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BYLAWS
ARTICLE
I. Offices
Section 1.1 Principal
Office. The VeriBiz Board of Directors shall fix the location
of the Corporation’s principal place of business within or outside the
state of North Carolina (NC). The Corporation may have such other
offices, either within or without the state of NC, as the Board of Directors
may designate or as the business of the Corporation may require.
Section 1.2 Registered
Office; Registered Agent. The registered office of VeriBiz required
by the NC Business Corporation Act to be maintained in the state of NC
may be, but need not be, identical with the principal office in the state
of NC, and the address of the registered office may be changed from time
to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall also
designate and maintain a registered agent within the state of NC in accordance
with the NC Business Corporation Act.
ARTICLE
II. Shareholders
Section 2.1. Annual Meetings.
The annual shareholders’ meeting shall be held in the month of October
of each year for the purpose of electing directors, and for the transaction
of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the day
fixed for the annual meeting shall be a legal holiday in the state of NC,
such meeting may be held on the next succeeding business day or whenever
convenient. Failure to hold the annual meeting at the designated
time shall not work a forfeiture or dissolution on the Corporation.
Section 2.2. Failure to
Hold the Annual Meeting. If the annual meeting is not held at
the designated time, the Board of Directors may call the annual meeting
at a time fixed by them not more than 60 days after such designated time
by proper notice designating the meeting as the annual meeting. The annual
meeting may be held by telephone or teleconferencing. If the annual
meeting is not held at the designated time or during the 60-day period
thereafter, the annual meeting may be called by the holders of not less
than 51 percent of all the shares entitled to vote at the meeting.
In such event, notice shall be given not more than 15 days after the expiration
of such 60-day period. Such notice shall fix the time of the meeting
at the earliest date permissible under the applicable notice requirements.
Section 2.3. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless
otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called by the president or by the
Board of Directors, and shall be called by the president at the request
of the holders of not less than 51 percent of all the outstanding shares
of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting. If a special
meeting is called by any person or persons other than the Board of Directors,
the request shall be in writing specifying the time of such meeting and
the general nature of the business proposed to be transacted. The
request shall be delivered personally or sent by registered mail or by
telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to the president or the secretary
of the Corporation. Upon receiving the request, the secretary shall
cause notice of the meeting to be provided to the shareholders entitled
to vote in accordance with Section 2.5.
Section 2.4. Place of
Meeting. The Board of Directors may designate any place, either
within or without the state NC, as the place of meeting for any annual
meeting or special meeting called by the Board of Directors. A waiver
of notice signed by all shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting may
designate any place, either within or without the state of NC, as the place
for holding the meeting.
Section 2.5. Notice
of Meeting. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of
the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes
for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not fewer than 10 nor
more than 50 days before the date of the meeting, either personally,
by mail, or by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission by or at the
direction of the president, the secretary, or the persons 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’s address as it appears
on the stock transfer books of the Corporation, postage prepaid.
An affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
shareholders meeting shall be executed by the secretary, assistant secretary,
or any other person providing the notice on behalf of the Corporation.
Shareholders may waive notice of any meeting by a signed writing.
Attendance by the shareholder at any meeting shall also constitute a waiver
of notice of that meeting.
Section 2.6. Closing of
Transfer Books; Record Date. For the purpose of determining
the shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of shareholders
or any adjournment of the meeting, or to determine the shareholders entitled
to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination
of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors may
provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period
not to exceed, in any case, 50 days. If the stock transfer books
shall be closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to
notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of shareholders, such books shall be
closed for at least 10 days immediately preceding such meeting. In
lieu of closing the stock transfer books, 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 50 days and, in case of a meeting
of shareholders, not fewer than 10 days prior to the date on which the
particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be
taken. If the stock transfer books are not closed, and no record
date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice
of, or to vote at, a meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled
to receive payment of a 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 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 of such meeting.
Section 2.7. Stock Transfer
and Voting Records. The officer or agent having charge of the
stock transfer books for the shares of the Corporation shall make, at least
10 days before each shareholders’ meeting, a complete record of the shareholders
entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment of such meeting,
with the address of and the class and number of shares held by each. Such
records shall also be available at the time and place of the meeting, and
shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder entitled to vote
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 record or transfer books, or to vote at any shareholders’
meeting.
