UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of The Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 5,
2007
THE
HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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0-22818
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22-3240619
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|
|
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(State
or other jurisdiction
of
incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(I.R.S.
Employer Identification No.)
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58
South Service Road, Melville, NY 11747
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (631) 730-2200
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check
the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions:
o
Written
communications
pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the
Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule
13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item
5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On
December 5, 2007, The Hain Celestial Group, Inc.’s Board of Directors amended
Article V, Section 1 (regarding Share Certificates), Article V, Section 3
(regarding Transfer of Shares) and Article V, Section 7 (regarding Lost,
Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates) of the Company's By-laws in order to enable
the Company to comply with Nasdaq Stock Market Marketplace Rule 4350(l) (the
"Direct Registration Rule"). The Direct Registration Rule requires Nasdaq-listed
securities to be eligible for a direct registration program operated by a
clearing agency registered under Section 17A of the Securities Exchange Act
on
and after January 1, 2008. A direct registration program is a system for
book-entry ownership of stock or other securities, in which shares are owned,
recorded and transferred electronically without the issuance of a physical
share
certificate. Because the Company’s By-laws previously required that each
stockholder was entitled to a physical share certificate, the Company's Board
of
Directors determined that, in order for the Company to be able to comply with
the Direct Registration Rule, it was necessary and appropriate to amend the
Company's By-laws to provide the authority to have uncertificated shares.
The
Company’s Board of Directors also amended the By-laws in order to update
corporate office and registered agent information. In addition, the Company’s
Board of Directors amended Article II, Section 4 (regarding Notice of Meetings),
Article II, Section 11 (regarding Notice of Meeting), Article III, Section
6
(regarding Notice of Meeting) and Article III, Section 14 (regarding Action
By
Consent) to update the manner in which such notices and written consents may
be
delivered to include electronic transmission. Article IX was also amended to
permit the Company’s Board of Directors to amend or repeal the By-Laws by
written consent. Previously, the Company’s Board of Directors could amend the
By-laws only at a regular or special meeting.
The
foregoing description is qualified in its entirety by the Amended and Restated
By-laws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.01 to this report, and which
are
incorporated by reference into this description.
Item
9.01.
Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
Exhibit
No.
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Description
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3.01
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Amended
and Restated By-Laws of The Hain Celestial Group, Inc., as amended
December 5, 2007.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
Date: December
7,
2007
THE
HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
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(Registrant)
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By:
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/s/
Ira J. Lamel
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Name:
Ira J. Lamel
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Title:
Executive Vice President and
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Chief
Financial Officer
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AMENDED
AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
THE
HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
(a
Delaware corporation)
(as
amended through December 5, 2007)
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
THE
HAIN CELESTIAL GROUP, INC.
(A
Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE
I
OFFICES
SECTION
1.
PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of The Hain Celestial Group,
Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be located at 58 South Service Road, Melville,
New York or such other location as may be designated by the Board of Directors
from time to time.
SECTION
2.
REGISTERED OFFICE AND AGENT. The registered office of the Corporation
in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington,
Delaware 19808. The registered agent shall be The Prentice-Hall Corporation
System, Inc.
SECTION
3.
OTHER
OFFICES. The Corporation may also have an office or offices other than said
principal office at such place or places, either within or without the State
of
Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time determine or the
business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE
II
MEETINGS
OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION
1.
PLACE
OF MEETINGS. All meetings of the stockholders for the election of directors
or
for any other purpose shall be held at such place as may be fixed from time
to
time by the Board of Directors, or at such other place, either within or without
the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board
of
Directors.
SECTION
2.
ANNUAL
MEETINGS. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation for the
election of directors and for the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting, shall be designated from time to time by
the
Board of Directors.
SECTION
3.
SPECIAL
MEETINGS. Special meetings of the stockholders, unless otherwise prescribed
by
statute, may be called at any time by the Board of Directors or the Chairman
of
the Board, if one shall have been elected, or the Vice-Chairman of the Board,
if
one shall have been elected, or the President.
SECTION
4.
