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Bylaws
As Amended Effective June 18, 2008
Agent and Corporate Offices
- Registered Office; Registered Agent
The registered office of Monsanto Company (the "Company"), shall be located in the
State of Delaware and shall be at such address as shall be set forth in the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company (as the same may be amended from time to time, including
by any Certificate of Designation, the "Certificate of Incorporation") or otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors. The registered agent of the Company at such
address shall be as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation or otherwise determined
by the Board of Directors.
- Other
The Company shall have its General Offices in the County of St. Louis, State of
Missouri, and may also have offices at such other places both within or without
the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate
or the business of the Company may require.
Shareowners' Meetings
- Annual Meeting
An annual meeting of shareowners shall be held on such day and at such time as may
be designated by the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing Directors and
for the transaction of such other business as properly may come before such meeting.
Any previously scheduled annual meeting of the shareowners may be postponed by resolution
of the Board of Directors upon public notice given on or prior to the date previously
scheduled for such annual meeting of shareowners.
- Business to be Conducted at Annual Meeting
- At an annual meeting of shareowners, only such business (other than nominations of directors, which must be made in compliance with, and shall be exclusively governed by, Section 8 of these Bylaws) shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (i) pursuant to the Company’s notice of the meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any shareowner of the Company who is a shareowner of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Bylaw and at the time of the annual meeting, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who shall have complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw; clause (iii) shall be the exclusive means for a shareowner to submit such business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and included in the Company’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
- For any such business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareowner pursuant to Section (a)(iii) of this Bylaw, notice in writing must be delivered or mailed to the Secretary and received at the General Offices of the Company, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareowner must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date of such advanced or delayed annual meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the annual meeting is first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareowner’s notice as described above. Such shareowner’s notice shall set forth as to each matter the shareowner proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at such meeting, and the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, in the event that such business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Company, the text of the proposed amendment); (ii) as to the shareowner giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, (A) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of such shareowner and of such beneficial owner, (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Company’s stock which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record, by such shareowner and such beneficial owner, (C) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Company or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Company, whether or not such instrument or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of capital stock of the Company or otherwise (a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such shareowner or beneficial owner and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company, (D) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such shareowner or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company, (E) any short interest of such shareowner or beneficial owner in any security of the Company (for purposes of this Bylaw a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (F) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company owned beneficially by such shareowner or beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company, (G) any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such shareowner or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, (H) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such shareowner or beneficial owner is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such shareowner’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such shareowner and beneficial owner not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), and (I) any other information relating to such shareowner and beneficial owner 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, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (iii) any material interest of the shareowner, and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made, in such business; (iv) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such shareowner and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by the shareowner; (v) a representation that the shareowner is a holder of record of stock of the Company, entitled to vote at such meeting, and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business; and (vi) a representation as to whether the shareowner or the beneficial owner, if any, intends, or is or intends to be part of a group that intends, (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareowners in support of such proposal. For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed or furnished by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(b) of the Exchange Act, and the meaning of the term “group” shall be within the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act.
- Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw. The chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions of this Bylaw; and if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting, and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4, a shareowner shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to be considered pursuant to Section 4(a)(iii) of this Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any rights of shareowners to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. The provisions of this Section 4 shall also govern what constitutes timely notice for purposes of Rule 14a-4(c) of the Exchange Act.
- Special Meetings
Special meetings of shareowners, unless otherwise provided by the law of Delaware,
may be called pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
shall have the sole right to determine the proper purpose or purposes of such meeting.
Business transacted at a special meeting of shareowners shall be confined to the
purpose or purposes of the meeting as stated in the notice of such meeting. Any
previously scheduled special meeting of the shareowners may be postponed by resolution
of the Board of Directors upon notice by public announcement given on or prior to
the date previously scheduled for such special meeting of shareowners.
- Place of Meetings
All meetings of shareowners shall be held at the General Offices of the Company
in the County of St. Louis, State of Missouri, unless otherwise determined by resolution
of the Board of Directors; provided that the Board may, in its sole discretion,
determine that the meeting shall not be held at any place, but may instead be held
solely by means of remote communication as authorized by Section 211(a)(2) of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "General Corporation Law of
Delaware").
- Notice of Meetings
- Except as otherwise required by the law of Delaware, notice of each meeting of
the shareowners, whether annual or special, shall be given, by or at the direction
of the Secretary or Chief Executive Officer, except that (i) it shall not be necessary
to give notice to any shareowner who properly waives notice before or after the
meeting, whether in writing or by electronic transmission or otherwise, and (ii)
no notice of an adjourned meeting need be given except when required under these
Bylaws or by law. Such notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting,
and in the case of a special meeting, shall also state the purpose or purposes thereof.
Each notice of a meeting shall be given, personally or by mail or, as provided below,
by means of electronic transmission, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty
(60) days before the meeting and shall state the time and place of the meeting,
or if held by remote communications, the means of remote communications by which
shareowners and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such
meeting, and unless it is the annual meeting, shall state at whose direction or
request the meeting is called and the purposes for which it is called. The attendance
of any shareowner at a meeting, without protesting at the beginning of the meeting
that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, shall constitute a waiver of
notice by him or her; and the requirement of notice may also be waived in accordance
with Section 63 of these Bylaws. Any previously scheduled meeting of shareowners
may be postponed, and (unless the Certificate of Incorporation otherwise provides)
any special meeting of shareowners may be canceled, by resolution of the Board upon
public announcement (as defined in Section 4 of these Bylaws) given on or prior
to the date previously scheduled for such meeting of shareowners.
