BY-LAWS
of
CHEMED
CORPORATION
(a
Delaware Corporation)
(As
amended through April 16, 2009)
BY-LAWS
of
CHEMED
CORPORATION
(a
Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE
I
Meeting
of Stockholders
Section
1.01. Place. Meetings of stockholders shall be held
at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be specified
in the respective notices or waivers of notice thereof.
Section 1.02. Annual
Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election
of directors and the transaction of such other business as may come before it
shall be held at 11:00 o’ clock in the forenoon, or at such other hour as may be
stated in the notice thereof, on (i) the third Monday of May in each year unless
such day is a holiday, in which case it shall be held on the next day following
that is not a holiday or (ii) on such other date in such year as the Board of
Directors shall determine.
Section 1.03. Special
Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders, for any purpose or
purposes, may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary, and shall be called by the
Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the
Secretary upon the written request of a majority of the Board of Directors or of
the holders of record of shares having a majority of the voting power of the
stock of the corporation then entitled to vote for the election of directors,
such written request to state the purpose or purposes of the meeting and to be
delivered to the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Secretary.
Section 1.04. Notice and
Waiver of Notice. Unless otherwise provided by law, notice of
each annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place
and purpose or purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to
vote at such meeting, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the day
on which the meeting is to be held, by mailing to such stockholder, postage
prepaid, a notice thereof addressed to him at his last known post office address
appearing on the records of the corporation. Notice of any meeting of
stockholders need not be given to any person who may become a stockholder of
record after the record date for such meeting fixed pursuant to Section 7.03,
nor to any person who shall attend the meeting in person or by proxy nor to any
stockholder who shall sign a waiver of such notice in writing either before,
after or at the time of such meeting. Except as otherwise provided by
law, notice of any adjourned meeting of stockholders need not be
given.
Section 1.05. List of
Stockholders. The Secretary, or other officer of the
corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the corporation, shall prepare
and make, at least ten days before every
meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at
such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, and showing the address of each
stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each
stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, for a period of at least
ten days prior to such meeting, (i) on a reasonably accessible electronic
network, provided that the information required to gain access to such list is
provided with the notice of the meeting, or (ii) during ordinary business hours,
at the principal place of business of the corporation, and such list shall be
produced and kept at the time and place of such meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section
1.06. Quorum. At all meetings of stockholders, the
holders of record, present in person or by proxy, of shares having a majority of
the voting power of the stock of the corporation entitled to vote thereat, shall
be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business. In the absence of a quorum, the holders of record of shares
having a majority of the voting power of the stock of the corporation
represented in person or by proxy at the time and place of the meeting, or of
any adjournment thereof, may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the time and place of such meeting or
adjournment, until a quorum shall be present. At any adjourned
session of any such meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
noticed.
Section
1.07. Voting. When a quorum is present at any
meeting of stockholders, the vote of the holders of shares having a majority of
the voting power of the stock of the corporation represented and entitled to
vote at such meeting shall decide any question brought before such meeting,
unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of law or of the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, a different vote is required, in
which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such
question.
Each
stockholder shall at every meeting of stockholders be entitled to one vote for
each share of the capital stock of the corporation registered in such
stockholder’s name on the books of the corporation at the record date fixed as
provided in Section 7.03. A stockholder may vote either in person or
by proxy, but no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after one year from its
date.
Section 1.08. Consent in
Lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior
notice and without a vote, if consents in writing, setting forth the action so
taken, shall be signed by the holders of record of shares having not less than
the minimum voting power that would be necessary to take such action at a
meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and
voted.
ARTICLE
II
Directors
Section
2.01. Number. The number of directors which shall
constitute the whole Board of Directors shall be no fewer than three nor more
than forty. The first Board of Directors shall consist of three
directors. Thereafter, within the minimum and maximum above
specified, the number of directors which shall constitute the whole Board of
Directors shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or, in the
absence thereof, shall be the number of directors elected at the preceding
annual meeting of stockholders.
