form8k.htm
UNITED
STATES
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 28,
2008
Kirby
Corporation
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada
|
1-7615
|
75-1884980
|
(State
or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
|
(Commission
File Number)
|
(IRS
Employer Identification No.)
|
55
Waugh Drive, Suite 1000
Houston,
Texas 77007
(Address
of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code: (713) 435-1000
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:
£
|
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17
CFR
230.425)
|
£
|
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
|
£
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.14d-2(b))
|
£
|
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17
CFR
240.13e-4(c))
|
Item
5.02.
|
Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment
of
Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
|
On
January 28, 2008, the Compensation Committee of Kirby’s Board of Directors
awarded discretionary bonuses to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Chief
Financial Officer and three other most highly compensated executive officers
(the “named executive officers”) under the Company’s incentive bonus plan for
2007.
The
Company’s 2007 incentive bonus plan is based on the achievement of three equally
weighted performance measures by each of the Company’s four business groups —
inland marine transportation, diesel engine services, offshore marine
transportation and container-on-barge service — and by the Company as a whole.
The three performance measures are EBITDA (net earnings before interest expense,
taxes on income, depreciation and amortization), return on total capital and
earnings per share.
At
the
beginning of the year, the Compensation Committee established objectives for
each of the three performance measures for the year, based on the budget for
the
year approved by the Board of Directors. A target bonus expressed as a
percentage of base salary was established for each participant. Seventy-five
percent of each participant’s bonus is based on the achievement of the target
performance by the Company and its business groups for the year (shown as the
“formula bonus” in the table below); 25% of each participant’s bonus is
allocated based on a discretionary assessment of individual performance for
the
year (shown as the “discretionary bonus” in the table below).
At
its
January 28 meeting, the Compensation Committee awarded the full discretionary
25% of the bonus award to each named executive officer. The total bonuses earned
by each named executive officer for 2007 were as follows:
Officer
|
|
Formula
Bonus
|
|
|
Discretionary
Bonus
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Joseph
H. Pyne
|
|
$ |
637,007 |
|
|
$ |
212,336 |
|
President
and Chief Executive Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
C.
Berdon Lawrence
|
|
$ |
488,310 |
|
|
$ |
162,770 |
|
Chairman
of the Board
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Stephen
P. Valerius
|
|
$ |
289,148 |
|
|
$ |
96,382 |
|
President,
Kirby Inland Marine,LP
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Norman
W. Nolen
|
|
$ |
233,158 |
|
|
$ |
77,719 |
|
Executive
Vice President,Treasurer
and Chief Financial Officer
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
D.
Lynn Strahan
|
|
$ |
195,277 |
|
|
$ |
65,092 |
|
President,
Kirby Engine Systems, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Item
5.03.
|
Amendments
to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
|
On
January 28, 2008, the Board of
Directors of the Company approved the amendment and restatement of the Company’s
Bylaws. Article II, Section 2 of the Bylaws was amended to change the
voting standard applicable in uncontested elections of directors from a
plurality vote to a majority of the votes cast (excluding abstentions and broker
nonvotes). Article III, Section 7 of the Bylaws was amended to
clarify the sufficiency of electronic notice of board and committee
meetings. Article VI, Sections 1, 3 and 4 of the Bylaws were amended
to clarify the ability of the Company to issue shares in uncertificated
form. Prior to the amendments, the Bylaws did not require
certificates for all shares, but did not expressly authorize issuance in
uncertificated form. The full text of the Bylaws, as amended through
January 28, 2008, is attached as Exhibit 3.1 to this report.
Item
9.01.
|
Financial
Statements and Exhibits
|
(c) Exhibits:
3.1 Bylaws
of the
Company, as amended
SIGNATURE
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.
Dated
January 31, 2008
|
KIRBY
CORPORATION
|
|
(Registrant)
|
|
|
|
|
|
By |
/s/
G. Stephen Holcomb |
|
|
G.
Stephen Holcomb
|
|
|
Vice
President
|
|
EXHIBIT
INDEX
|
Bylaws
of the Company, as amended
|
ex3_1.htm
Exhibit
3.1
KIRBY
CORPORATION
BYLAWS
ARTICLE
I
Offices
Section
1. The
principal office shall be in the City of Reno, County of Washoe, State of
Nevada.