NOTICE
OF MEETINGS. Notice of the place, date and hour of holding of each annual and
special meeting of the stockholders and, unless it is the annual meeting, the
purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given personally, by mail in a postage
prepaid envelope, or, with the consent of the stockholder entitled to receive
notice, by facsimile or other means of electronic transmission. Such notice
shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of
such meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, and, if
mailed, it shall be directed to such stockholder at his address as it appears
on
the record of stockholders, unless he shall have filed with the Secretary of
the
Corporation a written request that notices to him be mailed at some other
address, in which case it shall be directed to him at such other address. Notice
given by electronic transmission pursuant to this subsection shall be deemed
given: (1) if by facsimile telecommunication, when directed to a facsimile
telecommunication number at which the stockholder has consented to receive
notice; (2) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail address
at which the stockholder has consented to receive notice; (3) if by posting
on
an electronic network together with separate notice to the stockholder of such
specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of
such
separate notice; and (4) if by any other form of electronic transmission, when
directed to the stockholder. An affidavit of the secretary or an assistant
secretary or of the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that the
notice has been given by personal delivery, by mail, or by a form of electronic
transmission shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima facie evidence of the
facts stated therein. Any such notice for any meeting other than the annual
meeting shall indicate that it is being issued at the direction of the Board
of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board or the
President, whichever shall have called the meeting. Notice of any meeting of
stockholders shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall
attend such meeting in person or by proxy and shall not, prior the conclusion
of
such meeting, protest the lack of notice thereof, or who shall, either before
or
after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice, in person or by proxy.
Unless the Board of Directors shall fix a new record date for an adjourned
meeting, notice of such adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and
place to which the meeting shall be adjourned were announced at the meeting
at
which the adjournment is taken.
SECTION
5.
QUORUM.
At all meetings of the stockholders the holders of a majority of the shares
of
the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat shall be
present in person or by proxy to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business, except as otherwise provided by statute. In the absence of a quorum,
the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or by proxy and
entitled to vote may adjourn the meeting from time to time. At any such
adjourned meeting at which a quorum may be present any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
called.
SECTION
6.
ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the stockholders, the Chairman of the Board,
if
one shall have been elected, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the
absence of the Chairman of the Board or if one shall not have been elected,
the
Vice-Chairman of the Board, or in his absence or if one shall not have been
elected, the President shall act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary,
or
in his absence or inability to act, the person whom the chairman of the meeting
shall appoint secretary of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting
and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION
7.
ORDER
OF BUSINESS. The order of business at all meetings of the stockholders shall
be
determined by the chairman of the meeting.
SECTION
8.
VOTING.
Except as otherwise provided by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation,
each holder of record of shares of the Corporation having voting power shall
be
entitled at each meeting of the stockholders to one vote for each share standing
in his name on the record of stockholders of the Corporation:
(a)
on
the date fixed pursuant to the provisions of Section 6 of Article V of these
By-Laws as the record date for the determination of the stockholders who shall
be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting; or
(b)
if no
such record date shall have been so fixed, then at the close of business on
the
day next preceding the day on which notice thereof shall be
given.
Each
stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders may authorize
another person or persons to act for them by a proxy signed by such stockholder
or his attorney-in-fact. Any such proxy shall be delivered to the secretary
of
such meeting at or prior to the time designated in the order of business for
so
delivering such proxies. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any corporate action to be taken
by vote of the stockholders shall be authorized by a majority of the votes
cast
at a meeting of stockholders by the holders of shares present in person or
represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such action. Unless required by
statute, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the
vote
on any question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall
be
signed by the stockholder acting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy,
and
shall state the number of shares voted.
SECTION
9.
LIST OF
STOCKHOLDERS. A list of stockholders as of the record date, certified by the
Secretary of the Corporation or by the transfer agent for the Corporation,
shall
be produced at any meeting of the stockholders upon the request of any
stockholder made at or prior to such meeting.
SECTION
10.
INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting or any
adjournment thereof. If any of the inspectors so appointed shall fail to appear
or act or on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting,
the chairman of the meeting shall, or if inspectors shall not have been
appointed, the chairman of the meeting may, appoint one or more inspectors.
