EXHIBIT 3.1 AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
Published on September 25, 2007
Exhibit
3.1
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
(effective
September 20, 2007)
of
SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES CO.
Dallas,
Texas
SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES CO.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE
I
IDENTIFICATION
AND OFFICES
Section
1. Name: The name of the corporation is SOUTHWEST
AIRLINES CO.
Section
2. Principal Business Office: The principal
business office of the corporation shall be in Dallas, Texas.
Section
3. Other Offices: The corporation may also have
offices at such other places within or without the State of Texas as the Board
of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation
may require.
ARTICLE
II
THE
SHAREHOLDERS
Section
1. Place of Meetings: All meetings of the
shareholders for the election of directors shall be held at the principal
executive offices of the corporation in Dallas, Texas, or at such other place
as
may be designated by the Board of Directors of the
corporation. Meetings of the shareholders for any other purpose may
be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Texas, as shall
be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice
thereof.
Section
2. Annual Meetings: Annual meetings of
shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated
from time to time by the Board of Directors. At each annual meeting,
the shareholders shall elect a Board of Directors and transact such other
business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
Section
3. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the
shareholders may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive
Officer and shall be called by the Secretary upon written request, stating
the
purpose or purposes therefor, by a majority of the whole Board of Directors
or
by the holders of at least ten (10) percent (or such greater percentage not
exceeding a majority as may be specified in the Articles of Incorporation)
of
all of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting.
1
Section
4. Notice of Meetings: Written or printed notice
of all shareholders' meetings stating the place, day and hour, and, in the
case
of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called,
shall be delivered not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days
before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the
direction of the officer or person calling the meeting, to each shareholder
of
record entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall
be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed
to
the shareholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of
the
corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
Section
5. Purpose of Special Meetings: Business
transacted at all special meetings of shareholders shall be confined to the
purposes stated in the notice thereof.
Section
6. Fixing Record Date: For the purpose of
determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive a distribution
by the corporation (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption
by the corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend or in order
to
make a determination of shareholders for any other purpose, the Board of
Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such
determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than sixty
(60) days, and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten
(10)
days, prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such
determination of shareholders is to be taken. If no record date is
fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or vote at
a
meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive a distribution
by
the corporation (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption
by
the corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, the date on
which
notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the
Board
of Directors declaring such distribution or share dividend is adopted, as the
case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of
shareholders. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote
at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Section, such
determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.
Section
7. Voting List: The officer or agent having
charge of the stock transfer books for the shares of the corporation shall
make,
at least ten (10) days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete list
of
the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof,
arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares
held by each, which list, for a period of ten (10) days prior to such meeting,
shall be kept on file at the registered office of the corporation and shall
be
subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business
hours; such list shall also be produced and be kept open at the time and place
of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during
the whole time of the meeting. The original stock transfer books
shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled
to examine such list or transfer books or to vote at any meeting of
shareholders.
Section
8. Quorum: The holders of a majority of the
shares entitled to vote (counting for such purposes all abstentions and broker
nonvotes), represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at
meetings of the shareholders, except as otherwise provided in the Articles
of
Incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall be not present or
represented at a meeting of the shareholders, the holders of a majority of
the
shares entitled to vote thereat, and represented in person or by proxy, shall
have power to recess the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or
represented. At such recessed meeting at which a quorum shall be
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally convened had a quorum been
present. Shareholders present at a duly organized meeting with a
quorum present may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.
2
Section
9. Voting at Meetings:
(a) With
respect to any matter other than the election of directors or a matter for
which
the affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion of the shares
entitled to vote is required by the Texas Business Corporation Act, the act
of
the shareholders shall be the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority
of
the shares entitled to vote on, and voted for or against, the matter at a
meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present; provided that, for
purposes of this sentence, all abstentions and broker nonvotes shall not be
counted as voted either for or against such matter. With respect to
the election of directors, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the
votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of
directors at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present;
provided, that abstentions and broker nonvotes shall not be counted as
votes cast either for or against any nominee for director.
(b) Each
outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each
matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, except to the extent
that the voting rights of shares of any class or series are limited or denied
by
the Articles of Incorporation, or as otherwise provide by law. No
shareholder shall have the right of cumulative voting.
(c) A
shareholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by the
shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. No proxy
shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution unless
otherwise provided in the proxy. Each proxy shall be revocable unless
the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and the proxy
is coupled with an interest.