Section
2. The
corporation shall also have an office and a place of business in the City of
Houston, Texas, and it may also have offices at such other places both within
and without the State of Nevada as the Board of Directors may from time to
time
determine or as the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE
II
Meetings
of Stockholders
Section
1. All annual
meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place as may be designated
by
the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, in the City
of
Houston, State of Texas. Special meetings of the stockholders may be held at
such time and place within or without the State of Nevada as shall be stated
in
the notice of the meeting, or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof.
Section
2. Annual meetings
of stockholders shall be held at such time and place and on such date during
the
month of April or May as may be determined by resolution adopted by the Board
of
Directors of the corporation, at which meeting the stockholders shall elect
Directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before
the
meeting. Except in a contested election, each Director shall be elected by
the
vote of a majority of the votes cast with respect to that Director’s
election. In a contested election, Directors shall be elected by a
plurality of the votes cast. A contested election is an election of
Directors in which, as of the date that is 14 days in advance of the date the
corporation files its definitive proxy statement with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (regardless of whether thereafter revised or supplemented),
there are more nominees for election than the number of Directors to be
elected. A majority of the votes cast means that the number of votes
cast “for” a Director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that
Director’s election (with abstentions and broker nonvotes not counted as either
a “for” or “against” vote).
Section
3. Special
meetings of the stockholders may be called only by the Chairman of the Board,
the President or the Board of Directors acting by a majority of the entire
Board
of Directors, in each case stating the purpose or purposes of the proposed
meeting.
Section
4. Notices of
meetings shall be in writing and signed by the President or a Vice President,
or
the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, or by such other person or persons
as
the Directors shall designate. Such notice shall state the purpose or purposes
for which the meeting is called and the time when, and the place, which may
be
within or without this state, where it is to be held. A copy of such notice
shall be either delivered personally to or shall be mailed, postage prepaid,
to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting not less than ten
nor more than sixty days before such meeting. If mailed, it shall be directed
to
a stockholder at his address as it appears upon the records of the corporation
and, upon such mailing of any such notice, the service thereof shall be
complete, and the time of the notice shall begin to run from the date upon
which
such notice is deposited in the mail for transmission to such stockholder.
Personal delivery of any such notice to any officer of a corporation or
association, or to any member of a partnership shall constitute delivery of
such
notice to such corporation, association or partnership. In the event of the
transfer of stock after delivery or mailing of the notice of and prior to the
holding of the meeting, it shall not be necessary to deliver or mail notice
of
the meeting to the transferee.
Section
5. Business
transacted at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the
purposes stated in the notice.
Section
6. A majority of
the voting power, 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 Articles of Incorporation
of
the corporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented
at
any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting shall have the
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.
Section
7. When a quorum is
present or represented at any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority
of
the shares of stock having voting power present in person or represented by
proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question
is one upon which by express provision of the statutes or of the Articles of
Incorporation, a different vote is required, in which case such express
provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section
8. Every
stockholder of record of the corporation shall be entitled at each meeting
of
stockholders to one vote for each share of stock standing in his name on the
books of the corporation.
Section
9. At any
meeting of the stockholders, any stockholder may be represented and vote by
a
proxy or proxies appointed by an instrument in writing. In the event that any
such instrument in writing shall designate two or more persons to act as
proxies, a majority of such persons present at the meeting or, if only one
shall
be present, then that one shall have and may exercise all of the powers
conferred by such written instrument upon all of the persons so designated
unless the instrument shall otherwise provide. No such proxy shall be valid
after the expiration of six months from the date of its execution, unless
coupled with an interest, or unless the person executing it specifies therein
the length of time for which it is to continue in force, which in no case shall
exceed seven years from the date of its execution. Subject to the above, any
proxy duly executed is not revoked and continues in full force and effect until
an instrument revoking it or a duly executed proxy bearing a later date is
filed
with the Secretary of the corporation.
Section
10. Subject to the rights of
the holders of Preferred Stock or any series thereof as shall be prescribed
in
the Articles of Incorporation or in the resolutions of the Board of Directors
providing for the issuance of any such series, any action required or permitted
to be taken by the stockholders of the corporation must be taken at a duly
called annual or special meeting of stockholders of the corporation and may
not
be taken by any consent in writing by such stockholders.
