Exhibit 3.1
PFIZER INC.
By-laws
As Amended June 25, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
| ARTICLE I - STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING | 1 | ||
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1.
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Place of Meeting | 1 | |
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2.
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Annual Meeting | 1 | |
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3.
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Quorum | 1 | |
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4.
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Adjournments | 1 | |
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5.
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Voting; Proxies | 1 | |
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6.
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Notice | 2 | |
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7.
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Inspectors of Election | 2 | |
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8.
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Stock List | 3 | |
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9.
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Special Meetings | 3 | |
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10.
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Organization | 3 | |
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11.
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Conduct of Meetings | 3 | |
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12.
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Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record | 4 | |
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13.
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Notice of Stockholder Proposal | 4 | |
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14.
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Compliance with Procedures | 5 | |
| ARTICLE II - DIRECTORS | 6 | ||
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1.
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Number; Election; Term | 6 | |
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2.
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Place of Meetings, Records | 6 | |
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3.
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Vacancies | 6 | |
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4.
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Organizational Meeting | 6 | |
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5.
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Regular Meetings | 7 | |
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6.
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Special Meetings | 7 | |
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7.
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Quorum | 7 | |
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8.
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Executive Committee | 7 | |
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9.
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Additional Committees | 7 | |
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10.
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Presence at Meeting | 8 | |
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11.
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Action Without Meetings | 8 | |
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12.
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Eligibility to Make Nominations | 8 | |
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13.
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Procedure for Nominations by Stockholders | 8 | |
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14.
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Compliance with Procedures | 10 | |
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15.
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Submission of Questionnaire; Representation and Agreement | 10 | |
| ARTICLE III - OFFICERS | 11 | ||
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1.
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Election; Term of Office; Appointments | 11 | |
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2.
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Removal and Resignation | 11 | |
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3.
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Chair of the Board | 11 | |
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4.
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President | 11 | |
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5.
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Vice Presidents | 11 | |
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6.
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Secretary | 11 | |
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7.
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Treasurer | 12 | |
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8.
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Controller | 12 | |
| ARTICLE IV - STOCK | 12 | ||
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1.
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Stock | 12 | |
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2.
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Lost Certificates | 12 | |
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3.
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Transfers of Stock | 13 | |
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4.
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Holder of Record | 13 | |
| ARTICLE V - INDEMNIFICATION AND SEVERANCE | 13 | ||
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1.
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Right to Indemnification | 13 | |
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2.
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Prepayment of Expenses | 13 | |
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3.
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Claims | 14 | |
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4.
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Nonexclusivity of Rights | 14 | |
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5.
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Other Indemnification | 14 | |
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6.
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Amendment or Repeal | 14 | |
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7.
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Severance | 14 | |
| ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS | 15 | ||
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1.
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Delaware Office | 15 | |
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2.
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Other Offices | 15 | |
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3.
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Seal | 15 | |
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4.
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Notice | 15 | |
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5.
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Amendments | 15 | |
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6.
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Form of Records | 15 | |
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7.
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Checks | 15 | |
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8.
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Fiscal Year | 15 | |
BY-LAWS OF PFIZER INC
AS AMENDED JUNE 25, 2008
Article I
Stockholders' Meeting.
1. Place of Meeting. Meetings of
the stockholders shall be held at the registered office of the Corporation in
Delaware, or at such other place within or without the State of Delaware as
may be designated by the Board of Directors or the stockholders.
2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting
of the stockholders shall be held on such date and at such time and place as
the Board of Directors may designate. The date, place and time of the annual
meeting shall be stated in the notice of such meeting delivered to or mailed
to stockholders. At such annual meeting the stockholders shall elect directors,
in accordance with the requirements of the Certificate of Incorporation, and
transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
3. Quorum. The holders of stock
representing a majority of the voting power of all shares of stock issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote, present in person or by proxy, shall be requisite
for and shall constitute a quorum of all meetings of the stockholders, except
as otherwise provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these
By-laws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders,
the stockholders present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote shall, by
the vote of holders of stock representing a majority of the voting power of
all shares present at the meeting, have the power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time in the manner provided in paragraph 4 of Article I of these By-laws
until a quorum shall be present.