- Without limiting the manner by which notice otherwise may be given effectively
to shareowners, any notice to a shareowner given by the Company may be given by
a form of electronic transmission consented to by the shareowner to whom the notice
is given. Any such consent shall be revocable by the shareowner by written notice
to the Company. Any such consent shall be deemed revoked (i) if the Company is unable
to deliver by electronic transmission two consecutive notices given by the Company
in accordance with such consent and (ii) such inability becomes known to the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or to the transfer agent or other person
responsible for the giving of notice; provided, however, the inadvertent failure
to treat such inability as a revocation shall not invalidate any meeting or other
action. For purposes of these Bylaws, "electronic transmission" means any form of
communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates
a record that may be retained, retrieved and reviewed by a recipient thereof, and
that may be directly reproduced in paper form by such a recipient through an automated
process.
- Notice shall be deemed given, if mailed, when deposited in the United States mail
with postage prepaid, if addressed to a shareowner at his or her address on the
Company's records. Notice given by electronic transmission shall be deemed given
(i) if by facsimile, when directed to a number at which the shareowner has consented
to receive notice; (ii) if by electronic mail, when directed to an electronic mail
address at which the shareowner has consented to receive notice; (iii) if by posting
on an electronic network together with separate notice to the shareowner of such
specific posting, upon the later of (A) such posting and (B) the giving of such
separate notice; and (iv) by any other form of electronic transmission, when directed
to the shareowner.
- An affidavit of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or of the transfer agent
or other agent of the Company that the notice has been given, whether by a form
of electronic transmission or otherwise, shall, in the absence of fraud, be prima
facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
- Nominations of Directors
-
Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible for election as Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a meeting of shareowners (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) by any shareowner of the Company who is a shareowner of record at the time of giving of the notice provided for in this Bylaw and at the time of the annual meeting, who shall be entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw; clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a shareowner to make nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of shareowners.
To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Company, the prospective nominee (whether nominated by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by a shareowner), or someone acting on such prospective nominee’s behalf, must deliver (in accordance with any applicable time periods prescribed for delivery of notice under this Bylaw) to the Secretary at the General Offices of the Company a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request). The prospective nominee must also provide a written representation and agreement, in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request, that such prospective nominee: (A) will abide by the requirements of Section 11(b)(ii) of the Bylaws; (B) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such prospective nominee, if elected as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such prospective nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Company, with such prospective nominee’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (C) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein; and (D) would be in compliance if elected as a director of the Company, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company. For purposes of this Section 8(a), a “nominee” shall include any person being considered to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors.
- Any nominations by shareowners shall be made pursuant to notice in writing, delivered or mailed to the Secretary and received at the General Offices of the Company (i) in the case of an annual meeting, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, provided, however, that in the event that the date of the meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareowner must be received not earlier than the 120th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting is first made; or (ii) in the case of a special meeting at which the Board of Directors gives notice that Directors are to be elected, not earlier than the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or, if the first public announcement of the date such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of the meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting is first made. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareowner’s notice as described above. In the case of a special meeting of shareowners at which the Board of Directors gives notice that Directors are to be elected, shareowners may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election only to such position(s) as are specified in the Company’s notice of meeting as being up for election at such meeting. Such shareowner’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the shareowner proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director, (A) all information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in accordance with Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected) and (B) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such shareowner and beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is being made, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the shareowner making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; (ii) as to the shareowner giving the notice and the beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, (A) the name and address, as they appear on the Company’s books, of such shareowner and of such beneficial owner, (B) the class or series and number of shares of the Company’s stock which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record, by such shareowner and such beneficial owner, (C) any Derivative Instrument directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such shareowner or beneficial owner and any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company, (D) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such shareowner or beneficial owner has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Company, (E) any short interest of such shareowner or beneficial owner in any security of the Company (for purposes of this Bylaw a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security), (F) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Company owned beneficially by such shareowner or beneficial owner that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Company, (G) any proportionate interest in shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such shareowner or beneficial owner is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner, (H) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such shareowner or beneficial owner is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Company or Derivative Instruments, if any, as of the date of such notice, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such shareowner’s or beneficial owner’s immediate family sharing the same household (which information shall be supplemented by such shareowner and beneficial owner not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date), and (I) any other information relating to such shareowner and beneficial owner 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, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder; (iii) a representation that the shareowner is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such nomination; and (iv) a representation as to whether the shareowner or the beneficial owner, if any, intends, or is or intends to be part of a group that intends, (A) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Company’s outstanding capital stock required to elect the nominee and/or (B) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareowners in support of such nomination. At the request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a Director shall furnish to the Secretary that information required to be set forth in a shareowner’s notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent Director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareowner’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. Notwithstanding anything in this Bylaw to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Company at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public statement naming all the nominees for the additional Directorships at least 100 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, a shareowner’s notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for such additional Directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company.
- No person shall be eligible for election as a Director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the chairman of the meeting may, if the facts warrant, determine that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed in this Bylaw; and if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 8, a shareowner shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations to be considered pursuant to Section 8(a)(ii) of this Bylaw. Nothing in this Section 8 shall be deemed to affect any rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock of the Company to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation.