Section
10. Actions by Shareholders Without a
Meeting: Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of
the shareholders, or any action which may be taken at a meeting of the
shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting
forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the shareholders entitled
to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
3
Section
11. Inspectors of Election: The chairman of each
meeting of shareholders shall appoint one or more persons to act as inspectors
of election. The inspectors of election shall report to the meeting
the number of shares of each class and series of stock, and of all classes,
represented either in person or by proxy. The inspectors of election
shall oversee the vote of the shareholders for the election of directors and
for
any other matters that are put to a vote of shareholders at the meeting; receive
a ballot evidencing votes cast by the proxy committee of the Board of Directors;
judge the qualifications of shareholders voting; collect, count, and report
the
results of ballots cast by any shareholders voting in person; and perform such
other duties as may be required by the chairman of the meeting or the
shareholders.
Section
12. Notice of Shareholder Business: At an annual
meeting of shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have
been brought before the meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (ii) by any shareholder of the corporation who complies with the
notice procedures set forth in this Section 12. For business to be
properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder
must
have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the
corporation. To be timely, a shareholder's notice must be delivered
to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation,
not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the
meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than thirty (30) days'
notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made
to
the shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be received not
later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day
on
which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public
disclosure was made. A shareholder's notice to the Secretary shall
set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposes to bring before the annual
meeting the following information: (a) a brief description of the business
desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the annual meeting; (b) the name and address, as they appear
on
the corporation's books, of the shareholder proposing such business; (c) the
number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned by the
shareholder; and (d) any material interest of the shareholder in such
business. 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 Section 12. The chairman of an
annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting
that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance
with
the provisions of this Section 12, and if he should so determine, he 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 12, a shareholder seeking to have a proposal included
in the corporation's proxy statement shall comply with the requirements of
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including,
but not limited to, Rule 14a-8 or its successor provision).
Section
13. Notice of Shareholder Nominees: Nominations
of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the corporation may be
made
at a meeting of shareholders (i) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (ii) by any shareholder of the corporation entitled to vote for
the
election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice procedures
set
forth in this Section 13. Nominations by shareholders shall be made
pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the
corporation. To be timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered
to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the corporation
not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the
meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than thirty (30) days'
notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made
to
shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so received not
later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day
on
which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public
disclosure was made. Such shareholder's notice shall set forth (a) as
to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or
reelection as a director, all information relating to such person that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors,
or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (including such person's written
consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as
a
director if elected); and (b) as to the shareholder giving the notice (i) the
name and address, as they appear on the corporation's books, of such shareholder
and (ii) the number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned
by
such shareholder. 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 of the corporation that information required to be
set
forth in a shareholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the
nominee. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of
the corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth
in
these Bylaws. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts
warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made
in
accordance with the procedures prescribed by these Bylaws, and if he should
so
determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination
shall
be disregarded.
4
ARTICLE
III
BOARD
OF
DIRECTORS
Section
1. Management: The business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors.
Section
2. Number; Term of Office; Qualifications: The
number of directors of the corporation shall be determined from time to time
by
resolution of the Board of Directors, but no decrease in such number shall
have
the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. At each
annual meeting of shareholders, the shareholders shall elect directors to hold
office until the next succeeding annual meeting, except in case of the
classification of directors as provided in these Bylaws. Each
director shall hold office for the term for which he is elected and until his
successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his earlier death,
retirement, resignation, or removal for cause in accordance with the provisions
of these Bylaws. Directors need not be residents of the State of
Texas or shareholders of the corporation, but they must have been nominated
by
either the Board of Directors or by shareholders in accordance with the
procedures set forth in these Bylaws in order to be eligible for election as
directors. Each director must retire no later than the first annual
meeting of shareholders following his or her 75th birthday; provided, however,
that the Chairman of the Board, if any, shall be exempt from this
provision.
Section
3. Classification of Directors: Effective at the
time of the annual meeting of shareholders in 2005, directors shall be elected
for a term of one year; provided that the term of office for any director
already in office in 2005 shall not be shortened, but such director shall serve
until the expiration of his current term or until his prior death, retirement,
resignation, or removal for cause in accordance with the provisions of these
Bylaws.
Section
4. Vacancies; Increases in the Number of
Directors: Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may
be filled in accordance with the following paragraph of this Section 4 or may
be
filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors though
less than a quorum of the Board of Directors. A director elected to
fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in
office.
