Filed Pursuant to Rule
424(b)(3)
Registration Nos. 033-08857-99
033-59435-99
333-125001
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
to
PROSPECTUS DATED AUGUST 20, 2007
The attached Current Report on Form 8-K dated November 13, 2007 was
filed by the registrant with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and should
be read in conjunction with the Prospectus dated August 20, 2007.
The date of this
Prospectus Supplement is November 16, 2007
FORM 8-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 13,
2007
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in their charter)
Delaware
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001-14157
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36-2669023
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(State
or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
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(Commission
File Number)
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(IRS
Employer
Identification No.)
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30 North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000, Chicago,
Illinois
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60602
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(Address
of principal executive offices)
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(Zip
Code)
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Registrants telephone number, including area
code: (312)
630-1900
Not
Applicable
(Former
name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form
8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the
registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2.
below):
o Written communications pursuant to Rule 425
under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
o Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12
under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to
Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.03. Amendments
to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
On November 8, 2007, Telephone and Data Systems,
Inc. (TDS) amended its bylaws to comply with Section 135 of the American
Stock Exchange Company Guide to establish eligibility of TDSs Common Shares
and Special Common Shares for direct registration as uncertificated shares in
book-entry form.
The foregoing brief description is qualified by
reference to the copy of the amended TDS bylaws attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1,
which are incorporated by reference herein.
Item 9.01. Financial
Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits:
In accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of
Regulation S-K, any Exhibits filed or furnished herewith are set forth on the
Exhibit Index attached hereto.
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SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed
on their behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
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(Registrant)
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Date:
November 15, 2007
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By:
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/s/ Douglas
D. Shuma
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Douglas D. Shuma
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Senior Vice President and Corporate Controller
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3
EXHIBIT
INDEX
Exhibit
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No.
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Description
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3.1
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Amended and Restated
Bylaws of TDS
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Exhibit 3.1
BYLAWS(1)
OF
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
ARTICTLE
I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section
1.1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders
for the election of directors and the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before such meeting shall be held on the first Wednesday of May
of each year, or on such other date, and at such time and place, within or
without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined by resolution of the
Board of Directors. If the day fixed for the annual meeting is a legal holiday,
such meeting shall be held on the next succeeding business day. If the election
of directors shall not be held on the day designated herein for the annual
meeting of stockholders, or at any adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors
shall cause such election to be held at a meeting of stockholders to be called
as soon thereafter as is convenient.
Section
1.2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders
may be called by the Board of Directors, by the Chairman of the Board or the
President and shall be called by the President or the Secretary at the request
in writing, stating the purpose or purposes thereof, of holders of at least
fifty percent of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat. Special meetings of
stockholders may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of
Delaware, as shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors or as
may be specified in the call of any such special meeting. If not otherwise
designated, the place of any special meeting shall be the principal office of
the Corporation in the State of Illinois.
Section
1.3. Notice of Meetings and Adjourned Meetings. Written
notice of every meeting of stockholders, stating the place, date, time and
purposes thereof, shall, except when otherwise required by the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation, as it may be amended from time
to time (the Restated Certificate of Incorporation), or the laws of the State
of Delaware, be given at least 10 but not more than 60 days prior to such
meeting to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat, in the manner
set forth in Section 9.1 of these Bylaws, by or at the direction of the
President or the Secretary or the persons calling such meeting. Any meeting at
which a quorum of stockholders is present, in person or by proxy, may be
adjourned from time to time without notice, other than by announcement at such
meeting, until its business shall be completed. At such adjourned meeting, any
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original
meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written
notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote thereat as above provided.
(1) As amended November
13, 2007.
Section
1.4. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by the laws
of the State of Delaware or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, a
majority of the voting power of shares of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
at any meeting of stockholders, notwithstanding the subsequent withdrawal of
enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. If at any meeting a quorum
shall not be present, the chairman of such meeting shall adjourn such meeting
to another time and/or place without notice other than announcement at such
meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the
adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written
notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote thereat as above provided. At such adjourned meeting, if a
quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which
might have been transacted at the original meeting, notwithstanding the
subsequent withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
Section
1.5. Voting.
(a) Unless
otherwise provided by law, the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
stockholders and the number of votes to which such stockholders are entitled
shall be determined as provided in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Unless
otherwise provided by law or in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of
directors. Each other question shall, unless otherwise provided by law, the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, be decided by the vote
of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by
the holders of all stock entitled to vote on such question which are present in
person or by proxy at the meeting.
(b) Where a
separate vote by a class or group is required by the laws of the State of
Delaware, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a
majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of each such class or
group present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
entitled to take action with respect to the vote on that matter and the
affirmative vote of a majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of
each class or group present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting
shall be the act of each such class or group.
Section
1.6. Proxies.
(a) At every
meeting of stockholders, each stockholder having the right to vote thereat
shall be entitled to vote in person or by proxy. Such proxy shall be filed with
the Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid
after eleven months from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer
period.
(b) A
stockholder may authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder
as proxy (i) by executing a writing authorizing such person or persons to act
as such, which execution may be accomplished by such stockholder or such
stockholders authorized officer, director, employee or agent signing such
writing or causing his or her signature to be affixed to such writing by any
reasonable means, including, but not limited to, facsimile signature, or (ii)
by transmitting or authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or
other means of electronic transmission (a Transmission) to the person who
will be the holder of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support
service organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be
the holder of the proxy to receive such Transmission; provided, however,
that any such Transmission must either set forth or be submitted with
information from which it can be determined that such Transmission was
authorized by such stockholder. The inspector or inspectors appointed pursuant
to Section 1.10 of these Bylaws shall examine Transmissions to determine if
they are valid. If it is determined that a Transmission is valid, the person or
persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which such
person or persons relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication
2
or other reliable reproduction of such a writing or such a Transmission
may be substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or Transmission for
any and all purposes for which the original writing or Transmission could be
used; provided, however, that such copy, facsimile
telecommunication or other reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the
entire original writing or Transmission.