4. Adjournments. Any meeting of
stockholders, annual or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene
at the same or some other place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned
meeting if the time and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which
the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting the Corporation may transact
any business which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the
adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting
shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
5. Voting; Proxies. At each meeting
of the stockholders of the Corporation, every stockholder having the right to
vote may authorize another person to act for him or her by proxy. Such authorization
must be in writing and executed by the stockholder or his or her authorized
officer, director, employee, or agent. To the extent permitted by law, a stockholder
may authorize another person or persons to act for him or her as proxy by transmitting
or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic
transmission to the person who will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy
solicitation firm, proxy support service organization or like agent duly authorized
by the person who will be the holder of the proxy to
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receive such transmission provided that the telegram, cablegram or electronic
transmission either sets forth or is submitted with information from which it
can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other electronic transmission
was authorized by the stockholder. A copy, facsimile transmission or other reliable
reproduction of a writing or transmission authorized by this paragraph 5 of
Article I may be substituted for or used in lieu of the original writing or
electronic transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing
or transmission could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile transmission
or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original
writing or transmission. No proxy authorized hereby shall be voted or acted
upon more than three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer
period. No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes
thereto shall be accepted after the time set for the closing of the polls pursuant
to paragraph 11 of Article I of these By-laws unless the Court of Chancery upon
application of a stockholder shall determine otherwise. Each proxy shall be
delivered to the inspectors of election prior to or at the meeting. A duly executed
proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and if, and only
as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable
power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable by attending
the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing revoking
the proxy or by filing a subsequent duly executed proxy with the Secretary of
the Corporation. The vote for directors shall be by ballot. Unless a greater
number of affirmative votes is required by the Certificate of Incorporation,
these By-laws, the rules or regulations of any stock exchange applicable to
the Corporation, or as otherwise required by law or pursuant to any regulation
applicable to the Corporation, if a quorum exists at any meeting of stockholders,
stockholders shall have approved any matter, other than the election of directors,
if the votes cast by stockholders present in person or represented by proxy
at the meeting and entitled to vote on the matter in favor of such matter exceed
the votes cast by such stockholders against such matter. A nominee for director
shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee's
election exceed the votes cast against such nominee's election; provided, however,
that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting
of stockholders for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice
that a stockholder has nominated a person for election to the Board of Directors
in compliance with the advance notice requirements for stockholder nominees
for director set forth in Article II, Section 13 of these By-laws and (ii) such
nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or prior to the day
next preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for
such meeting to the stockholders. If directors are to be elected by a plurality
of the votes cast, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee.
6. Notice. Written notice of an
annual or special meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote
thereat, not less than ten nor more than sixty days prior to the meeting. If
mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the mail,
postage pre paid, directed to the stockholder at his or her address as it appears
on the records of the Corporation.
7. Inspectors of Election. The
Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or
more inspectors of election to act at the meeting and make a written report
thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors
to replace any inspector who fails to act. In the event that no inspector so
appointed or designated is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person
presiding at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his
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or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties
of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her
ability. The inspector or inspectors so appointed or designated shall (i) ascertain
the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding and the
voting power of each such share, (ii) determine the shares of capital stock
of the Corporation represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and
ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine and retain for a
reasonable period a record of the disposition of any challenges made to any
determination by the inspectors, and (v) certify their determination of the
number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at the meeting
and such inspectors' count of all votes and ballots. Such certification shall
specify such other information as may be required by law. In determining the
validity and counting of proxies and ballots cast at any meeting of stockholders
of the Corporation, the inspectors may consider such information as is permitted
by applicable law. No person who is a candidate for an office at an election
may serve as an inspector at such election.
8. Stock List. At least ten days
before every meeting of the stockholders a complete list of the stockholders
entitled to vote at said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, with the post
office address of each, and the number of shares held by each, shall be prepared
by the Secretary. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder
for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours 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 for said ten days, and shall be produced and
kept at the time and place of meeting during the whole time thereof and subject
to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present. The original or duplicate
stock ledger shall be provided at the time and place of each meeting and shall
be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the
list of stockholders or to vote in person or by proxy at such meeting.