Any
vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors or any directorship to be filled
by
reason of an increase in the number of directors (i) may be filled by election
at an annual or special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose or
(ii)
may be filled by the Board of Directors; provided that, with respect to any
directorship to be filled by the Board of Directors by reason of an increase
in
the number of directors (a) such directorship shall be for a term of office
continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by shareholders
and (b) the Board of Directors may not fill more than two such directorships
during the period between any two successive annual meetings of
shareholders.
5
Section
5. Removal: At any meeting of shareholders called
expressly for that purpose, any director may be removed, but only for cause,
by
vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote for the
election of directors.
Section
6. Place of Meeting: Meetings of the Board of
Directors, regular or special, may be held either within or without the State
of
Texas.
Section
7. First Meeting: The first meeting of each newly
elected Board shall be held immediately following the shareholders' meeting
at
which the directors are elected and at the place at which such annual meeting
is
held, or the directors may meet at such time and place as shall be fixed by
the
consent in writing of the directors. No notice of such meeting shall
be necessary to the newly elected directors in order to legally constitute
the
meeting provided a quorum shall be present.
Section
8. Regular Meetings: Regular meetings of the
Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place as shall
from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors.
Section
9. Special Meetings: Special meetings of the
Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief
Executive Officer on two days' notice to each director, either personally,
by
telephone, by mail, or by telegram. Special meetings shall be called
by the Chairman of the Board, or by the Secretary, in like manner and on like
notice on the written request of the majority of the whole Board of
Directors.
Section
10. Purpose of Meetings: Neither the purpose of,
nor the business to be transacted at, any regular or special meeting of the
Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such
meeting.
Section
11. Quorum: A majority of the number of directors
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting
thereof. The act of the majority of the directors present at a
meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors,
unless the act of a greater number is required by law or the Articles of
Incorporation or these bylaws. If a quorum shall not be present at
any meeting of the Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn
the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the
meeting, until a quorum shall be present.
Section
12. Committee of Directors: The Board of
Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate
one or more committees, including an "Executive Committee," each committee
to
consist of one or more of the directors of the corporation, which, to the extent
provided in said resolution, shall have and may exercise all of the authority
of
the Board of Directors in the business and affairs of the corporation, except
where action of the Board is mandatorily required by law, and may have power
to
authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may
require it. Such committee or committees shall have such name or
names as may be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board
of Directors. Such committees shall keep regular minutes of their
proceedings and report the same to the Board when required.
Section
13. Action Without Meeting: Any action required
or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or any committee
may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action
so taken, is signed by all the members of the Board of Directors or committee,
as the case may be. Such consent shall have the same force and effect
as a unanimous vote at a meeting. The signed consent, or a signed
copy, shall be placed in the minute book.
6
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS
Section
1. Number and Designation: The officers of the
corporation shall consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a President and a
Secretary and such other officers, including, but not limited to a Vice
President, an Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, and
a
Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board, as may be elected from time to time
by
the Board of Directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the
same person.
Section
2. Election: The Board of Directors at its first
meeting after the annual meeting of the shareholders may elect a Chairman of
the
Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board from among its members and shall elect
a
Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, an
Assistant Secretary, a Treasurer, and/or an Assistant
Treasurer, none of whom need to be a member of the Board.
Section
3. Other Officers: The Chief Executive Officer
may appoint such other officers and agents as he may deem necessary for the
efficient and successful conduct of the business of the corporation, but none
of
such other officers and agents shall be given a contract of employment unless
such is first approved by the Board of Directors.
Section
4. Term of Office and Removal: The officers,
agents, or members of any committees of the corporation elected or appointed
by
the Board of Directors shall hold office until their successors are chosen
and
qualify in their stead; provided, that any such officer, agent, or member of
such committees may be removed at any time by the majority vote of the whole
Board of Directors whenever in its sole judgment the best interests of the
corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice
to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer
or agent appointed by the Chief Executive Officer may be removed at any time
by
majority vote of the whole Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive
Officer. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of
itself create contract rights.
Section
5. Compensation: The salaries of all officers of
the corporation shall be fixed by, or at the direction of, the Board of
Directors or its Compensation Committee.
Section
6. The Chairman of the Board: If elected, the
Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and
directors; and he shall have such other powers and duties as the Board of
Directors shall prescribe.
Section
7. Vice Chairman of the Board: If elected, and in the absence of the
Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman of the Board shall preside at all
meetings of the shareholders and directors. The Vice Chairman shall
have authority to execute deeds, conveyances, notes, bonds, and other contracts
either with or without the attestation of the Secretary required thereon and
either with or without the seal of the corporation.
