UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 


 

FORM 8-K

 


 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Bylaw 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 18, 2008 (December 12, 2008)

 


 

ACI WORLDWIDE, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Delaware

 

0-25346

 

47-0772104

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

120 Broadway, Suite 3350
New York, New York 10271

(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s Telephone Number, Including Area Code: (646) 348-6700

 

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 


 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

o     Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

o      Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

o      Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

 

 

 



 

Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

 

On December 12, 2008, the Board of Directors of ACI Worldwide, Inc. (the “Company”), pursuant to Bylaw 38 of the Company’s Bylaws, amended Bylaw 8(c) and Bylaw 14(c) and adopted Amended and Restated Bylaws incorporating the amendments (the “Bylaws”).

 

Bylaw 8(c) – Advance Notice Provisions Related to Business Other than Director Nominations

 

The amendments to Bylaw 8(c) clarified that the advance notice provisions set forth in Bylaw 8(c) related to business to be properly requested by a stockholder to be brought before an annual meeting other than business relating to the nomination or election of directors, which is governed exclusively by Bylaw 14(c).  The amendments to Bylaw 8(c) also changed the advance notice provisions to provide that in order to be timely, written notice of any business requested by a stockholder to be brought before an annual meeting must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 90 calendar days nor greater than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders.  Previously, Bylaw 8(c) set forth an advance notice window of not less than 60 nor more than 90 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Bylaw 14(c) – Advance Notice Provisions Related to Stockholder Director Nominations

 

The Company’s Board of Directors also amended Bylaw 14(c) to make the same changes to the advance notice window as those described above so that the in order to be timely, written notice of any director nomination by a stockholder must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 90 calendar days nor greater than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders.  Previously, Bylaw 14(c) set forth an advance notice window of not less than 60 nor more than 90 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Company first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders.  The amendments to Bylaw 14(c) also modified the information required to be included in the stockholder notice related to a director nomination to clarify that in addition to the name and address of the stockholder making the nomination, as they appear on the Company’s books, the notice must also include the name and principal business address of all (A) persons controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) beneficial owners of shares of stock of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (with the term “beneficial ownership” as used herein to have the meaning given to that term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and (C) persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, any person specified in the foregoing clause (A) or (B) (with the term “control” as used herein to have the meaning given to that term in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) (any such person or beneficial owners set forth in the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C) shall be a “Stockholder Associated Person” for purposes of Bylaw 14(c)).

 

The amendments to Bylaw 14(c) also added a requirement that the stockholder notice disclose any derivative positions related to any class or series of securities of the Company held or beneficially held by the stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person (as defined above); (v) whether and the extent to which any hedging, swap or other transactions or series of transactions have been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or manage risk of stock price changes for, or to increase the voting power

 

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of, the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any shares of stock of the Company.

 

Bylaw 14(c), as amended, now also provides that, if the Board so requires, to be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Company, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under Bylaw 14(c)) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company a written questionnaire with respect to the identity, 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 (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) 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 Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company 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 the questionnaire, and (C) 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 Company, and will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company.

 

The Amended and Restated Bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors which incorporate the amendments to Bylaw 8(c) and Bylaw 14(c) described above are attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1, and are incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.

 

Description

 

 

 

3.02

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

 

3



 

SIGNATURES

 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

 

ACI WORLDWIDE, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

/s/ Dennis P. Byrnes

 

Dennis P. Byrnes

 

Senior Vice President

 

 

 

 

Date: December 18, 2008

 

 

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EXHIBIT INDEX

 

Exhibit No.

 

Exhibit Description

 

 

 

3.02

 

Amended and Restated Bylaws

 


Exhibit 3.02

 

 

ACI WORLDWIDE, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

As Adopted and in Effect on December 12, 2008

 

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

1

 

 

 

1.

Time and Place of Meetings

1

 

 

 

2.

Annual Meeting

1

 

 

 

3.

Special Meetings

1

 

 

 

4.

Notice of Meetings

1

 

 

 

5.

Inspectors for Stockholder Meetings

2

 

 

 

6.

Quorum

2

 

 

 

7.

Voting; Proxies

2

 

 

 

8.

Order of Business

2

 

 

 

CONSENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

5

 

 

 

9.

Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting

5

 

 

 

10.

Inspectors for Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting

5

 

 

 

DIRECTORS

5

 

 

 

11.

Function

5

 

 

 

12.

Number, Election and Terms

5

 

 

 

13.

Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships

6

 

 

 

14.

Nominations of Directors; Election

6

 

 

 

15.

Resignation

8

 

 

 

16.

Regular Meetings

9

 

 

 

17.

Special Meetings

9

 

 

 

18.

Quorum

9

 

 

 

19.

Participation in Meetings by Remote Communications

9

 

 

 

20.

Committees

9

 

 

 

21.

Compensation

10

 

 

 

22.

Rules

10

 

 

 

NOTICES

10

 

 

 

23.

Generally

10

 

 

 

24.

Waivers

11

 

 

 

OFFICERS

11

 

 

 

25.

Generally

11

 

 

 

26.

Compensation

11

 



 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

(continued)

 

 

 

Page

 

 

 

27.

Succession

11

 

 

 

28.

Authority and Duties

11

 

 

 

STOCK

11

 

 

 

29.

Certificated and Uncertificated Shares

11

 

 

 

30.

Classes of Stock

12

 

 

 

31.

Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates

12

 

 

 

32.

Record Dates

12

 

 

 

GENERAL

14

 

 

 

33.

Contracts, Checks, Etc

14

 

 

 

34.

Fiscal Year

14

 

 

 

35.

Seal

14

 

 

 

36.

Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records

14

 

 

 

37.

Time Periods

14

 

 

 

38.

Amendments

14

 

 

 

39.

Insurance

14

 

 

 

40.

Certificate of Incorporation and Applicable Law

15

 

ii



 

STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS

 

1.                                       Time and Place of Meetings.  All meetings of the stockholders for the election of the members of the Board of Directors (the “Directors”) or for any other purpose will be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) or, in the absence of a designation by the Board, the Chairman of the Board (the “Chairman”), the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, and stated in the notice of meeting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board may, in its sole discretion, determine that meetings of the stockholders shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held by means of remote communications, subject to such guidelines and procedures as the Board may adopt from time to time.  The Board may postpone and reschedule any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of the stockholders.

 

2.                                       Annual Meeting.  An annual meeting of the stockholders will be held at such date and time as may be designated from time to time by the Board, at which meeting the stockholders will elect by a plurality vote the Directors, and will transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting in accordance with Bylaw 8.

 

3.                                       Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the stockholders may be called only by (i) the Chairman, (ii) the President or (iii) the Secretary within 10 calendar days after receipt of the written request of a majority of the total number of Directors that the Company would have if there were no vacancies (the “Whole Board”).  Any such request by a majority of the Whole Board must be sent to the Chairman and the Secretary and must state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.  Special meetings of holders of the outstanding Preferred Stock of the Company (the “Preferred Stock”), if any, may be called in the manner and for the purposes provided in the applicable Preferred Stock Designation (as defined in the certificate of incorporation of the Company, as amended from time to time (the “Certificate of Incorporation”)).

 

4.                                       Notice of Meetings.  Written notice of every meeting of the stockholders, stating the place, if any, date and time thereof, the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting,  and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, will be given not less than 10 nor more than 60 calendar days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise provided herein or by law.  When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date, or time, written notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided, however, that if the adjournment is for more than 30 calendar days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, if any, date and time thereof, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at

 

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such adjourned meeting must be given in conformity herewith.  At any adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which properly could have been transacted at the original meeting.

 

5.                                       Inspectors for Stockholder Meetings.  The Board may appoint one or more inspectors of election to act as judges of the voting and to determine those entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders, or any adjournment thereof, in advance of such meeting.  The Board 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 presiding officer of the meeting may appoint one or more substitute inspectors.

 

6.                                       Quorum.  Except as otherwise provided by law or in a Preferred Stock Designation, the holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, will constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business thereat.  If, however, such quorum is not present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, will have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present or represented.

