Exhibit
3.2
Initially
Adopted January 10, 2000
Amended
as of January 26, 2006
BERKSHIRE
HILLS BANCORP, INC.
Amended
and Restated Bylaws
ARTICLE
I
- STOCKHOLDERS
Section
1. Annual
Meeting.
An
annual
meeting of the stockholders, for the election of Directors to succeed those
whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, on such date,
and
at such time as the Board of Directors shall each year fix, which date shall
be
within thirteen (13) months subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation
or the last annual meeting of stockholders.
Section
2. Special
Meetings.
Subject
to the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the
Corporation, special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called
only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority
of
the total number of Directors which the Corporation would have if there were
no
vacancies on the Board of Directors (hereinafter the "Whole
Board").
Section
3.
Notice
of Meetings.
Written
notice of the place, date, and time of all meetings of the stockholders shall
be
given, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date
on
which the meeting is to be held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such
meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law (meaning, here
and hereinafter, as required from time to time by the Delaware General
Corporation Law or the Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation).
When
a
meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice need not
be
given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof are announced
at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if
the
date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days after the date
for
which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record date is fixed
for
the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and time of the
adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any adjourned
meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at
the
original meeting.
Section
4.
Quorum.
At
any
meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a majority of all of the shares
of
the stock entitled to vote at the meeting, present in person or by proxy (after
giving effect to the
provisions
of Article IV of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation), shall
constitute a quorum for all purposes, unless or except to the extent that the
presence of a larger number may be required by law. Where a separate vote by
a
class or classes is required, a majority of the shares of such class or classes
present in person or represented by proxy (after giving effect to the provisions
of Article IV of the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation) shall
constitute a quorum entitled to take action with respect to that vote on that
matter.
If
a
quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting or the
holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are present,
in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or
time.
If
a
notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to all
stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with those
present in person or by proxy constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise
required by law, those present in person or by proxy at such adjourned meeting
shall constitute a quorum, and all matters shall be determined by a majority
of
the votes cast at such meeting.
Section
5.
Organization.
Such
person
as the Board of Directors may have designated or, in his or her absence of
such
a person, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation or,
in
his or her absence, such person as may be chosen by the holders of a majority
of
the shares entitled to vote who are present, in person or by proxy, shall call
to order any meeting of the stockholders and act as chairman of the meeting.
In
the absence of the Secretary of the Corporation, the secretary of the meeting
shall be such person as the chairman of the meeting appoints.
Section
6. Conduct
of Business.
(a) The
chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business
and the procedures at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner
of
voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him or her in order. The date
and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which
the
stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the
meeting.
(b) At
any
annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as
shall have been brought before the meeting: (i) by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors or (ii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is entitled
to vote with respect thereto and who complies with the notice procedures set
forth in this Section 6(b). For business to be properly brought before an annual
meeting by a stockholder, the business must relate to a proper subject matter
for stockholder action and the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof
in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's
notice must be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date
of
the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than one
hundred (100) days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting
is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must
be
received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the
day
on which such notice of the
date
of
the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A
stockholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such
stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting: (i) 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; (ii) the name and address,
as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing such
business; (iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital
stock that are beneficially owned by such stockholder; and (iv) any material
interest of such stockholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything in
these
Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be brought before or conducted at
an
annual meeting except in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6(b).
The officer of the Corporation or other person presiding over the annual meeting
shall, if the facts so warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that
business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6(b) and, if he or she should so determine, shall
so
declare to the meeting and any such business so determined to be not properly
brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
At
any
special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted
as
shall have been brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board
of Directors.
(c) Only
persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures and meet the
qualifications set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as
Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of
the
Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which directors are
to
be elected only: (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (ii)
by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election of
Directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth
in
this Section 6(c). Such nominations, other than those made by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made by timely notice in writing
to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall
be delivered or mailed to and received at the principal executive offices of
the
Corporation not less than ninety (90) days prior to the date of the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than one hundred (100) days'
notice or prior disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to
stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which
such
notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was
made.