7
Section
8. Chief Executive Officer: The Board of
Directors shall designate the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman or the
President to be Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief
Executive Officer shall have responsibility for the general management and
direction of the business of the Corporation and for the execution of all orders
and resolutions of the Board of Directors. In addition to the powers
prescribed in these bylaws, he shall have all of the powers usually vested
in
the chief executive officer of a corporation and such other powers as may be
prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. He may
delegate any of his powers and duties to any other officer with such limitations
as he may deem proper.
Section
9. President: The President may execute deeds,
conveyances, notes, bonds, and other contracts either or without the attestation
of the Secretary required thereon and either with or without the seal of the
corporation. In addition to the powers prescribed in these bylaws, she shall
have all of the powers as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board
of
Directors. If she is not designated as chief executive officer, the
President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be delegated
to
her by the Chief Executive Officer, and shall be vested with all the powers
and
authorized to perform all the duties of the Chief Executive Officer in his
absence or inability to act. She may delegate any of her powers and duties
to
any other officer with such limitations as she may deem proper.
Section
10. Vice Presidents: The Vice Presidents, in the
order of their rank and seniority in office, in the absence or disability of
the
President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President,
and
shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall
prescribe.
Section
11. The Secretary: The Secretary shall attend all
meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings of the shareholders and
record all votes and the minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for
that purpose and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when
required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings
of the shareholders and special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall
perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or
President, under whose supervision he shall be; he shall keep the seal the
corporation and, when authorized by the Board, affix the same to any instrument
requiring it and, when so affixed, it shall be attested by his signature or
by
the signature of the Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or Assistant
Treasurer.
Section
12. The Assistant Secretaries: The Assistant
Secretaries, in order of their seniority in office, shall, in the absence or
disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the
Secretary and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall
prescribe.
8
Section
13. The Treasurer: The Treasurer shall have
supervision over the corporate funds and securities and shall keep or cause
to
be kept full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books
belonging to the corporation and shall deposit or cause to be deposited all
moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the
corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors,
shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board,
taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chief
Executive Officer and directors, at the regular meetings of the Board, or
whenever they may require it, an account of all the transactions under his
supervision as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the
corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer and
persons acting under this supervision shall give the corporation a bond in
such
sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board
for
the faithful performance of their duties and for the restoration to the
corporation, in case of their death, resignation, retirement, or removal from
office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money, and other property of whatever
kind in their possession or under their control belonging to the
corporation.
Section
14. The Assistant Treasurers: The Assistant
Treasurers, in the order of their seniority in office, shall, in the absence
or
disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the
Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors shall
prescribe.
ARTICLE
V
CERTIFICATES
REPRESENTING SHARES
UNCERTIFICATED
STOCK
Section
1. Form and Issuance: The shares of the
corporation’s stock may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under
Texas law. Any certificates representing shares of stock shall be in
such form as is approved by resolution of the Board of Directors and as may
be
required by law and shall be numbered and entered in the stock records of the
corporation as they are issued. They shall show the holder's name and
number of shares and shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, if any,
or
the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary of the corporation, and may be
sealed with the seal of the corporation or a facsimile thereof. The
signatures of the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer and of the
Secretary upon a certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is
issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if he were
such officer at the date of its issuance. No certificate shall be
issued for any share until the consideration therefor, fixed as provided by
law,
has been fully paid.
Section
2. Fractional Shares: The corporation may, but
shall not be obligated to, issue fractions of a share, either represented by
a
certificate or uncertificated, and the Board of Directors may, in lieu thereof,
(i) arrange for the disposition thereof by those entitled thereto, (ii) pay
the
fair value in cash, or (iii) issue scrip in registered or bearer form which
shall entitle the holder to receive a certificate for a full share or an
uncertificated full share only upon the surrender of such scrip aggregating
a
full share. A certificate for a fractional share or an uncertificated
fractional share shall, but scrip shall not, unless otherwise provided therein,
entitle the holder to exercise voting rights, to receive dividends thereon,
or
to participate in any of the assets of the corporation in the event of
liquidation. Such scrip if issued shall become void if not exchanged
for certificates representing full shares or uncertificated full shares within
one year after its issue, or such scrip may be subject to the condition that
the
shares for which it is exchangeable may be sold by the corporation and the
proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of such scrip, and the same may
be
subject to any other conditions which the Board of Directors may deem
advisable.