 

7.                                       Voting; Proxies.  Except as otherwise provided by law, by the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation, or in a Preferred Stock Designation, each stockholder will be entitled at every meeting of the stockholders to one vote for each share of stock having voting power standing in the name of such stockholder on the books of the Company on the record date for the meeting and such votes may be cast either in person or by proxy.  Every proxy must be authorized in a manner permitted by Section 212 of the Delaware General Corporation Law (or any successor provision).  Without affecting any vote previously taken, a stockholder may revoke any proxy that is not irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person, by revoking the proxy by giving notice to the Secretary of the Company, or by a later appointment of a proxy.  The vote upon any question brought before a meeting of the stockholders may be by voice vote, unless otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws or unless the Chairman or the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of all classes of stock entitled to vote thereon present in person or by proxy at such meeting otherwise determine.  Every vote taken by written ballot will be counted by the inspectors of election.  When a quorum is present at any meeting, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the stock present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter and which has actually been voted (the “Voting Stock”) will be the act of the stockholders, except in the election of Directors or as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the Certificate of Incorporation, a Preferred Stock Designation, or by law.

 

8.                                       Order of Business.

 

(a)                                  The Chairman, or such other officer of the Company designated by a majority of the Whole Board, will call meetings of the stockholders to order and will

 

2



 

act as presiding officer thereof.  Unless otherwise determined by the Board prior to the meeting, the presiding officer of the meeting of the stockholders will also determine the order of business and have the authority in his or her sole discretion to regulate the conduct of any such meeting, including without limitation by imposing restrictions on the persons (other than stockholders of the Company or their duly appointed proxies) that may attend any such stockholders’ meeting, by ascertaining whether any stockholder or his proxy may be excluded from any meeting of the stockholders based upon any determination by the presiding officer, in his sole discretion, that any such person has disrupted or is likely to disrupt the proceedings thereat, and by determining the circumstances in which any person may make a statement or ask questions at any meeting of the stockholders.

 

(b)                                 At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business will be conducted or considered as is properly brought before the annual meeting.  To be properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in the notice of the annual meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board in accordance with Bylaw 4, (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by the presiding officer or by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board, or (iii) otherwise properly requested to be brought before the annual meeting by a stockholder of the Company in accordance with Bylaw 8(c).

 

(c)                                  For business to be properly requested by a stockholder to be brought before an annual meeting (other than business relating to the nomination or election of Directors, which is governed exclusively by Bylaw 14(c)), (i) the stockholder must be a stockholder of the Company of record at the time of the giving of the notice for such annual meeting provided for in these Bylaws, (ii) the stockholder must be entitled to vote at such meeting, (iii) the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary and (iv) if the stockholder, or the beneficial owner on whose behalf any business is brought before the meeting, has provided the Company with a Proposal Solicitation Notice, as that term is defined in this Bylaw 8(c), such stockholder or beneficial owner must have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to the holders of at the least the percentage of shares of the Company entitled to vote required to approve such business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting and included in such materials.  To be timely, a stockholders notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 90 calendar days nor greater than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 calendar days prior to or delayed by more than 30 calendar days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of (A) the 90th calendar day prior to such annual

 

3



 

meeting and (B) the 10th calendar day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made.  In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. A stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting (A) a description in reasonable detail of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, (B) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of the stockholder proposing such business and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (C) the class and series and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder proposing such business and by the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (D) a description of all arrangements or understandings among such stockholder and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such stockholder and any material interest of such stockholder in such business, (E) whether either such stockholder or beneficial owner intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of shares of the Company entitled to vote required to approve the proposal (an affirmative statement of such intent, a “Proposal Solicitation Notice”), and (F) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such business before the annual meeting.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw 8(c), a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act”) with respect to matters set forth in this Bylaw 8(c).  For purposes of this Bylaw 8 and Bylaw 14, public disclosure” means disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act or furnished by the Company to stockholders. Nothing in this Bylaw 8(c) will be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

(d)                                 At a special meeting of stockholders, only such business may be conducted or considered as is properly brought before the meeting.  To be properly brought before a special meeting, business must be (i) specified in the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Chairman, the President or a majority of the Whole Board in accordance with Bylaw 4 or (ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by the presiding officer or by or at the direction of a majority of the Whole Board.

 

(e)                                  The determination of whether any business sought to be brought before any annual or special meeting of the stockholders is properly brought before such

 

4



 

meeting in accordance with this Bylaw 8 will be made by the presiding officer of such meeting.  If the presiding officer determines that any business is not properly brought before such meeting, he or she will so declare to the meeting and any such business will not be conducted or considered.

