Exhibit
1.26
BY-LAWS
OF
LICENSE
TECHNOLOGIES GROUP, INC.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. The registered office shall be
established and maintained at the office of The Corporation Trust Company, in
the city of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware
and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this corporation in
charge thereof. The corporation may have
other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or
places as the board of directors may from time to time appoint or the business
of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. All meetings of the stockholders for
the election of directors shall be held at such place as may be fixed from time
to time by the board of directors, or at such place either within or without
the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time by the board of
directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Meetings of stockholders for any other
purpose may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed
waiver of notice thereof.
If the date of the annual meeting shall fall upon a legal holiday, the
meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day. At each annual meeting, the stockholders
entitled to vote shall elect a board of directors and they may transact such
other corporate business as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2. Annual meetings of stockholders,
commencing with the year 2001, shall be held on the last Monday in June or
such other day and at such other time as shall be designated from time to time
by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which
they shall elect a board of directors and transact such other business as may
properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 3. Written notice of the annual meeting
stating the place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than
sixty days before the date of the meeting.
Section 4. The officer who has charge of the
stock ledger of the corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days
before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the
address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered by each
stockholder. Such list
shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at
least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where
the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice of the
meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be
held. The list shall also be produced
and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof;
and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 5. Special meetings of the stockholders
for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the
certificate of incorporation, may be called by the president and shall be
called by the president or secretary at the request in writing of a majority of
the board of directors, or at the request in writing of stockholders owning not
less than 1/10th of the shares of any class of the capital stock of the
corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose or
purposes of the proposed meeting.
Section 6. Written notice of a special meeting
stating the place, date and hour of the meeting, and the purpose or purposes
for which the meeting is called, shall be given not less than ten nor more than
sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote
at such meeting.
Section 7. Business transacted at any special
meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
Section 8. The holders of such number of the shares
of issued and outstanding stock as are entitled to cast a majority of the votes
thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business except as
otherwise provided by statute or by the certificate of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present
or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders, entitled
to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to
adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement
at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum
shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have
been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. 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.
Section 9. When a quorum is present at any
meeting, a majority of the votes cast by holders of stock having voting power
present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question (other than
election of directors) brought before such meeting, unless the question is one
upon which by express provision of the statutes or of the certificate of
incorporation, a different vote is required in which case such express
provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section 10. Each stockholder shall at every
meeting of the stockholders be entitled to vote in person or by proxy, but no
proxy shall be voted on after three years from its date, unless the proxy
provides for a longer period.
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Section 11. Unless otherwise provided in the
certificate of incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or
special meeting of stockholders of the corporation, or any action which may be
taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken
without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would
be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate
action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given
to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
Section 12. The board of directors, in advance
of any stockholders meeting, may appoint one or more inspectors to act at the
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If
inspectors are not so appointed, the person presiding at the stockholders
meeting may, and on the request of any stockholder entitled to vote thereat
shall, appoint one or more inspectors.
In case any person appointed fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be
filled by appointment made by the board of directors in advance of the meeting
or at the meeting by the persons presiding thereat. Each inspector, before entering upon the
discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the
duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to
the best of his ability.
The inspectors shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the
voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or
consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection
with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents,
determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or
vote with fairness to all stockholders.
On request of the person presiding at the meeting or any stockholder
entitled to vote thereat, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any
challenge, question or matter determined by them and execute a certificate of
any fact found by them. Any report or
certificate made by them shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated and
of the vote as certified by them.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number of directors which shall
constitute the entire board of directors shall be one (1). Each director shall hold office until the
next annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation or until his successor
shall have been elected and qualified, or until his earlier resignation or
removal. Directors need not be
stockholders. The number of directors
may be increased or decreased from time to time by the amendment of this
section of the by-laws, but no decrease in the number of directors shall
have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director.
Section 2. Vacancies and newly created
directorships which result from any increase in the authorized number of
directors elected by all of the stockholders having the right to vote as a
single class may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office,
although less than a quorum, or by the sole remaining director.
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Directors chosen under this section shall hold office until the
next annual meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, and until their
successors shall be elected and qualified.
If, at the time of filling any vacancy or any newly created
directorship, the directors then in office shall constitute less than a
majority of the whole board (as constituted immediately prior to any such
increase), the Court of Chancery may, upon application of any stockholder or
stockholders holding at least ten percent of the total number of the shares at
the time outstanding having the right to vote for such directors, summarily
order an election to be held to fill any such vacancies or newly created
directorships, or to replace the directors chosen by the directors then in
office as aforesaid.