Section
1.7. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
(a) In order
that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to
vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, the Board of
Directors may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date
upon which the resolution fixing such record date shall be adopted by the Board
of Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10
days before the date of such meeting. If no such record date shall have been
fixed by the Board of Directors, such record date shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which such notice is given or, if
such notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day
on which such meeting shall be held. A determination of stockholders of record
entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall apply to
any adjournment of such meeting; provided, however, that the
Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
(b) In order
that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to
corporate action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a
record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing such record date shall be adopted by the Board of Directors,
and which record date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which
such resolution shall be adopted. If no such record date shall have been fixed
by the Board of Directors, such record date shall be, if no prior action by the
Board of Directors shall be required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the
first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or
proposed to be taken shall be delivered to the Corporation at its registered
office in the State of Delaware, at its principal place of business or to the
Secretary. Delivery made to the Corporations registered office shall be by
hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no such
record date shall have been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by
the Board of Directors shall be required by the laws of the State of Delaware,
such record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
Board of Directors shall adopt the resolution taking such prior action.
(c) In order
that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment
of any dividend or other distribution or any allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of any capital stock, or for the purpose of any other
lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date
shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing such record date
shall be adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be
more than 60 days prior to such payment, allotment or other action. If no such
record date shall have been fixed, such record date shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the Board of Directors shall adopt the resolution
relating to such payment, allotment or other action.
Section
1.8. Stockholder List. The Secretary or any other officer
who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare, at least
10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the
stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order,
and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered
in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of
any stockholder, for any purpose germane to such meeting, during ordinary
business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such meeting, either
at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held, which place shall
be specified in the notice of such meeting, or, if not so specified, at the
place where such meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and
kept at the time and place of such meeting during the whole time thereof, and
may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. Such stock ledger shall be
the only evidence as to who are
3
the stockholders entitled to examine such
stock ledger, such list or the books of the Corporation or to vote in person or
by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section
1.9. Voting of Shares by Certain Holders. Shares
of capital stock of the Corporation standing in the name of another corporation,
domestic or foreign, and entitled to vote may be voted by such officer, agent
or proxy as the bylaws of such other corporation may prescribe or, in the
absence of such provision, as the Board of Directors of such other corporation
may determine.
Shares
of capital stock of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person,
a minor, an incompetent or a corporation declared bankrupt and entitled to vote
may be voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator or trustee,
as the case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such
shares into the name of the official so voting.
A
stockholder whose shares of capital stock of the Corporation are pledged shall
be entitled to vote such shares unless on the transfer books of the Corporation
the pledgor has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which
case only the pledgee, or such pledgees proxy, may represent such shares and
vote thereon.
Shares
of capital stock of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another
corporation if a majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of
directors of such other corporation shall be held by the Corporation, shall not
be voted at any meeting of stockholders and shall not be counted in determining
the total number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a
quorum is present. Nothing in this Section 1.9 shall be construed to limit the
right of the Corporation to vote shares of capital stock of the Corporation
held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section
1.10. Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.
(a) The Board
of Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or
more inspectors (individually an Inspector, and collectively the Inspectors)
to act at such meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of
Directors may designate one or more persons as alternate Inspectors to replace
any Inspector who shall fail to act. If no Inspector or alternate shall be able
to act at such meeting, the person presiding at such meeting shall appoint one
or more other persons to act as Inspectors thereat. Each Inspector, before
entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath
faithfully to execute the duties of Inspector with strict impartiality and
according to the best of his or her ability.
(b) The
Inspectors shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the shares
of capital stock of the Corporation represented at such meeting and the
validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv)
determine and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any
challenges made to any determination by the Inspectors and (v) certify their
determination of the number of such shares represented at such meeting and
their count of all votes and ballots. The Inspectors may appoint or retain
other persons or entities to assist them in the performance of their duties.
(c) The date and
time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the
stockholders will vote at such meeting shall be announced at such meeting. No
ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto,
shall be accepted by the Inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by any stockholder
shall determine otherwise.
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(d) In
determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the Inspectors
shall be limited to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with
such proxies, any information provided in accordance with the second paragraph
of Section 1.6 of these Bylaws, ballots and the regular books and records of
the Corporation, except that the Inspectors may consider other reliable
information for the limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots
submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons
which represent more votes than the holder of a proxy is authorized by a
stockholder of record to cast or more votes than such stockholder holds of
record. If the Inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited
purpose permitted herein, the Inspectors, at the time they make their
certification pursuant to paragraph (b) of this Section 1.10, shall specify the
precise information considered by them, including the person or persons from
whom they obtained such information, when the information was obtained, the
means by which such information was obtained and the basis for the Inspectors
belief that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section
1.11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any
action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special
meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice
and without a vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the
action so taken, shall be signed by persons entitled to vote capital stock of the
Corporation representing not less than 90% of the voting power of the shares
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which
all shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were
present and voted. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of
each stockholder (or his, her or its proxy) who shall sign such consent. Prompt
notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting of stockholders by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
shall not have consented in writing. All such written consents shall be
delivered to the Corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware,
at its principal place of business or to the Secretary. Delivery made to the
Corporations registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested. No written consent shall be effective to
authorize or take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60
days of the earliest dated written consent delivered in the manner required by
this Section 1.11 to the Corporation, written consents signed by a sufficient
number of persons to authorize or take such action shall be delivered to the
Corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware, at its principal
place of business or to the Secretary as aforesaid. All such written consents
shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders and actions
authorized or taken under such written consents shall have the same force and
effect as those adopted by vote of the stockholders at any annual or special
meeting thereof.