Section 2.02. Election;
Qualification. Directors shall be elected at each annual
meeting of stockholders, and may also be elected as provided in Section 2.04 of
this Article. Directors shall be chosen by a plurality of the votes
cast. Directors need not be stockholders of the
corporation.
Section 2.03. Term of
Office. Each director shall serve until his successor is
elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, disqualification or
removal.
Section
2.04. Resignations; Removals; Filling of
Vacancies. Any director may resign at any time by giving
notice of such resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise
specified in such notice, such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of
such notice by the Board of Directors or such officer. Any director
may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, by vote of the holders
of shares having a majority of the voting power of the stock of the corporation
entitled to vote for the election of directors.
Vacancies
in the Board of Directors, whether caused by resignation, removal, death or any
other reason, and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the
authorized number of directors, may be filled either by majority vote of the
directors then remaining in office (whether or not sufficient in number to
constitute a quorum), or by a sole remaining director, or by a plurality of the
votes cast at the meeting of stockholders held for that purpose. In
the event that one or more directors shall resign from the Board, effective at a
future date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who
have so resigned effective at a future date, shall have power to fill the
vacancy or vacancies which will result when such resignation or resignations
become effective, the vote thereon to take effect when such resignation or
resignations become effective.
Section
2.05. Powers. The business and affairs of
the corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors, which may
exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and
things as are not by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these
By-Laws directed or required to be exercised or done by the
stockholders.
Section 2.06. Chairman of
the Board. The Board of Directors may elect from its members a
Chairman of the Board who shall serve until the next annual election of
directors, or until his death, resignation, disqualification or
removal. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all stockholder
and Board meetings and perform such duties and have such powers as from time to
time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors. The Chairman
may resign at any time by giving notice of such resignation to the Board of
Directors. Unless otherwise specified in such notice, such
resignation shall be effective upon receipt of such notice by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman of the Board may be removed from such
position at any time, either for or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the whole Board of Directors. In the event that the
position of Chairman of the Board becomes vacant for any reason, the Chief
Executive Officer shall assume the position of Chairman of the Board until such
time as a new Chairman of the Board is elected by a majority of the whole Board
of Directors.
ARTICLE
III
Meetings
of the Board of Directors
Section
3.01. Place. Meetings of directors, both regular
and special, may be held either within or without the State of
Delaware.
Section 3.02. Annual and
Regular Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors
for the election of officers, and for the transaction of such business as may be
deemed desirable by the directors present, shall be held in each year
immediately following the annual meeting of stockholders, at the place of such
meeting, or at such time and place as the retiring Board of Directors may have
designated. If the annual meeting of the Board of Directors is so
held, no notice thereof need be given. If the annual meeting of the
Board of Directors shall not be so held in any year, such meeting shall be held
as soon after the annual meeting of stockholders as practicable, upon notice as
required for special meetings of the Board of Directors under Section
3.03. The Board of Directors from time to time may provide for the
holding of regular meetings and fix the times and places of such meetings, and
no notice need be given of regular meetings held at the times and places so
fixed.
Section 3.03. Special Meetings and Notice Thereof;
Waiver of Notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President or the Secretary, and shall be called by the Chairman of
the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary upon the
written request of any two directors, such written request to state the purpose
or purposes of the meeting and to be delivered to the Chairman of the Board, the
Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Notice of
each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be mailed to each director,
postage prepaid, addressed to him at his residence or his usual place of
business, at least two days before the day on which the meeting is to be held,
or shall be sent to him at such place by telegram, radio or cable or shall be
telephoned or delivered to him personally not later than the day before the
meeting is to be held. Notice of any special meeting need not be
given to any director who shall attend such meeting in person or who shall waive
notice thereof in writing or by telegram, radio or cable, either before, after
or at the time of such meeting. Except as otherwise
provided by law, notice of any adjourned meeting of the Board of Directors need
not be given.