9
Section
3. Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates: Any
person claiming a share certificate to be lost, stolen, or destroyed shall
(i)
make an affidavit of the fact in such manner as the Board of Directors may
require, and, (ii) if so required by the Board of Directors, make proof of
loss,
theft, or destruction in such manner as it shall require and/or give the
corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim
that may be made against the corporation with respect to the certificate alleged
to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed. The Board of Directors may
direct the issuance of a new certificate or certificates of stock or of
uncertificated shares in place of any certificate or certificates previously
issued by the corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or
destroyed.
Section
4. Transfer of Shares: Upon surrender to the
corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares
duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment,
or
authority to transfer, and upon payment of all taxes as may be imposed by law,
it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate or evidence
of the issuance of uncertificated shares to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate, and record the transaction upon the corporation’s
books.
Upon
the receipt of proper transfer
instructions from the registered owner of uncertificated shares, such
uncertificated shares shall be cancelled, issuance of new equivalent
uncertificated shares or of certificated shares shall be made to the person
entitled thereto, and the transaction shall be recorded upon the corporation’s
books.
Section
5. Registered Shareholders: The corporation shall
be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as
the
holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part
of
any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof,
except as otherwise provided by the laws of Texas.
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ARTICLE
VI
NOTICES
Section
1. Waiver in Writing: Whenever any notice is
required to be given any shareholder or director under the provisions of the
law
or the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a waiver thereof in writing
signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or
after
the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such
notice.
Section
2. Waiver by Attendance: Attendance of a director
or a shareholder, whether in person or by proxy, at any meeting shall constitute
a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such director or shareholder
attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of
any
business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened.
ARTICLE
VII
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
1. Dividends and Reserves: Dividends upon the
shares of the corporation, subject to the provisions, if any, of the Articles
of
Incorporation, may in the exercise of its discretion be declared by the Board
of
Directors at any regular or special meeting, to the extent permitted by
law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the
corporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside
out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such sum or sums
as
the directors from time to time in their absolute discretion, think proper
as a
reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for
repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other
purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the
corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the
manner in which it was created.
Section
2. Fiscal Year: The fiscal year of the
corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section
3. Seal: The corporate seal shall have inscribed
therein the name of the corporation and shall be in such form as may be approved
by the Board of Directors. Said seal may be used by causing it or a
facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or otherwise
reproduced.
Section
4. Amendments to Bylaws: All of the powers of
this corporation, insofar as the same may be lawfully vested by these Bylaws
in
the Board of Directors, are hereby conferred upon the Board of Directors of
this
corporation. In furtherance and not in limitation of that power, the
Board of Directors may amend or repeal these Bylaws, or adopt new bylaws, unless
(i) such power shall be reserved exclusively to the shareholders in whole or
part by the Articles of Incorporation or the laws of Texas or (ii) the
shareholders in amending, repealing or adopting a particular bylaw shall have
expressly provided that the Board of Directors may not amend or repeal that
bylaw. Unless the Articles of Incorporation or a bylaw adopted by the
shareholders shall provide otherwise as to all or some portion of the
corporation's bylaws, the shareholders may amend, repeal, or adopt (but only
by
the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the then
outstanding shares of capital stock of the corporation entitled to vote with
respect thereto) the corporation's bylaws even though the bylaws may also be
amended, repealed, or adopted by the Board of Directors.
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Section
5. Preferred Shareholders: The provisions of
Sections 12 and 13 of Article II and of Sections 2, 3, 4 and 5 of Article III
are subject to the rights of any holders of any class or series of stock having
a preference over the Common Stock of the corporation as to dividends or upon
liquidation to elect directors under specified circumstances.