9. Special Meetings. Special meetings
of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes may be called by the Chair of
the Board, and shall be called by the Chair of the Board or the Secretary at
the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors. Such request
shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Business transacted
at all special meetings shall be confined to the objects stated in the notice
of special meeting.
10. Organization. Meetings of stockholders
shall be presided over by the Chair of the Board, if any, or in his or her absence
by a Chair designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation
by a Chair chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the
meeting, but in his or her absence the Chair of the meeting may appoint any
person to act as secretary of the meeting.
11. Conduct of Meetings. The date and
time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which
the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at such meeting by
the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors of the Corporation
may adopt by resolution such rules or regulations for the conduct of meetings
of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent
with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair
of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority to prescribe
such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment
of such chair, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting.
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Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors
or prescribed by the chair of the meeting, may include, without limitation,
the following: (1) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for the
meeting; (2) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and the
safety of those present; (3) limitations on attendance at or participation in
the meeting, to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized
and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chair shall permit; (4)
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement
thereof, and (5) limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by
participants. Unless, and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors
or the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required
to be held in accordance with rules of parliamentary procedure.
12. 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 the 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 change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other
lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date
shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date
is adopted by the Board of Directors and which record date: (1) in the case
of determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders
or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise required by law, not be more
than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting; and (2) in
the case of any other action, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such
other action. If no record date is fixed: (1)(a) the record date for determining
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall
be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice
is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the date next
preceding the day on which the meeting is held; and (1)(b) the record date for
determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the of Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating,
thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting;
provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for
the adjourned meeting.
13. Notice of Stockholder Proposal. At
an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted
as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought
before an annual meeting business must be: (a) specified in the notice of meeting
(or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors,
(b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting
by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting
by a stockholder (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director,
which is governed by paragraphs 13, 14 and 15 of Article II of these By-laws),
the stockholder intending to propose the business (the "Proponent")
must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.
To be timely, a Proponent's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received
at the principal executive offices of the Corporation: (1) by the close of business
60 days in advance of the anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting
if such meeting is to be held on a day which is within 30 days preceding the
anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting or 90 days in advance of the
anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting if such meeting is to be held
on or after the anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting; and (2) with
respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders,
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the close of business on the tenth day following the date of public disclosure
of the date of such meeting. (For purposes of these By-laws, public disclosure
shall be deemed to include a disclosure made in a press release reported by
the Dow Jones News Services, Associated Press or a comparable national news
service or in a document filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")). A Proponent's notice to
the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the Proponent proposes to bring
before the annual meeting: (a) a brief description of the business desired to
be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business
at the annual meeting, (b) the name and address of the Proponent, and of any
holder of record of the Proponent's shares as they appear on the Corporation's
books, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned
by the Proponent (beneficially and of record) and owned by any holder of record
of the Proponent's shares, as of the date of the Proponent's notice, and a representation
that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number
of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the
meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of
the record date is first publicly disclosed, (d) any material interest of the
Proponent in such business, (e) a description of any agreement, arrangement
or understanding with respect to such business between or among the Proponent
and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names)
acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the Proponent
will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or
understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following
the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first
publicly disclosed, (f) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding
(including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging
transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of
the date of the Proponent's notice by, or on behalf of, the Proponent or any
of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate
loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease
the voting power of the Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates with
respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that the
Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement
or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following
the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first
publicly disclosed, (g) a representation that the Proponent is a holder of record
or beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the annual
meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose
such business, and (h) a representation whether the Proponent intends to deliver
a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage
of the Corporation's outstanding shares required to approve the proposal and/or
otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the proposal.