Such stockholder's notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom such
stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Director,
all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required,
in
each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy
statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (ii) as
to
the stockholder giving the notice (x) the name and address, as they appear
on
the Corporation's books, of such stockholder and (y) the class and number of
shares of the Corporation's capital stock that are beneficially owned by such
stockholder. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated
by
the Board of Directors for election as a Director shall furnish to the Secretary
of the Corporation that information required to be set forth in a stockholder's
notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No person shall be eligible
for election as a Director of the Corporation unless nominated in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 6(c). The officer of the Corporation
or other person presiding at the meeting shall, if the facts so warrant,
determine that
a
nomination was not made in accordance with such provisions and, if he or she
shall so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded. No nomination shall be made or voted upon
if
the nominee is ineligible for election to the Board of Directors under these
Bylaws.
(d) No
person
shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board of Directors: (i)
if
such person has, within the previous 10 years, been the subject of supervisory
action by a financial regulatory agency that resulted in a cease and desist
order or an agreement or other written statement subject to public disclosure
under 12 U.S.C. 1818(u), or any successor provision; (ii) if such person has
been convicted of a crime involving dishonesty or breach of trust which is
punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year under state or federal
law; (iii) if such person is currently charged in any information, indictment,
or other complaint with the commission of or participation in such a crime;
and
(iv) except for persons serving as members of the initial Board of Directors
or
except as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, unless such person
has
been, for a period of at least one year immediately prior to his or her
nomination or appointment, a resident of a county in which the Corporation
or
its subsidiaries maintains a banking office or a county contiguous to any such
county. No person shall be eligible for election or appointment to the Board
of
Directors if such person is the nominee or representative of a company, as
that
term is defined in Section 10 of the Home Owners' Loan Act or any successor
provision, of which any director, partner, trustee or shareholder controlling
more than 10% of any class of voting stock would not be eligible for election
or
appointment to the Board of Directors under this Section 6. No person may serve
on the Board of Directors and at the same time be a director of more than two
other public companies, or their subsidiaries. No person shall be eligible
for
election to the Board of Directors if such person is the nominee or
representative of a person or group, or of a group acting in concert (as defined
in 12 C.F.R Section 574.4(d)), that includes a person who is ineligible for
election to the Board of Directors under this Section 6. The Board of Directors
shall have the power to construe and apply the provisions of this Section 6
and
to make all determinations necessary or desirable to implement such provisions,
including but not limited to determinations as to whether a person is a nominee
or representative of a person, a company or a group, whether a person or company
is included in a group, and whether a person is the nominee or representative
of
a group acting in concert.
(e) Notwithstanding
any other provision of these Bylaws, in no event shall any person, group or
company that would not be eligible for election to the Board of Directors or
to
have his or its representative or nominee eligible for election to the Board
of
Directors under Section 6 of this Article I be entitled or permitted to vote
his
or its shares with respect to any amendment, modification or repeal of Section
6
of this Article I.
Section
7.
Proxies
and Voting.
At
any
meeting of the stockholders, every stockholder entitled to vote may vote in
person or by proxy authorized by an instrument in writing filed in accordance
with the procedure established for the meeting. Any facsimile telecommunication
or other reliable reproduction of the writing or transmission created pursuant
to this paragraph may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing
or
transmission for any and all purposes for which the original writing
or
transmission
could be used, provided that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other
reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing
or
transmission.
All
voting,
including on the election of Directors but excepting where otherwise required
by
law or by the governing documents of the Corporation, may be made by a voice
vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by a stockholder entitled
to
vote or his or her proxy, a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall
be
taken by ballot, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy
voting and such other information as may be required under the procedures
established for the meeting. The Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting
of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting and make
a
written report thereof. The Corporation may designate one or more persons as
alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector
or alternate is able to act at a meeting of stockholders, the person presiding
at the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting.
Each
inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and
sign
an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality
and according to the best of his ability.
All
elections
shall be determined by a plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise
required by law or the Certificate of Incorporation, all other matters shall
be
determined by a majority of the votes cast.
Section
8.
Stock
List.
A
complete list of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders,
arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock and showing the address
of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in his or her
name,
shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least
ten (10) days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where
the
meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the
meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be
held.
The
stock
list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder who is
present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held
by
each of them.
Section 9. Consent
of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.
Subject
to
the rights of the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the
Corporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders
of
the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders
of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in writing by such
stockholders.
ARTICLE
II - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section
1.
General
Powers, Number, Term of Office and Limitations.
The
business
and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of
Directors. The number of Directors who shall constitute the Whole Board shall
be
such number as the Board of Directors shall from time to time have designated,
but shall not exceed twelve (12). The Board of Directors shall annually elect
a
non-executive Chairman of the Board from among its members who shall, when
present, preside at its meetings.
