88SCHEDULE
14C
(RULE
14C-101)
Information
Statement Pursuant to Section 14(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934
Check the
appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary
Information Statement
[X] Definitive
Information Statement
[ ] Confidential,
for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule 14c-5(d)(2))
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION
(Name of
Registrant As Specified In Its Charter)
Payment
of Filing Fee (Check the Appropriate Box):
[X] No
fee required
[ ] Fee
computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14c-5(g) and 0-11.
(1) Title
of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
(2) Aggregate
number of securities to which the transaction applies:
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(3)
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Per
unit price or other underlying value of transaction computed pursuant to
Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (Set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
calculated and state how it was
determined):
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(4) Proposed
maximum aggregate value of transaction:
(5) Total
fee paid:
[ ] Fee
paid previously with preliminary materials
[ ] check
box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2)
and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement
number, or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.
(1) Amount
previously paid:
(2) Form,
Schedule or Registration Statement No.:
(3) Filing
Party:
(4) Date
Filed:
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION
2701
North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 325
Tampa,
Florida 33607
INFORMATION
STATEMENT
PURSUANT
TO SECTION 14
OF
THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
AND
REGULATION 14C AND SCHEDULE 14C THEREUNDER
WE
ARE NOT ASKING YOU FOR A PROXY
AND
YOU ARE NOT REQUESTED TO SEND US A PROXY
Tampa,
Florida
May 5,
2008
This
information statement has been mailed on or about May 6, 2008 to the
stockholders of record on February 1, 2008 (the “Record Date”) of U.S. Energy
Initiatives Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the "Company") in connection
with certain actions to be taken by the written consent by the majority
stockholders of the Company, dated as of February 1, 2008, pursuant to Rule
14c-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”). The actions to be taken pursuant to the written
consent shall be taken on or about May 26, 2008, 20 days after the mailing of
this information statement.
THIS
IS NOT A NOTICE OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS AND NO STOCKHOLDER MEETING
WILL BE HELD TO CONSIDER ANY MATTER WHICH WILL BE DESCRIBED HEREIN.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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/s/ John
Stanton
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John
Stanton
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Chairman
of the Board
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U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION
2701
North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 325
Tampa,
Florida 33607
INFORMATION
STATEMENT
Introductory
Statement
U.S.
Energy Initiatives Corporation (the “Company”) is a Georgia corporation with its
principal executive offices located at 2701 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 325,
Tampa, Florida 33607. The Company’s telephone number is (813) 341-4602. This
Information Statement is being sent to the Company’s stockholders by the Board
of Directors to notify them about action that the holders of a majority of the
Company’s outstanding voting capital stock have taken by written consent, in
lieu of a special meeting of the stockholders. The action was taken on February
1, 2008, and will be effective approximately 20 days after the mailing of this
Information Statement.
Copies of
this Information Statement are being mailed on or before May 6, 2008 to the
holders of record on February 1, 2008 of the outstanding shares of the Company’s
common stock.
General
Information
The
following action was taken pursuant to the written consent of a majority of the
holders of the Company’s voting capital stock, dated February 1, 2008, in lieu
of a special meeting of the stockholders:
1. Merger
of the Company with and into U.S. Energy Initiatives Corporation, a newly formed
Delaware corporation (the “Migratory Merger”) resulting in a change of the
Company’s domicile from Georgia to Delaware; and
2. To
Amend the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, to effect a
reverse stock split of the Company’s issued and outstanding shares of
Common Stock at the ratio of 14 for 1.
ABOUT
THE INFORMATION STATEMENT
WHAT
IS THE PURPOSE OF THE INFORMATION STATEMENT?
This
information statement is being furnished to you pursuant to Section 14 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to notify the Company's shareholders as of the
close of business on the Record Date of corporate action expected to be taken
pursuant to the consents or authorizations of principle
shareholders.
Shareholders
holding a majority of the Company's outstanding common stock are expected to
vote in favor of certain corporate matters outlined in this Information
Statement, which action is expected to take place on or about May 26, 2008,
consisting of the approval to (1) authorize the merger of the Company into U.S.
Energy Initiatives Corporation, a Delaware corporation, (2) authorize a 14 to 1
reverse stock split of the Company’s common stock; and (3) authorize the filing
of an amendment of the Company's Articles of Incorporation;
WHO
IS ENTITLED TO NOTICE?
Each
outstanding share of common stock as of record on the close of business on,
February 1, 2008, (the "Record Date") will be entitled to notice of each matter
to be voted upon pursuant to consents or authorizations. Shareholders as of the
close of business on the record date that held in excess of fifty percent (50%)
of the Company's outstanding shares of common stock have indicated that they
will vote in favor of the Proposals. Under Georgia corporate law, all the
activities requiring shareholder approval may be taken by obtaining the written
consent and approval of more than 50% of the holders of voting stock in lieu of
a meeting of the shareholders. No action by the minority shareholders in
connection with the Proposals is required.
WHAT
CONSTITUTES THE VOTING SHARES OF THE COMPANY?
The
voting power entitled to vote on the proposals consists of the vote of the
holders of a majority of the voting power of the common stock, each of whom is
entitled to one vote per share. As of the record date, 281,030,486 shares of
common stock were issued and outstanding.
WHAT
CORPORATE MATTERS WILL THE SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR, AND HOW WILL THEY
VOTE?
Shareholders
holding a majority of our outstanding stock have indicated that they will vote
in favor of the following Proposals:
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1.
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TO
AUTHORIZE THE MIGRATORY MERGER RESULTING IN A CHANGE OF THE
COMPANY’S
DOMICILE FROM GEORGIA TO DELAWARE.
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2.
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TO
AUTHORIZE THE COMPANY TO EFFECT THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT AT THE RATIO OF 14
TO 1
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3.
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TO
AUTHORIZE THE FILING OF AN AMENDMENT TO THE COMPANY’S ARTICLES OF
INCORPORATION TO AUTHORIZE THE 14 TO 1 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT AS SET FORTH IN
PROPOSAL 2 ABOVE
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WHAT
VOTE IS REQUIRED TO APPROVE THE PROPOSALS?
The
affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of our Common Stock outstanding on
the record date, is required for approval of the Proposals. We believe that such
majority will vote in favor of the Proposals.
OUTSTANDING
SHARES AND VOTING RIGHTS
As of the
Record Date, the Company's authorized capitalization consisted of 300,000,000
shares of capital stock, of which 295,000,000 are authorized shares of Common
Stock and 5,000,000 are authorized as Preferred Stock, of which 281,030,486 and
65,646 shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock, respectively, were issued and
outstanding. Holders of Common Stock of the Company have no
preemptive rights to acquire or subscribe to any of the additional shares of
Common Stock.
Each
share of Common Stock entitles its holder to one vote on each matter submitted
to the stockholders.
Shareholder
Name
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Shares
Voted
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%
of Class
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PANGEA
ULTIMA CORPORATION
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57,593,800
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20.494
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MARK
CLANCY
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36,101,035
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12.846
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SIC
SEMPER TYRANNIS INC
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20,000,000
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7.117
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EARTHFIRST
TECHNOLOGIES INCORPORATED
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7,500,000
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2.669
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STONE
ENCLOSURES INC
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6,652,070
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2.367
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WADE
INC OF TAMPA BAY
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6,752,070
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2.403
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DENOUEMENT
STRATEGIES INC
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6,167,808
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2.195
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M
CONSULTING OF TAMPA INC
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2,400,000
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0.854
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WALTER
HOLMICH
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110,000
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0.039
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Total
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143,276,783
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50.983
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Pursuant
to Rule 14c-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the
proposals will not be adopted until a date at least 20 days after the date on
which this Information Statement has been mailed to the
stockholders. The Company anticipates that the actions contemplated
herein will be effected on or about the close of business on May 26,
2008.
The
Company has asked brokers and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries to
forward this Information Statement to the beneficial owners of the Common Stock
held of record by such persons and will reimburse such persons for out-of-pocket
expenses incurred in forwarding such material.
This
Information Statement will serve as written notice to stockholders pursuant to
the Corporation Law of the State of Georgia.
SECURITY
OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT.
The
following table sets forth certain information, as of February 1, 2008, with
respect to the beneficial ownership of the outstanding common stock by (i) any
holder of more than five (5%) percent; (ii) each of the Company's executive
officers and directors; and (iii) the Company's directors and executive officers
as a group. Except as otherwise indicated, each of the stockholders listed below
has sole voting and investment power over the shares beneficially owned.
NAME
OF BENEFICIAL OWNER
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NUMBER
SHARES
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% OF
CLASS
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John
Stanton
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107,065,748
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38.10
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Chairman
of the Board
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Mark
Clancy
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36,101,035
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12.85
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Interim
Chief Executive Officer
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Director
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Officers
and Directors as a group (3 persons)
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143,166,783
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50.95
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(1)
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Except
as otherwise indicated, the address of each beneficial owner is c/o U.S.
Energy Initiatives Corporation, 12812 Dupont Circle, Tampa,
Florida 33626.
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(2)
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Applicable
percentage ownership is based on 281,030,486 shares of common stock
outstanding as of February 1, 2008, together with securities exercisable
or convertible into shares of common stock within 60 days of February 1,
2008 for each stockholder. Beneficial ownership is determined
in accordance with the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission and
generally includes voting or investment power with respect to
securities. Shares of common stock that are currently
exercisable or exercisable within 60 days of February 1, 2008 are deemed
to be beneficially owned by the person holding such securities for the
purpose of computing the percentage of ownership of such person, but are
not treated as outstanding for the purpose of computing the percentage
ownership of any other person.