Section
1.12. Introduction of Business at a Meeting of Stockholders. At an
annual or special meeting of stockholders, only such business shall be
conducted, and only such proposals shall be acted upon, as shall have been
properly brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders. To be
properly brought before an annual or special meeting of stockholders, business
must be (a) in the case of a special meeting, specified in the notice of the
special meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by the Corporation, or (b) in
the case of an annual meeting, properly brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, or otherwise properly brought before the
annual meeting by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder, the stockholder must have
given timely notice thereof in writing to the President or the Secretary of the
Corporation. To be timely, a stockholders notice must be received at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than 120 calendar
days nor later than 90 calendar days in advance of the anniversary date of the
date of the Corporations proxy statement to stockholders in connection with
the most recent preceding annual meeting
of stockholders, except that if the date of the current years annual meeting
has been changed by more than 30 calendar days from the anniversary date of the
most recent preceding annual meeting, a stockholder proposal shall be received
by the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day
following the date of public notice of the date of the current years annual
meeting.
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A
stockholders notice shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes
to bring before an annual meeting of stockholders (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 Corporations books, of the stockholder proposing such
business and any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such
proposal, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by such stockholder on the date of such stockholders notice
and by any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such
proposal on the date of such stockholders notice and (d) any material interest
of the stockholder in such proposal.
Notwithstanding
anything in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a
meeting of stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section 1.12. The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that the business was not properly brought
before the meeting in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Bylaws,
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 considered.
Section
1.13. Nomination of Directors. Only
persons nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section
shall be eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for
election to the Board may be made at a meeting of stockholders (a) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, or (b) by any stockholder of the
Corporation entitled to vote for the election of directors at such meeting who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13. Such
nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the President
or the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholders notice must
be received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier
than 120 calendar days nor later than 90 calendar days in advance of the
anniversary date of the date of the Corporations proxy statement to
stockholders in connection with the preceding years annual meeting of
stockholders, except that if the date of the current years annual meeting has
been changed by more than 30 calendar days from the anniversary date of the
most recent preceding annual meeting, a nomination shall be received by the
Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the
date of public notice of the date of the current years annual meeting.
A
stockholders notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder
proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (i) the name,
age, business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the principal
occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the class and number of shares
of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person on the date of
such stockholders notice and (iv) any other 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, without limitation, such persons 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 stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and address, as they
appear on the Corporations books, of such stockholder and any other
stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominee and (ii)
the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned
by such stockholder on the date of such stockholders notice and by any other
stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominee on the
date of such stockholders notice.
No
person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless
nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. 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 the Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to
the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
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This
Section 1.13 shall not apply to the election of a director to a directorship
which may be filled by the Board of Directors under the Delaware General
Corporation Law.
Section
1.14. Conduct of Meetings of Stockholders. The
person that shall preside as chairman at all meetings of stockholders shall be,
if present, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence or failure to
act, the President, or in his or her absence or failure to act, the Chairman
Emeritus, and in his or her absence or failure to act, the senior officer of
the Corporation present shall postpone or adjourn the meeting to another time
and/or place without notice other than announcement at such meeting. The
chairman of a meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adopt and enforce
rules for the conduct of such meeting, including but not limited to the
maintenance of order and decorum. The chairman of the meeting may in his or her
discretion postpone or adjourn any meeting of the stockholders or adjournment
thereof to another time and/or place without notice other than announcement at
such meeting.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section
2.1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors.
Section
2.2. Number and Term of Directors. The
Board of Directors shall consist of twelve members. The term of office of each
director elected at an annual meeting, or elected or appointed at any time in
the period between annual meetings, shall expire at the next annual meeting of
shareholders following such election or appointment. Each director elected or
appointed shall serve until his successor shall be elected and qualify, or
until his earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section
2.3. Resignation or Removal. Any
director may resign by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or the
President. Any such resignation shall take effect at the time of receipt of
such notice or at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise
specified therein, acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to
make it effective. Directors may be removed from office, either with or without
cause, only as provided in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the
laws of the State of Delaware.
Section
2.4. Vacancies.
(a) Except as
otherwise required by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of
the State of Delaware or these Bylaws, any vacancy occurring in the Board of
Directors, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of
directors provided in Section 2.2 of these Bylaws, may be filled for the
remainder of the unexpired term by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors then in office, although less than a quorum, by a sole remaining
director or by the stockholders.
(b) Except as
otherwise required by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, when one or
more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future
date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so
resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote
thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become
effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of
the unexpired term of such office.
Section
2.5. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors
may be held at such places, within or without the State of Delaware, as the
Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as may be specified in
the call of any such meeting.
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Section
2.6. Regular Meetings. A regular annual meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be held, without call or notice, immediately after and
at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, or at such other time
and place as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or specified
by the Secretary at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the President
or the Chairman Emeritus, for the purpose of organizing the Board of Directors,
electing officers and transacting any other business that may properly come
before such meeting. If the stockholders shall elect the directors by written
consent of stockholders as permitted by Section 1.11 of these Bylaws, a special
meeting of the Board of Directors shall be called as soon as practicable after
such election for the purposes described in the preceding sentence. Additional
regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without call or notice
at such times as shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors or
specified by the Secretary at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the
President or the Chairman Emeritus.
Section
2.7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or the
Chairman Emeritus or by a majority of the directors then in office. Notice of
each special meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each director at least
three days before such meeting, or be given by the Secretary personally or by
telegraph or telecopy or by electronic mail at least four hours before such
meeting, in the manner set forth in Section 9.1 of these Bylaws. Such notice
shall set forth the date, time and place of such meeting but need not, unless
otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware, state the purpose of
such meeting.
Section
2.8. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the entire Board of
Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors. The act of the majority of the directors
present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
Board of Directors, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware,
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. A majority of the
directors present at any meeting at which a quorum shall be present may adjourn
such meeting to any other date, time or place without further notice other than
announcement at such meeting. If at any meeting a quorum shall not be present,
a majority of the directors present may adjourn such meeting to any other date,
time or place upon notice to all directors pursuant to Section 2.7.