The
Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any class
or
series of Preferred Stock, shall be divided, with respect to the time for which
they severally hold office, into three classes, with the term of office of
the
first class to expire at the first annual meeting of stockholders, the term
of
office of the second class to expire at the annual meeting of stockholders
one
year thereafter and the term of office of the third class to expire at the
annual meeting of stockholders two years thereafter, with each Director to
hold
office until his or her successor shall have been duly elected and qualified.
At
each annual meeting of stockholders, Directors elected to succeed those
Directors whose terms then expire shall be elected for a term of office to
expire at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after their
election, with each Director to hold office until his or her successor shall
have been duly elected and qualified.
Section
2.
Vacancies
and Newly Created Directorships.
Subject
to the rights of the holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock, and
unless the Board of Directors otherwise determines, newly created directorships
resulting from any increase in the authorized number of directors or any
vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause may be filled
only by a majority vote of the Directors then in office, though less than a
quorum, and Directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the
annual meeting of stockholders at which the term of office of the class to
which
they have been elected expires and until such Director's successor shall have
been duly elected and qualified. No decrease in the number of authorized
directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any incumbent
Director.
Section
3.
Regular
Meetings.
Regular
meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such place or places, on
such date or dates, and at such time or times as shall have been established
by
the Board of Directors and publicized among all Directors. A notice of each
regular meeting shall not be required.
Section
4.
Special
Meetings.
Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by one-third (1/3) of the
Directors then in office (rounded up to the nearest whole number), or by the
Chairman of the Board or the President and Chief Executive Officer or, in the
event that the Chairman of the
Board
or
the President and Chief Executive Officer are incapacitated or otherwise unable
to call such meeting, by the Secretary, and shall be held at such place, on
such
date, and at such time as they, or he or she, shall fix. Notice of the place,
date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given each Director by
whom
it is not waived by mailing written notice not less than five (5) days before
the meeting or by telegraphing or telexing or by facsimile transmission of
the
same not less than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise
indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at
a
special meeting.
Section 5. Quorum.
At
any
meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Whole Board shall
constitute a quorum for all purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any
meeting, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting to another place,
date, or time, without further notice or waiver thereof.
Section 6. Participation
in Meetings By Conference Telephone.
Members
of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in
a
meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence
in
person at such meeting.
Section
7. Conduct
of Business.
At
any
meeting of the Board of Directors, business shall be transacted in such order
and manner as the Board may from time to time determine, and all matters shall
be determined by the vote of a majority of the Directors present, except as
otherwise provided herein or required by law. Action may be taken by the Board
of Directors without a meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in
writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings
of the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Powers.
The
Board
of Directors may, except as otherwise required by law, exercise all such powers
and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Corporation,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the unqualified
power:
| |
(1)
|
To
declare dividends from time to time in accordance with
law;
|
| |
|
|
| |
(2)
|
To
purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges
on such
terms as it shall determine;
|
| |
|
|
| |
(3)
|
To
authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it
may
determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or
non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary
in
connection therewith;
|
| |
(4)
|
To
remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and
from time
to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any
other
person for the time being;
|
| |
|
|
| |
(5)
|
To
confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint,
remove
and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;
|
| |
|
|
| |
(6)
|
To
adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus
or other
compensation plans for Directors, officers, employees and agents
of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
|
| |
|
|
| |
(7)
|
To
adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other benefit
plans for Directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation
and
its subsidiaries as it may determine;
|
| |
|
|
| |
(8)
|
To
adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these
Bylaws,
for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs;
and
|
| |
|
|
| |
(9)
|
To
fix the Compensation of officers and employees of the Corporation
and its
subsidiaries as it may
determine.
|
Section
9. Compensation
of Directors.
Directors,
as such, may receive, pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed
fees and other compensation for their services as Directors, including, without
limitation, their services as members of committees of the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
III - COMMITTEES
Section
1. Committees
of
the Board of Directors.
The
Board
of Directors, by a vote of a majority of the Board of Directors, may from time
to time designate committees of the Board, with such lawfully delegable powers
and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and
shall, for these committees and any others provided for herein, elect a Director
or Directors to serve as the member or members, designating, if it desires,
other Directors as alternate members who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee so designated may exercise
the power and authority of the Board of Directors to declare a dividend, to
authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate of ownership and
merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General Corporation Law if the
resolution which designates the committee or a supplemental resolution of the
Board of Directors shall so provide. In the absence or disqualification of
any
member of any committee and any alternate member in his or her place, the member
or members of the committee present at the meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not he or she or they constitute a quorum, may by unanimous
vote appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting
in
the place of the absent or disqualified member.