Section
3.04. Quorum. At each meeting of the Board of
Directors (subject to the provision of Section 2.04 regarding the filling of
vacancies), the presence of a majority of the total number of directors
constituting the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. Except as otherwise provided in these
By-Laws, the vote 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. In
the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present at the time and
place of any meeting or of any adjournment thereof (or if only one director be
present, then that one) may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the time and place of such meeting or
adjournment, until a quorum shall be present. At any adjourned
session of any such meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
noticed.
Section 3.05. Consent in
lieu of Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if all
members of the Board of Directors consent thereto in writing and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors.
Section
3.06. Participation by Telephone. Directors may
participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors by means of conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons
participating in such meeting can hear each other, and such participation shall
constitute such directors' presence at such meeting.
ARTICLE
IV
Executive
Committee and Other Committees
Section 4.01. Creation of
Committee. The Board of Directors may, by action of a majority
of the whole Board of Directors, designate an Executive Committee and/or one or
more other committees, each consisting of one or more directors.
Section 4.02. Powers of
Committee. Subject to any limitations imposed by law or by
resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee shall have and may exercise, when the Board of Directors is not in
session, all power and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of
the business and affairs of the corporation, except any power or authority in
reference to (a) amending the Certificate of Incorporation, (b) approving an
agreement of merger or consolidation, (c) recommending to the stockholders the
sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the corporation's
property and assets, (d) approving the dissolution of the corporation or the
revocation of a dissolution, (e) altering, amending or repealing
these By-Laws, (f) declaring a dividend or authorizing any other distribution to
the stockholders, (g) authorizing the issuance of capital stock of the
corporation, or any rights, options or warrants to acquire the same, except
pursuant to a plan previously approved by the Board of Directors, (h)
designating any committee of the Board of Directors or appointing or removing a
member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, (i) filling
vacancies on the Board of Directors, or (j) electing or removing the Chairman of
the Board or an officer of the corporation. Each other committee
shall have and may exercise, when the Board of Directors is not in session, such
powers, not exceeding those which may be granted to the Executive Committee, as
the Board of Directors shall confer.
Section 4.03. Meeting and
Proceedings. Except as otherwise provided in these By-Laws or
by resolutions of the Board of Directors, each committee shall adopt its own
rules governing the conduct of its proceedings. All action by any
committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at the next meeting
thereof and shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of
Directors, provided that no such revision or alteration shall affect the rights
of third parties. At each meeting of any committee, the presence of a
majority of the total number of members constituting the committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a
majority of the members of the committee present at any meeting at which a
quorum is present shall be the action of the committee.
Section 4.04. Term of
Office; Resignations; Removals; Filling of Vacancies. The term
of office of a member of a committee shall be as provided in the resolution of
the Board of Directors designating the committee or designating him as a member
but shall not exceed his term of office as a director. If prior to
the end of his term of office as a member of a committee a member should cease
to be a director, he shall cease to be a member of the committee. Any
member of any committee may resign at any time by giving notice of such
resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise
specified in such notice, such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of
such notice by the Board of Directors or such officer. Any member of
any committee may be removed at any time from such committee, either for or
without cause by action of a majority of the whole Board of
Directors. Vacancies in any committee may be filled by the Board of
Directors by action of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
V
Officers
Section 5.01. Election;
Number; Qualifications; Term. The officers of the corporation
shall be elected by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, and shall
include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Executive Vice
Presidents, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Treasurer, one or more Assistant
Treasurers and such other officers as may be elected in the discretion of the
Board of Directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person. Officers need not be directors or stockholders of the
corporation. Each officer shall hold office until his successor is
elected and qualified, or until his death, resignation, disqualification or
removal.
Section 5.02. Power and
Duties in General. In addition to the powers and duties
prescribed by these By-Laws, the officers and assistant officers shall have such
powers and duties as are usually incident to their respective offices, subject
to the control of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.03. The Chief
Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the
corporation shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have
general charge of the business and affairs of the corporation and general
supervision of its officers and agents and shall, in the absence of the Chairman
of the Board, preside at all meetings of stockholders and of the Board of
Directors at which he shall be present. He shall prepare and present
reports to the Board concerning the state of the corporation's business and
affairs. The Board may designate one of the other officers of the
corporation to perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in his
absence.