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PROPOSAL
1
MERGER
OF U.S. ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION, A GEORGIA CORPORATION,
WITH
AND INTO
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION, A DELAWARE CORPORATION
On
February 1, 2008, the Company's board of directors voted unanimously to approve
the Migratory Merger and recommended the Migratory Merger to its stockholders
for their approval. On February 1, 2008, the holders of 50.98% of the Common
Stock consented in writing to approve the Migratory Merger. The Migratory Merger
will be consummated pursuant to an agreement and plan of merger between the
Company and U.S. Energy Initiatives Corporation ("New Company"), a copy of which
is contained in Exhibit A (the "Agreement and Plan of Merger"). Copies of the
certificate of incorporation ("Delaware Certificate") and bylaws ("Delaware
Bylaws"), which will serve as New Company's certificate of incorporation and
bylaws following the Migratory Merger are attached to the Agreement and Plan of
Merger. The Agreement and Plan of Merger provides that the Company will merge
with and into New Company.
The
proposed Migratory Merger will effect a change in the legal domicile of the
Company and other changes of a legal nature, the most significant of which are
described below. However, the Migratory Merger will not result in any change in
the Company's business, management, location of its principal executive offices,
assets, liabilities or net worth (other than as a result of the costs incident
to the Migratory Merger, which are immaterial). The Company's Common Stock will
continue to trade without interruption on the Over the Counter Bulletin
Board.
U.S.
Energy Initiatives Corporation
New
Company, which will be the surviving corporation, was incorporated under the
Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL") on March 13, 2008, exclusively for
the purpose of merging with the Company.
New
Company is a newly formed corporation with one share of common stock issued and
outstanding held by the Company, with only minimal capital. The terms of the
Migratory Merger provide that the currently issued one share of common stock of
New Company held by the Company will be cancelled. As a result, following the
Migratory Merger, the Company's current stockholders will be the only
stockholders of the newly merged corporation.
The
articles of incorporation and bylaws of the Company and the certificate of
incorporation and bylaws of New Company, a Delaware corporation are available
for inspection by our stockholders at the Company's principal offices located at
2701 North Rocky Point Drive, Suite 325, Tampa, Florida 33607. The Company’s
telephone number is (813) 341-4602.
The
Agreement and Plan of Merger
The
Agreement and Plan of Merger provides that the Company will merge with and into
New Company, with New Company being the surviving corporation. New Company will
assume all assets and liabilities of the Company.
Filing
of the Articles of Merger
The
Company intends to file the Certificate of Merger and Articles of Merger with
the Secretaries of State of Delaware and Georgia, respectively, when the actions
taken by the Company's board of directors and the consenting stockholders become
effective which will be on or about May 26, 2008, which is at least 20 days from
the mailing of this Information Statement to the stockholders of record on the
Record Date.
Effect
of Migratory Merger
Under the
DGCL and the Georgia Business Corporation Code ("GBCC"), when the Migratory
Merger takes effect:
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Every
other entity that is a constituent entity (in this case, the Company, a
Georgia corporation) merges into the surviving entity (New Company) and
the separate existence of every entity except the surviving entity
ceases;
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The
title to all real estate and other property owned by each merging
constituent entity is vested in the surviving entity without reversion or
impairment;
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The
surviving entity has all of the liabilities of each other constituent
entity;
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A
proceeding pending against any constituent entity may be continued as if
the Migratory Merger had not occurred or the surviving entity may be
substituted in the proceeding for the entity whose existence has
ceased;
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The
stockholders' interests of each constituent entity that are to be
converted into stockholders' interests, obligations or other securities of
the surviving or any other entity or into cash or other property are
converted, and the former holders of the stockholders' interests are
entitled only to the rights provided in the Certificate of Merger,
Articles of Merger or any created Section 262 of the DGCL dealing with
dissenter's rights.
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On the
effective date of the Migratory Merger, the Company will be deemed incorporated
under the DGCL. Consequently, the Company will be governed by the Delaware
Certificate and Delaware Bylaws filed with the Agreement and Plan of
Merger.
Dissenters’
Rights of the Company's Stockholders
The
Shareholders will not have Dissenters' Rights under § 14-2-1302(a)(1)(A) of the
Georgia Business Corporation Code in connection with the Migratory
Merger.
Principal
Reasons for the Change of Domicile
The
Company's board of directors believes that the change of domicile will give the
Company a greater measure of flexibility and simplicity in corporate governance
than is available under Georgia law and will increase the marketability of the
Company's securities.
The State
of Delaware is recognized for adopting comprehensive modern and flexible
corporate laws which are periodically revised to respond to the changing legal
and business needs of corporations. For this reason, many major corporations
have initially incorporated in Delaware or have changed their corporate
domiciles to Delaware in a manner similar to that proposed by the Company.
Consequently, the Delaware judiciary has become particularly familiar with
corporate law matters and a substantial body of court decisions has developed
construing Delaware law. Delaware corporate law, accordingly, has been, and is
likely to continue to be, interpreted in many significant judicial decisions, a
fact which may provide greater clarity and predictability with respect to the
Company's corporate legal affairs. For these reasons, the Company's board of
directors believes that the Company's business and affairs can be conducted to
better advantage if the Company is able to operate under Delaware law. See
"Certain Significant Differences between the Corporation Laws of Delaware and
Georgia."
Principal
Features of the Change of Domicile.
The
change of domicile will be effected by the merger of the Company, a Georgia
corporation, with and into, New Company, a newly formed wholly-owned subsidiary
of the Company that was incorporated on March 13, 2008 under the DGCL for the
purpose of effecting the change of domicile. The change of domicile will become
effective upon the filing of the requisite merger documents in Delaware and
Georgia, which filings will occur on the effective date of the Migratory Merger.
Following the Migratory Merger, New Company will be the surviving corporation
and will operate under the name "U.S. Energy Initiatives
Corporation"
On the
effective date of the Migratory Merger, (i) each issued and outstanding share of
Common Stock of the Company, $.01 par value, shall be converted into one share
of common stock of New Company, $.01 par value ("New Company Common Stock"),
(ii) each issued and outstanding share of Preferred Stock of the Company, $0.01
par value, shall be converted into one share of the respective series of
preferred stock of New Company, $0.01 par value (“New Company Preferred Stock”)
and (iii) each outstanding share of New Company Common Stock held by the Company
shall be retired and canceled and shall resume the status of authorized and
unissued New Company Common Stock.
No
certificates or scrip representing fractional shares of New Company Common Stock
will be issued upon the surrender for exchange of Common Stock and no dividend
or distribution of New Company shall relate to any fractional share, and no
fractional New Company Common Stock interest will entitle the owner thereof to
vote or to any right of a stockholder of New Company.
At the
effective date of the Migratory Merger, New Company will be governed by the
Delaware Certificate, the Delaware Bylaws and the DGCL, which include a number
of provisions that are not present in the Company Articles, the Company Bylaws
or the CGCL. Accordingly, as described below, a number of significant changes in
shareholders' rights will be affected in connection with the change in domicile,
some of which may be viewed as limiting the rights of shareholders. In
particular, the Delaware Certificate includes a provision authorized by the DGCL
that would limit the liability of directors to New Company and its stockholders
for breach of fiduciary duties. The Delaware Certificate will provide directors
and officers with modern limited liability and indemnification rights authorized
by the DGCL. The board of directors of the Company believes that these
provisions will enhance its ability to attract and retain qualified directors
and encourage them to continue to make entrepreneurial decisions on behalf of
New Company. Accordingly, implementation of these provisions has been included
as part of the change in domicile. The Company believes that the change in
domicile will contribute to the long-term quality and stability of the Company's
governance. The Company's board of directors has concluded that the benefit to
shareholders of improved corporate governance from the change in domicile
outweighs any possible adverse effects on shareholders of reducing the exposure
of directors to liability and broadening director indemnification
rights.
Upon
consummation of the Migratory Merger, the daily business operations of New
Company will continue as they are presently conducted by the Company, at the
Company's principal executive offices at 12812 Dupont Circle, Tampa,
Florida 33626. The authorized capital stock of New Company will
consist of 295,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.01 per share
("Delaware Common Stock"), 5,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value
("Delaware Preferred Stock"), [45,216] shares to be designated as Series A
Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value (“Delaware Series A Preferred Stock”) and
[954,562] shares to be designated as Series B Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
(“Delaware Series B Preferred Stock”). The Delaware Preferred Stock will be
issuable in series by action of the New Company board of directors. The New
Company board of directors will be authorized, without further action by the
stockholders, to fix the designations, powers, preferences and other rights and
the qualifications, limitations or restrictions of the unissued Delaware
Preferred Stock including shares of Delaware Preferred Stock having preferences
and other terms that might discourage takeover attempts by third
parties.
The New
Company board of directors will consist of those persons presently serving on
the board of directors of the Company. The individuals who will serve as
executive officers of New Company are those who currently serve as executive
officers of the Company. Such persons and their respective terms of office are
set forth below under the caption "Management."
Pursuant
to the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, the Migratory Merger may be
abandoned by the board of directors of the Company and New Company at any time
prior to the effective date of the Migratory Merger. In addition, the board of
directors of the Company may amend the Agreement and Plan of Merger at any time
prior to the effective date of the Migratory Merger provided that any amendment
made may not, without approval by the stockholders of the Company who have
consented in writing to approve the Migratory Merger, alter or change the amount
or kind of New Company Common Stock to be received in exchange for or on
conversion of all or any of the Common Stock, alter or change any term of the
Delaware Certificate or alter or change any of the terms and conditions of the
Agreement and Plan of Merger if such alteration or change would adversely affect
the holders of Common Stock.