- List of Shareowners
- Not less than ten (10) days prior to the date of any meeting of shareowners, the
Secretary of the Company shall prepare a complete list of shareowners entitled to
vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each
shareowner and the number of shares registered in the name of such shareowner; provided,
that the Company shall not be required to include electronic mail addresses or other
electronic contact information on such list. For a period of not less than ten (10)
days prior to the meeting, the list shall be available during ordinary business
hours for inspection by any shareowner for any purpose germane to the meeting. During
this period, the list shall be kept either (1) 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 (2) during ordinary business hours, at the principal
place of business of the Company. If the Company determines to make the list available
on an electronic network, the Company may take reasonable steps to ensure that such
information is available only to shareowners of the Company. If the meeting is to
be held at a place, then the list shall be produced and kept at the time and place
of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any shareowner
who is present. If the meeting is to be held solely by means of remote communication,
then the list shall also be open to the examination of any shareowner during the
whole time of the meeting on a reasonably accessible electronic network, and the
information required to access such list shall be provided with the notice of the
meeting.
- The stock ledger of the Company shall be the only evidence as to the identity
of the shareowners entitled (i) to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of
shareowners, or (ii) to exercise the rights in accordance with Delaware law to examine
the stock ledger, the list required by this Bylaw or the books and records of the
Company, or for any other purpose permitted under Delaware law.
- Quorum; Adjournment
The holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock issued
and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at all meetings
of the shareowners, except as otherwise provided by the law of Delaware, by the
Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws. The shareowners present at any
duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of sufficient shareowners to render the remaining shareowners less
than a quorum. Whether or not a quorum is present, either the chairman of the meeting
or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the shares of capital stock
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall have power to adjourn
the meeting from time to time to another time or place or means of remote communications,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place, if
any, and the means of remote communications, if any, by which shareowners and proxy
holders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such adjourned meeting.
If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting
shall be given to each shareowner of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At
such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of voting stock shall be present
or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted
at the meeting as originally noticed.
- Voting and Required Vote
- Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, each shareowner
shall, at every meeting of shareowners, be entitled to one vote for each share of
capital stock held by such shareowner. Except as otherwise provided by the Certificate
of Incorporation, these Bylaws, applicable law, and the rules and regulations of
any stock exchange applicable to the Company or pursuant to any other regulation
applicable to the Company, Directors shall be elected in the manner described in
paragraph (b) below; and all other questions brought before any meeting of shareowners
shall be determined by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting. In all matters,
votes cast in accordance with any method adopted by the Company shall be valid so
long as such method is permitted under Delaware law.
- (i) Each director to be elected by shareowners after the effective date of this
Bylaw shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast at any meeting
for the election of directors at which a quorum is present. For purposes of this
Bylaw, a majority of votes cast shall mean that the number of votes cast "for" a
director's election exceeds the number of votes cast "against" that director's election.
Votes cast shall exclude "abstentions" and any "broker non-votes" with respect to
that director's election. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event of a contested
election of directors, directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of
the votes present in person or represented by proxy at any meeting for the election
of directors at which a quorum is present. For purposes of this Bylaw, a contested
election shall mean any election of directors in which the number of candidates
for election as directors exceeds the number of directors to be elected, with the
determination that an election is "contested" to be made by the Secretary within
30 days following the close of the applicable notice of nomination period set forth
in Section 8, based on whether one or more notices of nomination were timely filed
in accordance with said Section 8 (provided that the determination that an election
is a "contested election" shall be determinative only as to the timeliness of a
notice of nomination and not otherwise as to its validity). If, prior to the time
the Company mails its initial proxy statement in connection with such election of
directors, one or more notices of nomination are withdrawn such that the number
of candidates for election as director no longer exceeds the number of directors
to be elected, the election shall not be considered a contested election.
(ii) In order for any incumbent director to become a nominee of the Board of Directors
for further service on the Board of Directors, such person shall submit an irrevocable
resignation, contingent on (A) that person's not receiving a majority of the votes
cast in an election that is not a contested election, and (B) acceptance of that
resignation by the Board of Directors in accordance with the policies and procedures
set forth herein or adopted by the Board of Directors for such purpose. In the event
an incumbent director fails to receive a majority of the votes cast in an election
that is not a contested election, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
of the Board of Directors, or any committee serving the functions of the committee
that is known as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee as of the effective
date of this Bylaw (the "Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee") shall make
a recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether to accept or reject the
resignation of such incumbent director, or whether other action should be taken.
The Board of Directors shall act on the resignation, taking into account the Nominating
and Corporate Governance Committee's recommendation, and publicly disclose (by a
press release, a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission or other broadly
disseminated means of communication) its decision regarding the resignation and
the rationale behind the decision within 90 days from the date of the certification
of the election results. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee in making
its recommendation, and the Board of Directors in making its decision, may each
consider any factors or other information that it considers appropriate and relevant.
The director whose resignation is being considered shall not participate in the
recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the decision
of the Board of Directors with respect to his or her resignation. If such incumbent
director's resignation is not accepted by the Board of Directors, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in Section 16 of these Bylaws, such director shall continue
to serve as a member of the class of directors to which such director was nominated
for election until the next succeeding annual meeting of shareowners and until his
or her successor is duly elected, or his or her earlier resignation or removal.
At such next succeeding annual meeting, in addition to the nominees for election
for the class of directors scheduled to be elected at such meeting, one or more
persons may be nominated for election to any directorship held by a director who
continues in office but whose term shall have expired prior to such meeting, and
any person elected to any such directorship shall be elected to the Board of Directors
as a member of the class of directors to which the director previously holding such
directorship was a member. If a director's resignation is accepted by the Board
of Directors pursuant to this Bylaw, or if a nominee for director is not elected
and the nominee is not an incumbent director, then the Board of Directors, in its
sole discretion, may fill any resulting vacancy pursuant to the provisions of Section
17 or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions
of Section 16(a).