Section 5.04. The
President. The President shall, during any absence of the
Chief Executive Officer, carry out all of the duties of the Chief Executive
Officer. He shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned
to him by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 5.05. The Vice
Presidents. An Executive Vice President, a Senior Vice
President or Vice President shall perform such duties as from time to time may
be assigned to him by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or by the Board
of Directors or by any committee thereunto authorized.
Section 5.06. The
Secretary. The Secretary shall cause the minutes of all
proceedings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors to be recorded in the
minute book of the corporation, shall cause all notices to be duly given in
accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law, and
shall have charge and custody of the records and the seal of the
corporation.
Section 5.07. The
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of the
corporate funds and securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements, shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects
in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be
designated in accordance with these By-Laws, and shall render a report and
account of the transactions of the corporation and of the financial condition of
the corporation whenever so required by the Board of Directors or the Chief
Executive Officer.
Section
5.08. Resignations; Removals; Filling of
Vacancies. Any officer may resign at any time by giving notice
of such resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or the Secretary. Unless otherwise specified in such
notice, such resignation shall be effective upon receipt of such notice by the
Board of Directors or such officer. Any officer may be removed at any
time, either for or without cause, by action of a majority of the whole Board of
Directors.
Section
5.09. Bonding. None of the officers, assistant
officers and other employees, agents or representatives of the corporation shall
be required to give bond unless the Board of Directors shall in its discretion
require any such bond or bonds. Any bond so required shall be payable
to the corporation in such amount and with such conditions and security as the
Board of Directors may require.
ARTICLE
VI
Instruments,
Deposits, Checks, Proxies
Section 6.01. Execution of
Instruments. The Chief Executive Officer, the President or any
Vice President may enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument
(including, but not limited to, any check, bill of exchange, order for the
payment of money, promissory note, acceptance, evidence of indebtedness or proxy
to vote with respect to shares of stock of another corporation owned by or
standing in the name of the corporation) in the name and on behalf of the
corporation, subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The
Board of Directors may authorize any officer, employee or agent to enter into
any contract or execute and deliver any such instrument in the name and on
behalf of the corporation, and such authorization may be general or confined to
specific instances. To the extent authorized by the Board of
Directors, the signature of any such person may be a facsimile.
Section
6.02. Deposits. Monies and other valuable effects
of the corporation may be deposited from time to time to the credit of the
corporation with such depositories as may be selected by the Board of Directors
or by any committee, officer or agent of the corporation to whom power of
selection may be delegated from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
VII
Stock
Certificates; Registered Holders
Section 7.01. Issuance;
Signatures. Every holder of stock of the corporation shall be
entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the corporation by
the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, and by either
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 such certificate is countersigned by a transfer
agent other than the corporation or one of its employees, or a registrar other
than the corporation or its employees, any other signature on the certificate
may be a facsimile. Stock certificates shall be in such form as shall
be approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.02. Continuing
Validity of Signatures. In case any officer, transfer agent or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any
such certificate shall cease to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar,
whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such certificate is
issued, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by the corporation with the
same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at
the date of issue.
Section 7.03. Record
Date. In order that the corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, or to consent to corporate action in writing without a
meeting, or to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any
change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the purpose of any other lawful
action, the board of directors may
fix a record date, and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of
record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, or to be
present or to vote at, such meeting or any adjournment thereof, or to express
such consent, or to receive such payment, distribution or allotment, or to
exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any
stock on the books of the corporation after any such record date fixed as
aforesaid. Any record date set to determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment
thereof shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record
date is adopted by the board of directors and shall not be more than sixty nor
less than ten days before the date of such meeting.