Section 3. The business of the corporation
shall be managed by or under the direction of its board of directors which may
exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by statute or by the certificate of incorporation or by these
by-laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders. Without in any way limiting the generality of
the foregoing, the board of directors is specifically granted the authority to
approve the hiring of all salaried employees of the corporation. No such salaried employee may be hired
without such prior approval.
MEETINGS OF
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 4. The board of directors of the
corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special, either within or
without the State of Delaware.
Section 5. The first meeting of each newly
elected board of directors shall be held at such time and place as shall be
fixed by the vote of the stockholders at the annual meeting and no notice of
such meeting shall be necessary to the newly elected directors in order legally
to constitute the meeting, provided a quorum shall be present. In the event of the failure of the
stockholders to fix the time or place of such first meeting of the newly
elected board of directors, or in the event such meeting is not held at the
time and place so fixed by the stockholders, the meeting may be held at such
time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided
for special meetings of the board of directors, or as shall be specified in a
written waiver signed by all of the directors.
Section 6. Regular meetings of the directors
may be held without notice at such time and at such place as shall from time to
time be determined by the board.
Section 7. Special meetings of the board may be
called by the President on two (2) days notice to each director, either
personally or by mail or by facsimile.
Special meetings shall be called by the president or secretary in like
manner and on like notice on the written request of two directors unless the
board consists of only one director; in which case special meetings shall be
called by the president or secretary in like manner and on like notice on the
written request of the sole director.
Section 8. At all meetings of the board of
directors a majority of the then duly elected directors shall 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
statute or by the
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certificate of incorporation. If
a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the board of directors the
directors present thereat, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section 9. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the board of directors, or of any committee
thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the board or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the board or
committee.
Section 10. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these By-laws, members of the board of
directors, or any committee designated by the board of directors, may
participate in a meeting of the board of directors, or any 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 in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
COMMITTEES OF
DIRECTORS
Section 11. The Board of Directors may, by
resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole board, designate
one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the
directors of the corporation. The board
may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who
may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee.
In the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or
committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.
Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the
board of directors, or in these By-laws, shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the board of directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation
to be affixed to all papers which may require it; but no such committee shall
have the power or authority in reference to (i) approving or adopting, or
recommending to the stockholders, any action or matter expressly required by
the Delaware General Corporation Law to be submitted to the stockholders for
approval or (ii) adopting, amending or repealing any by-law of the corporation.
Section 12. Each committee shall keep regular
minutes of its meetings and report the same to the board of directors.
COMPENSATION
OF DIRECTORS
Section 13. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws, the board of directors shall
have the authority to fix the compensation of directors. The directors may be paid their expenses, if
any, for attendance at each meeting of the board of
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directors. No such payment shall
preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and
receiving compensation therefor. Members
of special or standing committees may be allowed like compensation for
attending committee meetings.
REMOVAL OF
DIRECTORS
Section 14. Unless otherwise restricted by the
certificate of incorporation or by law, any director or the entire board of
directors may be removed, with or without cause, by the holders of shares
entitled to cast a majority of the votes for the election of directors. A director elected or appointed by the holders
of a particular class of stock may be removed only by the vote of the holders
of a majority of the shares of such class.
ARTICLE IV
NOTICES
Section 1. Whenever, under the provisions of
the statutes or of the certificate of incorporation or of these by-laws, notice
is required to be given to any director or stockholder, it shall not be
construed to mean personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by
mail, addressed to such director or stockholder, at his address as it appears
on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such
notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be deposited
in the United States mail. Notice to
directors may also be given by facsimile.
Section 2. Whenever any notice is required to
be given under the provisions of the statutes or of the certificate of
incorporation or of these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the
person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the corporation
shall be chosen by the board of directors and shall be a president, an
executive vice president, a vice president, a secretary and a treasurer. The board of directors may also choose
additional divisional officers, vice presidents, and one or more assistant
secretaries and assistant treasurers and such other officers as they shall
determine are necessary with such powers and duties as shall be determined from
time to time by the board of directors.
Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless the
certificate of incorporation or these by-laws otherwise provide.
Section 2. The board of directors at its first
meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders shall choose a president, an
executive vice president, one or more vice presidents, a secretary and one or
more assistant secretaries and a treasurer.