Exchange of Share
Certificates
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As soon
as practicable on or after the change of domicile, the Company's stockholders of
record immediately prior to the change of domicile will be sent detailed
instructions concerning the procedures to be followed for submission of
certificates representing Common Stock to the Company's transfer agent, together
with a form of transmittal letter to be sent to the transfer agent at the time
such certificates are submitted.
After the
change of domicile, the transfer agent will deliver to any holder who has
previously submitted a duly completed and executed transmittal letter and a
certificate representing the Common Stock, a certificate issued by the Company
representing an equal number of shares of Common Stock into which such shares of
the Common Stock were converted.
After the
change of domicile but before a certificate representing Common Stock is
surrendered, certificates representing New Company Common Stock will represent
the number of shares of Common Stock as a Delaware corporation into which such
Common Stock was converted pursuant to the terms of the change of domicile. The
Company's transfer agent will deliver certificates representing the appropriate
amount and type of our capital stock in accordance with the stockholder's
instructions for transfer or exchange.
Failure
by a stockholder to return appropriate transmittal letters or to surrender
certificates representing Common Stock will not affect such person's rights as a
stockholder, as such stockholder's certificates representing Common Stock
following the change of domicile will represent the number of shares of New
Company Common Stock as a Delaware corporation into which such Common Stock was
converted pursuant to the terms of the change of domicile, and will present no
material consequences to the Company.
Capitalization
The
authorized capital of the Company, on the Record Date, consisted of 295,000,000
shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value, 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, of
which 45,216 shares are designated as Series A Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
and 954,562 shares are designated as Series B Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value
and 42,215 and 23,431 of Series A and Series B Preferred Stock were outstanding,
respectively. The authorized capital of New Company, which will be the
authorized capital of the Company after the change in domicile, consists of
295,000,000 shares of Delaware Common Stock and 5,000,000 shares of Delaware
Preferred Stock, of which, 45,216 shares shall be designated as Series A
Preferred Stock and 954,562shares shall be designated as Series B Preferred
Stock. After the Migratory Merger and the resulting automatic conversion of the
Series A and Series B Preferred Stock, New Company will have outstanding
approximately 281,030,486 shares of Delaware Common Stock and 65,646 shares of
Delaware Preferred Stock, of which 42,215 shall be Series A Preferred Stock and
23,431 shall be Series B Preferred Stock. The change of domicile will not affect
total stockholder equity or total capitalization of the Company.
The New
Company board of directors may in the future authorize, without further
stockholder approval, the issuance of such shares of Delaware Common Stock or
Delaware Preferred Stock to such persons and for such consideration upon such
terms as the New Company board of directors determines. Such issuance could
result in a significant dilution of the voting rights and, possibly, the
stockholders' equity, of then existing stockholders.
There are
no present plans, understandings or agreements, and the Company is not engaged
in any negotiations that will involve the issuance of the Delaware Preferred
Stock to be authorized. However, the New Company board of directors believes it
prudent to have shares of Delaware Preferred Stock available for such corporate
purposes as the New Company board of directors may from time to time deem
necessary and advisable including, without limitation, acquisitions, the raising
of additional capital and assurance of flexibility of action in the
future.
Significant
Differences Between the Corporation Laws of Georgia and Delaware
The
Company is incorporated under the laws of the State of Georgia and New Company
is incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware. Upon consummation of
the Migratory Merger, the stockholders of the Company, whose rights currently
are governed by Georgia law and the Company Articles and the Company Bylaws,
which were created pursuant to Georgia law, will become stockholders of a
Delaware company, New Company, and their rights as stockholders will then be
governed by Delaware law and the Delaware Certificate and the Delaware Bylaws
which were created under Delaware law.
Certain
differences exist between the corporate statutes of Georgia and Delaware. The
most significant differences, in the judgment of the management of the Company,
are summarized below. This summary is not intended to be complete, and
stockholders should refer to the DGCL and the Georgia Business Corporation Code
to understand how these laws apply to the Company and New Company.
Action by Directors Without a
Meeting
. Georgia and Delaware Law permit directors to take written action
without a meeting for an action otherwise required or permitted to be taken at a
board meeting.
Georgia
. Georgia Law
provides that unless the articles of incorporation or bylaws provide otherwise,
action required or permitted to be taken at a board of directors' meeting may be
taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the board. The
action must be evidenced by one or more consents in writing or by electronic
transmission describing the action taken, signed by each director, and delivered
to the corporation for inclusion in the minutes or filing with the corporate
records.
Delaware
. Delaware
Law provides for written action to be taken unanimously by all members of the
Board of Directors. Delaware Law does not contain any advance written consent or
opposition provision.
Conflicts of Interest
. Under
both Georgia Law and Delaware Law, certain contracts or transactions in which
one or more of a corporation's directors has an interest are not void or
voidable because of such interest provided that certain conditions, such as
obtaining the required approval and fulfilling the requirements of good faith
and full disclosure, are met. With certain exceptions, the conditions are
similar under Georgia and Delaware Law. Under Georgia and Delaware Law, (1)
either the stockholders or the Board of Directors must approve any such contract
or transaction after full disclosure of the material facts, and, in the case of
Board approval, the contract or transaction must also be "fair" to the
corporation; or (2) the person asserting the validity of the contract or
transaction can prove that such agreement was “fair” as to the corporation at
the time it was approved. The Company is not aware of any plans to propose any
transaction involving directors that could not be so approved under Georgia Law
but could be so approved under Delaware Law.
Number of
Directors
.
Georgia
. Georgia Law
provides that a corporation must have at least one directors, with the number
specified in or fixed in accordance with the articles of incorporation or
bylaws. The articles of incorporation or bylaws may authorize the
shareholders or the board of directors to fix or change the number of directors
or may establish a variable range for the size of the board of directors by
fixing a minimum and maximum number of directors. If a variable range is
established, the number of directors may be fixed or changed from time to time,
within the minimum and maximum, by the shareholders or, if the articles or
bylaws so provide, by the board of directors. In the case of a
corporation having cumulative voting: (1) Any amendment of the bylaws
decreasing the number or minimum number of directors must be adopted by the
shareholders; and (2) No amendment of either the articles of incorporation
or the bylaws decreasing the number or minimum number of directors shall be
effective when the number of shares voting against the proposal for decrease
would be sufficient to elect a director if voted cumulatively at an annual
election.
Delaware
. Delaware
Law provides that the number of directors shall be fixed by, or in the manner
provided in, the bylaws, unless the certificate of incorporation fixes the
number of directors, in which case a change in the number of directors shall be
made only by amendment of the certificate.
Classified Board of Directors
.
Both Georgia and Delaware permit a corporation's bylaws to provide for a
classified board of directors. Delaware permits a maximum of three classes while
under Georgia Law any provision for classes of directors may be divided into two
or three classes and serve terms of two or three years,
respectively.
Removal of
Director
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia Law, the shareholders may remove one or more directors with or without
cause unless the articles of incorporation or a bylaw adopted by the
shareholders provides that directors may be removed only for cause. If a
director is elected by a voting group of shareholders, only the shareholders of
that voting group may participate in the vote to remove him. If cumulative
voting is authorized, a director may not be removed if the number of votes
sufficient to elect him under cumulative voting is voted against his removal. If
cumulative voting is not authorized, a director may be removed only by a
majority of the votes entitled to be cast. If the corporation has a
classified board of directors, directors may be removed only for cause, unless
the articles of incorporation or a bylaw adopted by the shareholders provides
otherwise. A director may be removed by the shareholders only at a meeting
called for the purpose of removing him and the meeting notice must state that
the purpose, or one of the purposes, of the meeting is removal of the
director.
Delaware
. Under
Delaware Law, a director of a corporation may be removed with or without cause
by the affirmative vote of a majority of shares entitled to vote for the
election of directors except under limited circumstances. A director of a
Delaware corporation that has a classified board may only be removed for cause,
unless the certificate of incorporation provides otherwise. The Bylaws of the
Delaware Company provide that a director may be removed at any time, with our
without cause, by a majority vote of the stockholders.
Vacancies on Board of
Directors
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia Law, a vacancy on a corporation's board of directors may be filled by a
majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares, unless
otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws. If
the vacant office was held by a director elected by a voting group of
shareholders, only the holders of shares of that voting group or the remaining
directors elected by that voting group are entitled to vote to fill the
vacancy.
Delaware
. Under
Delaware Law, a vacancy on a corporation's board of directors may be filled by a
majority of the remaining directors, even if less than a quorum, or by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding voting shares, unless
otherwise provided in the certificate of incorporation or bylaws.
Limitation of
Liability
.