Section 7.04. Registered
Stockholders. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize
the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares
to have the rights of a stockholder with respect thereto, 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 law.
Section 7.05. Lost
Certificates. When any certificate of stock is alleged to have
been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the corporation shall issue a new
certificate if the owner (a) so requests before the corporation has notice that
the certificate has been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, (b) files with the
corporation a sufficient indemnity bond and (c) satisfies any other reasonable
requirements imposed by the corporation. The Board of Directors may
waive the requirement of any such indemnity bond.
ARTICLE
VIII
Miscellaneous
Section
8.01. Offices. The principal office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware shall be at No. 100 West Tenth Street,
Wilmington, Delaware. The corporation may also have offices at other
places within or without the State of Delaware.
Section 8.02. Fiscal
Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall begin on the
1st day of January in each year, and shall end on the 31st day of December in
such year.
Section
8.03. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation, the year of its organization and the words
"Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a
facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced.
Section 8.04. Compensation
of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have authority to
fix the compensation of directors (including the Chairman of the
Board). The directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of
attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors and/or a stated salary as
director. No such payment shall preclude any director or committee
member from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefore. Members of committees may be allowed like
compensation for attending committee meetings.
Section 8.05. Compensation
of Officers and Employees. The compensation of officers and,
to the extent the Board of Directors shall deem advisable, the compensation of
all other employees, agents and representatives of the corporation shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors in accordance with procedures adopted by
it. Compensation may be contingent and/or measured in whole or in
part by the profits of the corporation and its subsidiaries or a segment
thereof. Bonuses, other extra or incentive compensation, deferred
compensation and retirement benefits may be paid. Such amounts may be
payable in cash, stock of the corporation or other property. The
Board of Directors may delegate the authority contained in this section to such
directors, officers, employees or agents of the corporation as the Board of
Directors deems advisable.
Section 8.06. Amendment of
By-Laws. The By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed from
time to time, and new By-Laws may be made and adopted, by action of a majority
of the whole Board of Directors or by the stockholders.
ARTICLE
IX
Indemnification
Section 9.01. Right to
Indemnification. The corporation shall to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law as then in effect indemnify each person (the
"Indemnitee") who was or is involved in any manner (including, without
limitation, as a party or a witness) or is threatened to be made so involved in
any threatened, pending or completed investigation, claim, action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (including,
without limitation, any action, suit or proceeding by, or in the right of, the
corporation to procure a judgment in its favor)(a "Proceeding") by reason of the
fact that he is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including,
without limitation, any employee benefit plan) against all expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him in connection with such Proceeding. Such
indemnification shall be a contract right and shall include the right to receive
payment in advance of any expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in connection with
such Proceeding, consistent with the provisions of applicable law as then in
effect.
Section 9.02. Insurance, Contracts
and Funding. The corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance to protect itself and any Indemnitee against any expenses, judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement as specified in Section 9.01 of this
Article or incurred by any Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding referred
to in Section 9.01 of this Article, to the fullest extent permitted by
applicable law as then in effect. The corporation may enter into
contracts with any director or officer of the corporation in furtherance of the
provisions of this Article and may create a trust fund, grant a security
interest or use other means (including, without limitation, a letter of credit)
to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect
indemnification as provided in this Article.
Section
9.03. Indemnification; Not Exclusive Right. The
right of indemnification provided in this Article shall not be exclusive of any
other rights to which those seeking indemnification may otherwise be entitled,
and the provisions of this Article shall inure to the benefit of the heirs and
legal representatives of any person entitled to indemnification under this
Article and shall be applicable to Proceedings commenced or continuing after the
adoption of this Article, whether arising from acts or omissions occurring
before or after such adoption.