Section
2.9. Telephonic Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors
or of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may participate in a
meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee through conference
telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating
in such meeting can hear each other, and participation in any meeting conducted
pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
Section
2.10. Presumption of Assent. Unless
otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware, a director who is
present at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof at which
action is taken on any corporate matter shall be presumed to have assented to
the action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of
such meeting or unless he or she shall file his or her written dissent to such
action with the person acting as secretary of such meeting before the
adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the
Secretary immediately after the adjournment of such meeting. Such right to
dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
Section
2.11. Action without Meeting. Unless
otherwise restricted by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Restated Certificate
of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, may be
taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all members
of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, and such
written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors or such committee.
8
Section
2.12. Major Responsibilities. The major
responsibilities of the Board of Directors shall include, without limitation,
oversight of the Corporations:
strategy; condition, performance and longer-term value; customer,
economic, social, regulatory and technological environment; competitive position;
legal compliance; management organization; human resources; senior management
succession planning; and contribution to communities served and society.
Section
2.13. Presiding Director. The presiding director at any
meeting of the Board of Directors shall be the Chairman of the Board, or in his
or her absence or failure to act, the President, or in his or her absence or
failure to act, the Chairman Emeritus, and in his or her absence or failure to
act, the meeting shall be postponed or adjourned to another time and/or place
as specified by a majority of the directors or sole director present at such
meeting, without notice other than announcement at such meeting.
Section
2.14. Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may, in its
discretion, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board of
Directors, designate an Executive Committee consisting of the Chairman of the
Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus, and such number of other directors
as the Board of Directors shall determine. The Executive Committee shall have
and may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in
the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation with respect to
any matter which may require action prior to, or which in the opinion of the
Executive Committee may be inconvenient, inappropriate or undesirable to be
postponed until, the next meeting of the Board of Directors; provided, however,
that the Executive Committee shall not have the power or authority of the Board
of Directors in reference to (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to the
stockholders any action or matter expressly required by Delaware law to be
submitted to the stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or
repealing these Bylaws. The presiding member at any meeting of the Executive
Committee shall be the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence or
failure to act, the President, or in his or her absence or failure to act, the
Chairman Emeritus, and in his or her absence or failure to act, the meeting
shall be postponed or adjourned to another time and/or place as specified by a
majority of the committee members or sole committee member present at such
meeting, without notice other than announcement at such meeting.
Section
2.15. Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from
time to time, in its discretion, by resolution passed by a majority of the
entire Board of Directors, designate other committees of the Board of Directors
consisting of such number of directors as the Board of Directors shall
determine, which shall have and may exercise such lawfully delegable powers and
duties of the Board of Directors as shall be conferred or authorized by such
resolution. The Board of Directors shall have the power to change at any time
the members of any such committee, to fill vacancies and to dissolve any such
committee.
Section
2.16. Alternates. The Board of Directors may from
time to time designate from among the directors alternates to serve on any
committee of the Board of Directors to replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of such committee. Whenever a quorum cannot be secured
for any meeting of any committee from among the regular members thereof and
designated alternates, the member or members, including alternates, of such
committee present at such meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or
not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director to act at
such meeting in place of any absent or disqualified member.
Section
2.17. Quorum and Manner of Acting of Committees. A
majority of the members of any committee of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of such
committee, and the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at
which a quorum is present shall be the act of such committee.
9
Section
2.18. Committee Chairman, Books and Records, Etc. Except
as otherwise provided herein, the chairman of each committee of the Board of
Directors shall be selected from among the members of such committee by the
Board of Directors.
Each
committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings, and all actions of
each committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
Each
committee shall fix its own rules of procedure not inconsistent with these
Bylaws or the resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee
and shall meet at such times and places and upon such call or notice as shall
be provided by such rules.
Section
2.19. Chairman of the Board. The
Board of Directors shall elect one director as Chairman of the Board; provided
that in the event of the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of the
Chairman of the Board, the vacancy in the position of Chairman of the Board
shall be filled by a director who is selected by the Board of Directors. The
Chairman of the Board shall manage and preside over the activities of the Board
of Directors, enabling it to perform its responsibilities, and in furtherance
thereof shall, among other things, (a) assign tasks to: the President or other
senior management; the General Counsel; the Secretary; committees of the Board
of Directors; and members of the Board of Directors, (b) establish governance
and other procedures for the activities of the Board of Directors, (c) propose
committees of the Board of Directors, and their chairs, members and charters,
and (d) propose persons to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors. The
Chairman of the Board shall also (a) provide counsel to the President and other
senior management, (b) arrange that appropriate communication, including full
deliberation, occurs among the directors of the Board of Directors, members of
committees of the Board of Directors and senior management on important
matters, (c) serve as an ex-officio member of each committee of the Board of
Directors unless prohibited from doing so by law or regulation, (d) establish
agendas for meetings of the Board of Directors and meetings of stockholders
with advice from the President, (e) establish a schedule of meetings of the
Board of Directors and coordinate the schedule of meetings of committees of the
Board of Directors, and (f) propose compensation for the Board of Directors and
for committees of the Board of Directors, chairs and members thereof. In the
absence of the Chairman of the Board or in the event of his or her inability or
refusal to act, the duties of the Chairman of the Board shall be performed by
the President, or in the event of his or her absence or inability or refusal to
act, by the Chairman Emeritus or, in the event of his or her absence or
inability or refusal to act, by another director selected by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall be elected by the Board of Directors
at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after the election of
directors. If the election of the Chairman of the Board shall not be held at
such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be
convenient. A vacancy may be filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The
Chairman of the Board shall hold office until his or her successor shall have
been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his or her earlier death,
resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section
2.20. Reliance upon Records. Every
director, and every member of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall,
in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporations
officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other
person as to matters the director or member reasonably believes are within such
other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, including, but not limited
to, such records, information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or
any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds
from which dividends might properly be declared and paid, or with which the
Corporations capital stock might properly be purchased or redeemed.