 

CONSENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

9.                                       Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.  Subject to the requirements of Bylaw 32 and unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any corporate action required to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, or any other corporate action which may be taken at a meeting of the stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, if a consent or consents in writing setting forth the corporate action to be 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 corporate action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted, and delivered to the Company’s registered office in the State of Delaware, to its principal place of business or to any officer or agent of the Company having custody of the book in which proceedings of stockholders meetings are recorded, in each case addressed to the attention of the Secretary.  Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested.  The Company shall give prompt notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent to stockholders who have not consented in writing and who, if the corporate action had been taken at a meeting, would have been entitled to notice of the meeting if the record date for such meeting had been the date that written consents signed by a sufficient number of stockholders to take the corporate action were delivered to the Company in the manner provided herein and in the Delaware General Corporation Law.

 

10.                                 Inspectors for Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting.  The Board may appoint one or more inspectors of elections to perform a ministerial review, or act as judges, of the validity of written consents delivered in accordance with Bylaw 9 and any revocations thereof.  No corporate action by written consent without a meeting shall be effective until such date as the inspectors certify to the Company that the signed written consents delivered to the Company in accordance with Bylaw 9 represent at least the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such corporate action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.

 

DIRECTORS

 

11.                                 Function.  The business and affairs of the Company will be managed under the direction of its Board.

 

12.                                 Number, Election and Terms.  Subject to the rights, if any, of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, and to any minimum and maximum number of authorized Directors provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, the authorized number of Directors may

 

5



 

be determined from time to time only by a vote of a majority of the Whole Board, but such number shall be no fewer than three nor more than nine.

 

13.                                 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.  Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors and any vacancies on the Board resulting from death, resignation, disqualification, removal, or other cause will be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even though less than a quorum of the Board, or by a sole remaining Director.  Any Director elected in accordance with the preceding sentence will hold office for the remainder of the full term of the class of Directors in which the new directorship was created or the vacancy occurred and until such Director’s successor is elected and qualified.  No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board will shorten the term of an incumbent Director.

 

14.                                 Nominations of Directors; Election.

 

(a)                                  Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors under circumstances specified in a Preferred Stock Designation, only persons who are nominated in accordance with this Bylaw 14 will be eligible for election at a meeting of stockholders as Directors of the Company.

 

(b)                                 Nominations of persons for election as Directors of the Company may be made only at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board or a committee thereof or (ii) by any stockholder that is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw 14, who is entitled to vote for the election of Directors at such annual meeting, and who complies with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw 14.  If a stockholder, or a beneficial owner on whose behalf any such nomination is made, has provided the Company with a Nomination Solicitation Notice, as that term is defined in this Bylaw 14 below, such stockholder or beneficial owner must have delivered a proxy statement and form of proxy to the holders of at least the percentage of shares of the Company entitled to vote required to approve such nomination and included in such materials the Nomination Solicitation Notice.  All nominations by stockholders must be made pursuant to timely notice in proper written form to the Secretary.

 

(c)                                  To be timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Company not less than 90 calendar days nor greater than 120 calendar days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the immediately preceding year’s annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 calendar days prior to or delayed by more than 30 calendar days after the anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the

 

6



 

close of business on the later of (i) the 90th calendar day prior to such annual meeting and (ii) the 10th calendar day following the day on which public disclosure of the date of such meeting is first made.  In no event shall the public disclosure of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. To be in proper written form, such stockholder’s notice must set forth or include (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and the name and principal business address of all (A) persons controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (B) beneficial owners of shares of stock of the Company owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (with the term beneficial ownership as used herein to have the meaning given to that term in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and (C) persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with, any person specified in the foregoing clause (A) or (B) (with the termcontrol as used herein to have the meaning given to that term in Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) (any such person or beneficial owners set forth in the foregoing clauses (A), (B) and (C) shall be aStockholder Associated Person for purposes of this Bylaw 14(c)); (ii) a representation that the stockholder giving the notice is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such annual meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice; (iii) the class and number of shares of stock of the Company owned beneficially and of record by the stockholder giving the notice and each Stockholder Associated Person; (iv) any derivative positions related to any class or series of securities of the Company held or beneficially held by the stockholder and each Stockholder Associated Person; (v) whether and the extent to which any hedging, swap or other transactions or series of transactions have been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, or manage risk of stock price changes for, or to increase the voting power of, the stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person with respect to any shares of stock of the Company, (vi) a description of all arrangements or understandings between or among any of (A) the stockholder giving the notice, (B) any Stockholder Associated Person, (C) each nominee, and (D) any other person or persons (naming such person or persons) pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the stockholder giving the notice; (vii) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by the stockholder giving the notice as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission had the nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board; (viii) the signed consent of each nominee to serve as a Director of the Company if so elected; (ix) whether such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person intends to deliver a proxy statement and form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of shares of the Company entitled to vote required to elect such