Section
11. Subject to such rights
of the holders of Preferred Stock or any series thereof as shall be prescribed
in the Articles of Incorporation or in the resolutions of the Board of Directors
providing for the issuance of any such series, only persons who are nominated
in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 shall be eligible
for election as, and to serve as, Directors. Nominations of persons for election
to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of stockholders at which
directors are to be elected (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors
(or any duly authorized committee thereof) or (b) by any stockholder of the
corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date of the giving of
the
notice provided for in this Section 11 and on the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting and (ii)
who complies with the requirements of this Section 11. In addition to any other
applicable requirements, nominations, other than those made by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee thereof)
shall be preceded by timely notice thereof in proper written form to the
Secretary of the corporation.
To
be
timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at,
the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 90 days nor
more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding
annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the
annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after
such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder, in order to be timely, must
be
so received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following
the
day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public
disclosure of the date of the annual meeting was made, whichever first occurs.
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, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth (a)
as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election as
a
Director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of such
person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the
class or series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which
are owned beneficially or of record by such person and (iv) any other
information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed
in a
proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with
solicitations of proxies for election of directors pursuant to Section 14 of
the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules
and regulations promulgated thereunder; and (b) as to the stockholder giving
the
notice (i) the name and record address of such stockholder, (ii) the class
or
series and number of shares of capital stock of the corporation which are owned
beneficially or of record by such stockholder, (iii) a description of all
arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and each proposed
nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to
which the nomination(s) are to be made by such stockholder, (iv) a
representation that such stockholder intends to appear in person or by proxy
at
the meeting to nominate the persons named in the notice and (v) any other
information relating to such stockholder that would be required to be disclosed
in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with
solicitations of proxies for election of the Directors pursuant to Section
14 of
the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Such
notice must be accompanied by a written consent of each proposed nominee to
be
named as a nominee and to serve as a Director if elected.
No
person
shall be eligible for election as a Director of the corporation unless nominated
in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11. If the chairman
of the meeting determines that a nomination was not made in accordance with
the
foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the meeting that the
nomination was defective and such defective nomination shall be
disregarded.
Notwithstanding
anything in the second paragraph of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the
event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors
of
the corporation is increased and there is no public disclosure by the
corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size
of
the increased Board of Directors at least 100 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice
required by this by-law shall also be considered timely, but only with respect
to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the corporation
not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which
such public disclosure is first made by the corporation.
For
purposes of this Section 11 and Section 12 of these Bylaws, “public disclosure”
shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service,
Associated Press, PR Newswire, Bloomberg or comparable national news service
or
in a document publicly filed by the corporation with the Securities and Exchange
Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section
12. No business may be
transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders, other than business that is
either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given
by or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized
committee thereof), (b) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting
by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors (or any duly authorized committee
thereof) or (c) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by any
stockholder of the corporation (i) who is a stockholder of record on the date
of
the giving of the notice provided for in this Section 12 and on the record
date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to vote at such annual meeting
and (ii) who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section
12.
In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be properly
brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, such stockholder must have
given timely notice thereof in proper written form to the Secretary of the
corporation.
To
be
timely, a stockholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at
the principal executive offices of the corporation not less than 90 days nor
more than 120 days prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding
annual meeting of stockholders; provided, however, that in the event that the
annual meeting is called for a date that is not within 30 days before or after
such anniversary date, notice by the stockholder, in order to be timely, must
be
so received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following
the
day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or public
disclosure (as defined in Section 11) of the date of the annual meeting was
made, whichever first occurs. 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, a stockholder’s notice to the Secretary must set forth as
to each matter such stockholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting
(a)
a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual
meeting (which shall include the text of the resolution to be presented for
adoption, indicating without limitation the text of any proposed alteration,
amendment, rescission or repeal of these Bylaws) and the reasons for conducting
such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and record address of such
stockholder, (c) the class or series and number of shares of capital stock
of
the corporation which are owned beneficially or of record by such stockholder,
(d) a description of all arrangements or understandings between 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 and (e) a representation that such stockholder
intends to appear in person or by proxy at the annual meeting to bring such
business before the meeting.
No
business shall be conducted at the annual meeting of stockholders except
business brought before the annual meeting in accordance with the procedures
set
forth in this Section 12. If the chairman of the annual meeting
determines that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting
in
accordance with the foregoing procedures, the chairman shall declare to the
meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting and such
business shall not be transacted.
At
a
special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall
have been set forth in the notice of the meeting. At any meeting, matters
incident to the conduct of the meeting may be voted upon or otherwise disposed
of as the chairman of the meeting shall determine to be appropriate.