14. Compliance with Procedures. Notwithstanding
anything in these By-laws to the contrary: (a) no business shall be conducted
at any annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in
paragraph 13 of this Article I, and (b) unless otherwise required by law, if
a Proponent intending to propose business at an annual meeting pursuant to paragraph
13 of this Article I does not provide the information required under subparagraphs
(c), (e) and (f) of paragraph 13 to the Corporation promptly following the later
of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed,
or the Proponent (or a qualified representative of the Proponent) does not appear
at the meeting to present the proposed business, such business shall not be
transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such business may have
been
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received by the Corporation. The chair of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 13 of this Article I, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. The requirements of paragraph 13 and paragraph 14 of this Article I shall apply to any business to be brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder (other than the nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by paragraphs 13, 14 and 15 of Article II of these By-laws) whether such business is to be included in the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to stockholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. The requirements of paragraph 13 of this Article I are included to provide the Corporation notice of a stockholder's intention to bring business before an annual meeting and shall in no event be construed as imposing upon any stockholder the requirement to seek approval from the Corporation as a condition precedent to bringing any such business before an annual meeting.
Article II
Directors.
1. Number; Election; Term. The number of
directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall not be less than ten,
nor more than twenty-four, the exact number within said limits to be fixed from
time to time solely by resolution of the Board, acting by the vote of not less
than a majority of the directors then in office. A majority of the directors
shall consist of persons who are not employees of the Corporation or of any
subsidiary of the Corporation. Should the death, resignation or other removal
of any non employee director result in the failure of the requirement set forth
in the preceding sentence to be met, such requirement shall not apply during
the time of the vacancy caused by the death, resignation or removal of any such
non employee director. The remaining directors of the Corporation shall cause
any such vacancy to be filled in accordance with these By-laws within a reasonable
period of time. At the annual meeting directors shall be elected in accordance
with the requirements of these By-laws and the Certificate of Incorporation.
2. Place of Meetings, Records. The directors
may hold their meetings and keep the books of the Corporation outside of the
State of Delaware at such places as they may from time to time determine.
3. Vacancies. Subject to the rights of
the holders of any one or more series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, if
the office of any director becomes vacant for any reason or any new directorship
is created by any increase in the authorized number of directors, a majority
of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, may choose a successor
or successors or fill the newly created directorship. Any director so chosen
shall hold office until the next election of the class for which such director
shall have been chosen and until his successor shall be elected and qualified.
4. Organizational Meeting. The Board of
Directors shall meet for the purpose of organization, the election of officers
and the transaction of other business, after each annual election of directors
on the day and at the place of the next regular meeting of the Board. Notice
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of such meeting need not be given. Such meeting may be held at any other time
or place which shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided
for special meetings of the Board of Directors or in a consent and waiver of
notice thereof signed by all of the directors.
5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of
the Board may be held without notice at such time and place either within or
without the State of Delaware as shall from time to time be determined by the
Board.
6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of
the Board may be called by the Chair of the Board a Vice Chair of the Board
or the President by the mailing of notice to each director at least 48 hours
before the meeting or by notifying each director of the meeting at least 24
hours prior thereto either personally, by telephone or by electronic transmission;
special meetings shall be called on like notice by the Chair of the Board, a
Vice Chair of the Board, the President or, on the written request of any two
directors, by the Secretary.
7. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board
the presence of one third of the total number of directors determined by resolution
pursuant to paragraph 1 of this Article II to constitute the Board of Directors
shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction
of business, and the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting
at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except
as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation
or by these By-laws.
8. Executive Committee. There shall be
an Executive Committee of three or more directors elected by a majority of the
Board. The Committee shall be composed of the Chief Executive Officer, the President,
and such other directors as the Board shall elect. The Board, by resolution,
may designate one or more directors as alternate members of the Committee, who
may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the Committee.
In the absence or disqualification of a member of the Committee, the member
or members present at any meeting of the Committee and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he, she or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously
appoint another member of the Board to act at the meeting in the place of any
such absent or disqualified member. The ratio of inside directors to outside
directors serving on the Committee shall, to the extent feasible, be as near
as possible to the ratio of inside directors to outside directors serving on
the full Board. A quorum shall be a majority of the members of the Committee.