10
Section
2.21. Interested Directors. The
presence of a director, who is directly or indirectly a party in a contract or
transaction with the Corporation, or between the Corporation and any other
corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which such
director is a director or officer or has a financial interest, may be counted
in determining whether a quorum is present at any meeting of the Board of
Directors or a committee thereof at which such contract or transaction is
discussed or authorized, and such director may participate in such meeting to
the extent permitted by applicable law, including Section 144 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section
2.22. Compensation. Unless otherwise restricted by the
laws of the State of Delaware or the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the
Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the compensation of
directors. The directors shall be paid their reasonable expenses, if any, of
attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof and
may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each such meeting and an annual
retainer or salary for services as a chairman, director, committee chair or
committee member. No such payment shall preclude any director from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section
3.1. Number and Designation. The
officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Chairman Emeritus, one or
more Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, a
General Counsel, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Controller, a Chief Accounting
Officer, and such Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers or other officers
or agents as may be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. Any two or
more offices may be held by the same person unless the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws provide otherwise.
Section
3.2. Election and Term of Office. The
Chairman Emeritus of the Corporation shall be LeRoy T. Carlson until the
earlier of his retirement, death, resignation, removal or disqualification and,
in any such event, the office of Chairman Emeritus shall be retired and shall
cease to be an office of this Corporation. The other officers of the
Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of
the Board of Directors held after the election of directors. If the election of
such other officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be
held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new
offices created and filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors. Except as
otherwise provided herein, each officer shall hold office until his or her
successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his or
her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section
3.3. Removal and Resignation. Any
officer or agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed
by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the
Corporation would 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 may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the
Board or the President with a copy to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall
take effect at the time of receipt of such notice or at any later time
specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section
3.4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of
death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise may be filled by the
Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
11
Section
3.5. President. The President shall be the chief
executive officer of the Corporation and shall in general supervise and control
all of the business and affairs of the Corporation and supervise the duties
assigned to the officers of the Corporation. The President may execute, alone
or with the Secretary or any other officer of the Corporation authorized by the
Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments
which the Board of Directors or an authorized committee thereof has authorized
to be executed, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly
delegated by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof or by these Bylaws
to some other officer or agent of the Corporation, or shall be required by law
to be otherwise executed. The President shall supervise the duties assigned to
the Chief Information Officer and the Secretary and in general he or she shall
perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as
from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the
Chairman of the Board. In the event of the absence of the President or in the
event of his or her inability or refusal to act as President for a continuous
period of three months or in the event of his earlier death, resignation,
removal or disqualification (a permanent absence), the Chairman of the Board
or, in the event of the permanent absence of the Chairman of the Board, and in
the event of his or her inability or refusal to succeed to and perform his or
her duties, the Chairman Emeritus, shall, automatically and without any action
on the part of the Board of Directors or otherwise, succeed to and perform the
duties of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of and
be subject to all the restrictions placed upon the President set forth in this
Section 3.5. In the event of the permanent absence of all such persons, the
vacancy in the position of President shall be filled with a person who is
selected by the Board of Directors.
Section
3.6. Chairman Emeritus. In the absence of both the
President and the Chairman of the Board or in the event of their inability or
refusal to act for a period of less than three months (a temporary absence),
the Chairman Emeritus shall perform the duties of the Chairman of the Board and
the President and, when so acting, shall have all the powers of, and be subject
to all the restrictions placed upon the Chairman of the Board and the President.
He or she may execute, alone or with the Secretary or any other officer of the
Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds,
contracts or other instruments which the Board of Directors or an authorized
committee thereof has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the execution
thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or a committee
thereof or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation,
or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed, and in general he or she
shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chairman Emeritus and such
other duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the President, the
Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors.
Section
3.7. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. The
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer shall in general supervise
and control the financial business and financial affairs of the Corporation. The
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer shall supervise the duties
assigned to the Treasurer and the Controller, shall administratively supervise
the Chief Internal Auditor, and in general he or she shall perform all the
duties incident to the offices of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or
her by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus or the
Board of Directors. The duties and powers of the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer shall extend to all subsidiaries and all affiliated
entities of the Corporation insofar as the Chairman of the Board or President
may deem appropriate and practicable. The Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer shall be elected the Chief Accounting Officer of United
States Cellular Corporation and TDS Telecommunications Corporation as
practicable.
12
Section
3.8. The Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents
and Subsidiary CEOs. In the temporary absence of the
President, the Executive Vice Presidents, the Senior Vice Presidents, the Vice
Presidents and the chief executive officers of subsidiaries of the Corporation
(Subsidiary CEOs) shall, from time to time, perform such specific duties of
the President as may be delegated to one or more of such persons in writing by
the Chairman of the Board, or in the temporary absence of the Chairman of the
Board, by the Chairman Emeritus and, when so acting, shall have such powers and
be subject to such restrictions as would be applicable to the President with
respect to such specific duties. The Board of Directors may also designate
certain Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or Vice Presidents as
being in charge of designated divisions, plants or functions of the Corporations
business and add appropriate descriptions to their titles. In addition, any
Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President shall perform
such duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman
of the Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus or the Board of Directors.
Section
3.9. General Counsel. The General Counsel shall be the
principal legal officer of the Corporation and shall be responsible for and
have charge of all legal matters affecting the Corporation, its subsidiaries,
and those affiliated entities which it controls. The General Counsel shall
perform or supervise the performance of all duties incident to such legal
matters, together with such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to him by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus or
the Board of Directors. The duties and powers of the General Counsel shall
extend to all subsidiaries of the Corporation and, insofar as the Chairman of
the Board, the President, or the Chairman Emeritus may deem appropriate and
practicable, to all affiliated entities.
Section
3.10. The Secretary. The Secretary shall (a) keep the
minutes of proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any
committee of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that
purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the
corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) affix the seal
of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof, or cause it to be affixed, and, when
so affixed, attest the seal by his or her signature, to all Certificates for
shares of capital stock of the Corporation prior to the issue thereof and to
all other documents the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under
its seal is duly authorized by the Board of Directors or otherwise in
accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; (e) keep a register of the
post office address of each stockholder, director or committee member, which
shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder, director or member;
(f) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation;
and (g) in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the General Counsel, the Chairman
Emeritus or the Board of Directors.