- Any shareowner entitled to vote on any matter may vote part of the shares in favor
of the proposal and refrain from voting the remaining shares or may vote the remaining
shares against the proposal; but if the shareowner fails to specify the number of
shares which the shareowner is voting affirmatively or otherwise indicate how the
number of shares to be voted affirmatively is to be determined, it will be conclusively
presumed that the shareowner's approving vote is with respect to all shares which
the shareowner is entitled to vote.
- Voting need not be by ballot unless requested by a shareowner at the meeting or
ordered by the chairman of the meeting; however, all elections of directors shall
be by written ballot, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation;
provided, that if authorized by the Board, a written ballot may be submitted
by electronic transmission, provided that any such electronic transmission must
either set forth or be submitted with information from which it can be determined
that the electronic transmission was authorized by the shareowner or proxyholder.
- Proxies
- Each shareowner entitled to vote at a meeting of shareowners may authorize another
person or persons to act for such shareowner by proxy, in any manner permitted by
law, including, without limitation, in the form of a telegram, cablegram or other
means of electronic transmission which sets forth or is submitted with information
from which it can be determined that the telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic
transmission was authorized by the shareowner. No proxy shall be voted or acted
upon after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable and
if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support
an irrevocable power. The revocability of a proxy that states on its face that it
is irrevocable shall be governed by the provisions of Section 212(e) of the General
Corporation Law of Delaware. A shareowner may revoke any proxy which is not irrevocable
by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an instrument in writing
revoking the proxy or by filing another duly executed proxy bearing a later date
with the Secretary of the Company.
- A proxy is not revoked by the death or incapacity of the maker unless, before
the vote is counted, written notice of such death or incapacity is received by the
Secretary of the Company.
- Inspectors of Election; Polls
Before each meeting of shareowners, the Chairman of the Board, the President or
another officer of the Company designated by resolution of the Board of Directors
shall appoint one or more inspectors of election for the meeting and may appoint
one or more inspectors to replace any inspector unable to act. If any of the inspectors
appointed shall fail to attend, or refuse or be unable to serve, substitutes shall
be appointed by the chairman of the meeting. Each inspector, who may be an employee
of the Company, shall have such duties as are provided by law, and shall take and
sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality
and according to the best of such person's ability. The chairman of the meeting
shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and closing
of the polls for each matter upon which the shareowners will vote at the meeting.
- Organization
- The Chairman of the Board of Directors, or in the Chairman's absence, (i) the
President, if a member of the Board of Directors, (ii) one of the Vice Chairmen
of the Board who is a member of the Board of Directors, if any, in such order as
may be designated by the Chairman of the Board, in that order, or (iii) in the absence
of each of them, a chairman chosen by a majority of the Directors present, shall
act as chairman of the meetings of the shareowners.
- The Board shall be entitled to make such rules or regulations for the conduct
of meetings of shareowners as it shall deem appropriate. Subject to such rules and
regulations of the Board, if any, the person presiding over the meeting shall have
the right and authority to convene and adjourn the meeting, to prescribe such rules,
regulations and procedures and to do all such acts as, in the judgment of the person
presiding over the meeting, are necessary, appropriate or convenient for the proper
conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, establishing an agenda or
order of business for the meeting, rules and procedures for maintaining order at
the meeting and the safety of those present, limitations on participation in such
meeting to shareowners of record of the Company and their duly authorized and constituted
proxies and such other persons as the person presiding over the meeting shall permit,
restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof,
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants and regulation
of the opening and closing of the polls for balloting and matters which are to be
voted on by ballot. The person presiding over the meeting, in addition to making
any other determinations that may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting,
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a matter
or business was not properly brought before the meeting and if the person presiding
over the meeting should so determine and declare, any such matter or business shall
not be transacted or considered.
- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, unless otherwise required
by law, if a shareowner (or qualified representative) does not appear at the meeting
of shareowners of the Company to present a nomination or business pursuant to Section
4 or Section 8 of these Bylaws, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed
business shall not be transacted, even though proxies in respect of such vote may
have been received by the Company. In order to be considered a qualified representative
of the shareowner, a person must be authorized by a writing executed by such shareowner
or an electronic transmission delivered by such shareowner to act for such shareowner
as proxy at the meeting of shareowners, and such person must produce such writing
or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic
transmission, at the meeting of shareowners.
- No Shareowner Action by Written Consent
Any action required or permitted to be taken by the shareowners of the Company must
be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of shareowners of the Company
and may not be effected by any consent in writing in lieu of a meeting of such shareowners.
Board of Directors
- General Powers, Number, Term of Office
- The business of the Company shall be managed under the direction of its Board
of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of preferred stock,
par value $0.01 per share, of the Company ("Preferred Stock") to elect additional
Directors under specified circumstances, the number of Directors of the Company
which shall constitute the whole Board shall be not less than five nor more than
20. The exact number of Directors within the minimum and maximum limitation specified
in the preceding sentence shall be fixed from time to time exclusively by resolution
of a majority of the whole Board.