Each
inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and
sign
an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with
strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors
shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each,
the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum,
the
validity
and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and
determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right
to
vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the results,
and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness
to
all stockholders. On request of the chairman of the meeting or any stockholder
entitled to vote thereat, the inspector shall make a report in writing of any
challenge, request or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate
of any fact found by him. No director or candidate for the office of director
shall act as an inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not
be
stockholders.
SECTION
11.
ACTION
BY CONSENT. Whenever stockholders are required or permitted to take any action
by vote, such action may be taken without a meeting on written consent, setting
forth the action so taken signed by the holders of a majority of the outstanding
shares of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon. An electronic transmission
consenting to an action to be taken and transmitted by a stockholder, or by
a
proxy holder or other person authorized to act for a stockholder, shall be
deemed to be written, signed and dated for the purpose of this Section 11,
provided that such electronic transmission sets forth or is delivered with
information from which the Corporation can determine (i) that the electronic
transmission was transmitted by the stockholder or by a person authorized to
act
for the stockholder and (ii) the date on which such stockholder or authorized
person transmitted such electronic transmission. The date on which such
electronic transmission is transmitted shall be deemed to be the date on which
such consent was signed. No consent given by electronic transmission shall
be
deemed to have been delivered until such consent is reproduced in paper form
and
until such paper form shall be delivered to the Corporation by delivery to
its
registered office in the State of Delaware, its principal place of business
or
an officer or agent of the Corporation having custody of the books in which
proceedings of meetings of stockholders are recorded.
ARTICLE
III
BOARD
OF DIRECTORS
SECTION
1.
GENERAL
POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under
the
direction of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all
such authority and powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation directed or
required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
SECTION
2.
NUMBER,
QUALIFICATIONS, ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE. The number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall be determined by the Board of
Directors from time to time. Any decrease in the number of directors shall
be
effective at the time of the next succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders
unless there shall be vacancies in the Board of Directors, in which case such
decrease may become effective at any time prior to the next succeeding annual
meeting to the extent of the number of such vacancies. All the directors shall
be at least eighteen years of age. Directors need not be stockholders. Except
as
otherwise provided by statute or these By-Laws, the directors (other than
members of the initial Board of Directors) shall be elected at the annual
meeting of the stockholders. At each meeting of the stockholders for the
election of directors at which a quorum is present the persons receiving a
plurality of the votes cast at such election shall be elected. Each director
shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until
his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his death, or
until he shall have resigned, or have been removed, as hereinafter provided
in
these By-Laws.
SECTION
3.
PLACE
OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the principal
office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware or at such other place,
within or without such State, as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine or as shall be specified in the notice of any such
meeting.
SECTION
4.
REGULAR
MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such
time
and place as the Board of Directors may fix. If any day fixed for a regular
meeting shall be a legal holiday at the place where the meeting is to be held,
then the meeting which would otherwise be held on that day shall be held at
the
same hour on the next succeeding business day. Notice of regular meetings of
the
Board of Directors need not be given except as otherwise required by statute
or
these By-Laws.
SECTION
5.
SPECIAL
MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the
President or by a majority of the directors.
SECTION
6.
NOTICE
OF MEETING. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors (and of
each regular meeting for which notice shall be required) shall be given by
the
Secretary as hereinafter provided in this Section 6, in which notice shall
be
stated the time and place of the meeting. Except as otherwise required by these
By-Laws, such notice need not state the purposes of such meeting. Notice of
each
such meeting shall be (i) mailed, postage prepaid, to each director, addressed
to him at his residence or usual place of business, by first-class mail, at
least five days before the day on which such meeting is to be held, or (ii)
sent
addressed to him at such place by facsimile to his last known facsimile number,
or by other electronic transmission, or be delivered to him personally or be
given to him by telephone or voice message system, at least forty-eight hours
before the time at which such meeting is to be held. Notice of any such meeting
need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting,
submit a signed waiver of notice or who shall attend such meeting without
protesting, prior to or at its commencement, the lack of notice to
him.
SECTION
7.
QUORUM
AND MANNER OF ACTING. A majority of the entire Board of
Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, and, except as otherwise expressly required
by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the act of
a
majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present thereat
may adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of the time and
place
of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to the directors unless such time
and place were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was taken,
to
the other directors. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present,
any
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting
as
originally called. The directors shall act only as a Board and the individual
directors shall have no power as such.