Section
3.11. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge
and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the
Corporation, receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the
Corporation from any source whatsoever, deposit all such moneys in the name of
the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall
be selected in accordance with the provisions of Article IV of these
Bylaws, disburse the funds of the Corporation as ordered by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President or the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer or as otherwise required in the conduct
of the business of the Corporation and render to the Chairman of the Board, the
President, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or the Board
of Directors, upon request, an accounting of all his or her transactions as
Treasurer and a report on the financial condition of the Corporation. The
Treasurer shall in general perform all the duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or
her by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial Officer or the Board of Directors. If required by the Board
of Directors or the President, the Treasurer shall give a bond (which shall be
renewed regularly), in such sum and with such
13
surety or sureties as the Board of
Directors or the President, shall determine, for the faithful discharge of his
or her duties and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his or her
death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers,
vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his or her possession or
under his or her control belonging to the Corporation.
Section
3.12. Controller. The Controller shall be the chief
accounting officer of the Corporation. As the chief accounting officer, the
Controller shall be responsible for determining, establishing and implementing
accounting systems, policies, procedures and standards for the Corporation
under the direction of the chief financial officer. The duties of the
Controller shall be to maintain adequate records of all assets, liabilities and
transactions of the Corporation in accordance with such accounting systems,
policies, procedures and standards; to see that adequate audits are currently
and regularly performed; and, in conjunction with other officers and department
heads, to initiate and enforce measures and procedures whereby the business of
the Corporation shall be conducted with the maximum effectiveness and
efficiency. Employing the foregoing accounting systems, policies, procedures
and standards, the Controller shall develop, implement and administer an
effective plan for the control of operations, including properly maintaining
internal controls over all assets, liabilities and transactions of the
Corporation. The Controller shall perform all duties as from time to time may
be assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the
Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or the Board of Directors.
The duties and powers of the Controller shall extend to all subsidiaries and
all affiliated entities of the Corporation insofar as the Chairman of the
Board, the President or the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer may deem appropriate and practicable.
Section
3.13. Assistant Treasurers and Secretaries. In the
absence of the Secretary or the Treasurer, as the case may be, or in the event
of his or her inability or refusal to act, the Assistant Secretaries and the
Assistant Treasurers, respectively, in the order determined by the Board of
Directors (or if there shall have been no such determination, then in the order
of their election), shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
Secretary or the Treasurer, as the case may be. In addition, the Assistant
Secretaries shall, in general, perform
such duties as may be assigned to them by the Chairman of the Board, the
President, the General Counsel, the Chairman Emeritus, the Secretary or the
Board of Directors. In addition, the Assistant Treasurers shall, in general,
perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Chairman of the Board,
the President, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer, the
Treasurer or the Board of Directors. Each Assistant Treasurer shall, if
required by the Board of Directors or the President, give a bond (which shall
be renewed regularly), in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the
Board of Directors or the President shall determine, for the faithful discharge
of his or her duties.
Section
3.14. Salaries. The salaries and other
compensation of the officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed from
time to time by the Board of Directors or by such committee or officer as it
shall designate for such purpose. No officer shall be prevented from receiving
such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS, AND
DEPOSITS
Section
4.1. Contracts. The Board of Directors may
authorize any officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any
contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of
the Corporation, and such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
14
Section
4.2. Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of
the Corporation and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in the name of
the Corporation unless authorized by or pursuant to a resolution adopted by the
Board of Directors. Such authority may be general or confined to specific
instances.
Section
4.3. Checks, Drafts, Etc. All
checks, drafts or other orders for payment of money issued in the name of the
Corporation shall be signed by such officers, employees or agents of the
Corporation as shall from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus, the Executive
Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer.
Section
4.4. Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not
otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the
Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be
designated from time to time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus, the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer; and such officers may designate any
type of depository arrangement (including, but not limited to, depository
arrangements resulting in net debits against the Corporation) as may from time
to time be offered or made available.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK AND THEIR
TRANSFER
Section
5.1. Certificates of Stock. Shares
of capital stock of the Corporation shall be represented by Certificates,
provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions
under Section 158 of the Delaware General Corporation Law that some or all of
any or all classes or series of the Corporations capital stock shall be uncertificated
shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a
Certificate until such Certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Every
holder of a class or series of capital stock in the Corporation represented by
Certificates shall be entitled to have a Certificate representing the number of
such shares owned by the shareholder in the Corporation unless and until the
Board of Directors provides by resolution or resolutions that the shares of
such class or series shall be represented solely in book-entry form as uncertificated
shares. Certificates shall be in such form as may be determined by the Board of
Directors, shall be numbered and shall be entered on the books of the
Corporation as they are issued. Such Certificates shall indicate the holders
name and the number of shares evidenced thereby and shall be signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chairman Emeritus, an Executive Vice
President, Senior Vice President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary. If any stock Certificate shall be manually signed
(a) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer agent or (b) by a
transfer clerk acting on behalf of the Corporation and a registrar, the
signature of any officer of the Corporation may be facsimile. In case any such
officer whose facsimile signature has been used on any such stock Certificate
shall cease to be such officer, whether because of death, resignation, removal
or otherwise, before such stock Certificate shall have been delivered by the
Corporation, such stock Certificate may nevertheless be delivered by the
Corporation as though the person whose facsimile signature has been used
thereon had not ceased to be such officer.