Section
13. Meetings of
stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board or in his
absence by the President, or in his absence by a Vice President, or in the
absence of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board of
Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen at the
meeting. The Secretary of the corporation shall act as secretary of the meeting,
but in the absence of the Secretary the chairman of the meeting may appoint
any
person to act as secretary of the meeting.
The
date
and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which
the stockholders will vote at a meeting shall be determined by the person
presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors of the corporation may adopt
by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of meetings of
stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent
with any such rules and regulations adopted by the Board of Directors, the
chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and authority
to
prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take all such actions
as,
in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of
the
meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board
of
Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without
limitation, the following: (a) the establishment of an agenda or order of
business for the meeting; (b) rules and procedures for maintaining order at
the
meeting and the safety of those present; (c) limitations on attendance at or
participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the corporation,
their
duly authorized proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the
meeting shall determine; (d) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the
time
fixed for the commencement thereof; and (e) limitations on the time allotted
to
questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined
by
the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders
shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary
procedure.
ARTICLE
III
Directors
Section
1. The number of
Directors of the corporation shall be not fewer than three nor more than
fifteen, and within that range shall be established from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors. Commencing with the election of Directors
at the annual meeting of stockholders held in 2001, the Directors, other than
those who may be elected by the holders of Preferred Stock or any series thereof
as shall be prescribed in the Articles of Incorporation or in the resolutions
of
the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of any such series, shall
be
divided into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as
determined by the Board of Directors. Such classes shall be as nearly equal
in
number as possible. The term of office of the initial Class I Directors shall
expire at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2002, the term of office of
the
initial Class II Directors shall expire at the annual meeting of stockholders
in
2003, and the term of office of the initial Class III Directors shall expire
at
the annual meeting of stockholders in 2004. At each annual meeting of
stockholders beginning with the annual meeting of stockholders in 2002,
Directors elected to succeed Directors whose terms are then expiring shall
serve
for a term ending at the third annual meeting of stockholders after their
election and shall be of the same class as the Directors they succeed; provided
that the Board of Directors may designate one or more directorships whose term
expires at any annual meeting as directorships of another class so that the
classes will be as nearly equal in number as possible. Each Director shall
hold
office until the expiration of his or her term and until his or her successor
is
elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal.
In the event of any change in the authorized number of Directors constituting
the entire Board of Directors, each Director then serving shall nevertheless
continue as a Director of the class of which he or she is a member until the
expiration of his or her current term, or his or her earlier death, resignation
or removal. Directors need not be residents of the State of Nevada nor
stockholders of the corporation.
Section
2. Subject to the
rights of the holders of Preferred Stock or any series thereof as shall be
prescribed in the Articles of Incorporation or in the resolutions of the Board
of Directors providing for the issuance of any such series, newly created
directorships resulting from any increase in the number of Directors and any
vacancies on the Board of Directors resulting from death, resignation,
disqualification, removal or other cause shall be filled by the affirmative
vote
of a majority of the remaining Directors then in office, even though less than
a
quorum, or by the sole remaining Director. Any Director elected in accordance
with the preceding sentence shall 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 shall have been elected and
qualified. Except as otherwise provided with respect to a Director
elected by the holders of Preferred Stock or any series thereof in the Articles
of Incorporation or in resolutions providing for the issuance of any such
series, no decrease in the number of Directors constituting the entire Board
of
Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director. When one
or more directors shall give notice of his or their resignation to the Board,
effective as of a future date, the Board shall have power to fill such vacancy
or vacancies to take effect when such resignation or resignations become
effective, each Director so appointed to hold office for the remainder of the
term of office of the resigning Director or Directors.
Section
3. The
business of the corporation shall be managed by 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 Articles of Incorporation or by these
Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section
4. The Board
of Directors of the corporation may hold meetings, both regular and special,
either within or without the State of Nevada.
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
Section
5. The first
meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held at the offices
of
the corporation in Houston, Texas, immediately following the Annual
Stockholders’ 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 Directors
to hold such meeting at the time and place so fixed, 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 Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time
and
place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board.
Section
7. Special meetings
of the Board of Directors may be called at any time and from time to time by
the
President or Secretary and shall be called by the President or Secretary on
the
written request of two Directors. Oral, written, telegraphic, telephone or
electronic notice of special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given
to each Director at least two (2) days before the date of the
meeting.