SECTION
8.
ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, if one shall have been elected, shall act as the Chairman of the meeting,
or if one shall not have been elected, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, or in
his
absence, or if one shall not have been elected, the President (or, in his
absence, another director chosen by a majority of the directors present) shall
act as Chairman of the meeting and preside thereat. The Secretary (or, in his
absence, any person -- who shall be an Assistant Secretary, if any of them
shall
be present at such meeting — appointed by the chairman) shall act as
secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION
9.
RESIGNATIONS. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving
written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors or the Chairman
of
the Board or the Vice-Chairman of the Board or the President or the Secretary.
Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if
the
time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately
upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION
10.
VACANCIES. Subject to any express provision of the Certificate of Incorporation,
any vacancy in the Board of Directors, whether arising from death, resignation,
removal (with or without cause), an increase in the number of directors or
any
other cause, may be filled by the vote of a majority of the directors then
in
office, though less than a quorum, or by the stockholders at the next annual
meeting thereof or at a special meeting thereof. Each director so elected shall
hold office until the next meeting of the stockholders in which the election
of
directors is in the regular order of business and until his successor shall
have
been elected and qualified.
SECTION
11.
REMOVAL
OF DIRECTORS. Except as otherwise provided by statute, any director may be
removed, either with or without cause, at any time, by the stockholders at
a
special meeting thereof. Except as otherwise provided by statute, any director
may be removed for cause by the Board of Directors at a special meeting
thereof.
SECTION
12.
COMPENSATION. The Board of Directors shall have authority to fix the
compensation, including fees and reimbursement of expenses, of directors for
services to the Corporation in any capacity.
SECTION
13.
COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority
of
the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees, including
an
executive committee, each committee to consist of three or more of the directors
of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors
as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent member at
any
meeting of the committee. Except to the extent restricted by statute or the
Certificate of Incorporation, each such committee, to the extent provided in
the
resolution creating it, shall have and may exercise all the authority of the
Board of Directors. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of the
Board
of Directors and have such name as may be determined from time to time by
resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular
minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
14.
ACTION
BY CONSENT. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation, any action
required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors or any committee
thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board of Directors
or such committee consent in writing or by electronic transmission to the
adoption of a resolution authorizing the action. The resolution and the written
consents or electronic transmissions thereto by the members of the Board of
Directors or such committee shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings
of the Board of Directors or such committee. Such filing shall be in paper
form
if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be in electronic form
if
the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
SECTION
15.
TELEPHONIC MEETING. Unless restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or
by
statute, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee
thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee
by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing
all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time.
Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a
meeting.
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS
SECTION
1.
NUMBER
AND QUALIFICATIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the
Board of Directors and shall include the President, one or more Vice-Presidents,
the Secretary, and the Treasurer. If the Board of Directors wishes, it may
also
elect as officers of the Corporation a Chairman of the Board and a Vice-Chairman
of the Board and may elect other officers (including one or more Assistant
Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries, as may be necessary or
desirable for the business of the Corporation). Any two or more offices may
be
held by the same person, except the offices of President and Secretary. Each
officer shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors
following the next annual meeting of the stockholders, and until his successor
shall have been elected and shall have qualified, or until his death, or until
he shall have resigned or have been removed, as hereinafter provided in these
By-Laws.
SECTION
2.
RESIGNATIONS. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving
written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors or the Chairman
of
the Board or the Vice-Chairman of the Board or the President or the Secretary.
Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if
the
time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately
upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of any
such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION
3.
REMOVAL. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, either with or without
cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors at any meeting
thereof.
SECTION
4.
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been
elected, and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Board of
Directors or the stockholders. He shall perform all duties incident to the
office of Chairman and shall perform such other duties as may from time to
time
be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. The Board may, but need not,
designate the Chairman as the chief executive officer of the Corporation, in
which event he shall exercise all those general supervisory functions
described
in
Section 6 below, and the President will thereupon act as Chief Operating Officer
of the Corporation, subject to the direction of the Chairman and the
Board.
