Exhibit 3.1
PFIZER INC.
By-laws
As Amended October 23, 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 | 4 | |
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11.
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Conduct of Meetings | 4 | |
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12.
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Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record | 5 | |
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13.
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Notice of Stockholder Proposal | 5 | |
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14.
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Compliance with Procedures | 6 | |
| Article II Directors | 7 | ||
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1.
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Number; Election; Term | 7 | |
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2.
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Place of Meetings, Records | 7 | |
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3.
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Vacancies | 7 | |
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4.
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Organizational Meeting | 7 | |
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5.
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Regular Meetings | 7 | |
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6.
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Special Meetings | 8 | |
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7.
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Quorum | 8 | |
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8.
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Executive Committee | 8 | |
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9.
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Additional Committees | 8 | |
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10.
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Presence at Meeting | 9 | |
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11.
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Action Without Meetings | 9 | |
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12.
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Eligibility to Make Nominations | 9 | |
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13.
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Procedure for Nominations by Stockholders | 9 | |
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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 | 11 | |
| 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 | 12 | |
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3.
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Chair of the Board | 12 | |
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4.
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President | 12 | |
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5.
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Vice Presidents | 12 | |
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6.
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Secretary | 12 | |
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7.
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Treasurer | 12 | |
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8.
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Controller | 13 | |
| Article IV Stock | 13 | ||
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1.
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Stock | 13 | |
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2.
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Lost Certificates | 13 | |
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3.
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Transfers of Stock | 14 | |
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4.
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Holder of Record | 14 | |
| Article V Indemnification and Severance | 14 | ||
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1.
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Right to Indemnification | 14 | |
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2.
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Prepayment of Expenses | 14 | |
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3.
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Claims | 14 | |
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4.
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Nonexclusivity of Rights | 15 | |
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5.
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Other Indemnification | 15 | |
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6.
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Amendment or Repeal | 15 | |
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7.
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Severance | 15 | |
| 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 | 16 | |
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5.
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Amendments | 16 | |
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6.
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Form of Records | 16 | |
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7.
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Checks | 16 | |
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8.
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Fiscal Year | 16 | |
BY-LAWS OF PFIZER INC
AS AMENDED OCTOBER 23, 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
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
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more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before entering upon
the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to
execute the duties of inspector 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
or one or more record holders of shares of stock of the Corporation representing
in the aggregate not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of the total number
of shares of stock entitled to vote on the matter or matters to be brought before
the proposed special meeting. A stockholder request for a special meeting shall
be directed to the Secretary and shall be signed by each stockholder, or a duly
authorized agent of such stockholder, requesting the special meeting and shall
be accompanied by a notice setting forth the information required by paragraph
13 of this Article or paragraph 13 of Article II of these By-laws, as applicable,
as to any nominations proposed to be presented and any other business proposed
to be conducted at such special meeting and as to the stockholder(s) requesting
the special meeting, as well as the written questionnaire and written representation
and agreement required by paragraph 15 of Article II of these By-laws from any
nominee for election as a director of the Corporation. A special meeting requested
by stockholders shall be held at such date, time and place within or without
the state of Delaware as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that the date of any such special meeting shall be not more than ninety
(90) days after the request to call the special meeting by one or more stockholders
who satisfy the requirements of this paragraph 9 of Article I is received by
the Secretary. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a special meeting requested by
stockholders shall not
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be held if: (i) the stated business to be brought before the special meeting
is not a proper subject for stockholder action under applicable law, or (ii)
the Board of Directors has called or calls for an annual meeting of stockholders
to be held within ninety (90) days after the Secretary receives the request
for the special meeting and the Board of Directors determines in good faith
that the business of such annual meeting includes (among any other matters properly
brought before the annual meeting) the business specified in the stockholder's
request. A stockholder may revoke a request for a special meeting at any time
by written revocation delivered to the Secretary, and if, following such revocation,
there are un-revoked requests from stockholders holding in the aggregate less
than the requisite number of shares entitling the stockholders to request the
calling of a special meeting, the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may
cancel the special meeting. If none of the stockholders who submitted the request
for a special meeting appears or sends a qualified representative to present
the nominations proposed to be presented or other business proposed to be conducted
at the special meeting, the Corporation need not present such nominations or
other business for a vote at such meeting. Business transacted at all special
meetings shall be confined to the matters stated in the notice of special meeting.
Business transacted at a special meeting requested by stockholders shall be
limited to the matters described in the special meeting request; provided, however,
that nothing herein shall prohibit the Board of Directors from submitting matters
to the stockholders at any special meeting requested by stockholders. The Chair
of a special meeting shall determine all matters relating to the conduct of
the meeting, including, but not limited to, determining whether any nomination
or other item of business has been properly brought before the meeting in accordance
with these By-laws, and if the Chair should so determine and declare that any
nomination or other item of business has not been properly brought before the
special meeting, then such business shall not be transacted at such 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. 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
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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,
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
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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 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
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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 or a special meeting at which
directors are to be elected in accordance with the Corporation's notice of 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 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.
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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 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
8
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 an annual meeting of
stockholders or a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to
be elected pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting (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 previous year's annual meeting; and (2) with
respect to any other annual meeting of stockholders or a special meeting of
stockholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation's
notice of meeting, 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
9
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 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
10
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.
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
11
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 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.
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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 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.
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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 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
14
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.
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
15
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 Bylaws
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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