Section 9.04. Advancement
of Expenses; Procedures; Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings;
Remedies. In furtherance, but not in limitation of the
foregoing provisions, the following procedures, presumptions and remedies shall
apply with respect to advancement of expenses and the right to indemnification
under this Article:
(a) Advancement of
Expenses. All reasonable expenses incurred by or on behalf of
the Indemnitee in connection with any Proceeding shall be advanced to the
Indemnitee by the corporation within 20 days after the receipt by the
corporation of a statement or statements from the Indemnitee requesting such
advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after final
disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee and, if required by
law at the time of such advance, shall include or be accompanied by an
undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnitee to repay the amounts advanced if
it should ultimately be determined that the Indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified against such expenses pursuant to this Article.
(b) Procedure for Determination of
Entitlement to Indemnification. (i) To obtain indemnification
under this Article, an Indemnitee shall submit to the Secretary of the
corporation a written request, including such documentation and information as
is reasonably available to the Indemnitee and reasonably necessary to determine
whether and to what extent the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification (the
"Supporting Documentation"). The determination of the Indemnitee's
entitlement to indemnification shall be made not later than 60 days after
receipt by the corporation of the written request for indemnification together
with the Supporting Documentation. The Secretary of the corporation
shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the
Board of Directors in writing that the Indemnitee has requested
indemnification.
(ii) The
Indemnitee's entitlement to indemnification under this Article shall be
determined in one of the following ways: (a) by a majority vote of the
Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter defined), if they constitute a quorum of
the Board of Directors; (b) by a written opinion of Independent Counsel (as
hereinafter defined) if (x) a Change of Control (as hereinafter defined) shall
have occurred and the Indemnitee so requests or (y) a quorum of the Board of
Directors consisting of Disinterested Directors is not obtainable or, even if
obtainable, a majority of such Disinterested Directors so directs; (c) by the
stockholders of the corporation (but only if a majority of the Disinterested
Directors, if they constitute a quorum of the Board of Directors, presents the
issue of entitlement to indemnification to the stockholders for their
determination); or (d) as provided in Section 9.04(c).
(iii) In
the event the determination of entitlement to indemnification is to be made by
Independent Counsel pursuant to Section 9.04(b)(ii), a majority of the
Disinterested Directors shall select the Independent Counsel, but only an
Independent Counsel to which the Indemnitee does not reasonably object;
provided, however, that if a Change of Control shall have occurred, the
Indemnitee shall select such Independent Counsel, but only an Independent
Counsel to which the Board of Directors does not reasonably object.
(c) Presumptions and Effect of
Certain Proceedings. Except as otherwise expressly provided in
this Article, the Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification
under this Article upon submission of a request for indemnification together
with the Supporting Documentation in accordance with Section 9.04(b)(i), and
thereafter the corporation shall have the burden of proof to overcome that
presumption in reaching a contrary determination. In any event, if
the person or persons empowered under Section 9.04(b) to determine entitlement
to indemnification shall not have been appointed or shall not have made a
determination within 60 days after receipt by the corporation of the request
therefore together with the Supporting Documentation, the Indemnitee shall be
deemed to be entitled to indemnification and the Indemnitee shall be entitled to
such indemnification unless (a) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to
disclose a material fact in making the request for indemnification or in the
Supporting Documentation or (b) such indemnification is prohibited by
law. The termination of any Proceeding described in Section 9.01, or
of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its
equivalent, shall not, of itself, adversely affect the right of the Indemnitee
to indemnification or create a presumption that the Indemnitee did not act in
good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not apposed
to the best interests of the corporation or, with respect to any criminal
Proceeding, that the Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct
was unlawful.
(d) Remedies of
Indemnitee. (i) In the event that a determination is made
pursuant to Section 9.04(b) that the Indemnitee is not entitled to
indemnification under this Article, (a) the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek
an adjudication of his entitlement to such indemnification either, at the
Indemnitee's sole option, in (x) an appropriate court of the State of Delaware
or any other court of competent jurisdiction or (y) an arbitration to be
conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the rules of the American
Arbitration Association; (b) any such judicial proceeding or arbitration shall
be de novo and the
Indemnitee shall not be prejudiced by reason of such adverse determination; and
(c) in any such judicial proceeding or arbitration the corporation shall have
the burden of proving that the Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification
under this Article.