Section 2.8. Quorum.
A majority of the issued and outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled
to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at
a shareholders’ meeting. If less than a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares entitled to vote are represented at a meeting, a majority
of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting in accordance with
Section 2.13. The shareholders present at a duly organized meeting
may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding withdrawal
of enough shareholders to leave fewer than a quorum.
Section 2.9. Proxies.
At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote in person, by proxy
executed in writing by the shareholder, or by the shareholder’s duly authorized
attorney-in-fact. Such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of
the Corporation before, or at the time of, the meeting. No proxy
shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. A validly executed proxy, which does not state
that it is irrevocable, shall continue in full force and effect unless
(i) revoked by the person executing it prior to the vote by a writing signed
by the shareholder and delivered to the Corporation stating that it is
revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by the person executing the earlier
proxy or by the shareholder’s attendance at the meeting and voting in person;
or (ii) written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of the proxy
is received by the Corporation prior to the vote.
Section 2.10 Voting.
Each outstanding share entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote upon
each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders, except as
otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation. The vote of
the holders of a majority of the issued and outstanding shares present
and entitled to vote at any duly organized meeting shall decide any question
unless the vote of a greater number shall be required by law or the Articles
of Incorporation.
Section 2.11. Consent
Resolutions. Any action required to be taken at a meeting of
the shareholders, or any other actions which may be taken at a meeting
of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing,
setting forth the actions so taken, shall be signed by all shareholders
entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter of the action.
Section 2.12. Cumulative
Voting. At each election for directors, each shareholder of Common
Voting Stock is entitled to cast cumulative votes, either by giving one
candidate as many votes as equals the number of directors to be elected
multiplied by the number of the shareholder’s shares, or by distributing
such cumulative votes among any number of such candidates.
Section 2.13. Adjourned
Meeting. Any shareholders’ meeting, annual or special,
whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time
by the vote of a majority of shares represented at the meeting, either
in person or by proxy, but in the absence of a quorum, no further business
may be transacted. If a meeting is adjourned, notice need not be
given of the adjourned meeting if the time, date any place are announced
at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new record date
for the adjourned meeting is fixed or unless the adjournment is for more
than forty-five (45) days from the date set for the original meeting, in
which case the Board of Directors shall set a new record date, and shareholders
shall be notified in accordance with Section 2.5.
Section 2.14. Election
Inspectors. Before any meeting of shareholders, the president
may appoint any persons for the office to act as inspectors of elections
at the meeting or its adjournment. The number of inspectors shall be determined
by the president. Inspectors shall (i) determine the number of shares
outstanding and the voting power of each, the shares represented at the
meeting, the existence of a quorum, and the authenticity, validity and
effect of proxies; (ii) receive ballots, votes or consents; (iii) hear
and determine all challenges in any way arising in connection with the
right to vote; (iv) count and tabulate all votes and consents; (v) determine
when polls should close; and (vi) do any other acts that may be required
to properly and fairly conduct the election.
ARTICLE
III. Board of Directors
Section 3.1. General Powers.
The business and affairs of VeriBiz shall be managed by its Board of Directors.
Without limiting this general power, the board shall have the power and
authority to (I) select and remove all officers, agents, and employees
with shareholder ratification, prescribe their duties and fix their compensation;
(ii) cause the Corporation to qualify to do business in all jurisdictions
where it is doing business, and designate locations within and without
the state of NC for meetings; and (iii) determine the disposition
of members and member certification standards and requirements.
Section 3.2. Number; Tenure.
The number of directors shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Each director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders
or until successors have been duly elected and qualified. Directors need
not be residents of the state of NC to serve.
Section 3.3. Special Meetings.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by, or at the
request of the president or any authorized person(s). The person
or persons authorized to call a special meeting of the board may fix any
place, either within or without the state of NC, as the place for holding
any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by him, her, or them.
Section 3.4. Conference
Call. Any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors
may be by means of telephone conference or similar communications equipment
allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other.
Participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at
the meeting.
Section 3.5. Notice.