- At the first annual meeting of shareowners after August 13, 2002 (the "First Meeting"),
the Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any outstanding
series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock as set forth in
the Certificate of Incorporation, shall be divided into three classes, as nearly
equal in number as possible and designated Class I, Class II and Class III. Class
I shall be initially elected for a term expiring at the first annual meeting of
shareowners following the First Meeting, Class II shall be initially elected for
a term expiring at the second annual meeting of shareowners following the First
Meeting, and Class III shall be initially elected for a term expiring at the third
annual meeting of shareowners following the First Meeting. Members of each class
shall hold office until their successors are elected and qualified. At each succeeding
annual meeting of the shareowners of the Company, the successors of the class of
Directors whose term expires at that meeting shall be elected for a term expiring
at the annual meeting of shareowners held in the third year following the year of
their election. In case of any increase or decrease, from time to time, in the number
of Directors, other than those who may be elected by the holders of any outstanding
series of Preferred Stock or any other series or class of stock as set forth in
the Certificate of Incorporation, the number of Directors in each class shall be
apportioned as nearly equal as possible.
- Directors need not be shareowners of the Company or residents of the State of
Delaware.
- Vacancies
Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred
Stock, newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized
number of Directors or any vacancies in the Board resulting from death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification, removal from office or other cause shall be filled
solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining Directors then in
office, even though less than a quorum of the Board. Any Director so chosen shall
hold office until his or her successor shall be elected and qualified and, if the
Board at such time is classified, until the next election of the class for which
such Directors shall have been chosen. No decrease in the number of Directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
- Regular Meetings
The Board of Directors by resolution may provide for the holding of regular meetings
and may fix the times and places at which such meetings shall be held. Notice of
regular meetings shall not be required, provided that whenever the time or place
of regular meetings shall be fixed or changed, notice of such action shall be given
promptly to each Director, as provided in Section 19 below, who was not present
at the meeting at which such action was taken.
- Special Meetings
Special meetings of the Board of Directors, or of the Directors who have been determined
by the Board to be "independent Directors" (any such Director, an "Independent Director")
shall be held whenever called by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Presiding
Director or the President, or in the absence of each of them, by any Vice Chairman
of the Board, or by the Secretary at the written request of a majority of the Directors.
- Notices
Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be addressed to each
Director at such Director's residence or business address and shall be sent to such
Director by mail, electronic mail, telecopier, telegram or telex or telephoned or
delivered to such Director personally. If such notice is sent by mail, it shall
be sent not later than three days before the day on which the meeting is to be held.
If such notice is sent by electronic mail, telecopier, telegram or telex, it shall
be sent not later than 12 hours before the time at which the meeting is to be held.
If such notice is telephoned or delivered personally, it shall be received not later
than 12 hours before the time at which the meeting is to be held. Such notice shall
state the time, place and purpose or purposes of the meeting. Any oral notice given
personally or by telephone may be communicated either to the Director or to a person
at the office of the Director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe
will promptly communicate it to the Director. The requirement of notice may be waived
in accordance with Section 63 of these Bylaws.
- Quorum
One-third of the total number of Directors constituting the whole Board, but not
less than two, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors, but if less than such required number of Directors
for a quorum is present at a meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn
the meeting from time to time without further notice. Except as otherwise specifically
provided by the law of Delaware, the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
the act of a majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
- Organization
At each meeting of the Board of Directors, other than meetings of the non-management
Directors in executive session, the Chairman of the Board or, in the Chairman's
absence, (i) the Presiding Director, (ii) the President, if a member of the Board
of Directors, (iii) one of the Vice Chairmen of the Board who is a member of the
Board of Directors, if any, in such order as may be designated by the Chairman of
the Board, in that order, or (iv) in the absence of each of them, a chairman chosen
by a majority of the Directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting, and
the Secretary or, in the Secretary's absence, an Assistant Secretary or any employee
of the Company appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary
of the meeting. The Presiding Director shall preside at meetings of the non-management
Directors or, in the Presiding Director's absence, the non-management Directors
shall choose a non-management Director to preside at such meetings in executive
session.
- Resignations
Any Director may resign at any time by giving notice in writing or by electronic
transmission to the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Secretary of the
Company. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or upon
the happening of an event or events specified therein, or if the time is not specified
and the resignation is not made contingent upon the happening of an event or events,
upon receipt thereof; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of
such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
- Removal
Subject to the rights of the holders of any outstanding series of Preferred Stock
or any other series or class of stock as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation
to elect additional Directors under specified circumstances, any Director or the
entire Board may be removed from office only for cause and only by the affirmative
vote of the holders of at least 70 percent of the voting power of the outstanding
stock of the Company entitled to vote, voting together as a single class.
- Action Without a Meeting; Telephonic Meetings
- Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws,
any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors
or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the
Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic
transmission, and the writing or writings or electronic transmission or transmissions
are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee. Such filing
shall be in paper form if the minutes are maintained in paper form and shall be
in electronic form if the minutes are maintained in electronic form.
- Members of the Board of Directors may participate in any meeting of the Board
or of any committee by means of conference telephone or other communications equipment
by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other,
and participation in a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall constitute presence
in person at the meeting.
- Location of Books
Except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors and subject
to the law of Delaware, the books of the Company may be kept at the General Offices
of the Company and at such other places as may be necessary or convenient for the
business of the Company.
- Dividends
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation and the law of Delaware,
dividends upon the capital stock of the Company may be declared by the Board of
Directors at any regular or special meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property,
or in shares of the Company's capital stock.
- Compensation of Directors
Directors shall receive such compensation and benefits as may be determined by resolution
of the Board for their services as members of the Board and committees. Directors
shall also be reimbursed for their expenses of attending Board and committee meetings.