Georgia
. A Georgia
corporation is permitted to adopt provisions in its articles of incorporation
limiting or eliminating the liability of a director to a company and its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of a director’s duties to the
corporation and its shareholders. Except as otherwise provided, a corporation
may indemnify an individual who is a party to a proceeding because he or she is
or was a director against liability incurred in the proceeding if: (1) Such
individual conducted himself or herself in good faith; and (2) Such
individual reasonably believed: (A) In the case of conduct in his or her
official capacity, that such conduct was in the best interests of the
corporation; (B) In all other cases, that such conduct was at least not
opposed to the best interests of the corporation; and (C) In the case of
any criminal proceeding, that the individual had no reasonable cause to believe
such conduct was unlawful. The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order,
settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent
is not, of itself, determinative that the director did not meet the standard of
conduct set forth above. A corporation may not indemnify a director:
(1) In connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the corporation,
except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it
is determined that the director has met the relevant standard of conduct under
the Code; or (2) In connection with any proceeding with respect to conduct
for which he or she was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was
improperly received by him or her, whether or not involving action in his or her
official capacity. A corporation shall indemnify a director who
was wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any
proceeding to which he or she was a party because he or she was a director of
the corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by the director in
connection with the proceeding. A corporation’s authority to
indemnify a director can only be made if a determination has been made for a
specific proceeding that indemnification of the direct is permissible under the
circumstances. This determination can only be made if (1) there are
two or more disinterested directors, by a majority vote of all the disinterested
directors (2) by special legal counsel selected by the disinterested directors
or (3) by the shareholders of the corporation.
Delaware
. A Delaware
corporation is permitted to adopt provisions in its certificate of incorporation
limiting or eliminating the liability of a director to a company and its
stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director,
provided that such liability does not arise from certain proscribed conduct,
including breach of the duty of loyalty, acts or omissions not in good faith or
that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law or liability
to the corporation based on unlawful dividends or distributions or improper
personal benefit. Delaware Company's Certificate of Incorporation will limit the
liability of the directors to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Loans to
Directors/Officers/Employees
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia Law, there are no provisions restricting the ability of a corporation to
loan money to a director, officer or employee.
Delaware
. Delaware
law permits a corporation to lend money to, or to guarantee an obligation of, an
officer or other employee of the corporation or any of its subsidiaries,
including an officer or employee who is a director of the corporation or of its
subsidiaries, whenever, in the judgment of the directors, such loan, guaranty or
assistance may reasonably be expected to benefit the corporation. In contrast to
Georgia law, Delaware law generally does not impose liability on the directors
who vote for or assent to the making of a loan to, or guaranteeing an obligation
of an officer, director or shareholder.
Amendment of Articles of
Incorporation
.
Georgia
: Georgia Law
provides that the certificate of incorporation may be amended in the following
manners: (1)unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise, a
corporation’s board of directors may adopt one or more amendments to the
corporation’s articles of incorporation without shareholder approval in nine
specific instances which do not adversely affect the rights of the corporation’s
shareholders or (ii) the certificate of incorporation of a corporation may be
amended upon adoption by the board of directors of a resolution setting forth
the proposed amendment and declaring its advisability, followed by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and by
the affirmative vote of and a majority of each class entitled to vote as a class
thereon. Georgia Law provides that the certificate of incorporation of a
corporation may require a greater vote than otherwise would be required under
Georgia Law.
Delaware
: Delaware
Law provides that the certificate of incorporation of a corporation may be
amended upon adoption by the board of directors of a resolution setting forth
the proposed amendment and declaring its advisability, followed by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and by
the affirmative vote of and a majority of each class entitled to vote as a class
thereon. Delaware Law also provides that a certificate of incorporation may
provide for a greater or lesser vote than would otherwise be required by
Delaware Law.
Amendment of
Bylaws
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia Law the board has the power to adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws unless
(1) the articles of incorporation reserve this power exclusively to the
shareholders, (2) the shareholders in amending or repealing a particular bylaw
provide expressly that the board may not amend or repeal that
bylaw. A corporation’s shareholders may amend or repeal the
corporation’s bylaws or adopt new bylaws even though the bylaws may also be
amended or repealed by the board.
Delaware
. Under
Delaware Law, stockholders have the authority to make, alter, amend or repeal
the bylaws of a corporation and such power may be delegated to the board of
directors. The Delaware Company's Bylaws provide that the directors may amend
the bylaws, and an affirmative vote of 66 2 / 3 % of the Delaware Company's
outstanding voting shares is required to amend the bylaws.
Special Stockholder
Meeting
.
Georgia
. Georgia law
provides that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the board of
directors or such person or persons as may be authorized by the certificate of
incorporation or bylaws. The holder or holders of not less than 25%, or such
greater or lesser percentage as may be provided in the articles of incorporation
or bylaws, of all the shares entitled to vote at a meeting, of all the votes
entitled to vote on a particular matter may demand by written or electronic
communication to the corporation that a special meeting be called.
Delaware
. Delaware
law provides that only the board of directors or such person or persons as may
be authorized by the certificate of incorporation or bylaws may call special
meetings of the shareholders.
Action Without a
Meeting
.
Georgia
. Georgia law
provides that action permitted to be taken at a shareholders' meeting may be
taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all the shareholders entitled
to vote on the action or, if so provided in the articles of incorporation, by
persons who would be entitled to vote at a meeting shares having voting power to
cast not less than the minimum number (or numbers, in the case of voting by
groups) of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a
meeting at which all shareholders entitled to vote were present and
voted.
Delaware
. Delaware
law provides that, unless limited by the certificate of incorporation, any
action which may be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a
meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if the holders of stock having
not less than the minimum number of votes otherwise required to approve such
action consent in writing.
Dissenter Rights and Appraisal
Rights
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia law, a dissenting shareholder of a corporation participating in certain
business combinations may, under varying circumstances, receive cash in the
amount of the fair market value of his or her shares in lieu of the
consideration he or she would otherwise receive under the terms of the
transaction. The Georgia Business Corporation Code generally does not require
dissenters' rights of appraisal with respect to shares which, immediately prior
to the merger, are (i) listed on any national securities exchange or (ii) held
of record by more than 2,000 shareholders, unless: (1) in the case of
a plan of merger or share exchange, any holders of shares of the class or series
are required under the plan of merger or share exchange to accept for their
shares either (A) anything except shares of the surviving corporation
or another publicly held corporation which at the effective date of the merger
or share exchange are either listed on a national securities exchange or held of
record by more than 2,000 shareholders, except for scrip or cash payments in
lieu of fractional shares; or (B) any shares of the surviving corporation
or another publicly held corporation which at the effective date of the merger
or share exchange are either listed on a national securities exchange or held of
record by more than 2,000 shareholders that are different, in type or exchange
ratio per share, from the shares to be provided or offered to any other holder
of shares of the same class or series of shares in exchange for such shares; or
(2) the articles of incorporation or a resolution of the board of directors
approving the transaction provides otherwise.
Delaware
. Under
Delaware law, dissenting stockholders who follow prescribed statutory procedures
are entitled to appraisal rights in connection with certain mergers or
consolidations, unless otherwise provided in the corporation's certificate of
incorporation. Such appraisal rights are not provided when (i) the shares of the
corporation are listed on a national securities exchange or designated as a
national market system security by the NASD or held of record by more than 2,000
shareholders and stockholders receive in the share exchange shares of the
surviving corporation or of any other corporation the shares of which are listed
on a national securities exchange or designated as national market system
security by the NASD, or held of record by more than 2,000 shareholders or (ii)
the corporation is the surviving corporation and no vote of its stockholders is
required for the share exchange.
Dividends
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia law, the board may authorize and the corporation may make distributions
to its shareholders subject to restriction by the articles of incorporation
provided however, no distribution may be made if, after giving it
effect: (1) the corporation would not be able to pay its debts as they
become due in the usual course of business; or (2) the corporation's total
assets would be less than the sum of its total liabilities plus (unless the
articles of incorporation permit otherwise) the amount that would be needed, if
the corporation were to be dissolved at the time of the distribution, to satisfy
the preferential rights upon dissolution of shareholders whose preferential
rights are superior to those receiving the distribution. The board may base
a determination that a distribution is not prohibited either on financial
statements prepared on the basis of accounting practices and principles that are
reasonable in the circumstances or on a fair valuation or other method that is
reasonable in the circumstances.
Delaware
. A Delaware
corporation may pay dividends out of surplus or, if there is no surplus, out of
net profits for the fiscal year in which the dividend is declared and/or for the
preceding fiscal year, except that dividends may not be paid out of net profits
if, after the payment of the dividend, capital is less than the capital
represented by the outstanding stock of all classes having a preference upon the
distribution of assets.
Restrictions on Business
Combinations
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia Law, a corporation shall not engage in any business combination with any
interested shareholder for a period of five years following the time that such
shareholder became an interested shareholder, unless: (1) Prior to
such time the corporation's board of directors approved either the business
combination or the transaction which resulted in the shareholder becoming an
interested shareholder; (2) In the transaction which resulted in
the shareholder becoming an interested shareholder, the interested shareholder
became the beneficial owner of at least 90 percent of the voting stock of the
resident domestic corporation outstanding at the time the transaction commenced,
excluding for purposes of determining the number of shares outstanding those
shares owned by: (A) persons who are directors or officers, their affiliates, or
associates; (B) subsidiaries of the resident domestic corporation;
or (3) Subsequent to becoming an interested shareholder,
such shareholder acquired additional shares resulting in the interested
shareholder being the beneficial owner of at least 90 percent of the outstanding
voting stock of the corporation, excluding for purposes of determining the
number of shares outstanding those shares owned by (A) persons who are directors
or officers of the resident domestic corporation, their affiliates, or
associates; (B) subsidiaries of the resident domestic corporation; and the
business combination was approved at an annual or special meeting of
shareholders by the holders of a majority of the voting stock entitled to vote
thereon, excluding the shares set forth above. These restrictions
shall not apply if a shareholder: (1) becomes an interested shareholder
inadvertently; (2) as soon as practicable divests sufficient shares so that the
shareholder ceases to be an interested shareholder; and (3) would not, at any
time within the five-year period immediately prior to a business combination
between the corporation and such shareholder, have been an interested
shareholder but for the inadvertent acquisition.