Regular meetings of the Committee shall be held without notice at such time
and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Committee; special
meetings of the Committee may be called pursuant to the rules determined by
the Committee. The Committee shall generally perform such duties and exercise
such powers as may be directed or delegated by the Board of Directors from time
to time. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Committee shall have authority
to exercise all the powers of the Board while the Board is not in session. The
act of a majority of the Committee members present at any meeting at which there
is a quorum shall be the act of the Committee except as may be otherwise specifically
provided by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-laws. The
Committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same
to the Board at its next regular meeting.
9. Additional Committees. The Board of
Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate
one or more additional committees, each committee to
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consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation. In the event that
the Board shall designate a committee that shall have the power to recommend
changes in the compensation of senior management of the Corporation and/or a
committee that shall have the power to recommend nominees for election as directors
of the Corporation, the membership of such committees shall consist solely of
directors who are not employees of the Corporation or of any subsidiary of the
Corporation. The Board may designate one or more directors as alternate members
of any such additional committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee shall have such powers
as are granted to it by the resolution of the Board or by subsequent resolutions
passed by a majority of the whole Board. Nothing herein shall limit the authority
of the Board of Directors to appoint other committees consisting in whole or
in part of persons who are not directors of the Corporation to carry out such
functions as the Board may designate. Unless otherwise provided for in any resolution
of the Board of Directors designating a committee pursuant to this paragraph
9 of Article II: (i) a quorum for the transaction of business of such committee
shall be fifty percent or more of the authorized number of members of such committee;
and (ii) the act of a majority of the members of such committee present at any
meeting of such committee at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the
committee (except as otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation or by these By-laws).
10. Presence at Meeting. Members of the
Board of Directors or any committee designated by such Board may participate
in the meeting of said Board or committee by means of conference telephone or
similar communications equipment by means of which all persons in the meeting
can hear each other and participate. The ability to participate in a meeting
in the above manner shall constitute presence at said meeting for purposes of
a quorum and any action thereat.
11. Action Without Meetings. Any action
required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or
any committee designated by such Board may be taken without a meeting, if all
members of the Board or committee consent thereto in writing and the writing
or writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
12. Eligibility to Make Nominations. Nominations of candidates for election
as directors at any meeting of stockholders called for election of directors
(an "Election Meeting") may be made (1) by any stockholder entitled
to vote at such Election Meeting only in accordance with the procedures established
by paragraph 13 of this Article II, or (2) by the Board of Directors. In order
to be eligible for election as a director, any director nominee must first be
nominated in accordance with the provisions of these By-laws.
13. Procedure for Nominations by Stockholders.
Any stockholder entitled to vote for the election of a director at an Election
Meeting may nominate one or more persons for such election only if written notice
of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination is delivered to or mailed
and received by the Secretary of the Corporation. Such notice must be received
by the Secretary not later than the following dates: (1) with respect to an
annual meeting of stockholders, by the close of business 60 days in advance
of the anniversary of the previous year's annual meeting if such meeting is
to be held on a day which is within 30 days preceding the anniversary of the
previous year's annual meeting or 90 days in advance of the anniversary of the
previous year's annual meeting if such meeting is to be held on or after the
anniversary of the
8
previous year's annual meeting; and (2) with respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders or a special meeting of stockholders, by the close of business on the tenth day following the date of public disclosure of the date of such meeting. The written notice of the stockholder intending to make the nomination (the "Proponent") shall set forth: (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of each nominee proposed in such notice, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each such nominee, (iii) the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are owned of record and beneficially by each such nominee, (iv) a statement whether each such nominee, if elected, intends to tender, promptly following such person's failure to receive the required vote for election or reelection at the next meeting at which such person would face election or reelection, an irrevocable resignation effective upon acceptance of such resignation by the Board of Directors, in accordance with the Corporation's Corporate Governance Principles, (v) with respect to each nominee for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by paragraph 15 of this Article II, (vi) such other information concerning each such nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of such nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed, under the rules of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission, and (vii) as to the Proponent: (a) the name and address of the Proponent, and of any holder of record of the Proponent's shares as they appear on the Corporation's books, (b) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned by the Proponent (beneficially and of record) and owned by any holder of record of the Proponent's shares, as of the date of the Proponent's notice, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of the class and number of such shares owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (c) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such nomination between or among the Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (d) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proponent's notice by, or on behalf of, the Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of stock of the Corporation, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (e) a representation that the Proponent is a holder of record or beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice, and (f) a representation whether the Proponent intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation's outstanding capital stock required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the nomination. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other
9
information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such
proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that
could be material to a reasonable stockholder's understanding of the independence,
or lack thereof, of such nominee.