Section
2.
Conduct
of Business.
Each
committee may determine the procedural rules for meeting and conducting its
business and shall act in accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided
herein or required by law. Adequate provision shall be made for notice to
members of all meetings. The quorum requirements for each such committee shall
be a majority of the members of such committee unless otherwise determined
by
the Board of Directors by a majority vote of the Board of Directors which such
quorum determined by a majority of the Board may be one- third of such members
and all matters considered by such committees shall be determined by a majority
vote of the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a
meeting if all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing
or
writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such
committee.
Section
3. Nominating
Committee.
The
Board
of Directors shall appoint a Nominating Committee of the Board, consisting
of
not less than three (3) members of the Board of Directors. The Nominating
Committee shall have authority: (a) to review any nominations for election
to
the Board of Directors made by a stockholder of the Corporation pursuant to
Section 6(c)(ii) of Article I of these Bylaws in order to determine compliance
with such Bylaw; and (b) to recommend to the Whole Board nominees for election
to the Board of Directors to replace those Directors whose terms expire at
the
annual meeting of stockholders next ensuing.
ARTICLE
IV - OFFICERS
Section
1.
Generally.
(a) The
Board
of Directors as soon as may be practicable after the annual meeting of
stockholders shall choose a President and Chief Executive Officer, one or more
Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer and from time to time may choose
such other officers as it may deem proper. Any number of offices may be held
by
the same person.
(b) The
term
of office of the officers shall be until the next annual election of officers
and until their respective successors are chosen but any officer may be removed
from office at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized
number of Directors then constituting the Board of Directors or by the President
and Chief Executive Officer.
(c) All
officers chosen by the Board of Directors or by the President and Chief
Executive Officer shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to
their respective offices, subject to the specific provisions of this Article
IV.
Such officers shall also have such powers and duties as from time to time may
be
conferred by the Board of Directors or by any committee thereof.
Section 2. President
and Chief Executive Officer.
The
President and Chief Executive Officer shall have general responsibility for
the
management and control of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall
perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly incident to the office
of President and Chief Executive Officer or which are delegated to him or her
by
the Board of Directors. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors,
the
President and Chief Executive Officer shall have power to sign all stock
certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are
authorized and shall have general supervision of all of the other officers,
employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 3. Vice
President.
The
Vice
President or Vice Presidents shall perform the duties of the President and
Chief
Executive Officer in his absence or during his inability to act. In addition,
the Vice Presidents shall perform the duties and exercise the powers usually
incident to their respective offices and/or such other duties and powers as
may
be properly assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the President and
Chief Executive Officer. A Vice President or Vice Presidents may be designated
as Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.
Section
4.
Secretary.
The
Secretary or Assistant Secretary shall issue notices of meetings, shall keep
their minutes, shall have charge of the seal and the corporate books, shall
perform such other duties and exercise such other powers as are usually incident
to such office and/or such other duties and powers as are properly assigned
thereto by the Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive Officer.
Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the Secretary shall have
the
power to sign all stock certificates.
Section
5. Treasurer.
The
Treasurer shall be the Comptroller of the Corporation and shall have the
responsibility for maintaining the financial records of the Corporation. He
or
she shall make such disbursements of the funds of the Corporation as are
authorized and shall render from time to time an account of all such
transactions and of the financial condition of the Corporation. The Treasurer
shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time
to
time prescribe. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the
Treasurer shall have the power to sign all stock certificates.
Section
6. Assistant
Secretaries and Other Officers.
The
Board of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may appoint one or more Assistant
Secretaries and such other officers who shall have such powers and shall perform
such duties as are provided in these Bylaws or as may be assigned to them by
the
Board of Directors or the President and Chief Executive
Officer.
Section
7.
Action
with Respect to Securities of Other Corporation.
Unless
otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President and Chief Executive
Officer or any officer of the Corporation authorized by the President and Chief
Executive Officer shall have power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the
Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of stockholders of or with
respect to any action of stockholders of any other corporation in which this
Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights
and
powers which this Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of
securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE
V
- STOCK
Section
1.
Certificates
of Stock.