SECTION
5.
VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Vice-Chairman of the Board, if
one
shall have been elected, shall be a member of the Board, an officer of the
Corporation and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Board of
Directors if no Chairman of the Board has been elected or if the Chairman of
the
Board is absent, or is unable or refuses to act. He shall advise and counsel
the
Chairman of the Board and the President, and, in the President’s absence, other
executives of the Corporation, and shall perform such other duties as may from
time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
6.
THE
PRESIDENT. Unless the Board shall have designated the Chairman as the chief
executive officer of the Corporation, the President shall be the chief executive
officer of the Corporation and shall have general supervision over the business
of the Corporation, subject, however, to the control of the Board and the
Chairman, if any, and of any duly authorized committee of directors. The
President shall, if present, and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board
and
the Vice-Chairman of the Board or if either shall not have been elected, preside
at each meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders. He shall perform
all duties incident to the office of President and chief operating officer
and
such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board
of
Directors.
SECTION
7.
VICE-PRESIDENT. Each Vice-President shall perform all such duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the President.
At
the request of the President or in his absence or in the event of his inability
or refusal to act, the Vice-President, or if there shall be more than one,
the
Vice-Presidents in the order determined by the Board of
Directors
(or if there be no such determination, then the Vice-Presidents in the order
of
their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and, when so called,
shall have the power of and be subject to the restrictions placed upon the
President in respect of the performance of such duties.
SECTION
8.
TREASURER. The treasurer shall
(a)
have
charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all the funds and securities
of
the Corporation;
(b)
keep
full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging
to
the Corporation;
(c)
deposit all moneys and other valuables to the credit of the Corporation in
such
depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors or pursuant to
its
direction;
(d)
receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from
any source whatsoever;
(e)
disburse the funds of the Corporation and supervise the investments of its
funds, taking proper vouchers therefor;
(f)
render to the Board of Directors, whenever the Board of Directors may require,
an account of the financial condition of the Corporation; and
(g)
in
general, perform all duties incident to the office of the Treasurer and such
other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
9.
SECRETARY. The Secretary shall
(a)
keep
or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for the purpose, the minutes
of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the committees of the Board of
Directors and the stockholders;
(b)
see
that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these
By-Laws and as required by law;
(c)
be
custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest
the seal to all certificates for shares of the Corporation (unless the seal
of
the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter
provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed
on
behalf of the Corporation under its seal;
(d)
see
that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and
records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed;
and
(e)
in
general, perform all duties incident to the office of the Secretary and such
other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
10.
THE
ASSISTANT TREASURER. The Assistant Treasurer, or if there shall be more than
one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined by the Board of Directors
(or if there be no such determination, then in the order of their election),
shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his inability or
refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer
and
shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION
11.
THE
ASSISTANT SECRETARY. The Assistant Secretary, or if there be more than one,
the
Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or
if
there be no such determination, then in the order of their election), shall,
in
the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his inability or refusal to
act,
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform
such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
12.
OFFICERS’ BONDS OR OTHER SECURITY. If required by the Board of Directors, any
officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful
performance of his duties, in such amount and with such surety or sureties
as
the Board of Directors may require.
SECTION
13.
COMPENSATION. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation for their
services as such officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors. An officer of the Corporation shall not be prevented from receiving
compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE
V
SHARES,
ETC.
SECTION
1.