Section
6. Action With Respect to Securities of Other
Corporations: Unless otherwise directed by the Board of
Directors, the chief executive officer shall have power to vote and otherwise
act on behalf of the corporation, in person or by proxy, at any meeting of
shareholders of, or with respect to any action of shareholders of, any other
corporation in which the corporation may hold securities and otherwise to
exercise any and all rights and powers which the corporation may possess by
reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
1. Right to Indemnification: Subject to the
limitations and conditions as provided in this Article VIII, each person who
was
or is made a party to, or is threatened to be made a party to, any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitrative or investigative (hereinafter called a
"proceeding"), or any appeal in such a proceeding or any inquiry or
investigation that could lead to such a proceeding, by reason of the fact that
he (or a person of whom he is the legal representative) is or was a director
or
officer of the corporation (or while a director or officer of the corporation
is
or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
partner, venturer, proprietor, trustee, Employee, agent, or similar functionary
of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
proprietorship, trust, Employee benefit plan, or other enterprise) shall be
indemnified by the corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the Texas
Business Corporation Act, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but,
in the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment
permits the corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than said
law
permitted the corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against judgments,
penalties (including excise and similar taxes and punitive damages), fines,
settlements and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, court costs
and attorneys' fees) actually incurred by such person in connection with such
proceeding, appeal, inquiry or investigation, and indemnification under this
Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to serve in the
capacity which initially entitled such person to indemnity hereunder; provided,
however, that in no case shall the corporation indemnify any such person (or
the
legal representative of any such person) otherwise than for his reasonable
expenses, in respect of any proceeding (i) in which such person shall have
been
finally adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction (after exhaustion of
all
appeals therefrom) to be liable on the basis that personal benefit was
improperly received by him, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action
taken in such person's official capacity, or (ii) in which such person shall
have been found liable to the corporation; and provided, further, that the
corporation shall not indemnify any such person for his reasonable expenses
actually incurred in connection with any proceeding in which he shall have
been
found liable for willful or intentional misconduct in the performance of his
duty to the corporation. The rights granted pursuant to this Article
VIII shall be deemed contract rights, and no amendment, modification or repeal
of this Article VIII shall have the effect of limiting or denying any such
rights with respect to actions taken or proceedings arising prior to any such
amendment, modification or repeal. It is expressly acknowledged that
the indemnification provided in this Article VIII could involve indemnification
for negligence or under theories of strict liability.
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Section
2. Advance Payment: The right to indemnification
conferred in this Article VIII shall include the right to be paid or reimbursed
by the corporation the reasonable expenses incurred by a person of the type
entitled to be indemnified under Section 1 who was, or is threatened to be
made
a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding, in advance of the final
disposition of the proceeding and without any determination as to the person's
ultimate entitlement to indemnification; provided, however, that the payment
of
such expenses incurred by any such person in advance of the final disposition
of
a proceeding shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of a written
affirmation by such person of his good faith belief that he has met the standard
of conduct necessary for indemnification under this Article VIII and a written
undertaking, by or on behalf of such person, to repay all amounts so advanced
if
it shall be ultimately determined that such person is not entitled to be
indemnified under this Article VIII or otherwise.
Section
3. Indemnification of Employees and Agents: The
corporation, by adoption of a resolution of the Board of Directors, may
indemnify and advance expenses to an Employee or agent of the corporation to
the
same extent and subject to the same conditions under which it may indemnify
and
advance expenses to directors and officers under this Article VIII; and the
corporation may so indemnify and advance expenses to persons who are not or
were
not directors, officers, employees, or agents of the corporation but who are
or
were serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner,
venturer, proprietor, trustee, Employee, agent, or similar functionary of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
proprietorship, trust, Employee benefit plan, or other enterprise against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such a capacity or arising
out of his status as such a person to the same extent that it may indemnify
and
advance expenses to directors and officers under this Article VIII.
Section
4. Appearance as a Witness: Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Article VIII, the corporation may pay or reimburse expenses
incurred by a director or officer in connection with his appearance as a witness
or his other participation in a proceeding at a time when he is not a named
defendant or respondent in the proceeding.
Section
5. Nonexclusivity of Rights: The right to
indemnification and the advancement and payment of expenses conferred in this
Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other right which a director or
officer or other person indemnified pursuant to Section 3 of this Article VIII
may have or hereafter acquire under any law (common or statutory), provision
of
the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, agreement, vote of shareholders
or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section
6. Insurance: The corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was
serving as a director, officer, Employee, or agent of the corporation or is
or
was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, partner,
venturer, proprietor, trustee, Employee, agent, or similar functionary of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
proprietorship, Employee benefit plan, trust, or other enterprise against any
expense, liability, or loss, whether or not the corporation would have the
power
to indemnify such person against such expense, liability, or loss under this
Article VIII.
Section
7. Shareholder Notification: To the extent required by law,
any indemnification of or advance of expenses to a director or officer in
accordance with this Article VIII shall be reported in writing to the
shareholders with or before the notice or waiver of notice of the next
shareholders' meeting or with or before the next submission to shareholders
of a
consent to action without a meeting and, in any case, within the 12-month period
immediately following the date of the indemnification or advance.
Section
8. Savings Clause: If this Article VIII or any
portion hereof shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent
jurisdiction, then the corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and advance
expenses to each director, officer, and other person indemnified pursuant to
this Article VIII to the extent permitted by any applicable portion of this
Article VIII that shall not have been invalidated.
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