Each
stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate signed by, or in the name of
the
Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President and Chief Executive
Officer, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or any Treasurer or
Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her. Any
or
all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile.
Section
2.
Transfers
of Stock.
Transfers
of
stock shall be made only upon the transfer books of the Corporation kept at
an
office of the Corporation or by transfer agents designated to transfer shares
of
the stock of the Corporation. Except where a certificate is issued in accordance
with Section 4 of Article V of these Bylaws, an outstanding certificate for
the
number of shares involved shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new
certificate is issued therefor.
Section
3.
Record
Date.
In
order
that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or
to
vote at any meeting of stockholders, or to receive payment of any dividend
or
other distribution or allotment of any rights or to exercise any rights in
respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of
any
other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record
date shall not precede the date on which the resolution fixing the record date
is adopted and which record date shall not be more than sixty (60) nor less
than
ten (10) days before the date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than
sixty (60) days prior to the time for such other action as hereinbefore
described; provided, however, that if no record date is fixed by the Board
of
Directors, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice
of or
to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the
day next preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived,
at
the close of business on the next day preceding the day on which the meeting
is
held, and, for determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment or rights or to exercise any rights
of change, conversion or exchange of stock or for any other purpose, the record
date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts a resolution relating thereto.
A
determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at
a
meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned
meeting.
Section
4.
Lost,
Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.
In
the
event of the loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another
may
be issued in its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors
may establish concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning
the giving of a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section
5.
Regulations.
The
issue, transfer, conversion and registration of certificates of stock shall
be
governed by such other regulations as the Board of Directors may
establish.
ARTICLE
VI - NOTICES
Section
1.
Notices.
Except
as
otherwise specifically provided herein or required by law, all notices required
to be given to any stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent shall
be in
writing and may in every instance be effectively given by hand delivery to
the
recipient thereof, by depositing such notice in the mails, postage paid, or
by
sending such notice by prepaid telegram or mailgram or other courier. Any such
notice shall be addressed to such stockholder, Director, officer, employee
or
agent at his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of
the
Corporation. The time when such notice is received, if hand delivered, or
dispatched, if delivered through the mails or by telegram or mailgram or other
courier, shall be the time of the giving of the notice.
Section
2.
Waivers.
A
written
waiver of any notice, signed by a stockholder, Director, officer, employee
or
agent, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to
be
given, shall be deemed equivalent to the notice required to be given to such
stockholder, Director, officer, employee or agent. Neither the business nor
the
purpose of any meeting need be specified in such a waiver. 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 business because the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE
VII - MISCELLANEOUS
Section
1.
Facsimile
Signatures.
In
addition
to the provisions for use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically
authorized in these Bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers
of
the Corporation may be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors
or a committee thereof.
Section
2. Corporate
Seal.
The
Board
of Directors may provide a suitable seal, containing the name of the
Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge of the Secretary. If and when
so
directed by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof, duplicates of the
seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer or by an Assistant Secretary or
an
assistant to the Treasurer.
Section
3. Reliance
Upon Books, Reports and Records.
Each
Director, each member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors,
and
each officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties,
be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other
records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions, reports or
statements presented to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees,
or
committees of the Board of Directors so designated, or by any other person
as to
matters which such Director or committee member reasonably believes are within
such other person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected
with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 4. Fiscal
Year.
The
fiscal
year of the Corporation shall be as fixed by the Board of
Directors.
Section
5. Time
Periods.
In
applying
any provision of these Bylaws which requires that an act be done or not be
done
a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be done during
a
period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days shall
be
used, the day of the doing of the act shall be excluded, and the day of the
event shall be included.
ARTICLE
VIII - AMENDMENTS
The
Board of
Directors may amend, alter or repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of the Board,
provided notice of the proposed change was given not less than two (2) days
prior to the meeting. The stockholders shall also have power to amend, alter
or
repeal these Bylaws at any meeting of stockholders provided notice of the
proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting; provided, however,
that,
notwithstanding any other provisions of the Bylaws or any
provision
of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition
to
any affirmative vote of the holders of any particular class or series of the
voting stock required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation, any Preferred
Stock Designation or these Bylaws, the affirmative votes of the holders of
at
least 80% of the voting power of all the then-outstanding shares of the Voting
Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, amend
or
repeal any provisions of these Bylaws.
The
above
Amended and Restated Bylaws are effective as of January 26, 2006.
14