Delaware
. Under
Delaware Law, a corporation which is listed on a national securities exchange,
included for quotation on the Nasdaq Stock Market or held of record by more than
2,000 stockholders is not permitted to engage in a business combination with any
interested stockholder for a three-year period following the time such
stockholder became an interested stockholder, unless (i) the transaction
resulting in a person becoming an interested stockholder, or the business
combination, is approved by the board of directors of the corporation before the
person becomes an interested stockholder; (ii) the interested stockholder
acquires 85% or more of the outstanding voting stock of the corporation in the
same transaction that makes it an interested stockholder (excluding shares owned
by persons who are both officers and directors of the corporation, and shares
held by certain employee stock ownership plans); or (iii) on or after the date
the person becomes an interested stockholder, the business combination is
approved by the corporation's board of directors and by the holders of at least
66-2/3% of the corporation's outstanding voting stock at an annual or special
meeting (and not by written consent), excluding shares owned by the interested
stockholder. Delaware Law defines "interested stockholder" generally as a person
who owns 15% or more of the outstanding shares of a corporation's voting
stock.
Acquisitions and Other
Transactions
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia Law, mergers and share exchanges between corporations require the board
of directors to adopt and the shareholders to approve a plan of merger or share
exchange related to such merger or share exchange. Unless the
articles of incorporation require shareholder approval, a corporation may, on
the terms and conditions and for the consideration determined by the board of
directors: (1) Sell, lease, exchange, or otherwise dispose of all or
substantially all of its property if: (A) The corporation is insolvent
and a sale for cash or its equivalent is deemed advisable by the board to meet
the liabilities of the corporation; or (B) The corporation was
incorporated for the purpose of liquidating such property and assets;
(2) Mortgage, pledge, dedicate to the repayment of indebtedness, whether
with or without recourse, or otherwise encumber any or all of its property
whether or not in the usual and regular course of
business; (3) Transfer any or all of its property to a corporation all
the shares of which are owned by the corporation; or (4) Sell, lease,
exchange, or otherwise dispose of less than all or substantially all of its
property.
Delaware Law
. Under
Delaware law, mergers and consolidations require the approval of a majority of
the shares entitled to vote thereon. A sale of substantially all of a Delaware
corporation's assets must be approved by a majority of the shares outstanding.
However, Delaware Law does not require shareholder approval for acquisitions,
whether or not additional shares are issued to effectuate the transaction.
Delaware law allows a board of directors to issue additional shares of stock, up
to the amount authorized in a corporation's certificate of incorporation, if the
certificate so provide.
Dissolution
. Georgia law and
Delaware law each provide that a corporation may be voluntarily dissolved by the
adoption by the corporation's board of directors of a resolution recommending
that the corporation be dissolved and submission of the resolution to a meeting
of the shareholders, at which meeting the resolution is adopted by a majority of
the persons entitled to vote thereon. Under Delaware law, a corporation may also
be dissolved by the written consent of all of the
shareholders. Delaware law requires that to effect a dissolution by
unanimous consent of shareholders, all shareholders entitled to vote thereon
must sign and file a certificate of dissolution. If dissolution is pursuant to
the action of the Board and shareholders, both Georgia and Delaware law requires
the affirmative vote of a majority of the outstanding stock entitled to vote
thereon.
Repurchases of
Stock
.
Georgia
. Under
Georgia law, a corporation may acquire its own shares and shares so acquired
constitute authorized but unissued shares, unless the articles of incorporation
provide that reacquired shares become treasury shares or prohibit the reissue of
reacquired shares. If the articles of incorporation prohibit the
reissue of acquired shares, the number of authorized shares is reduced by the
number of shares acquired, effective upon amendment of the articles of
incorporation. The board of directors may adopt articles of amendment
without shareholder approval provided such amendment sets
forth: (1) the reduction in the number of authorized shares, itemized
by class and series; and (2) the total number of authorized shares,
itemized by class and series, remaining after reduction of the
shares. The board of directors may adopt articles of amendment
providing that reacquired shares become treasury shares without shareholder
action.
Delaware
. Under
Delaware law, a corporation may repurchase or redeem its shares only out of
surplus and only if such purchase does not impair its capital. However, a
Delaware corporation may redeem preferred stock out of capital if such shares
will be retired upon redemption and the stated capital of the corporation is
thereupon reduced in accordance with Sections 243 and 244 of the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
Officers
And Directors
Upon the
effective date of the Migratory Merger, the present officers and directors of
the Company will continue to be the officers and directors of New
Company.
Federal
Tax Consequences
The
following is a discussion of certain federal income tax considerations that may
be relevant to holders of Common Stock who receive New Company Common Stock as a
result of the proposed change of domicile. No state, local, or foreign tax
consequences are addressed herein.
This
discussion does not address the state, local, federal or foreign income tax
consequences of the change of domicile that may be relevant to particular
stockholders, such as dealers in securities, or Company stockholders who
exercise dissenters' rights. In view of the varying nature of such tax
considerations, each stockholder is urged to consult his own tax adviser as to
the specific tax consequences of the proposed change of domicile , including the
applicability of federal, state, local, or foreign tax laws. Subject to the
limitations, qualifications and exceptions described herein, and assuming the
change of domicile qualifies as a reorganization within the meaning of Section
368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the
following federal income tax consequences generally should result:
·
|
No
gain or loss should be recognized by the stockholders of the Company upon
conversion of their Common Stock into New Company Common Stock pursuant to
the change of domicile;
|
·
|
The
aggregate tax basis of the New Company Common Stock received by each
stockholder of the Company in the change of domicile should be equal to
the aggregate tax basis of Common Stock converted in exchange
therefor;
|
·
|
The
holding period of New Company Common Stock received by each stockholder of
the Company in the change of domicile should include the period during
which the stockholder held his Common Stock converted therefor, provided
such Common Stock is held by the stockholder as a capital asset on the
effective date of the change of domicile;
and
|
·
|
The
Company should not recognize gain or loss for federal income tax purposes
as a result of the change of
domicile.
|
The
Company has not requested a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service or an
opinion of counsel with respect to the federal income tax consequences of the
change of domicile under the Code. The Company believes the change of domicile
will constitute a tax-free reorganization under Section 368(a) of the Code,
inasmuch as Section 368(a)(1)(F) of the Code defines a reorganization as a mere
change in identity, form, or place of organization of the
Company.
PROPOSAL
2: AMENDMENT TO THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION TO EFFECT
A
14 TO 1 REVERSE STOCK SPLIT
On
February 1, 2008, the board of directors of the Company approved an amendment,
subject to shareholder approval, to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, to effect a reverse stock split at the ratio of 14 for 1. The Company
currently has authorized capital stock of 295,000,000 shares and 281,030,486
shares of Common Stock are outstanding as of the Record Date. Pursuant to
the reverse stock split, the 281,030,486 shares of Common Stock outstanding (the
“Old Shares”) would be automatically converted into approximately
20,073,606 shares of common stock (the “New Shares”). The
reverse stock split would not result in any change in the number of beneficial
owners of the Company’s common stock. Prior to the reverse stock
split there were 123 beneficial holders of the Company’s Common
Stock. As a result of the reverse stock split, there will be 123
beneficial owners of the Company’s common stock.
The
reason for the reverse stock split is to increase the per share stock price. The
Company believes that if it is successful in maintaining a higher stock price,
the stock will generate greater interest among professional investors and
institutions. If the Company is successful in generating interest among such
entities, it is anticipated that the shares of its common stock would have
greater liquidity and a stronger investor base. No assurance can be given,
however, that the market price of the New Shares will rise in proportion to the
reduction in the number of outstanding shares resulting from the reverse stock
split. The New Shares issued pursuant to the reverse stock split will be fully
paid and non-assessable. All New Shares will have the same par value, voting
rights and other rights as Old Shares. Stockholders of the Company do not have
preemptive rights to acquire additional shares of common stock, which may be
issued.
The one
for 14 reverse stock split is being effectuated by reducing the number of issued
and outstanding shares at the ratio of 14 for 1. The authorized number of shares
of common stock shall not be impacted by the reverse stock split. Accordingly,
as a result of the reverse stock split, the Company will have approximately
274,926,394 authorized unissued shares. In addition, the reverse stock split has
potentially dilutive effects on each of the shareholders. Each of the
shareholders may be diluted to the extent that any of the authorized but
unissued shares are subsequently issued. There are currently no
plans, arrangements, commitments or understandings for the issuance of the
additional authorized unissued shares of Common Stock.
The
reverse stock split will not alter any shareholder's percentage interest in the
Company’s equity, except to the extent that the reverse stock split results in
any of the Company’s shareholders owning a fractional share. No fractional
shares shall be issued. In lieu of issuing fractional shares, the Company will
issue to any stockholder who otherwise would have been entitled to receive a
fractional share as a result of the reverse stock split an additional full share
of its Common Stock.
In
addition, commencing with the effective date of the reverse stock split, all
outstanding options entitling the holders thereof to purchase shares of the
Company’s Common Stock will entitle such holders to receive, upon exercise of
their options, one-fourteenth of the number of shares of the Company’s Common
Stock which such holders may purchase upon exercise of their options. In
addition, commencing on the effective date of the reverse stock split, the
exercise price of all outstanding options and warrants will be increased by 14
and the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion or exercise of
such outstanding options and warrants will be decreased by 14.