 

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nominee or nominees (an affirmative statement of such intent, a “Nomination Solicitation Notice”); and (x) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the persons named in the notice (all of which information in this Bylaw 14(c) shall be supplemented by such stockholder if any of the facts set forth in the notice change during the period between the date such notice is sent and the date of the meeting, not later than five days after the event giving rise to such change).  At the request of the Board, any person nominated by the Board for election as a Director must furnish to the Secretary the information that would have been required to be set forth in a stockholder’s notice pertaining to such nominee.  The presiding officer of any annual meeting will, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Bylaw 14, and if he or she should so determine, he or she will so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination will be disregarded.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw 14, a stockholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw 14. In addition, if the Board so requires, to be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Company, a person must deliver (in accordance with the time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Bylaw 14(c)) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company a written questionnaire with respect to the identity, 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 (A) is not and will not become a party to (1) 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 Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (B) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company 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 the questionnaire, and (C) 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 Company, and will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company.

 

15.                                 Resignation.  Any Director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic transmission of his or her resignation to the Chairman or the Secretary.

 

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Any resignation will be effective upon actual receipt by any such person or, if later, as of the date and time specified in such written notice.

 

16.                                 Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board may be held immediately after the annual meeting of the stockholders and at such other time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as may from time to time be determined by the Board.  Notice of regular meetings of the Board need not be given.

 

17.                                 Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman or the President on one day’s notice to each Director by whom such notice is not waived, given either personally or by mail, courier, telephone, facsimile, or similar medium of communication, and will be called by the Chairman or the President, in like manner and on like notice, on the written request of a majority of the Whole Board.  Special meetings of the Board may be held at such time and place either within or without the State of Delaware as is determined by the Board or specified in the notice of any such meeting.

 

18.                                 Quorum.  At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the Whole Board will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.  Except for the designation of committees as hereinafter provided and except for actions required by these Bylaws or the Certificate of Incorporation to be taken by a majority of the Whole Board, the act of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum will be the act of the Board.  If a quorum is not present at any meeting of the Board, the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time to another place, time, or date, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.

 

19.                                 Participation in Meetings by Remote Communications.  Members of the Board or any committee designated by the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or any such committee, as the case may be, by means of telephone conference or other means by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting will constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

20.                                 Committees.

 

(a)                                  The Board, by resolution passed by a majority of the Whole Board, may designate one or more committees.  Each such committee will consist of one or more Directors and will have such lawfully delegable powers and duties as the Board may confer; provided, however, that no committee shall exercise any power or duty expressly required by the Delaware General Corporation Law, as it may be amended from time to time, to be acted upon by the Board.  Any such committee designated by the Board will have such name as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board.

 

(b)                                 The members of each committee of the Board will serve in such capacity at the pleasure of the Board or as may be specified in any resolution from time to time adopted by the Board.  The Board may designate one or more

 

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Directors as alternate members of any such committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of such committee.  In lieu of such designation by the Board, in the absence or disqualification of any member of a committee of the Board, the members thereof present at any such meeting of such committee and not disqualified from voting, whether or not 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.