Nothing contained herein shall preclude any Director from serving the Company in
any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
- Additional Powers
In addition to the powers and authorities by these Bylaws expressly conferred upon
it, the Board of Directors may exercise all such powers of the Company and do all
such lawful acts and things as are not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation
or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareowners.
Committees of Directors
- Designation, Power, Alternate Members
The Board of Directors may, by resolution or resolutions passed by a majority
of the whole Board, designate an Executive Committee and one or more additional
committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Company.
Any such committee, to the extent provided in said resolution or resolutions and
subject to any limitations provided by law, shall have and may exercise the powers
of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Company.
The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting
of the committee. The term of office of the members of each committee shall be as
fixed from time to time by the Board; provided, however, that any committee
member who ceases to be a member of the Board shall automatically cease to be a
committee member.
- Quorum, Manner of Acting
At any meeting of a committee, the presence of one-third, but not less than two,
of its members then in office (or, in the case of a committee consisting of one
director, its sole member) shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business;
and the act of a majority of the members present at a meeting at which a quorum
is present shall be the act of the committee; provided, however, that in
the event that any member or members of the committee is or are in any way interested
in or connected with any other party to a contract or transaction being approved
at such meeting, or are themselves parties to such contract or transaction, the
act of a majority of the members present who are not so interested or connected,
or are not such parties, shall be the act of the committee. Each committee may provide
for the holding of regular meetings, make provision for the calling of special meetings
and, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws or by resolution of the Board
of Directors, make rules for the conduct of its business.
- Minutes
The committees shall keep minutes of their proceedings and report the same to the
Board of Directors when required; but failure to keep such minutes shall not affect
the validity of any acts of the committee or committees.
Presiding Director
- Presiding Director
Board of Directors shall include a Presiding Director. The Presiding Director shall
preside at all meetings of the Board at which the Chairman is not present, shall
preside over the executive sessions of the Independent Directors, shall serve as
a liaison between the Chairman of the Board and the Board of Directors and shall
exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be assigned to the Presiding
Director by these Bylaws and the Board of Directors. The Presiding Director shall
be an Independent Director and shall be elected by a majority of the Independent
Directors.
Officers
- Designation
The officers of the Company shall be a Chairman of the Board, a Chief Executive
Officer, a President, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and a Controller. The Board of Directors may also elect additional
officers, including without limitation one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board, one
or more Vice Chairmen of the Company, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior
Vice Presidents, Group Vice Presidents, Deputy and Assistant Secretaries, Deputy
and Assistant Treasurers, Deputy and Assistant Controllers and such other officers
as it shall deem necessary. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall be chosen from among the Directors.
- Election and Term
At least annually, the Board of Directors of the Company shall elect the officers
of the Company and at any time thereafter the Board may elect additional officers
of the Company and each such officer shall hold office until the officer's successor
is elected and qualified or until the officer's earlier death, resignation, termination
of employment or removal.
- Removal
Any officer shall be subject to removal or suspension at any time, for or without
cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.
- Resignations
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the
Board, the President or to the Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect upon
receipt thereof or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified
therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
- Vacancies
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal or any other cause
may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.
- Chairman of the Board
The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the shareowners and of
the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise required under the law of Delaware.
The Chairman of the Board shall also preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors
except, if the Chairman is an employee of the Company, at meetings of the non-management
Directors in executive session. The Chairman, alone or with the President, one or
more of the Vice Chairmen of the Board, and/or the Secretary shall sign and send
out reports and other messages which are to be sent to shareowners from time to
time. The Chairman shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to the
Chairman by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.
- Chief Executive Officer
The Chief Executive Officer shall have the general and active management and supervision
of the business of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer shall see that all orders
and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect. The Chief Executive
Officer shall also perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Chief Executive
Officer by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall
designate who shall perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in the Chief
Executive Officer's absence.
- President
The President, if a member of the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence of the
Chairman of the Board, preside at all meetings of the shareowners and of the Board
of Directors, except at meetings of the non-management Directors in executive session.
The President shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the President
by these Bylaws, the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
- Vice Chairmen of the Board; Vice Chairmen
The Vice Chairmen of the Board shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board
and the President, and in such order as may be designated by the Chairman of the
Board, preside at all meetings of the shareowners. The Vice Chairmen of the Board
shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the Presiding Director, and
the President, and in such order as may be designated by the Chairman of the Board,
preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, except at meetings of the non-management
Directors in executive session. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Vice Chairman
of the Board who is not a member of the Board of Directors may preside at any meeting
of shareowners or Directors. The Vice Chairmen of the Board and the Vice Chairmen
shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by these Bylaws, the
Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
- Chief Financial Officer
The Chief Financial Officer shall act in an executive financial capacity. The Chief
Financial Officer shall assist the Chairman of the Board and the President in the
general supervision of the Company's financial policies and affairs.
- Executive, Senior, Group and other Vice Presidents
Each Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Group Vice President and each
other Vice President shall perform the duties and functions and exercise the powers
assigned to such officer by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
- Secretary
The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the shareowners
and record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for
that purpose. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the shareowners and special meetings of the Board of Directors and, when appropriate,
shall cause the corporate seal to be affixed to any instruments executed on behalf
of the Company. The Secretary shall also perform all duties incident to the office
of Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned to the Secretary by these
Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive
Officer.