Section 3. The board of directors may appoint
such other officers and agents as it may deem necessary who shall hold their
offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties
as shall be determined from time to time by the board.
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Section 4. The salaries of all officers of the
corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors.
Section 5. The officers of the corporation
shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer elected or appointed by the board
of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the whole board of directors. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the board
of directors.
PRESIDENT
Section 6. The president shall be the principal
executive officer of the corporation.
Subject to the direction and control of the board of directors, he shall
be in charge of the business of the corporation; he shall see that the
resolutions and directions of the board of directors are carried into effect
except in those instances in which that responsibility is specifically assigned
to some other person by the board of directors from time to time. He shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and the board of directors.
Section 7. The president shall execute bonds,
mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the
corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed
and executed and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other officer or agent of
the corporation.
THE EXECUTIVE
VICE PRESIDENT
Section 8. The executive vice president shall
be the executive officer of the corporation next in authority to the president
whom the executive vice president shall assist in the management of the
business of the corporation and the implementation of orders and resolutions of
the board of directors. In the absence
of the president, the executive vice president shall preside at all meetings of
the shareholders and of the directors, and shall exercise all other powers and
perform all other duties of the president; the executive vice president shall
perform such other duties as the board of directors may from time to time
prescribe.
Section 9. Except in those instances in which
the authority to execute is expressly delegated to another officer or agent of
the corporation or a different mode of execution is expressly prescribed by the
board of directors or these by-laws, the executive vice president may execute
for the corporation certificates for its shares and any contracts, deeds,
mortgages, bonds or other instruments which the board of directors has
authorized to be executed, and he may accomplish such execution either under or
without the seal of the corporation and either individually or with the
secretary, any assistant secretary, or any other officer thereunto authorized
by the board of directors, according to the requirements of the form of the
instrument.
THE VICE
PRESIDENTS
Section 10. In the absence of the president and
the executive vice president, or in the event of their inability or refusal to
act, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president,
the vice presidents in the order designated by the directors, or in the
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absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall
perform the duties of the president and the executive vice president, and when
so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions
upon the president and the executive vice president. The vice presidents shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to
time prescribe.
THE SECRETARY
AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY
Section 11. The secretary shall attend all
meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the stockholders and
record all the proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the board
of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform like
duties for the standing committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice
of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the board of
directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board
of directors or president, under whose supervision he shall be. He shall have custody of the corporate seal
of the corporation and he, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to
affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be
attested by his signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general
authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to
attest the affixing by his signature.
Section 12. The assistant secretary, or if there
be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the
board of directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of
their election), shall, in the absence of the secretary or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
THE TREASURER
AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS
Section 13. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate
funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements in books belonging to the corporation and shall deposit all
moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation in
such depositaries as may be designated by the board of directors.
Section 14. The treasurer shall have exclusive
authority to open bank accounts or otherwise transact the financial business of
the corporation; provided, however, that the president shall have complete
access to the financial records of the corporation and shall be provided
unaudited quarterly financial statements of the corporation.
Section 15. The treasurer shall disburse the
funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking
proper vouchers for such disbursements and shall render to the president and
the board of directors at its regular meetings, or when the board of directors
so requires, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the
financial condition of the corporation.
Section 16. If required by the board of
directors, the treasurer shall give the corporation a bond in such sum and with
such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the
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board of directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his
office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his death,
resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers,
money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his
control belonging to the corporation.
Section 17. The assistant treasurer, or if there
shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the
board of directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order of
their election), shall, in the absence of the treasurer or in the event of his
inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
treasurer and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Every holder of stock in the
corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name
of the corporation by, the president, the executive vice president or a vice
president, and the treasurer or an assistant treasurer, or the secretary or an
assistant secretary, of the corporation, certifying the number of shares owned
by him in the corporation.
Certificates may be issued for partly paid shares and in such case upon
the face or back of the certificates issued to represent any such partly paid
shares, the total amount of the consideration to be paid therefor, and the
amount paid thereon shall be specified.