Section
8. A majority
of the Board of Directors, at a meeting duly assembled, shall be necessary
to
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority
of
the Directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
the
act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise specifically provided
by statute, or by the Articles of Incorporation. Any action of a majority,
although not at a regularly called meeting, and the record thereof, if assented
to in writing by all of the other members of the Board either before or after
such action, shall be as valid and effective in all respects as if passed by
the
Board in regular meeting.
Section
9. 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 a written consent
thereto is signed by all the members of the Board or of such committee. Such
written consent shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
or
committee.
Section
10. Members of the Board of
Directors and members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors
may
participate in and hold a meeting of such Board or committee by means of a
conference telephone or a similar communications method by which all persons
participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such a
meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Committees
of Directors
Section
11. The Board of Directors may,
by resolution 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 which, to the extent provided in the resolution, shall have and
may
exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the corporation, and may have power to authorize the seal of
the
corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it. Such committee
or
committees shall have such name or names as may be determined from time to
time
by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors.
Section
12. The committees shall
keep regular minutes of their proceedings and report the same to the Board
when
required.
Compensation
of Directors
Section
13. The Directors may be
paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of
Directors and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each meeting of the
Board of Directors or a stated salary as Director. 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.
Advisory
Directors
Section
14. The Board of Directors may
from time to time designate one or more persons as Advisory Directors of the
corporation. Advisory Directors shall serve for terms ending at the time of
the
Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors following the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders each year; provided, however, any or all of the Advisory Directors
may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the Board of
Directors.
Section
15. Advisory Directors shall
receive notice of and be entitled to attend meetings of the Board of Directors
or committees to which they are assigned and shall be entitled to participate
in
discussions at such meetings, but shall not vote. The Board of Directors or
committees shall have the authority to excuse Advisory Directors from all or
portions of any meeting.
Section
16. Advisory Directors
shall not be entitled to vote and shall not have the powers or responsibilities
of a Director of the corporation.
Nomination
of Directors
Section
17. The Board of Directors may
nominate a Director, Directors or slate of Directors to be voted upon by the
Stockholders at the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or at any other meeting
of
Stockholders or at any other meeting of Stockholders at which Directors are
to
be elected. Except as provided in this Section, the Board of Directors shall
not
nominate for election or reelection as a Director any person who will be
seventy-two (72) years of age or older at the time the Stockholders are
scheduled to vote on such election; provided, however, this restriction may
be
waived by the vote or written consent of two-thirds (2/3rds) of the total number
of Directors of the Corporation then in office, excluding, however, any Director
who would otherwise be disqualified for nomination for election. Any such waiver
shall be applicable only to the scheduled election, but additional waivers
may
be granted for subsequent elections.
ARTICLE
IV
Notices
Section
1. Notices to
stockholders shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed to the
stockholders at their addresses appearing on the books of the corporation.
Notice by mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall
be
mailed. Notice to Directors may also be given orally or by telegram or
telephone.
Section
2. Whenever
all parties entitled to vote at any meeting, whether of Directors or
stockholders, consent, either by a writing on the records of the meeting or
filed with the Secretary, or by presence at such meeting and oral consent
entered on the minutes, or by taking part in the deliberations at such meeting
without objection, the doings of such meeting shall be as valid as if had at
a
meeting regularly called and noticed, and at such meeting any business may
be
transacted which is not excepted from the written consent or to the
consideration of which no objection for want of notice is made at the time,
and
if any meeting be irregular for want of notice or of such consent, provided
a
quorum was present at such meeting, the proceedings of said meeting may be
ratified and approved and rendered likewise valid and the irregularity or defect
therein waived by a writing signed by all parties having the right to vote
at
such meetings; and such consent or approval of stockholders may be by proxy
or
attorney, but all such proxies and powers of attorney must be in writing.
Section
3. Whenever any
notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes,
of
the Articles of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, 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 Chairman of the Board of Directors (who must be a Director), a President,
one or more Vice Presidents (as elected by the Board of Directors hereinafter
provided), and a Secretary and a Treasurer. Any person may hold two or more
offices except that the offices of President and Vice President shall not be
held by the same person.
Section
2. The Board
of Directors at its first meeting after each annual meeting of stockholders
shall choose a Chairman and a President (who may be one and the same person)
from among the Directors, and shall choose one or more Vice Presidents (as
hereinafter provided), a Secretary and a Treasurer, none of whom need be a
member of the Board.