14. Compliance with Procedures. If the
Chair of the Election Meeting determines that a nomination of any candidate
for election as a director was not made in accordance with the applicable provisions
of these By-laws, such nomination shall be void, provided, however, that nothing
in these By-laws shall be deemed to limit any class voting rights upon the occurrence
of dividend arrearages provided to holders of Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding
anything in these By-laws to the contrary, unless otherwise required by law,
if a Proponent intending to make a nomination at an annual or special meeting
pursuant to paragraph 13 of this Article II does not provide the information
required under clauses (b) through (d) of subparagraph (vii) of paragraph 13
of this Article II to the Corporation promptly following the later of the record
date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, or the
Proponent (or a qualified representative of the Proponent) does not appear at
the meeting to present the nomination, such nomination shall be disregarded,
notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such nomination may have been received
by the Corporation.
15. Submission of Questionnaire; Representation
and Agreement. To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection
as a director of the Corporation, a person must deliver (in accordance with
the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under paragraph 13 of this
Article II of these By-laws) to the Secretary of the Corporation at the principal
executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to
the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other
person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire
shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation
and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that
such person (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement
or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any
person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation,
will act or vote on any issue or question (a "Voting Commitment")
that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment
that could limit or interfere with such person's ability to comply, if elected
as a director of the Corporation, with such person's fiduciary duties under
applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement
or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect
to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in
connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed
therein, and (iii) in such person's individual capacity and on behalf of any
person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance,
if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with, applicable
law and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of
interest, corporate opportunities, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading
policies and guidelines of the Corporation.
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Article III
Officers.
1. Election; Term of Office; Appointments.
The Board of Directors, at its first meeting after each annual meeting, of stockholders,
shall elect at least the following officers: a Chair of the Board and/or a President,
one or more Vice Presidents, a Controller, a Treasurer and a Secretary. The
Board may also elect, appoint, or provide for the appointment of such other
officers and agents as may from time to time appear necessary or advisable in
the conduct of the affairs of the Corporation. Such additional officers may
include one or more Vice Chairmen, who shall not be Directors unless otherwise
prescribed by the Board of Directors, and whose duties shall be to assist the
Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation in establishing and implementing
overall corporate policy. Officers of the Corporation shall hold office until
their successors are chosen and qualify in their stead or until their earlier
death, resignation or removal, and shall perform such duties as from time to
time shall be prescribed by these By-laws and by the Board and, to the extent
not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices. The Board
of Directors may fill any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation
at any regular or special meeting. Two or more offices may be held by the same
person.
2. Removal and Resignation. Any officer
elected or appointed by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee may
be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board
of Directors. If the office of any officer elected or appointed by the Board
becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy may be filled by the Board. Any officer
may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation.
3. Chair of the Board. The Chair of the
Board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation, unless otherwise
prescribed by the Board of Directors, and shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and of the directors. He or she shall perform such other duties,
and exercise such powers, as from time to time shall be prescribed by these
By-laws or by the Board of Directors.
4. President. The President, in the absence
of the Chair of the Board or the Vice Chair, if any, shall preside at meetings
of the Directors. He or she shall have such authority and perform such duties
in the management of the Corporation as from time to time shall be prescribed
by the Board of Directors and, to the extent not so prescribed, he or she shall
have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation,
subject to the control of the Board, as generally pertain to the office of President.
5. Vice Presidents. Vice Presidents shall
perform such duties as from time to time shall be prescribed by these By-laws,
by the Chair of the Board, by the President or by the Board of Directors, and
except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, they shall have such
powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Vice President.