- Assistant Secretaries
The Assistant Secretaries shall, when the Secretary is absent or unavailable, perform
the duties and functions and exercise the powers of the Secretary. Each Assistant
Secretary shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to such Assistant Secretary
by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer
or the Secretary.
- Treasurer
The Treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Company
and shall deposit them in the name and to the credit of the Company in such depositories
as may be designated by the Board of Directors or by any officer or officers authorized
by the Board of Directors to designate such depositories; disburse funds of the
Company when properly authorized by vouchers prepared and approved by the Controller;
and invest funds of the Company when authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee
thereof. The Treasurer shall render to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, or the Chief Financial Officer, whenever requested, an account of all transactions
as Treasurer and shall also perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer
and such other duties as may be assigned to the Treasurer by these Bylaws, the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Chief Financial Officer.
- Assistant Treasurers
The Assistant Treasurers shall, when the Treasurer is absent or unavailable, perform
the duties and functions and exercise the powers of the Treasurer. Each Assistant
Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the Assistant Treasurer
by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer
or the Treasurer.
- Controller
The Controller shall serve as the principal accounting officer of the Company and
shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books of the
Company and render to the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the
Chief Financial Officer, whenever requested, an account of all transactions as Controller
and of the financial condition of the Company. The Controller shall also perform
all duties incident to the office of Controller and such other duties as may be
assigned to the Controller by these Bylaws, the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive
Officer, or the Chief Financial Officer.
- Assistant Controllers
The Assistant Controllers shall, when the Controller is absent or unavailable, perform
the duties and functions and exercise the powers of the Controller. Each Assistant
Controller shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to such officer by
the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer
or the Controller.
- Other Officers
The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers 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.
Company Checks, Drafts and Proxies
- Checks, Drafts
All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money by the Company shall
be signed by such person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the
Board of Directors or by any officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors
to designate such signers; and the Board of Directors or such officer or officers
may determine that the signature of any such authorized signer may be facsimile.
- Representation of Interests in Other Companies or Entities
Except as otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, shall each
have full power and authority, on behalf of the Company, to vote, represent and
exercise any and all rights of the Company incident to its ownership of shares or
other interests in any other company or entity of any type, foreign or domestic
(including without limitation corporations, limited liability companies and partnerships),
including without limitation the authority to vote at any meeting of shareholders,
members or partners of such other company or entity, to execute and deliver proxies,
and to consent in writing to action without a meeting. Absent other authority, this
Bylaw in and of itself is not intended to authorize officers of the Company to authorize
the sale or other disposition of any of the Company's shares or other interests
in any other company or entity.
Capital Stock
- Stock Certificates and Transfers
The interest of each shareowner of the Company shall be evidenced by certificates
or by registration in book-entry accounts without certificates for shares of stock
in such form as the appropriate officers of the Company may from time to time prescribe.
The shares of the stock of the Company shall be transferred on the books of the
Company by the holder thereof in person or by his attorney, upon surrender for cancellation
of certificates for the same number of shares, with an assignment and power of transfer
endorsed thereon or attached thereto, duly executed, with such proof of the authenticity
of the transfer and payment of any applicable transfer taxes as the Company or its
agents may reasonably require or by appropriate book-entry procedures.
Certificates of stock shall be signed by, or in the name of the Company by, the
Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice Chairman of the Board, any Executive
Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Group Vice President or any other
Vice President, and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary
or any Assistant Secretary, of the Company, certifying the number of shares owned
by such holder in the Company. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may
be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed
or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased
to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued,
it may be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such person were such
officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
- Record Ownership
The Company shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share, right
or option is registered as the owner thereof, for all purposes, and shall not be
bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share, right
or option on the part of any other person, whether or not the Company shall have
notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the law of Delaware.
- Record Dates
In order that the Company may determine the shareowners entitled to notice of or
to vote at any meeting of shareowners or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights,
or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange
of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may
fix a record date, which shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing
the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which shall not be more
than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than
sixty days prior to any other action.
- Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates
The Board of Directors may authorize a new certificate or certificates to be issued
in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Company alleged
to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of the fact
by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or destroyed.
When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the Board of Directors
may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require
the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the
owner's legal representative, to give the Company a bond sufficient to indemnify
it against any claim that may be made against the Company on account of the alleged
loss, theft or destruction of such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate.
- Terms of Preferred Stock
The provisions of these Bylaws, including those pertaining to voting rights, election
of Directors and calling of special meetings of shareowners, are subject to the
terms, preferences, rights and privileges of any then outstanding class or series
of Preferred Stock as set forth in the Certificate of Incorporation and in any resolutions
of the Board of Directors providing for the issuance of such class or series of
Preferred Stock; provided, however, that the provisions of any such Preferred
Stock shall not affect or limit the authority of the Board of Directors to fix,
from time to time, the number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board
as provided in Section 16 above, subject to the right of the holders of any class
or series of Preferred Stock to elect additional Directors as and to the extent
specifically provided by the provisions of such Preferred Stock.
Indemnification
- Indemnification
- The Company shall indemnify and hold harmless, to the fullest extent permitted
by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter be amended, any person
who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or is otherwise involved
in any claim, action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of the fact that the person, or a person
for whom he or she is the legal representative, is or was a Director or officer
of the Company or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer or fiduciary of another corporation or of a partnership, joint venture,
trust, non-profit entity, or other enterprise, including service with respect to
employee benefit plans, against all expense, liability and loss (including attorneys'
fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and amounts paid or to be
paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person. The right to
indemnification conferred in this Bylaw shall be a contract right. Except as provided
in paragraph (c) of this Bylaw with respect to proceedings seeking to enforce rights
to indemnification, the Company shall indemnify a person in connection with a proceeding
initiated by such person or a claim made by such person against the Company only
if such proceeding or claim was authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company.