If the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of
stock or more than one series of any class, the powers, designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of
each class of stock or series thereof and the qualification, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth in full or
summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock; provided that, except as
otherwise provided in section 202 of the General Corporation Law of
Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set forth on the
face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent
such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation will furnish
without charge to each stockholder who so request the powers, designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of
each class or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or
restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
Section 2. Any of or all the signatures on the
certificate may be 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 were such officer,
transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
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LOST
CERTIFICATES
Section 3. The board of directors may direct a
new certificate or certificates to be issued in the place of any certificate or
certificates theretofore issued by the corporation, alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person
claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new
certificate or certificates, the board of directors may, in its discretion and
as condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representatives,
to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or to give the
corporation a bond, in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim
that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate
alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
TRANSFER OF STOCK
Section 4. Upon surrender to the corporation or
the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed
or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its book; provided, however, that such duty shall be subject
to Federal and state securities and other applicable laws, the certificate of
incorporation, and any legends and stop transfer instructions with respect to
such old certificate.
FIXING RECORD
DATE
Section 5. In order that the corporation may
determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, 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,
in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten
days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any
other action. 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.
REGISTERED
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 6. The corporation shall be entitled to
recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner
of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable
for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of
shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or
not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided
by the laws of Delaware.
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ARTICLE VII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
DIVIDENDS
Section 1. Dividends upon the capital stock of
the corporation, subject to the provisions of the certificate of incorporation,
if any, may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special
meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may
be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock, subject to the
provisions of the certificate of incorporation.
Section 2. Before payment of any dividend,
there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for
dividends such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their
absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet
contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any
property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall
think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may
modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ANNUAL
STATEMENT
Section 3. The board of directors shall present
at each annual meeting, and at any special meeting of the stockholders when
called for by vote of the stockholders, a full and clear statement of the
business and condition of the corporation.
CHECKS
Section 4. All checks or demands for money and
notes of the corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers, person or
persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.
FISCAL YEAR
Section 5. The fiscal year of the corporation
shall be fixed by resolution of the board of directors.
SEAL
Section 6. The corporate seal, if any, shall
have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation and the words CORPORATE
SEAL DELAWARE. The seal may be used by
causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or
otherwise.
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 7. (a) Indemnification
of Officers, Directors, Employees and Agents; Insurance. Any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit
or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the corporation), by reason of the fact
that he 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
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another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprises, shall be indemnified by the corporation against expenses
(including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to
be in or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to
believe his conduct was unlawful. The
termination of any action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent
shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good
faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to
the best interests of the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action
or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(b) The corporation shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he 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, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or
suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in
or not opposed to the best interests of the corporation and except that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable to the corporation
unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of Delaware or the
Court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application
that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all the
circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to
indemnity for such expenses which the Court of Chancery of Delaware, or such
other court shall deem proper.
(c) To the extent that a present or
former director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits
or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred to in
paragraphs (a) and (b) hereof, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter
therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including attorneys fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification pursuant to
paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 7 (unless ordered by a court) shall
be made by the corporation only as authorized in the specific case upon a
determination that indemnification of the present or former director, officer,
employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the first two paragraphs of this
Section 7. Such determination shall
be made with respect to a person who is a director or officer at the time of
such determination (1) by a majority vote of the directors who are not parties
to such action, suit or proceeding even though less than a quorum, or (2) by a
committee of such directors designated by majority vote of such directors, even
though less than a quorum, or (3) if there are no such directors, or is such
directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (4)
by the stockholders.
(e) Expenses (including attorneys fees)
incurred by a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation in
defending a civil, criminal, administrative or
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investigative action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the corporation
in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon
receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or
agent to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not
entitled to be indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this
Section 7. Such expenses (including
attorneys fees) incurred by former directors and officers or other employees
and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if any as the
corporation shall deem appropriate.
(f) The indemnification and advancement
of expenses provided by this Section 7 shall not be deemed exclusive of
any other rights to which those seeking indemnification or advancement of
expenses may be entitled under any By-Law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and
shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and shall
inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person.
(g) The corporation shall have power to
purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation
would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provision of this Section 7.
(h) For the purpose of this
Section 7, all words and phrases used herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them under Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These by-laws may be altered,
amended or repealed or new By-laws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the
board of directors, when such power is conferred upon the board of directors by
the certificate of incorporation, at any regular meeting of the stockholders or
of the board of director or at any special meeting of the stockholders or board
of directors if notice of the such alteration, amendment, repeal or adoption of
new by-laws be contained in the notice of such special meeting. If the power to adopt, amend or repeal
by-laws is conferred upon the board of directors by the certificate of
incorporation, it shall not divest or limit the power of the stockholders to
adopt, amend or repeal by-laws.
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