SHARE
CERTIFICATES; UNCERTIFICATED SHARES. The stock of the Corporation may be either
certificated, uncertificated or a combination thereof. The Board of Directors
may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes
or series of the Corporation’s stock may be uncertificated shares. Any such
resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate until such
certificate is surrendered to the Corporation (or the Corporation’s transfer
agent or registrar, as the case may be). Notwithstanding the adoption of such
resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by
certificates and, upon request to the Corporation or the Corporation’s transfer
agent or registrar, any holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled
to
have a certificate, in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors,
certifying the number of shares of the Corporation owned by him. The
certificates representing shares shall be signed in the name of the Corporation
by the Chairman of the Board or the Vice-Chairman of the Board or the President
or a Vice-President and by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer
or an Assistant Treasurer, and sealed with the seal of the Corporation (which
seal may be a facsimile, engraved or printed); provided, however, that where
any
such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent, or is registered by
a
registrar (other than the Corporation or one of its employees), the signatures
of the Chairman of the Board, Vice-Chairman of the Board, President,
Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer
upon such certificates may be facsimiles, engraved or printed. In case any
officer who shall have signed any such certificate shall have ceased to be
such
officer before such certificate shall be issued, it may nevertheless be issued
by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer were still in office
at the date of their issue. When the Corporation is authorized to issue shares
of more than one class, there shall be set forth upon the face or back of the
certificate (or the certificate shall have a statement that the Corporation
will
furnish to any stockholder upon request and without charge) a full statement
of
the designation, relative rights, preferences, and limitations of the shares
of
each separate class, or of the different shares within each class, authorized
to
be issued and, if the Corporation is authorized to issue any class of preferred
shares in series, the designation, relative rights, preferences and limitations
of each such series so far as the same have been fixed and the authority of
the
Board of Directors to designate and fix the relative rights, preferences and
limitations of other series.
SECTION
2.
BOOKS
OF ACCOUNT AND RECORD OF STOCKHOLDERS. There shall be kept correct and complete
books and records of account of all the business and transactions of the
Corporation. There shall also be kept, at the office of the Corporation, or
at
the office of its transfer agent, a record containing the names and addresses
of
all stockholders of the Corporation, the number of shares held by each, and
the
dates when they became the holders of record thereof.
SECTION
3.
TRANSFER OF SHARES. Except as otherwise established by rules and regulations
adopted by the Board of Directors, and subject to applicable law, transfers
of
shares of the Corporation shall be made on the records of the Corporation:
(i)
in the case of shares represented by a certificate, by the surrender to the
Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate representing such shares
properly endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney
properly executed, and with such proof of authority or authenticity of signature
as the Corporation or its transfer agent may reasonably require; and (ii) in
the
case of uncertificated shares, upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions
from the registered owner thereof and, in each case, after payment of all taxes
thereon. The person in whose name shares shall stand on the record of
stockholders of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof for all
purposes as regards the Corporation. Whenever any transfer of shares shall
be
made for collateral security and not absolutely and written notice thereof
shall
be given to the Secretary or to a transfer agent, such fact shall be noted
on
the records of the Corporation.
SECTION
4.
TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS. The Board of Directors may appoint, or authorize
any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents and one or
more
registrars and may require all certificates for shares of stock to bear the
signature of any of them.
SECTION
5.
REGULATIONS. The Board of Directors may make such additional rules and
regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it may deem expedient
concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares
of
the Corporation.
SECTION
6.
FIXING
OF RECORD DATE. The Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date not more
than
fifty nor less than ten days before the date when fixed for the holding of
any
meeting of the stockholders or before the last day on which the consent or
dissent of the stockholders may be effectively expressed for any purpose without
a meeting, as the time as of which the stockholders entitled to notice of and
to
vote at such meeting or whose consent or dissent is required or may be expressed
for any purpose, as the case may be, shall be determined, and all persons who
were stockholders of record of voting shares at such time, and no others, shall
be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting or to express their consent
or dissent, as the case may be. The Board of Directors may fix, in advance,
a
date not more than fifty nor less than ten days preceding the date fixed for
the
payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution or the allotment
of
rights to subscribe for securities of the Corporation, or for the delivery
of evidences of rights or evidences of interests arising out of any change,
conversion or exchange of shares or other securities, as the record date for
the
determination of the stockholders entitled to receive any such dividend,
distribution, allotment, rights or interests, and in such case only the
stockholders of record at the time so fixed shall be entitled to receive such
dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests.
SECTION
7.