(ii) If a
determination shall have been made or deemed to have been made, pursuant to
Section 9.04(b) or (c), that the Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the
corporation shall be obligated to pay the amounts constituting such
indemnification within five days after such determination has been made or
deemed to have been made and shall be conclusively bound by such determination
unless (a) the Indemnitee misrepresented or failed to disclose a material fact
in making the request for indemnification or in the Supporting Documentation or
(b) such indemnification is prohibited by law. In the event that (c)
advancement of expenses is not timely made pursuant to Section 9.04(a) or (d)
payment of indemnification is not made within five days after a determination of
entitlement to indemnification has been made or deemed to have been made
pursuant to Section 9.04(b) or (c), the Indemnitee shall be entitled to seek
judicial enforcement of the corporation's obligation to pay to the Indemnitee
such advancement of expenses or indemnification. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the corporation may bring an action, in an appropriate court in the
State of Delaware or any other court of competent jurisdiction, contesting the
right of the Indemnitee to receive indemnification hereunder due to the
occurrence of an event described in subclause (a) or (b) of this clause (ii) (a
"Disqualifying Event"); provided, however, that in any such action the
corporation shall have the burden of proving the occurrence of such
Disqualifying Event.
(iii) The
corporation shall be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or
arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 9.04(d) that the procedures and
presumptions of this Article are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall
stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the corporation
is bound by all the provisions of this Article.
(iv) In
the event that the Indemnitee, pursuant to this Section 9.04(d), seeks a
judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce his rights under,
or to recover damages for breach of, this Article, the Indemnitee shall be
entitled to recover from the corporation, and shall be indemnified by the
corporation against, any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him if the
Indemnitee prevails in such judicial adjudication or arbitration. If
it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that the
Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or
advancement of expenses sought, the expenses incurred by the Indemnitee in
connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be prorated
accordingly.
(e) Definitions. For
the purposes of this Section 9.04: (i) "Change in Control" means a change in
control of the corporation of a nature that would be required to be reported in
response to Item 6(e) of Section 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Act"), whether or not the corporation is
then subject to such reporting requirement; provided that, without limitation,
such a change in control shall be deemed to have occurred if (a) any "person"
(as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Act) is or becomes the
"beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Act), directly or
indirectly, of securities of the corporation representing 5 percent or more of
the combined voting power of the corporation's then outstanding securities
without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board of
Directors in office immediately prior to such acquisition; (b) the corporation
is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other reorganization,
or a proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board of Directors
in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute less than a
majority of the Board of Directors thereafter; or (c) during any period of two
consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period constituted
the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director whose
election or nomination for election by the corporation's stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least a majority of the directors then still in office
who were directors at the beginning of such period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
(ii)
"Disinterested Director" means a director of the corporation who is not or was
not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification is sought by
the Indemnitee.
(iii)
"Independent Counsel" means a law firm or a member of a law firm that neither
presently is, nor in the past five years has been, retained to represent: (i)
the corporation or the Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party or
(ii) any other party to the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for
indemnification under this Article. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the term "Independent Counsel" shall not include any person who, under the
applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing under the law of
the State of Delaware, would have a conflict of interest in representing either
the corporation or the Indemnitee in an action to determine the Indemnitee's
rights under this Article.
Section
9.05. Severability. If any provision or provisions
of this Article shall be held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any
reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the
remaining provisions of this Article (including, without limitation, all
portions of any paragraph of this Article containing any such provisions held to
be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not themselves invalid, illegal
or unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby; and (b)
to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Article (including,
without limitation, all portions of any paragraph of this Article containing any
such provision held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, that are not
themselves invalid, illegal or unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give
effect to the intent manifested by the provision held invalid, illegal or
unenforceable.
Section
9.06. Amendment. No provision of this Article shall
be amended retroactively. In no case shall any amendment of this
Article occur without thirty days' advance written notice to all
Indemnitees.
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