Section
3. The Board
of Directors may appoint additional Vice Presidents, and Assistant Secretaries
and Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as it shall 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.
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 Board of
Directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation by death,
resignation, removal or otherwise shall be filled by the Board of
Directors.
Chairman
of the Board of Directors
Section
6. The
Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be chosen from the membership of the
Board of Directors.
Section
7. He shall
preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and stockholders and, except
as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or ordered by the Board of Directors,
shall appoint all special or other committees of the Board of Directors.
Section
8. He may call
meetings of the Board of Directors whenever he deems same to be necessary;
and
he shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors from time to time.
The
President
Section
9. The
President of the corporation shall be the chief executive officer of the
corporation, shall have general and active management of the business of the
corporation and shall see that all policies, orders and resolutions of the
Board
of Directors are carried into effect. If there is no Chairman of the Board
or
during the absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board, the President
shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors
and shall exercise all of the other powers and discharge all of the other duties
of the Chairman of the Board. He may call meetings of the Board of Directors
and
of any committee thereof whenever he deems same to be necessary.
Section
10. He may sign and deliver on
behalf of the corporation any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts, powers of
attorney or other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to
be
executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be
expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other
officer or agent of the corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise
signed or executed. He shall perform all such other duties as are incident
to
his office or are properly required of or assigned to him by the Board of
Directors.
Section
11. He shall have the
right to exercise on behalf of the corporation any and all voting privileges,
including the power to grant proxies, on all stocks of subsidiaries of the
corporation and all other securities owned by or on behalf of the corporation,
such right to be exercised by him in his discretion as he deems in the best
interest of the corporation unless limited or otherwise directed by resolution
of the Board of Directors.
The
Vice
President
Section
12. The Vice President who
shall be senior by designation of the Board of Directors or, if no Vice
President is so designated, then the Vice President who shall have longest
served in such capacity shall, in the absence or disability of the President,
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and shall perform
such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time
prescribe.
Section
13. All other Vice
Presidents, if any, shall at all times possess power to sign all certificates,
contracts and other instruments of the corporation, except as otherwise limited
in writing by the Chairman of the Board or the President of the corporation,
and
shall have such other authority and perform such other duties as these Bylaws
or
the Board of Directors, executive committee, Chairman of the Board or President
shall prescribe. They shall succeed, in order of seniority, to the duties and
powers of other Vice Presidents who are absent or disabled.
The
Secretary and Assistant Secretaries
Section
14. 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 the 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 keep
in
safe custody the seal of the corporation, and when authorized by the Board
of
Directors, affix the same to any instrument requiring it and, when so affirmed,
it shall be attested by his signature or by the signature of the Treasurer
or an
Assistant Secretary.
Section
15. The Assistant Secretaries
shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties as
the
Board of Directors shall prescribe.
The
Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers
Section
16. 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 valuable effects in the
name
and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated
by the Board of Directors.
Section
17. He 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 the regular meetings of the Board, 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
18. If required by the Board of
Directors, he shall give the corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety
or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the 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
19. The Assistant
Treasurers in the order of their seniority shall, in the absence or disability
of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer
and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall
prescribe.
Operating
Divisions
Section
20. The Board of Directors may,
by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, establish one or more
operating divisions of the corporation, and may confer on the employees of
the
corporation assigned to any such operating division the title of President,
Vice
President and any other titles deemed appropriate. The Board of Directors may
at
any time discontinue any such operating division or title. The designation
of
any such titles for employees assigned to operating divisions of the corporation
shall not be permitted to conflict in any way with any executive or
administrative authority established from time to time by or for the
corporation. Any employee designated as an officer of an operating division
shall have authority, responsibilities and duties with respect to such operating
division corresponding to those normally vested in the comparable officer of
the
corporation by these Bylaws, subject to such limitations as may be imposed
by
the Board of Directors of the corporation.
ARTICLE
VI
Certificates
of Stock
Section
1. Shares of stock
of the corporation may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under
Nevada law. Every holder of certificated shares shall be entitled to have a
certificate, signed by the 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.
If
the corporation shall be authorized to issue more than one class of stock or
more than one series of any class, the designations, preferences and relative,
participating, optional or other special rights of the various classes of stock
or series thereof and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such
rights, shall be set forth in full or summarized on the face or back of any
certificate which the corporation shall issue to represent such stock and,
if
the corporation shall be authorized to issue only special stock, such
certificate shall be set forth in full or summarize the rights of the holders
of
such stock.