Potential
Anti-Takeover Effects.
Certain
provisions of our Articles of Incorporation and Nevada law may have the effect
of delaying, deferring or discouraging another person from acquiring control of
our company.
Our
Articles of Incorporation allow our board of directors to issue shares of
preferred stock, in one or more series and with such rights and preferences
including voting rights, without further stockholder approval. In the
event that our board of directors designates additional series of preferred
stock with rights and preferences, including super-majority voting rights, and
issues such preferred stock, the preferred stock could make our acquisition by
means of a tender offer, a proxy contest or otherwise, more difficult, and could
also make the removal of incumbent officers and directors more
difficult. As a result, these provisions may have an anti-takeover
effect. The preferred stock authorized in our Articles of
Incorporation may inhibit changes of control that are not approved by our board
of directors. These provisions could limit the price that future
investors might be willing to pay in the future for our common
stock. This could have the effect of delaying, deferring or
preventing a change in control of our company. The issuance of
preferred stock could also effectively limit or dilute the voting power of our
stockholders. According, such provisions of our Articles of
Incorporation may discourage or prevent an acquisition or disposition of our
business that could otherwise be in the best interest of our
stockholders.
Following
the Reverse Split, we will have available between approximately 274,926,394
authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of our common stock available for
future issuance without stockholder approval. These additional shares
may be used for a variety of corporate purposes, including a future public
offering to raise additional capital, corporate acquisitions and employee
benefit plans. The existence of authorized but unissued and
unreserved shares of our common stock may enable our board of directors to issue
shares of stock to persons friendly to existing management. As a
result, our issuance of these shares could have an anti-takeover
effect.
In
addition, Nevada has enacted the following legislation that may deter or
frustrate takeovers of Nevada corporations, such as our company:
Authorized but Unissued Stock
. The authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of our
common stock are available for future issuance without stockholder
approval. These additional shares may be used for a variety of
corporate purposes, including future public offering to raise additional
capital, corporate acquisitions and employee benefit plans. The
existence of authorized but unissued and unreserved shares of common stock may
enable our board of directors to issue shares of stock to persons friendly to
existing management.
Evaluation of Acquisition
Proposals
. The Nevada Revised Statutes expressly permit our
board of directors, when evaluating any proposed tender or exchange offer, any
merger, consolidation or sale of substantially all of our assets, or any similar
extraordinary transaction, to consider all relevant factors including, without
limitation, the social, legal, and economic effects on the employees, customers,
suppliers, and other constituencies of our company and our subsidiaries, and on
the communities and geographical areas in which they operate. Our
board of directors may also consider the amount of consideration being offered
in relation to the then current market price for our outstanding shares of
capital stock and our then current value in a freely negotiated
transaction. Our board of directors believes such provisions are in
the long-term best interests of our company and our stockholders.
Control Share Acquisitions
. We are subject to the Nevada control share acquisitions
statute. This statute is designed to afford stockholders of public
corporations in Nevada protection against acquisitions in which a person, entity
or group seeks to gain voting control. With enumerated exceptions,
the statute provides that shares acquired within certain specific ranges will
not possess voting rights in the election of directors unless the voting rights
are approved by a majority vote of the public corporation’s disinterested
stockholders. Disinterested shares are shares other than those owned
by the acquiring person or by a member of a group with respect to a control
share acquisition, or by any officer of the corporation or any employee of the
corporation who is also a director. The specific acquisition ranges
that trigger the statute are: acquisitions of shares possessing one-fifth or
more but less than one-third of all voting power; acquisitions of shares
possessing one-third or more but less than a majority of all voting power; or
acquisitions of shares possessing a majority or more of all voting
power. Under certain circumstances, the statute permits the acquiring
person to call a special stockholders meeting for the purpose of considering the
grant of voting rights to the holder of the control shares. The
statute also enables a corporation to provide for the redemption of control
shares with no voting rights under certain circumstances.
The
Reverse Split is not the result of any specific effort to accumulate our
securities or to obtain control of our company by means of a merger, tender
offer, solicitation in opposition to management or otherwise. The
Reverse Split is not part of a plan by management to adopt a series of
provisions having an anti-takeover effect and management does not presently
intend to propose other anti-takeover measures in future stockholder
votes.
Potential
Federal Income Tax Consequences
The
Company believes that the Federal income tax consequences of the reverse stock
split to holders of common stock will be as follows:
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(i)
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Except
as explained in (v) below, no income gain or loss will be recognized by a
shareholder on the surrender of the current shares or receipt of the
certificate representing new post-split
shares.
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(ii)
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Except
as explained in (v) below, the tax basis of the New Shares will equal the
tax basis of the Old Shares exchanged
therefor.
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(iii)
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Except
as explained in (v) below, the holding period of the New Shares will
include the holding period of the Old Shares if such Old Shares were held
as capital assets.
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(iv)
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The
conversion of the Old Shares into the new shares will produce no taxable
income or gain or loss to the
Company.
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(v)
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The
Federal income tax treatment of the receipt of the additional fractional
interest by a shareholder is not clear and may result in tax liability not
material in amount in view of the low value of such fractional
interest.
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The
Company's opinion is not binding upon the Internal Revenue Service or the
courts, and there can be no assurance that the Internal Revenue Service or the
courts will accept the positions expressed above.
THE
ABOVE DISCUSSION IS A BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE EFFECTS OF FEDERAL INCOME TAXATION
UPON THE PARTICIPANTS AND THE COMPANY WITH RESPECT TO THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT.
THIS SUMMARY DOES NOT PURPORT TO BE COMPLETE AND DOES NOT ADDRESS THE FEDERAL
INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES TO TAXPAYERS WITH SPECIAL TAX STATUS. IN ADDITION, THIS
SUMMARY DOES NOT DISCUSS THE PROVISIONS OF THE INCOME TAX LAWS OF ANY
MUNICIPALITY, STATE OR FOREIGN COUNTRY IN WHICH THE PARTICIPANT MAY RESIDE, AND
DOES NOT DISCUSS ESTATE, GIFT OR OTHER TAX CONSEQUENCES OTHER THAN INCOME TAX
CONSEQUENCES. THE COMPANY ADVISES EACH PARTICIPANT TO CONSULT HIS OR HER OWN TAX
ADVISOR REGARDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE REVERSE STOCK SPLIT AND FOR
REFERENCE TO APPLICABLE PROVISIONS OF THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE.
ANNUAL
AND QUARTERLY REPORTS
Our
Annual Report on Form 10-KSB for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2006 and our
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 2007, as filed
with the SEC, excluding exhibits, are being mailed to shareholders with this
Information Statement. We will furnish any exhibit to our Annual
Report on Form 10-KSB or Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q free of charge to any
shareholder upon written request to the Company at 12812 Dupont Circle, Tampa,
Florida 33626. The Annual Report and Quarterly Report are
incorporated in this Information Statement. You are encouraged to review the
Annual Report and Quarterly Report together with subsequent information filed by
the Company with the SEC and other publicly available information.
COST
OF INFORMATION STATEMENT
The
Company is making the mailing and will bear the costs associated therewith.
There will be no solicitations made. The Company will reimburse banks, brokerage
firms, other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries for reasonable expenses
incurred in sending the Information Statement to beneficial owners of the
Company’s Common Stock.
STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS
The
Company’s Board of Directors has not yet determined the date on which the next
annual meeting of stockholders will be held. Any proposal by a stockholder
intended to be presented at the Company’s next annual meeting of stockholders
must be received at the Company’s offices a reasonable amount of time prior to
the date on which the information or proxy statement for that meeting is mailed
to stockholders in order to be included in the Company’s information or proxy
statement relating to that meeting.
FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS AND INFORMATION
This
Information Statement includes forward-looking statements within the meaning of
Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. You can
identify our forward-looking statements by the words "expects," "projects,"
"believes," "anticipates," "intends," "plans," "predicts," "estimates" and
similar expressions.
The
forward-looking statements are based on management’s current expectations,
estimates and projections about us. The Company cautions you that these
statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks,
uncertainties and assumptions that we cannot predict. In addition, the Company
has based many of these forward-looking statements on assumptions about future
events that may prove to be inaccurate. Accordingly, actual outcomes and results
may differ materially from what the Company has expressed or forecast in the
forward-looking statements.
You
should rely only on the information the Company has provided in this Information
Statement. The Company has not authorized any person to provide information
other than that provided herein. The Company has not authorized anyone to
provide you with different information. You should not assume that the
information in this Information Statement is accurate as of any date other than
the date on the front of the document.
WHERE
YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COMPANY
The
Company files annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You can read and copy any materials that the Company
files with the SEC at the SEC’s Public Reference Room at 100 F Street, N.E.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. You can obtain information about the operation of the
SEC’s Public Reference Room by calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also
maintains a Web site that contains information we file electronically with the
SEC, which you can access over the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of
these materials may also be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Section
of the SEC, 100 F Street, N.E., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed
rates.
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By
Order of the Board of Directors,
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/s/ John
Stanton
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Chairman
of the Board
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Tampa,
Florida
May 5,
2008
Exhibit
A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF MERGER approved
on *, 2008 by US Energy Initiatives Corporation, a business
corporation organized under the laws of the State of Georgia (“US Energy – GA”),
and by its Board of Directors on said date, and approved on *, 2008 by U.S.
Energy Initiatives Corporation, a business corporation organized under the laws
of the State of Delaware (“US Energy – DE”), and by its Board of Directors on
said date.