 

(c)                                  Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, by law or in any resolution from time to time adopted by the Board, any committee of the Board will have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board in the direction of the management of the business and affairs of the Company.  Any such committee designated by the Board will have such name as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board.  Unless otherwise prescribed by the Board, meetings of any committee of the Board may be held in the same manner as provided in Bylaw 19 or by unanimous written consent in lieu of a meeting, a majority of the members of any such committee will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which there is a quorum will be the act of such committee.  Each committee of the Board may prescribe its own rules for calling and holding meetings and its method of procedure, subject to any rules prescribed by the Board, will keep minutes of its proceedings and all actions taken by it, and will report its proceedings to the Board when required or when requested by a Director to do so.

 

21.                                 Compensation.  The Board may establish the compensation for, and reimbursement of the expenses of, Directors for membership on the Board and on committees of the Board, attendance at meetings of the Board or committees of the Board, and for other services by Directors to the Company or any of its majority-owned subsidiaries.

 

22.                                 Rules.  The Board may adopt rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings and the oversight of the management of the affairs of the Company.

 

NOTICES

 

23.                                 Generally.  Except as otherwise provided by law, these Bylaws, or the Certificate of Incorporation, whenever by law or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to any Director or stockholder, it will not be construed to require personal notice, but such notice may be given in writing, by mail or courier service, addressed to such Director or stockholder, at the address of such Director or stockholder as it appears on the records of the Company, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice will be deemed to be given at the time when the same is deposited in the United States mail.  Notice to Directors may also be given by telephone, facsimile, electronic transmission or similar medium of communication or as otherwise may be permitted by these Bylaws.

 

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24.                                 Waivers.  Whenever any notice is required to be given by law or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time of the event for which notice is to be given, will be deemed equivalent to such notice.  Attendance of a person at a meeting will 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.

 

OFFICERS

 

25.                                 Generally.  The officers of the Company will be elected by the Board and will consist of a Chairman, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.  The Board may also choose any or all of the following:  one or more Vice Chairmen, one or more Assistants to the Chairman, one or more Vice Presidents (who may be given particular designations with respect to authority, function, or seniority), one or more Assistant Secretaries, one or more Assistant Treasurers and such other officers as the Board may from time to time determine.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, by specific action the Board may authorize the Chairman to appoint any person to any office other than Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, President, Secretary or Treasurer.  Any number of offices may be held by the same person.  Any of the offices may be left vacant from time to time as the Board may determine.  In the case of the absence or disability of any officer of the Company or for any other reason deemed sufficient by a majority of the Board, the Board may delegate the absent or disabled officer’s powers or duties to any other officer or to any Director.

 

26.                                 Compensation.  The compensation of all officers and agents of the Company who are also Directors of the Company will be fixed by the Board or by a committee of the Board.  The Board may fix, or delegate the power to fix, the compensation of other officers and agents of the Company to an officer of the Company.

 

27.                                 Succession.  The officers of the Company will hold office until their successors are elected and qualified.  Any officer may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Whole Board.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Company may be filled by the Board or by the Chairman as provided in Bylaw 23.

 

28.                                 Authority and Duties.  Each of the officers of the Company will have such authority and will perform such duties as are customarily incident to their respective offices or as may be specified from time to time by the Board.

 

STOCK

 

29.                                 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares.  Shares of the Company’s common stock or Preferred Stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as permitted under Section 158 of the Delaware General Corporation Law.  Certificates representing shares of stock of the Company will be in such form as is determined by the Board, subject to

 

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applicable legal requirements.  Each such certificate will be numbered and its issuance recorded in the books of the Company, and such certificate will exhibit the holder’s name and the number of shares and will be mechanically signed with a facsimile of the signature of the President or a Vice President, and a facsimile of the signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, and shall also be signed by, or bear the facsimile signature of, a duly authorized officer or agent of any properly designated transfer agent of the Company. Any or all of the signatures and the seal of the Company, if any, upon such certificates may be facsimiles, engraved, or printed. Such certificates may be issued and delivered notwithstanding that the person whose facsimile signature appears thereon may have ceased to be such officer at the time the certificates are issued and delivered.

 

30.                                 Classes of Stock.  The designations, powers, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special rights of the various classes of stock or series thereof, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, will be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificates which the Company issues to represent its stock or, in lieu thereof, such certificates will set forth the office of the Company from which the holders of certificates may obtain a copy of such information at no charge.