6. Secretary. The Secretary or person
appointed as secretary at all meetings of the Board and of the stockholders
shall record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept
for that purpose, and he or she shall perform like duties for the Executive
Committee when required. He or she shall give, or cause to be given, notice
of all meetings of the
11
stockholders, and of the Board of Directors if required. He or she shall perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws or as may be assigned
to him or her by the Chair of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors,
and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall
have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Secretary.
7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have
custody of the Corporation's funds and securities. He or she shall perform such
other duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws or as may be assigned to
him or her by the Chair of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors,
and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall
have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Treasurer.
8. Controller. The Controller shall have
charge of the Corporation's books of account, and shall be responsible for the
maintenance of adequate records of all assets, liabilities and financial transactions
of the Corporation. The Controller shall prepare and render such balance sheets,
profit and loss statements and other financial reports as the Board of Directors,
the Chair of the Board or the President may require. He or she shall perform
such other duties as may be prescribed by these By-laws or as may be assigned
to him or her by the Chair of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors,
and, except as otherwise prescribed by the Board of Directors, he or she shall
have such powers and duties as generally pertain to the office of Controller.
Article IV
Stock.
1. Stock. The shares of the Corporation
shall be represented by certificates or shall be uncertificated. Each registered
holder of shares, upon request to the Corporation, shall be provided with a
certificate of stock representing the number of shares owned by such holder.
The certificates of stock of the Corporation shall be in the form or forms from
time to time approved by the Board of Directors. Such certificates shall be
numbered and registered, shall exhibit the holder's name and the number of shares,
and shall be signed in the name of the Corporation by the following officers
of the Corporation: the Chair of the Board of Directors, or the President or
a Senior Vice President or Vice President; and by the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. If any certificate is
manually signed (1) by a transfer agent other than the Corporation or its employee,
or (2) by a registrar other than the Corporation or its employee, any other
signature on the certificate, including those of the aforesaid officers of the
Corporation, may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate
shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect
as if he or she were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of
issue.
2. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors
or any officer of the Corporation to whom the Board of Directors has delegated
authority may authorize any transfer agent of the Corporation to issue, and
any registrar of the Corporation to register, at any time and from time to time
unless otherwise directed, a new certificate or certificates of stock in the
place of a
12
certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation, alleged
to have been lost or destroyed, upon receipt by the transfer agent of evidence
of such loss or destruction, which may be the affidavit of the applicant; a
bond indemnifying the Corporation and any transfer agent and registrar of the
class of stock involved against claims that may be made against it or them on
account of the lost or destroyed certificate or the issuance of a new certificate,
of such kind and in such amount as the Board of Directors shall have authorized
the transfer agent to accept generally or as the Board of Directors or an authorized
officer shall approve in particular cases; and any other documents or instruments
that the Board of Directors or an authorized officer may require from time to
time to protect adequately the interest of the Corporation. A new certificate
may be issued without requiring any bond when, in the judgment of the directors,
it is proper to do so.
3. Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock
shall be made upon the books of the Corporation: (1) upon presentation of the
certificates by the registered holder in person or by duly authorized attorney,
or upon presentation of proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority
to transfer the stock, and upon surrender of the appropriate certificate(s),
or (2) in the case of uncertificated shares, upon receipt of proper transfer
instructions from the registered owner of such uncertificated shares, or from
a duly authorized attorney or from an individual presenting proper evidence
of succession, assignment or authority to transfer the stock.
4. Holder of Record. The Corporation shall
be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as
the holder in fact thereof and accordingly shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other
person whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, save as
expressly provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
Article V
Indemnification and Severance.