1. US Energy - GA and US Energy - DE
shall, pursuant to the provisions of the Georgia and the provisions
of the laws of the jurisdiction of organization of US Energy - DE, be merged
with and into a single corporation, to wit US Energy - DE, which shall be the
surviving corporation upon the effective date of the merger and which is
sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "surviving corporation", and which
shall continue to exist as said surviving corporation under its present name
pursuant to the provisions of the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization. The separate existence of US Energy - GA, which is
sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "terminating corporation", shall cease
upon the effective date of the merger in accordance with the provisions of the
Georgia Business Corporation Code.
2. The certificate of
incorporation of the surviving corporation upon the effective date of the merger
in the jurisdiction of its organization shall be the certificate of
incorporation of said surviving corporation; and said certificate of
incorporation shall continue in full force and effect until amended and changed
in the manner prescribed by the provisions of the laws of the jurisdiction of
organization of the surviving corporation.
3. The by-laws of the
surviving corporation upon the effective date of the merger in the jurisdiction
of its organization will be the by-laws of said surviving corporation and will
continue in full force and effect until changed, altered, or amended as therein
provided and in the manner prescribed by the provisions of the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization.
4. The directors and
officers in office of the surviving corporation upon the effective date of the
merger in the jurisdiction of its organization shall be the members of the first
Board of Directors and the first officers of the surviving corporation, all of
whom shall hold their directorships and offices until the election and
qualification of their respective successors or until their tenure is otherwise
terminated in accordance with the by-laws of the surviving
corporation.
5. Each issued share of the
terminating corporation shall, upon the effective date of the merger, be
converted into one share of the surviving corporation. The issued
shares of the surviving corporation shall not be converted in any manner, but
each said share which is issued as of the effective date of the merger shall
continue to represent one issued share of the surviving
corporation.
6. The Plan of Merger herein
made and approved shall be submitted to the shareholders of the terminating
corporation for their approval or rejection in the manner prescribed by the
provisions of the Georgia Business Corporation Code, and the merger of the
terminating corporation with and into the surviving corporation shall be
authorized in the manner prescribed by the laws of the jurisdiction of
organization of the surviving corporation.
7. In the event that the
Plan of Merger shall have been approved by the shareholders entitled to vote of
the terminating corporation in the manner prescribed by the provisions of the
Georgia Business Corporation Code, and in the event that the merger of the
terminating corporation with and into the surviving corporation shall have been
duly authorized in compliance with the laws of the jurisdiction of organization
of the surviving corporation, the terminating corporation and the surviving
corporation hereby stipulate that they will cause to be executed and filed
and/or recorded any document or documents prescribed by the laws of the State of
Georgia and of the State of Delaware, and that they will cause to be performed
all necessary acts therein and elsewhere to effectuate the merger.
8. The Board of Directors
and the proper officers of the terminating corporation and of the surviving
corporation, respectively, are hereby authorized, empowered and directed to do
any and all acts and things, and to make, execute, deliver, file, and/or record
any and all instruments, papers, and documents which shall be or become
necessary, proper, or convenient to carry out or put into effect any of the
provisions of this Plan of Merger or of the merger herein provided
for.
9. The effective date of the
merger herein provided for in the State of Georgia shall be *,
2008.
10. As of the date first set
forth above, the effect of this Plan of Merger shall be as provided in Section
259 and other applicable provisions of Delaware Law. Without limiting
the generality of the foregoing, and subject thereto, upon the effectiveness of
this Merger, all the property, rights, privileges, powers and franchises of the
non-surviving corporation shall vest in Surviving Corporation, and all debts,
liabilities and duties of the non-surviving corporation shall become the debts,
liabilities and duties of Surviving Corporation.
.
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION, a Georgia Corporation
By:_________________________________
Name:
Mark Clancy
Title: Interim
Chief Executive Officer
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION, a Delaware Corporation
By:_________________________________
Name:
Mark Clancy
Title: Interim
Chief Executive Officer
CERTIFICATE
OF INCORPORATION
OF
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION
____________
The undersigned, for the purpose of
organizing a corporation for conducting the business and promoting the purposes
hereinafter stated, under the provisions and subject to the requirements of the
laws of the State of Delaware (particularly Chapter 1, Title 8 of the Delaware
Code and the acts amendatory thereof and supplemental thereto, and known,
identified, and referred to as the "General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware"), hereby certifies that:
FIRST
: The
name of the corporation (hereinafter called the "Corporation") is U.S. Energy
Initiatives Corporation.
SECOND
: The
address, including street, number, city, and county, of the registered office of
the Corporation in the State of Delaware is The Corporation Trust Center, 1209
Orange Street, Wilmington, Delaware 19801, County of New Castle; and the name of
the registered agent of the Corporation in the State of Delaware at such address
is The Corporation Trust Company.
THIRD
: The
nature of the business and the purposes to be conducted and promoted by the
Corporation are as follows:
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To conduct any
lawful business, to promote any lawful purpose, and to engage in any
lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
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FOURTH
: The
total authorized capital stock of the Corporation shall be 300,000,000 shares
consisting of 295,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share and
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value $0.001 per share. The Preferred
Stock, or any series thereof, shall have such designations, preferences and
relative, participating, optional or other special rights and qualifications,
limitations or restrictions thereof as shall be expressed in the resolution or
resolutions providing for the issue of such stock adopted by the Board of
Directors and may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside such
resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, provided that the matter in
which such facts shall operate upon such designations, preferences, rights and
qualifications; limitations or restrictions of such class or series of stock is
clearly and expressly set forth in the resolution or resolutions providing for
the issuance of such stock by the Board of Directors.
FIFTH
: The
name and the mailing address of the incorporator are as
follows:
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MAILING
ADDRESS
Sichenzia Ross Friedman Ference LLP
61 Broadway, 32
nd
Floor
New York, New York 10006
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SIXTH
: The
Corporation is to have perpetual existence.
SEVENTH
: The
bylaws of the Corporation may be made, altered, amended, changed, added to, or
repealed by the board of directors of the Corporation without the assent or vote
of the stockholders.
EIGHT
: The
personal liability of the directors of the Corporation is hereby eliminated to
the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of paragraph (7) of subsection
(b) of Sec. 102 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the
same may be amended and supplemented.
NINTH
: The
Corporation shall, to the fullest extent permitted by the provisions of Sec. 145
of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as the same may be
amended and supplemented, indemnify any and all persons whom it shall have power
to indemnify under said section from and against any and all of the expenses,
liabilities, or other matters referred to in or covered by said section, and the
indemnification provided for herein shall not be deemed exclusive of any
other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under any Bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as
to action in such person's official capacity and as to action in another
capacity while holding such office, and 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.
TENTH
: From
time to time any of the provisions of this certificate of incorporation may be
amended, altered, or repealed, and other provisions authorized by the laws of
the State of Delaware at the time in force may be added or inserted in the
manner and at the time prescribed by said laws, and all rights at any time
conferred upon the stockholders of the Corporation by this certificate of
incorporation are granted subject to the provisions of this Article
TENTH.
Signed on
March 13, 2008
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/s/ Stephen
A. Cohen
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Stephen
A. Cohen
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Incorporator
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BY-LAWS
OF
U.S.
ENERGY INITIATIVES CORPORATION
(hereinafter
called the "Corporation")
ARTICLE
I
OFFICES
Section
1
.
Registered
Office.
The registered office of the Corporation shall be in
the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
Section
2
.
Other
Offices.
The Corporation may also have offices at such other
places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors
may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE
II
MEETING OF
STOCKHOLDERS
Section
1
.
Place of
Meetings.
Meetings of the stockholders for the election of
directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place, either
within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time to time
by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly
executed waiver of notice thereof.
Section
2
.
Annual Meetings.
The Annual Meetings of Stockholders shall be
held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by
the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, at which
meetings the stockholders shall elect by a plurality vote a Board of Directors,
and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the
meeting. Written notice of the Annual Meeting stating the place, date
and hour of the meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at
such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the
meeting.
Section
3
.
Special
Meetings.
Unless otherwise prescribed by law or by the
Certificate of Incorporation, Special Meetings of Stockholders, for any purpose
or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chairman, if there be one, or (ii)
the President, (iii) any Vice President, if there be one, (iv) the Secretary, or
(v) any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, and shall be called by any such
officer at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors or at
the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority of the capital stock of
the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote. Such
request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed
meeting. Written notice of a Special Meeting stating the place, date
and hour of the meeting and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
called shall be given not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date
of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at such
meeting.
Section
4
.
Quorum.
Except
as otherwise provided by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the holders
of a majority of the capital stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at
all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of business. If,
however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the
stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, of the time and place of
the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be present or
represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be
present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the adjournment
is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is
fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be
given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section
5
.
Voting.
Unless
otherwise required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws,
any question brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided by the
vote of the holders of a majority of the stock represented and entitled to vote
thereat. Each stockholder represented at a meeting of shareholders
shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the capital stock entitled
to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may be cast in
person or by proxy but no proxy shall be voted on or after three years from its
date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. The Board of
Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at a
meeting of stockholders, in his discretion, may require that any votes cast at
such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
Section
6
.
Consent of Stockholders in
Lieu of Meeting
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of
Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken at any Annual
or Special Meeting of Stockholders of the Corporation, may be taken without a
meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing,
setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding
stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary
to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to
vote thereon were present and voted. The written consents shall be
delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered office in Delaware,
its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Corporation
having custody of the book in which the proceedings are
recorded. Delivery to the registered officer shall be by hand or
certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. Prompt notice of the
taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written
consent shill be given to those stockholders who have not consented in
writing.