Notice of any special meeting shall be given at least 14 days prior to
such meeting by written notice delivered personally or mailed to each director
at the director’s business or home address, or by telegram, facsimile or
other electronic means. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to
be delivered when deposited certified mail in the United States mail, properly
addressed with postage prepaid. If notice is given by telegram, such
notice shall be deemed to be delivered when the telegram is delivered to
the telegraph company. Any director may waive notice of any meeting.
The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the
express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because
the meeting is not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business
to be transacted at, nor the purposes of, any regular or special meeting
of the board need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such
meeting.
Section 3.6. Quorum.
A majority of the number of voting directors shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
If less than a majority is present at a meeting, the director or directors
present may adjourn the meeting from time to time in accordance with Section
3.14.
Section 3.7. Manner of
Acting. The act of the directors present at a meeting at which
a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors except as
provided in Article IX.
Section 3.8.Removal.
All or any number of the directors may be removed at any time, with our
without cause, at any special meeting of the shareholders called for that
purpose by a vote of the majority of the shares then entitled to vote at
an election of directors.
Section 3.9. Vacancies.
Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the remaining directors, event though less than a
quorum of the Board of Directors, or by a sole remaining director.
A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired
term of the director’s predecessor in office. Any directorship to
be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors shall be
filled by election at an annual meeting or at a special meeting of shareholders
called for that purpose, unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 3.10. Compensation.
By resolution of the board, each director may be paid the director’s expenses,
if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of Directors, but will
not otherwise be compensated.
Section 3.11. Presumption
of Assent. A director who is present at a meeting of the
board at which action on any corporate matter is taken is presumed to have
assented to the action taken, unless the director’s dissent shall be entered
in the minutes of the meeting, or unless the director shall file his or
her written dissent to the action with the person acting as the secretary
of the meeting before the adjournment of the meeting, or unless the director
shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation
immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent
shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
Section 3.12. Adjournment.
A majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum,
may adjourn any meeting to another time and place. Notice of the
time and place for holding an adjourned meeting need not be given unless
the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case notice of
such time and place shall be given prior to the time of the adjourned meeting
to the directors who were not present at the time of adjournment.
Section 3.13. Standard
of Care; Liability. Each director shall exercise such power and
otherwise perform such duties in good faith, in the manner which the director
believes to be in the best interests of the Corporation and with such care,
including reasonable inquiry using ordinary care and prudence as a person
in a like position would use under similar circumstances. In performing
his or her duties, each director shall be entitled to rely on information,
opinions, reports or statements, including financial statements or data
prepared or presented by (i) one or more officers or employees of the Corporation
which the director believes to be reliable and competent; (ii) counsel,
independent accountants or similar outside experts; or (iii) a committee
of the board on which the director is not a member unless the director
has reason to believe after reasonable inquiry that reliance on the report
is not warranted.
Section 3.14. Committees.
The board by resolution adopted by a majority of the directors may designate
one or more committees, each consisting of one or more directors, to serve
at the pleasure of the board. Any such committee shall have the authority
of the board, except with respect to(i) the approval of any action which
by law, Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws requires shareholder
approval; (ii) the filling of vacancies on the board or any committee;
(iii) the fixing of compensation of expenses for board members; (iv)the
amendment or repeal of bylaws or the adoption of new bylaws; (v) the amendment
or repeal of any Board of Directors’ resolution; or (vi) the creation of
other committees of the board.
ARTICLE
IV. Officers
Section 4.1. Number.
The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, one or more
vice-presidents, a secretary, and a treasurer, each of whom shall be appointed
by the board and ratified by the shareholders. Such other officers and
assistant officers and agents as may be deemed necessary may be appointed
by the board. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 4.2. Appointment;
Term of Office. The officers of the Corporation to be appointed
by the board shall be appointed annually at the first meeting of the board
held after each annual shareholders’ meeting. If the appointment of officers
shall not be held at such a meeting, the officers shall be appointed as
soon thereafter as may be convenient. Each officer shall hold office
until a successor is appointed, or until the officer’s death, or until
the officer resigns, or is removed in the manner provided in Section 4.3.
Section 4.3. Removal.
Any officer or agent may be removed by the board whenever in its judgment
the best interests of the Corporation will be served by such removal.
Appointment of an officer or agent shall not, in itself, create contract
rights.
Section 4.4. Vacancies.
A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification,
or otherwise may be filled by the board for the unexpired portion of the
term.