 

31.                                 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.  An executive officer or the Secretary may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Company alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact, satisfactory to such executive officer or the Secretary, by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.  As a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, such executive officer or the Secretary may require the owners of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates to advertise the alleged loss, theft or destruction in such a manner as such executive officer or the Secretary may require, and/or to give the Company a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as such executive officer or the Secretary may direct as indemnity against any claims that may be made against the Company with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed or the issuance of the new certificate.

 

32.                                 Record Dates.

 

(a)                                  In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board may fix a record date, which will not be more than 60 nor less than 10 calendar days before the date of such meeting.  If no record date is fixed by the Board, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders will be at the close of business on the calendar day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the calendar day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held.  A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of the stockholders will apply to

 

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any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.

 

(b)                                 In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board 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, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board.  Any stockholder of record seeking to have the stockholders authorize or take corporate action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Company, request that the Board fix a record date.  Any such written notice shall be delivered to the Company in the same manner as signed written consents are required to be delivered pursuant to Bylaw 9.  The Board shall promptly, but in all events within 10 days after the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board within 10 days of the date on which such a request is received, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board is required by applicable law, shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Company in accordance with Bylaw 9.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board and prior action by the Board is required by applicable law, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board adopts the resolution taking such prior action.

 

(c)                                  In order that the Company may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or the stockholders 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 may fix a record date, which record date will not be more than 60 calendar days prior to such action.  If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining stockholders for any such purpose will be at the close of business on the calendar day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto.

 

(d)                                 The Company will be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share of its stock is registered as the owner thereof for all purposes, and will 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 the Company has notice thereof, except as expressly provided by applicable law.  In addition, subject to applicable legal requirements, the Company may (by action of the Whole Board) establish procedures for the verification that depositary or other holders of shares beneficially owned by others have been properly instructed

 

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with respect to the voting of such shares and in respect of the effect of changes in beneficial ownership on the validity of proxies or consents.

 

GENERAL

 

33.                                 Contracts, Checks, Etc.  All contracts, agreements, checks, drafts, notes, bonds, bills of exchange and orders for the payment of money shall be signed or endorsed by the persons whom the Board of Directors prescribes therefor.

 

34.                                 Fiscal Year.  Effective as of January 1, 2008, the fiscal year of the Company shall commence on January 1 of each year and shall end the following December 31.

 

35.                                 Seal.  The Board may adopt a corporate seal and use the same by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

 

36.                                 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records.  Each Director, each member of a committee designated by the Board, and each officer of the Company will, in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good faith upon the records of the Company and upon such information, opinions, reports, or statements presented to the Company by any of the Company’s officers or employees, or committees of the Board, or by any other person or entity as to matters the Director, committee member, or officer 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 Company.

 

37.                                 Time Periods.  In applying any provision of these Bylaws that requires that an act be performed or not be performed a specified number of days prior to an event or that an act be performed during a period of a specified number of days prior to an event, calendar days will be used unless otherwise specified, the day of the doing of the act will be excluded, and the day of the event will be included.

 

38.                                 Amendments.  Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, these Bylaws or any of them may be amended in any respect or repealed at any time, either (i)  at any meeting of stockholders, provided that any amendment or supplement proposed to be acted upon at any such meeting has been described or referred to in the notice of such meeting, or (ii)  at any meeting of the Board, provided that no amendment adopted by the Board may vary or conflict with any amendment adopted by the stockholders in accordance with the Certificate of Incorporation and these Bylaws.  Notwithstanding the foregoing and anything contained in these Bylaws to the contrary, Bylaws 1, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 32(b) and 38 may not be amended or repealed by the stockholders, and no provision inconsistent therewith may be adopted by the stockholders, without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of all classes of voting stock issued and outstanding.

 

39.                                 Insurance.  The Company shall purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is a director or officer of the Company, or is a director or officer of the

 

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Company serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employee or agent of another company or of a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any expense, liability and loss asserted against and incurred or suffered by such person or on such person’s behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of such person’s status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such against such liability under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or applicable law, provided that such insurance is available on reasonably acceptable terms as determined by (i) the executive officer(s) responsible for purchasing or maintaining such insurance; or (ii) a vote of a majority of the Whole Board.

 

40.                                 Certificate of Incorporation and Applicable Law.  These Bylaws are subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and applicable law.

 

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