1. Right to Indemnification. The Corporation
shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person who was or
is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved in any
action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(a "proceeding") by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person
for whom he or she is the legal representative, 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 of another corporation
or of a partnership, joint venture, trust, nonprofit entity, or other enterprise,
including service with respect to employee benefit plans, against all liability
and loss suffered and expenses (including attorneys' fees) reasonably incurred
by such person. The Corporation shall be required to indemnify a person in connection
with a proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if the proceeding
(or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
2. Prepayment of Expenses. The Corporation
shall pay the expenses (including attorneys' fees) incurred by an officer or
director of the Corporation in defending any proceeding in advance of its final
disposition, provided, however, that the payment of such expenses shall be
13
made only upon receipt of an undertaking by the director or officer to repay
all amounts advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that the director
or officer is not entitled to be indemnified. Payment of such expenses incurred
by other employees and agents of the Corporation may be made by the Board of
Directors in its discretion upon such terms and conditions, if any, as it deems
appropriate.
3. Claims. If a claim for indemnification
or payment of expenses (including attorneys' fees) under this Article is not
paid in full within sixty days after a written claim therefor has been received
by the Corporation the claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of
such claim and, if successful in whole or in part, shall be entitled to be paid
the expense of prosecuting such claim. In any such action the Corporation shall
have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested
indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law.
4. Nonexclusivity of Rights. The right conferred on any person by this
Article V shall not be exclusive of any other rights which such person may have
or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of Incorporation,
these By-laws, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise.
5. Other Indemnification. The corporation's
obligation, if any, to indemnify any person who was or is serving at its request
as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, enterprise or non profit entity shall be reduced by any
amount such person may collect as indemnification from such other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, non profit entity, or other enterprise.
6. Amendment or Repeal. Any repeal or modification
of the foregoing provisions of this Article V shall not adversely affect any
right or protection hereunder of any person in respect of any act or omission
occurring prior to the time of such repeal or modification.
7. Severance. Any written agreement or
any amendment of an existing written agreement that provides for payments to
a director, officer or other employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary of
the Corporation upon (i) a "change in control" of the Corporation
or (ii) the termination or constructive termination of the employment of such
director, officer, or other employee following a "change in control"
of the Corporation, must be approved by (a) the unanimous vote of the members
of the committee of the Board of Directors which has the power to recommend
changes in the compensation of the senior management of the Corporation, if
any, and (b) a majority of the directors who are not employees of the Corporation
or any subsidiary of the Corporation. For the purposes hereof, a "change
of control" of the Corporation shall mean through (i) the accumulation
by a person or group of related persons of 20% or more of the Company's outstanding,
capital stock and/or (ii) a change in the composition of a majority of the Corporation's
Board of Directors without the approval of the incumbent Board.
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Article VI
Miscellaneous.
1. Delaware Office. The address of the
registered office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at Corporation
Trust Center, 1209 Orange Street, Wilmington, County of New Castle, Delaware
19801 and the name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Trust
Company.
2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also
have an office in the City and State of New York, and such other offices at
such places as the Board of Directors from time to time may appoint or the business
of the Corporation may require.
3. Seal. The corporate seal shall be in
the form adopted by the Board of Directors. Said seal may be used by causing
it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
The seal may be affixed by any officer of the Corporation to any instrument
executed by authority of the Corporation, and the seal when so affixed may be
attested by the signature of any officer of the Corporation.
4. Notice. Whenever notice is required
to be given by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, a written
waiver signed by the person entitled to notice, whether before or after the
time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person
at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except when
the person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning
of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because the meeting, is not
lawfully called or convened.
5. Amendments. The Board of Directors
shall have the power to adopt, amend or repeal the By-laws of the Corporation
by the affirmative action of a majority of its members. The By-laws may be adopted,
amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote at any regular meeting of the stockholders
or at any special meeting of the stockholders if notice of such proposed adoption,
amendment or repeal be contained in the notice of such special meeting.
6. Form of Records. Any records maintained
by the Corporation in the regular course of its business, including its stock
ledger, books of account, and minutes books, may be kept on, or be in the form
of, punch cards, magnetic tape, photographs, microphotographs, or any other
information storage device, provided that the records so kept can be converted
into clearly legible form within a reasonable time. The Corporation shall so
convert any records so kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect
the same.
7. Checks. All checks, drafts, notes and other
orders for the payment of money shall be signed by such officer or officers
or agents as from time to time may be designated by the Board of Directors or
by such officers of the Corporation as may be designated by the Board to make
such designation.
8. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year shall begin
the first day of January in each year.
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