LOST,
DESTROYED OR MUTILATED CERTIFICATES. The holder of any certificate representing
shares of the Corporation shall immediately notify the Corporation of any loss,
destruction or mutilation of such certificate, and the Corporation may issue
a
new certificate (or uncertificated shares if the shares represented by such
certificate have been designated as uncertificated shares in accordance with
Section 1 of this Article V) in the place of any certificate theretofore issued
by it which the owner thereof shall allege to have been lost or destroyed or
which shall have been mutilated. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion,
require such owner or his legal representatives to provide reasonable evidence
of such loss, destruction or mutilation and to give to the Corporation a bond
in
such sum, limited or unlimited, and in such form and with such surety or
sureties as the Board of Directors in its absolute discretion shall determine,
to indemnify the Corporation and any transfer agent or registrar against any
claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction
of any such certificate, or the issuance of such new certificate (or
uncertificated shares).
ARTICLE
VI
INDEMNIFICATION
The
Corporation to the extent permitted by law may provide for indemnification
and
advancement of expenses of directors in any civil or criminal action or
proceeding, including one in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment
in its favor, for acts or decisions made by them in good faith while performing
services for the Corporation. Such indemnification may be authorized by
resolution of the Board of Directors or resolution of the
stockholders.
ARTICLE
VII
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
SECTION
1.
DIVIDENDS. Subject to statute and the Certificate of Incorporation, dividends
upon the shares of the Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors
at
any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property
or in
shares of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by statute or the
Certificate of Incorporation.
SECTION
2.
RESERVES. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any
funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board
of Directors may, from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper
as
a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or
for
repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation
or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think conducive to
the
interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may modify or abolish
any
such reserves in the manner in which it was created.
SECTION
3.
FISCAL
YEAR. The first fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed, and once fixed,
may thereafter be changed, by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION
4.
CHECKS,
NOTES, DRAFTS, ETC. All checks, notes, drafts or other orders for the payment
of
money of the Corporation shall be signed, endorsed or accepted in the name
of
the Corporation by such officer, officers, person or persons as from time to
time may be designated by the Board of Directors to make such
designation.
SECTION
5.
EXECUTION OF CONTRACTS, DEEDS, ETC. The Board of Directors may authorize any
officer or officers, agent or agents, in the name and on behalf of the
Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all deeds, bonds,
mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and such authority
may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION
6.
VOTING
OF SHARES IN OTHER CORPORATIONS. Unless otherwise provided
by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the
Vice-Chairman of the Board, or the President, from time to time, may (or may
appoint one or more attorneys or agents to) cast the votes which the Corporation
may be entitled to cast as a stockholder or otherwise in any other corporation,
any of whose shares or securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings
of
the holders of the shares or other securities of such other corporations, or
to
consent in writing to any action by any such other corporation. In the event
one
or more attorneys or agents are appointed, the Chairman of the Board, the
Vice-Chairman of the Board, or the President may instruct the person or persons
so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent.
The
Chairman of the Board, the Vice-Chairman of the Board, or the President may,
or
may instruct the attorneys or agents appointed to, execute or cause to be
executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its seal or
otherwise, such written proxies, consents, waivers or other instruments as
may
be necessary or proper in the premises.
ARTICLE
VIII
FORCE
AND EFFECT OF BY-LAWS
These
By-Laws are subject to the provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law
and the Corporation’s certificate of incorporation, as it may be amended from
time to time. If any provision in these By-Laws is inconsistent with a provision
in that Act or the certificate of incorporation, the provision of that Act
or
the certificate of incorporation shall govern. Wherever in these By-Laws
references are made to more than one incorporator, director, or stockholder,
they shall, if this is a sole incorporator, director, stockholder corporation,
be construed to mean the solitary person; and all provisions dealing with the
quantum of majorities or quorums shall be deemed to mean the action by the
one
person constituting the corporation.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENTS
These
By-Laws may be amended or repealed or new By-Laws may be adopted at an annual
or
special meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present or represented,
by
the vote of the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors
provided that notice of the proposed amendment or repeal or adoption of new
By-Laws is contained in the notice of such meeting. These By-Laws may also
be
amended or repealed or new By-Laws may be adopted by the Board
by
resolution of the Board of Directors. If any By-Law regulating an impending
election of directors is adopted, amended or repealed by the Board of Directors,
there shall be set forth in the notice of the next meeting of the stockholders
for the election of directors the By-Law so adopted, amended or repealed,
together with a concise statement of the changes made. By-Laws adopted by the
Board of Directors may be amended or repealed by the stockholders.