- Subject to applicable law, the Company shall pay the expenses incurred in defending
any proceeding in advance of its final disposition, provided, however,
that if and to the extent required by law the payment of expenses incurred by any
person covered hereunder in advance of the final disposition of the proceeding shall
be made only upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the affected person
to repay all amounts advanced if it should ultimately be determined that such person
is not entitled to be indemnified under this Bylaw or otherwise.
- If a claim for indemnification or payment of expenses under this Bylaw is not
paid in full within thirty days, or such other period as might be provided pursuant
to contract, after a written claim therefor has been received by the Company, the
claimant may file suit to recover the unpaid amount of such claim or may seek whatever
other remedy might be provided pursuant to contract. In any such action the Company
shall have the burden of proving that the claimant was not entitled to the requested
indemnification or payment of expenses under applicable law. If successful in whole
or in part, claimant shall be entitled to be paid the expense of prosecuting such
claim. Neither the failure of the Company (including its Directors, independent
legal counsel or shareowners) to have made a determination prior to the commencement
of such action that indemnification of the claimant is proper in the circumstances
because the claimant has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, nor an actual determination by
the Company (including its Directors, independent legal counsel or shareowners)
that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense
to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable
standard of conduct.
- Any determination regarding whether indemnification of any person is proper in
the circumstances because such person has met the applicable standard of conduct
set forth in the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware shall be made
by independent legal counsel selected by such person with the consent of the Company
(which consent shall not unreasonably be withheld).
- The Company may, but shall not be required to, indemnify and hold harmless, to
the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as it presently exists or may hereafter
be amended, any person who was or is made or is threatened to be made a party or
is otherwise involved in any claim, action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative (a "proceeding") by reason of the fact
that the person, or a person for whom he or she is the legal representative, is
or was an employee or agent of the Company or is or was serving at the request of
the Company as an employee or agent of another corporation or of a partnership,
joint venture, trust, non-profit entity, or other enterprise, including service
with respect to employee benefit plans, against all expense, liability and loss
(including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties and
amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) reasonably incurred or suffered by such
person.
- The rights conferred on any person by this Bylaw shall not be exclusive of any
other rights which such person may have or hereafter acquire under any statute,
provision of the Certificate of Incorporation, these Bylaws, agreement, vote of
shareowners or disinterested Directors or otherwise.
- Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Bylaw shall not
adversely affect any right or protection hereunder of any person with respect to
any act or omission occurring prior to or at the time of such repeal or modification.
Miscellaneous
- Corporate Seal
The seal of the Company shall be circular in form, containing the words "Monsanto
Company" and the word "Delaware" on the circumference surrounding the word "Seal."
Said seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed
or in any other manner reproduced.
- Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Company shall end on the last day of August in each year.
- Auditors
The Audit and Finance Committee of the Board of Directors, or any successor audit
committee, shall select certified public accountants to audit the books of account
and other appropriate corporate records of the Company annually and at such other
times as the Board shall determine by resolution.
- Waiver of Notice
Whenever notice is required to be given pursuant to the law of Delaware, the Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person
entitled to notice, or a waiver by electronic transmission by the person entitled
to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent
to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting of shareowners or the Board of Directors
or a committee thereof shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except
when the shareowner or Director attends such meeting for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business because
the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted
at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the shareowners or the
Board of Directors or committee thereof need be specified in any written waiver
of notice or any waiver by electronic transmission unless so required by the Certificate
of Incorporation or by these Bylaws.
- Construction; Definitions
Unless the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction,
and definitions in the General Corporation Law of Delaware shall govern the construction
of these Bylaws. Without limiting the generality of this provision, the singular
number includes the plural, the plural number includes the singular, the term "person"
includes a natural person, a corporation or any other entity of any type, and the
masculine gender includes the feminine gender and vice versa.
- Provisions Additional to Provisions of Law
All restrictions, limitations, requirements and other provisions of these Bylaws
shall be construed, insofar as possible, as supplemental and additional to all provisions
of law applicable to the subject matter thereof and shall be fully complied with
in addition to the said provisions of law unless such compliance shall be illegal.
- Provisions Contrary to Provisions of Law
Any article, section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase of these
Bylaws which upon being construed in the manner provided in Section 64 hereof, shall
be contrary to or inconsistent with any applicable provisions of law, shall not
apply so long as said provisions of law shall remain in effect, but such result
shall not affect the validity or applicability of any other portions of these Bylaws,
it being hereby declared that these Bylaws would have been adopted and each article,
section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause or phrase thereof, irrespective
of the fact that any one or more articles, sections, subsections, subdivisions,
sentences, clauses or phrases is or are illegal.
Amendment to Bylaws
- Amendments
Notwithstanding any provision of law which might otherwise permit a lesser vote
or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders of any series
of Preferred Stock of the Company required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation
or any Preferred Stock designation, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least
70 percent of the voting power of all of the then-outstanding shares of the Company's
voting stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required for the shareowners
to amend or repeal the Bylaws or to adopt new Bylaws. The Bylaws may also be amended
or repealed, and new Bylaws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of a majority
of the whole Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of
Directors.