Section 4.5. President.
The president shall be subject to the control of the board.
The president shall supervise and control all the business and affairs
of the Corporation. Without limitation, the president shall preside
at all meetings of shareholders and directors, perform all duties incident
to the office of president, and such other duties as may be prescribed
by the board from time to time.
Section 4.6. Vice-President.
In the absence of the president or in the event of the president’s death,
or inability or refusal to act, the vice-president shall perform all the
duties of the president and when so acting, shall have all the powers of,
and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president.
Section 4.7. Secretary.
The secretary shall (i) keep the minutes of the shareholder and the Board
of Directors’ meetings in one or more books maintained for that purpose;
(ii) provide for the giving of notices required by these bylaws or by law;
(iii) be custodian of the corporate records and of the Corporate seal;
(iv) and keep a register of the mailing address of each shareholder, which
shall be furnished to the secretary by each shareholder.
Section 4.8. Treasurer.
The treasurer shall (i) have charge and custody of, and be responsible
for, all funds and securities of the Corporation; (ii) receive, and give
receipts for, moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source,
and deposit all such moneys in the name of the Corporation in such depositories
as my be designated by the board from time to time; and (iii) perform all
other duties incident to the office of treasurer and such other duties
assigned to him or her by the president or the board.
ARTICLE
V. Certificates for Shares and Transfer
Section 5.1. Certificates
for Shares. Certificates representing shares of the Corporation
shall be in a form determined by the board. Certificates shall be signed
by the president and the Chairman of the Board of Directors.
Section 5.2. Transfer.
Shares of the Corporation’s stock shall be transferred only on the stock
transfer books of the Corporation by the holder of record of such shares
or by his or her legal representative. The person in whose name the
shares are issued on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed by the
Corporation to be the owner of such shares for all purposes.
ARTICLE
VI. Contracts, Loans, Checks, and Deposits
Section 6.1. Contracts.
The board may authorize any officer to enter into any contract, incur indebtedness
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. Authorization must be in writing and signed by the president,
Chairman of the Board, and ratified by the shareholders.
Section 6.2. Loans.
No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the Corporation, and no evidences
of indebtedness shall be issued in its name, unless authorized by a resolution
of the board, signed by the president and ratified by the shareholders.
Such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 6.3. Checks, Drafts.
All checks, drafts, or other orders for the payment of money, notes or
other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation,
shall be signed by the president and treasurer of the Corporation and in
such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.4. 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 the board selects from time to time
and as ratified by the shareholders.
ARTICLE
VII. Indemnification; Interested Parties; Insurance
Section 7.1. Indemnification.
The Corporation may indemnify to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
director or officer who has been made, or is threatened to be made, a party
to an action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative, or otherwise (including an action, suit, or proceeding by
or in the right of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that the person
is a director or officer of the Corporation. The right to and
the amount of indemnification shall be determined in accordance with the
provisions of the NC Business Corporation Act in effect at the time of
the determination and by ratification of a majority of the issued outstanding
shares.
Section 7.2. Interested
Parties. A director of the Corporation shall not be disqualified
by the director’s office from contracting with the Corporation as vendor,
purchaser, or otherwise; nor shall any contract or arrangement entered
into by or on behalf of the Corporation in which any director is in any
way interested be avoided on that account, provided that such contract
or arrangement shall have been approved or ratified by the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote,
and the interest shall have been disclosed or known to the approving or
ratifying shareholders.
Section 7.3. Insurance.
The Corporation may upon a determination by the board purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any agent of the Corporation, including its directors,
officers and employees, against any liability which might be asserted against
or incurred by the agent in such capacity, or which might arise out of
the agent’s status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the
power to indemnify the agent under Section 7.1.
ARTICLE
VIII. Corporate Loans and Guarantees
Section 8.1. Corporate
Loans and Guarantees to Agents. Except as provided below, the
Corporation shall not make any loan of money or property to, or guarantee
any obligations of, any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation
unless the loan or guarantee is otherwise adequately secured, approved
by the board, and adheres to the Corporation’s bylaws.
ARTICLE
IX. Amendments
Section 9.1. Amendments.
These bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed, and new bylaws may be
adopted by a majority vote of the board at any regular or special meeting,
subject to repeal or change by action of the shareholders. |