Section
2. Whenever
any certificate is countersigned or otherwise authenticated by a transfer agent
or transfer clerk, and by a registrar duly appointed by the corporation, then
a
facsimile of the signatures of the officers or agents of the corporation may
be
printed or lithographed upon such certificate in lieu of the actual signatures.
In case any officer or officers who shall have signed, or whose facsimile
signature or signatures shall have been used on, any such certificate or
certificates shall cease to be such officer or officers of the corporation,
whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate
or
certificates shall have been delivered by the corporation, such certificate
or
certificates may nevertheless be adopted by the corporation and be issued and
delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or
certificates, or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been used
thereon, had not ceased to be the officer or officers of such
corporation.
Section
3. The Board
of Directors may direct a new certificate or certificates, or uncertificated
shares, to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore
issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost or destroyed, upon the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate
of
stock to be lost or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate
or certificates or of uncertificated shares, the Board of Directors may, in
its
discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the
owner of such lost or destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal
representative, to advertise the same in such manner as it shall require and/or
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 or destroyed.
Transfer
of Stock
Section
4. Transfers
of shares of stock of the corporation shall be made on the stock records of
the
corporation only upon authorization by the registered holder of such shares,
or
by such holder’s attorney duly authorized in writing, and, if the shares are
certificated, upon surrender to the corporation or any duly appointed transfer
agent of the corporation of the certificate or certificates for such shares
duly
endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or
authority to transfer.
Closing
of Transfer Books
Section
5. The
Directors may prescribe a period not exceeding sixty days prior to any meeting
of the stockholders during which no transfer of stock on the books of the
corporation may be made, or may fix a day not more than sixty days prior to
the
holding of any such meeting as the day as of which stockholders entitled to
notice of and to vote at such meeting shall be determined; and only stockholders
of record on such day shall be entitled to notice or to vote at such
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 Nevada.
ARTICLE
VII
General
Provisions
Dividends
Section
1. Dividends upon
the capital stock of the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Articles
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 or other securities of the
corporation, subject to the provisions of the Articles 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.
Checks
Section
3. All checks
or demands for money and notes of the corporation shall be signed by such
officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors
may from time to time designate.
Fiscal
Year
Section
4. The fiscal
year of the corporation shall be fixed by the resolutions of the Board of
Directors.
Seal
Section
5. The
corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the
year of its incorporation and the words “Corporate Seal, Nevada.”
ARTICLE
VIII
Amendments
Section
1. Subject to the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, and in addition to any affirmative
vote required by law, any alteration, amendment, repeal or rescission of these
Bylaws must be approved either (a) by the Board of Directors by the affirmative
vote of at least a majority of the then-authorized number of Directors or (b)
by
the stockholders by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3%
of
the combined voting power of the then-outstanding shares of stock entitled
to
vote generally in elections of Directors, voting together as a single class.
No
amendment, alteration, rescission or repeal of these Bylaws shall be effective
to reduce the term of any incumbent Director, whether by reduction in the number
of Directors, changes to the provisions for the division of the Directors into
classes or otherwise.
ARTICLE
IX
Indemnification
of Directors and Officers
Section
1. The
Corporation shall indemnify each and every present and former director and
officer of the Corporation, and each and every person who may have served at
the
Corporation’s request as a director or officer of another corporation in which
the Corporation owns shares of capital stock or of which the Corporation is
a
creditor (each of which other corporations is individually referred to herein
as
an “Other Enterprise”), against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees)
actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with the defense of
any
action, suit or proceeding in which he was or is a party by reason of being
or
having been a director or officer of the Corporation or Other Enterprise to
the
fullest extent permitted by law. The rights of indemnification
provided in this Section 1 shall be in addition to any other rights to which
a
person may otherwise be entitled by any other sections of this Article IX,
the
Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, statute, agreement, vote of
stockholders or otherwise.
Section
2. The
Corporation shall indemnify officers and directors of the Corporation, as well
as other persons who serve as agents and employees of the Corporation, to the
extent set forth in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.
Section
3. The
Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, and contractually
agree to indemnify, 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 provisions of Section 1 or Section 2
of this Article IX.
As
amended through January 28, 2008.