Section
5.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. With
respect to any shares represented by a Certificate, the Board of Directors in
individual cases, or by general resolution or by delegation to the transfer
agent for the Corporation, may direct that a new stock Certificate or
Certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation be issued in place
of any stock Certificate or Certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation
claimed to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the filing of an affidavit
to that effect by the person claiming such loss, theft or destruction. When
authorizing such an issuance of a new stock Certificate or Certificates, the
Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to such
issuance, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed stock Certificate
or Certificates to
15
advertise the same in such manner as the
Corporation shall require and/or to 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 stock Certificate or Certificates claimed to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section
5.3. Transfers of Stock. With respect to any shares represented
by a Certificate, upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of
the Corporation of a stock Certificate for shares of capital stock of the
Corporation duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession,
assignment or authority to transfer or, if the relevant stock Certificate for
shares of capital stock of the Corporation is claimed to have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, upon compliance with the provisions of Section 5.2 of these
Bylaws, and upon payment of applicable taxes with respect to such transfer, and
in compliance with any restrictions on transfer applicable to such stock
Certificate or the shares represented thereby of which the Corporation shall
have notice and subject to such rules and regulations as the Board of Directors
may from time to time deem advisable concerning the transfer and registration
of stock Certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation, the
Corporation shall issue a new stock Certificate or Certificates for such shares
to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old stock Certificate and record the
transaction upon its books. Transfers of shares shall be made only on the books
of the Corporation by the registered holder thereof or by such holders
attorney or successor duly authorized as evidenced by documents filed with the
Secretary or transfer agent of the Corporation. Whenever any transfer of shares
of capital stock of the Corporation shall be made for collateral security, and
not absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the
stock Certificate or Certificates representing such shares are presented to the
Corporation for transfer or, in the case of uncertificated shares, documents of
transfer are presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee
request the Corporation to do so.
Section
5.4. Stockholders of Record. The
Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of
capital stock of the Corporation as the holder thereof and shall not be bound
to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the
part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice
thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section
6.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation
shall be the same as the calendar year.
Section
6.2. Seal. The corporate seal of the Corporation
shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words CORPORATE
SEAL and DELAWARE; and it shall otherwise be in the form approved by the
Board of Directors. Such seal may be used by causing it, or a facsimile
thereof, to be impressed or affixed or otherwise reproduced.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICES
Section
7.1. Registered Office. The registered office of the
Corporation in the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street in
the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, and the name of its registered
agent is Corporation Trust Company.
Section
7.2. Other Offices. The Corporation may have offices
at such other places, both within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or as the business of
the Corporation may require.
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ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section
8.1. General.
(a) The
Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
than an action by or in the right of the Corporation), by reason of the fact
that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys
fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably
incurred by him or her in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he
or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be
in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with respect
to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or
her conduct was unlawful. The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere
or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that such person
did not act in good faith and in a manner which he or she reasonably believed
to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation, and, with
respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe
that his or her conduct was unlawful.
(b) The
Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened
to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or
in the right of the Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of
the fact that he or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys
fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the
defense or settlement of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith
and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made
in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent
that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such
action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses
which such Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
(c) To the
extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been
successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8.1, or in
defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified
against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred
by him or her in connection therewith.
(d) Any
indemnification under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8.1 (unless
ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as authorized in the
specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director,
officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has
met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this Section 8.1. Such determination shall be made (i) by the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not
parties to such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) if such a quorum is not
obtainable or, even if obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) by the
stockholders.
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(e) Subject
to compliance with the other terms and conditions of this Section 8.1, expenses
(including attorneys fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may
be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action,
suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined
that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to
this Section 8.1. Such expenses (including attorneys fees) incurred by other
employees and agents may be so paid upon compliance with the terms and
conditions set forth in this Section 8.1 or such other terms and conditions as
the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
(f) The
indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant
to, this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to
which those seeking indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled
under any bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or
otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in
another capacity while holding such office.
(g) For
purposes of this Article VIII, any reference to the Corporation shall
include, in addition to the resulting or surviving corporation, any constituent
corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger which, if its separate existence had continued, would
have had power and authority to indemnify its directors, officers, employees or
agents, so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent
of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall stand
in the same position under the provisions of this Article VIII with respect to
the resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to
such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(h) For
purposes of this Article VIII, any reference to other enterprise shall
include employee benefit plans; any reference to fines shall include any
excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan;
and any reference to serving at the request of the Corporation shall include
any service as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which
imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer, employee or
agent with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants or
beneficiaries; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in the interest of the participants and beneficiaries
of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation as referred to in this
Article VIII.
(i) The
indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant
to, this Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and shall inure to the benefit of the
heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
(j) Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Section 8.1, the Corporation shall not make any
payments pursuant to this Section 8.1 unless the Corporation shall have first
received adequate documentation demonstrating that such amounts for which
payment is requested were actually and reasonably incurred for the purposes
permitted to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 8.1. Such documentation may
include time records, fee and disbursement records (including hourly rates),
description of the work performed, periodic litigation status reports, the
legal basis for the indemnification claim, and other information reasonably
requested by the Corporation. If a written claim has been made for payment or
reimbursement of expenses, the Corporation may require periodic status reports
from the claimant or the counsel handling the defense of such proceeding as to
the status of such proceeding, the matters presented in the proceeding for
which indemnification is sought, the names of any expert witnesses to be
retained, the projected costs for such proceeding and any other information
which is customary to obtain in order to determine whether such expenses were
actually and reasonably incurred for the purposes permitted to be reimbursed
pursuant to this Section 8.1. In the event that the party
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requesting indemnification or advancement of expenses has incurred
costs in multiple proceedings, or shared legal counsel with other claimants, or
circumstances exist where some costs are permitted or required to be reimbursed
and some are not, the party submitting the request for payment shall allocate
such costs and explain in sufficient detail a reasonable basis for the
allocation of costs. If the party requesting payment fails to make an
allocation when necessary, or to provide an adequate explanation for any such
allocation, the Corporation shall determine a reasonable basis for allocation
based on the written information furnished to it. If any information relating
to the allocation of expenses or any other matter is not properly supplied, the
Corporation shall not be required to make payment until such information is
fully supplied. If a claim under this Section 8.1 is not paid in full by the
Corporation within ninety days after a written claim meeting the requirements
of this Section 8.1 has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at
any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid
amount of the claim, plus any interest required by law to be paid. Such suit
may only be filed in the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, the federal
district court for the Northern District of Illinois, the Superior Court of
Delaware, New Castle County, or the federal district court for Delaware. It
shall be a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the
requirements of this Section 8.1, including the provisions of this paragraph
(j), or the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the Delaware
General Corporation Law for the Corporation to pay the claimant for the amount
claimed.
