the corporation. The chairman may sign,
execute, and deliver in the name of the corporation all deeds, mortgages, bonds,
leases, contracts, or other instruments, either when specially authorized by the
Board of Directors or when required or deemed necessary or advisable by the
chairman in the ordinary conduct of the corporation’s normal business, except in
cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by
these bylaws to some other officer or agent of the corporation or shall be
required by law or otherwise to be signed or executed by some other officer or
agent, and the chairman may cause the seal of the corporation, if any, to be
affixed to any instrument requiring the same.
Section 4.02. Vice Chairman
of the Board. If an individual is elected to such office, the
vice chairman of the board shall perform such duties as are conferred upon such
person by these bylaws or as may from time to time be assigned to such person by
the chairman of the board or the Board of Directors. The authority of any vice
chairman of the board to sign in the name of the corporation all certificates
for shares and deeds, mortgages, leases, bonds, contracts, notes, and other
instruments shall be coordinated with like authority of the chairman of the
board. In the absence or disability of the chairman of the board, a vice
chairman of the board designated by the Board of Directors shall perform all the
duties of the chairman of the board, and when so acting, shall have all the
powers of the chairman of the board.
Section 4.03. The
President. The president shall perform such duties as are
conferred upon such officer by these bylaws or as may from time to time be
assigned to
such
officer by the chairman of the board or any vice chairman of the board or the
Board of Directors.
Section 4.04. Vice
Presidents. The vice presidents shall perform such duties as
are conferred upon them by these bylaws or as may from time to time be assigned
to them by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, any vice chairman
of the board or the president. At the request of the chairman of the board, in
the absence or disability of the president, a, vice president designated by the
chairman of the board shall perform all the duties of the president, and when so
acting, shall have all of the powers of the president.
Section 4.05. The
Treasurer. The treasurer shall be the custodian of all funds
and securities of the corporation. Whenever so directed by the Board of
Directors, the treasurer shall render a statement of the cash and other accounts
of the corporation, and the treasurer shall cause to be entered regularly in the
books and records of the corporation to be kept for such purpose full and
accurate accounts of the corporation’s receipts and disbursements. The treasurer
shall have such other powers and shall perform such other duties as may from
time to time be assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors, the chairman
of the board, or any vice chairman of the board.
Section 4.06. The
Secretary. The secretary shall record and keep the minutes of
all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors in a book to be kept
for that purpose. The secretary shall be the custodian of, and shall make or
cause to be made the proper entries in, the minute book of the corporation and
such other books and records as the Board of Directors may direct. The secretary
shall be the custodian of the seal of the corporation, if any, and shall affix
such seal to such contracts, instruments, and other documents as the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof may direct. The secretary shall have such
other powers and shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be
assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board,
or any vice chairman of the board.
ARTICLE
V
INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 5.01.
Indemnification. The corporation shall indemnify any person
who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending, or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person, or
such person’s testator or intestate, is or was a director or officer of the
corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a
director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, or other enterprise, or as a member of any committee or similar
body against all expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, penalties,
fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such
person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding (including appeals)
or the defense or settlement thereof or any claim, issue, or matter therein, to
the fullest extent permitted by the laws of Delaware as they may exist from time
to time.
Section 5.02.
Insurance. The proper officers of the corporation, without
further authorization by the Board of Directors, may in their discretion
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee,
or agent for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, or other
enterprise, against any liability.
Section 5.03.
ERISA. To assure indemnification under this Article of all
such persons who are or were “fiduciaries” of an employee benefit plan governed
by the Act of Congress entitled “Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974”, as amended from time to time, the provisions of this Article V shall, for
the purposes hereof, be interpreted as follows: an “other enterprise” shall be
deemed to include an employee benefit plan; the corporation shall be deemed to
have requested a person to serve as an employee of an employee benefit plan
where the performance by such person of duties to the corporation also imposes
duties on, or otherwise involves services by, such person to the plan or
participants or beneficiaries of the plan; excise taxes assessed on a person
with respect to an employee benefit plan pursuant to said Act of Congress shall
be deemed “fines”; and action taken or omitted by a person with respect to an
employee benefit plan in the performance of such person’s duties for a purpose
reasonably believed by such person to be in the interest of the participants and
beneficiaries of the plan shall be deemed to be for a purpose which is not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation.
Section 5.04. Contractual
Nature. The foregoing provisions of this Article V shall be
deemed to be a contract between the corporation and each director and officer
who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section is in effect, and any
repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any rights or obligations then
existing with respect to any state of facts then or theretofore existing or any
action, suit, or proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought based in whole or
in part upon any such state of facts.
Section 5.05.
Construction. For the purposes of this Article V, references
to “the corporation” include in addition to the resulting corporation, any
constituent corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in
a consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would
have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or
agents, so that any person who is or was a director or officer of such
constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request of such constituent
corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, or as a member of any
committee or similar body, shall stand in the same position under the provisions
of this Article with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as such
person would have with respect to such constituent corporation, if its separate
existence had continued.
Section 5.06.
Non-Exclusive. The corporation may indemnify, or agree to
indemnify, any person against any liabilities and expenses and pay any expenses,
including attorneys’ fees, in, advance of final disposition of any action, suit,
or proceeding, under any circumstances, if such indemnification and/or payment
is approved by the vote of the stockholders or of the disinterested directors,
or is, in the opinion of independent legal counsel selected by the Board of
Directors, to be made on behalf of an indemnitee who acted in good faith and in
a manner such person reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the corporation.