(k) Notwithstanding
any other provisions of this Section 8.1, nothing herein shall require the
Corporation to make an advance of expenses at any time. In the event that any
written claim for advancement of expenses is submitted to the Corporation, this
Section 8.1 shall apply to such written claim for advancement of expenses
except to the extent expressly required by the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware or applicable law. Any undertaking shall comply with the
requirements of paragraph (l) of this Section 8.1.
(l) If any
undertaking is permitted to be delivered by a person pursuant to this Section
8.1 or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Corporation
shall prescribe the form of undertaking. The Corporation shall be a party to
the instrument evidencing the undertaking. In the event that there is doubt as
to the collectibility of any amounts to be advanced to a claimant which may be
required to be repaid, or for other good and sufficient reason, the Corporation
may require adequate security for the undertaking.
(m) Except to
the extent expressly required by the General Corporation law of the State of
Delaware or applicable law or except as otherwise approved by the Board of
Directors, the Corporation does not intend to provide indemnification or
advancement of expenses to any person who (i) has not acted in good faith or
has acted in a manner opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; (ii)
has initiated any action, suit or proceeding against the Corporation which was
not authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation; (iii) has breached
any agreement with the Corporation in any material respect; (iv) has tortiously
induced any director, officer, employee, agent, customer or supplier of the
Corporation or other person or entity to breach his, her or its contractual obligations
to the Corporation; (v) has tortiously interfered with the Corporations
customers or business relationships; (vi) has committed, threatened or
conspired to commit any acts of dishonesty, embezzlement, misappropriation of
funds, theft of trade secrets, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty or other crime
or tort against the Corporation; or (vii) has engaged in any other unlawful or
tortious conduct against the Corporation or its interests. To the extent
permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and
applicable law, these rules of interpretation shall be applied in construing
all provisions of this Section 8.1.
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(n) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 8.1, the Corporation may provide
indemnification to a person consistent with the requirements of Section 145(a)
and Section 145(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and
this Section 8.1, and the Corporation shall provide indemnification to the
extent required by Section 145(c) of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware. The provisions of this Section 8.1 are severable, and if any one
or more provisions may be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable,
in whole or in part, the remaining provisions and any partially enforceable
provisions, to the extent so enforceable, shall nevertheless be binding and
enforceable.
Section
8.2. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and
maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against any
liability asserted against him or her and incurred by him or her in any such
capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the
Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability
under the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State
of Delaware.
ARTICLE IX
NOTICES
Section
9.1. Manner of Notice. Except as otherwise provided by
law, whenever under the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be
given to any stockholder, director or member of any committee of the Board of
Directors, such notice may be given by personal delivery or by depositing it,
in a sealed envelope, in the United States mails, air mail or first class,
postage prepaid, addressed, or by delivering it to a telegraph company, charges
prepaid, for transmission, or by transmitting it via telecopier or by
electronic mail via the Internet or similar system, to such stockholder,
director or member either at the address of such stockholder, director or
member as it appears on the books of the Corporation or, in the case of such a
director or member, at his or her business address; and such notice shall be
deemed to be given at the time when it is thus personally delivered, deposited,
delivered or transmitted, as the case may be. Such requirement for notice shall
also be deemed satisfied, except in the case of stockholder meetings with
respect to which written notice is required by law, if actual notice is
received orally or by other writing by the person entitled thereto as far in
advance of the event with respect to which notice is being given as the minimum
notice period required by the laws of the State of Delaware or these Bylaws.
Whenever
notice is required to be given under any provision of the laws of the State of
Delaware, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any
stockholder to whom (a) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of
stockholders, and all notices of meetings of stockholders or of the taking of
action by stockholders by written consent without a meeting to such stockholder
during the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or
(b) all, and at least two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of
dividends or interest on securities of the Corporation during a 12-month
period, have been mailed addressed to such stockholder at the address of such
stockholder as shown on the records of the Corporation and have been returned
undeliverable, the giving of such notice to such stockholder shall not be
required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or held without notice to
such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as if such notice had
been duly given. If any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a
written notice setting forth the then current address of such stockholder, the
requirement that notice be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated.
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Section
9.2. Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to
be given under any provision of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed
by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the
time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. Attendance by a
person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except
when such person attends such meeting for the express purpose of objecting, at
the beginning of such meeting, to the transaction of any business because such
meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of
stockholders, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors
need be specified in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the
laws of the State of Delaware, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or
these Bylaws.
ARTICLE X
DIVIDENDS
The
Board of Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay,
dividends, in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock of the
Corporation, on its outstanding shares of capital stock in the manner and upon
the terms and conditions provided by law and by the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Except
to the extent otherwise provided in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation
or these Bylaws, these Bylaws shall be subject to alteration, amendment or
repeal, and new Bylaws may be adopted (a) by the affirmative vote of the
holders of not less than a majority of the voting power of all outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for matters other
than the election of directors or (b) by the affirmative vote of not less
than a majority of the entire Board of Directors at any meeting of the Board of
Directors at which there is a quorum present and voting; provided, however,
that the right to call a special meeting by holders of at least fifty percent
of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote at a special meeting, as provided in Section
1.2 of these Bylaws, shall not be altered, amended or repealed with respect to
any group of shareholders entitled to call a special meeting, without the
approval by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of
the voting power of the shares of capital stock which are held by such
shareholders and which are entitled to vote in such group at such special
meeting.
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