ARTICLE
VI
DEPOSITORIES,
CONTRACTS AND OTHER INSTRUMENTS
Section 6.01.
Depositories. The chairman of the board, any vice chairman of
the board, the president, the treasurer, and any vice president of the
corporation whom the Board of Directors authorizes to designate depositories for
the funds of the corporation are each authorized to designate depositories for
the funds of the corporation deposited in its name and the signatories and
conditions with respect thereto in each case, and from time to time to change
such depositories, signatories, and conditions with the same force and effect as
if each such depository, signatory, and condition with respect thereto and
changes therein had been specifically designated or authorized by the Board of
Directors; and each depository designated by the Board of Directors or by the
chairman of the board, any vice chairman of the board, the president, the
treasurer, or any vice president of the corporation, shall be entitled to rely
upon the certificate of the secretary or any assistant secretary of the
corporation setting forth the fact of such designation and of the appointment of
the officers of the corporation or of both or of other persons who are to be
signatories with respect to the withdrawal of funds deposited with such
depository, or from time to time the fact of any change in any depository or in
the signatories with respect thereto.
Section 6.02. Execution of
Instruments Generally. In addition to the powers conferred
upon the chairman of the board in Section 4.01 and any vice chairman of the
board in Section 4.02 and except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01 of this
Article VI, all contracts and other Instruments entered into in the ordinary
course of business requiring execution by the corporation may be executed and
delivered by the president, the treasurer, or any vice president, and authority
to sign any such contracts or instruments, which may be general or confined to
specific instances, may be conferred by the Board of Directors upon any other
person or persons. Any person having authority to sign on behalf of the
corporation may delegate, from time to time, by instrument in writing, all or
any part of such authority to any person or persons if authorized so to do by
the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
VII
SHARES AND
THEIR TRANSFER
Section 7.01. Certificates
for Shares, Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the
corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of
Directors of the corporation 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. Except as otherwise provided by law, the rights and
obligations of the holders of uncertificated shares and the rights and
obligations of the holders of shares represented by certificates of the same
class and series shall be identical. Every owner of one or more
shares in the corporation shall be entitled to a certificate, which shall be in
such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe, certifying the number and
class of shares in the corporation owned by such person. When such certificate
is counter-signed by an incorporated transfer agent or registrar, the signature
of any of said officers may be facsimile, engraved, stamped, or printed. The
certificates for the respective classes of such shares shall be numbered in the
order in which they shall be issued and shall be signed in the name of the
corporation by the chairman of the board or any vice chairman of the board, or
the president or a vice president, and by the secretary or an
assistant
secretary
or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer. A record shall be kept of the name
of the person, corporation, or other entity owning shares, whether represented
by certificates or in uncertificated form, including, in the case of shares
represented by certificates, the number of shares represented thereby, the date
thereof, and in case of cancellation, the date of cancellation. Every
certificate surrendered to the corporation for exchange or transfer shall be
cancelled, and no new certificate or certificates (or shares in uncertificated
form) shall be issued in exchange for any existing certificates until such
existing certificates shall have been so cancelled.
Section 7.02. Lost,
Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates. If any certificates for
shares in this corporation become worn, defaced, or mutilated but are still
substantially intact and recognizable, the directors, upon production and
surrender thereof, shall order the same cancelled and, unless the shares are
thereafter to be held in uncertificated form, shall issue a new certificate in
lieu of same. The holder of any shares in the corporation shall immediately
notify the corporation if a certificate therefore shall be lost, destroyed, or
mutilated beyond recognition, and the corporation may issue a new certificate in
the place of any certificate theretofore issued by it which is alleged to have
been lost or destroyed or mutilated beyond recognition, and the Board of
Directors may, in its discretion, require the owner of the certificate which has
been lost, destroyed, or mutilated beyond recognition, or such owner’s legal
representative, to give the corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety
or sureties as it may direct, not exceeding double the value of the stock, to
indemnify the corporation against any claim that may be made against it on
account of the alleged loss, destruction, or mutilation of any such
certificate.
The Board
of Directors may, however, in its discretion, refuse to issue any such new
certificate except pursuant to legal proceedings under the laws of the State of
Delaware.
Section 7.03. Transfers of
Shares. Transfers of shares in the corporation shall be made
only on the books of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, such
person’s legal guardian, executor, or administrator, or by such person’s
attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with
the secretary of the corporation or with a transfer agent appointed by the Board
of Directors, and (i) in the case of certificated shares, on surrender of the
certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by
properly executed stock powers and (ii) in the case of uncertificated shares,
upon compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in
uncertificated form established by the corporation. In addition, no
transfer shall be effected unless the corporation has received appropriate
evidence of the payment of all taxes imposed upon such transfer. The person in
whose name shares stand on the books of the corporation shall, to the full
extent permitted by law, be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes as regards
the corporation.
Section 7.04.
Regulations. The Board of Directors may make such rules and
regulations as it may deem expedient but not inconsistent with these bylaws
concerning the issue, transfer, and registration of certificated or
uncertificated shares in the corporation. It may appoint one or more transfer
agents or one or more registrars, or both, and may require all certificates for
shares to bear the signature of either or both.
ARTICLE
VIII
SECURITIES
OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
Unless
otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, any
vice chairman, the president, and any vice president of the corporation shall
have the power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the corporation, in person
or by proxy, at any meeting, 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
IX
SEAL
The Board
of Directors may provide a corporate seal, which shall be circular and shall
contain the name of the corporation engraved around the margin, the words
“corporate seal”, the year of its organization, and the word
“Delaware”.
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