Section
7
.
List of Stockholders
Entitled to Vote.
The officer of the Corporation who has charge of the
stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before
every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to
vote at the 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 to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for
a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the
city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of the meeting, or, if not so specified, at the place where the meeting
is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time
and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by
any stockholder of the Corporation who is present.
Section
8
.
Stock
Ledger.
The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only
evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock
ledger, the list required by Section 7 of this Article II or the books of the
Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of
stockholders.
ARTICLE
III
DIRECTORS
Section
1
.
Number and Election of
Directors.
The Board of Directors shall consist of one or more
members, the exact number of which shall initially be fixed by the Incorporator
and thereafter from time to time by the Board of Directors. Except as
provided in Section 2 of this Article, directors shall be elected by a plurality
of the votes cast at Annual Meetings of Stockholders, and each director so
elected shall hold office until the next Annual Meeting and until his successor
is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier resignation or
removal. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to
the Corporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
Section
2
.
Vacancies.
Vacancies
and newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized
number of directors may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office,
though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, and the directors so
chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and until their
successors are duly elected and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or
removal.
Section
3
.
Duties and
Powers.
The business of the Corporation shall be managed by or
under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise all such powers
of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute
or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws directed or required
to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
Section
4
.
Meetings.
The
Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold meetings, both regular and
special, either within or without the State of Delaware. Regular
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and
at such place as may from time to time be determined by the Board of
Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called
by the Chairman, if there be one, the President, or any one (1)
director. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the
meetings shall be given to each director either by mail not less than
forty-eight (48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone or telegram
on twenty-four (24) hours' notice, or on such shorter notice as the person or
persons calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the
circumstances.
Section
5
.
Quorum.
Except
as may be otherwise specifically provided by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, at all meetings of the Board of Directors, a
majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business and the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of the Board of
Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the
Board of Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from
time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a
quorum shall be present.
Section
6
.
Actions of
Board.
Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken at
any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken
without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as
the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are
filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or
committee.
Section
7
.
Meetings by Means of
Conference Telephone
. Unless otherwise provided by the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors
of the Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may
participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of
a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a
meeting pursuant to the Section 7 shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
Section
8
.
Committees.
The
Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the entire Board
of Directors, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one
or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of any such committee.
In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, and in the
absence of a designation by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to
replace the absent or disqualified member, the member or members thereof present
at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they
constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of
Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified
member. Any committee, to the extent allowed by law and provided in
the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all the
powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the business
and affairs of the Corporation. Each committee shall keep regular
minutes and report to the Board of Directors when required.
Section
9
.
Compensation.
The
directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of
the Board of Directors and may be paid for attendance at each meeting of the
Board of Directors or a stated annual salary as
director. Compensation may also consist of such options, warrants
rights, shares of capital stock or any other form of remuneration approved by
the Board of Directors. No such payment shall preclude any director
from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation
therefor. Members of special or standing committees may be allowed
like reimbursement of expenses for attending committee meetings.
Section
10
.
Interested
Directors.
No contract or transaction between the Corporation
and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the Corporation and any
other corporation, partnership, association, or other organization in which one
or more of its directors or officers are directors or officers, or have a
financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for this reason, or solely
because the director or officer is present at or participates in the meeting of
the Board of Directors or committee thereof which authorizes the contract or
transaction, or solely because his or their votes are counted for such purpose
if (i) the material facts as to his or their relationship or interest and as to
the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the Board of Directors
or their committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in good faith
authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a majority of
the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors be less
than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to his or their relationship or
interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the
shareholders entitled to vote thereon, and the contract or transaction is
specifically approved in good faith by vote of the shareholders; or (iii) the
contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation as of the time it is
authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of Directors, a committee thereof
or the shareholders. Common or interested directors may be counted in
determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors or
of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS
Section
1
.
General.
The
officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the Board of Directors and shall
be a President and a Secretary. The Board of Directors, in its
discretion, may also choose a Chairman of the Board of Directors (who must be a
director), Treasurer and one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries,
Assistant Treasurers and other officers. Any number of offices may be
held by the same person, unless otherwise prohibited by law, the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws. The officers of the Corporation need
not be stockholders of the Corporation nor, except in the case of the Chairman
of the Board of Directors, need such officers be directors of the
Corporation.
Section
2
.
Election.
The
Board of Directors at its first meeting held after each Annual Meeting of
Stockholders shall elect the officers of the Corporation who shall hold their
offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as
shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors; and all
officers of the Corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen
and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or removal. Any
officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any time by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any vacancy
occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board of
Directors. The salaries of all officers of the Corporation shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section
3
.
Voting Securities Owned by
the Corporation.
Powers of attorney, proxies, waivers of
notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating to securities owned
by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on behalf of the
Corporation by the President or any Vice President and any such officer may, in
the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, take all such action as any such
officer may deem advisable to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of
security holders of any corporation in which the Corporation may own securities
and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and
power incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner
thereof, the Corporation might have exercised and possessed if
present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time
confer like powers upon an-other person or persons.
Section
4
.
Chairman of the Board of
Directors.
The Chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be
one, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of
Directors. He shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation, and except where by law the signature of the President is required,
the Chairman of the Board of Directors shall "possess the same power as the
President to sign all contracts, certificates and other instruments of the
Corporation which may be authorized by the Board of Directors. During
the absence or disability of the President, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors shall exercise all the powers and discharge all the duties of the
President. The Chairman of the Board of Directors shall also perform
such other duties and may exercise such other powers as from time to time may be
assigned to him by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section
5
.
President.
The
President shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors and, if there
be one, the Chairman of the Board of Directors, have general supervision of the
business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the
Board of Directors are carried into effect. He shall execute all
bonds, mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation requiring a
seal, under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by
law to be otherwise signed and executed and except that the other officers of
the Corporation may sign and execute documents when so authorized by these
By-Laws, the Board of Directors or the President. In the absence or
disability of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or if there be none, the
President shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of
Directors. If there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors, the
President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the
Corporation. The President shall also perform such other duties and
may exercise such other powers as from time to time may be assigned to him by
these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section
6
.
Vice-Presidents.
At
the request of the President or in his absence or in the event of his inability
or refusal to act (and if there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors), the
Vice-President or the Vice-Presidents if there is more than one (in the order
designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform 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. Each Vice-President shall perform
such other-duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors from time
to time may prescribe. If there be no Chairman of the Board of
Directors and no Vice-President, the Board of Directors shall designate the
officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of the President or in the event
of the inability or refusal of the President to act, shall perform 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
7
.
Secretary.
The
Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and all meetings
of stockholders and record all the proceedings thereat in a book or books to be
kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also perform like duties for the
standing committees when required. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be
given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the
Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by
the Board of Directors or President, under whose supervision he shall
be. If the Secretary shall be unable or shall refuse to cause to be
given notice of all meetings of the stockholders and special meetings of the
Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant Secretary, then either the
Board of Directors or the President may choose another officer to cause such
notice to be given. The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of
the Corporation and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary, if there be one,
shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it and when
so affixed, it may be attested by the signature of the Secretary or by the
signature of any such Assistant Secretary. The Board of Directors may
give general authority to any' other officer to affix the seal of the
Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature. The
Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other
documents and records required by Law to be kept or filed are properly kept or
filed, as the case may be.
Section
8
.
Treasurer.
The
Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities and shall
keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging
to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in
the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be
designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall disburse
the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking
proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall
render unto the President and the Board of Directors, at
its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of
all his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the
Corporation. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer
shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties
as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance
of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case
of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books,
papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or
under his control belonging to the Corporation.
Section
9
.
Assistant
Secretaries.
Except as may be otherwise provided in these
By-Laws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties and
have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board of
Directors, the President, any Vice-President, if there be one, or the Secretary,
and in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of his disability or refusal
to act, shall perform the duties of the Secretary, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
Secretary.
Section
10
.
Assistant
Treasurers.
Assistant Treasurers, if there be any, shall
perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to
them by the Board of Directors, the President, any Vice-President, if there be
one, or the Treasurer, and in the absence of the Treasurer or in the event of
his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and
when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the
restrictions upon the Treasurer. If required by the Board of
Directors, an Assistant Treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum
and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of
Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the
restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or
removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of
whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the
Corporation.
Section
11
.
Other
Officers.
Such other officers as the Board of Directors may
choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may
be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors
may delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such
other officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
Section
1
.
Form of
Certificates.
Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall
be entitled to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation (i) by
the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice-President and
(ii) by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned by
him in the Corporation.
Section
2
.
Signatures.
Any
or all of the signatures on the certificate may be by facsimile. In
case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such
officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may
be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer,
transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section
3
.
Lost
Certificates.
The Board of Directors may direct a new
certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the
Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of
an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be
lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new
certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or
destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in
such manner as the Board of Directors 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 certificate alleged
to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section
4
.
Transfers.
Stock
of the Corporation shall be transferable in the manner prescribed by law and in
these By-Laws. Transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the
Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or by his attorney
lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the certificate
therefor, which shall be canceled before a new certificate shall be
issued.
Section
5
.
Record
Date.
In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, or entitled to express consent to corporate action in
writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or
other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any
rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock, or for the
purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance,
a record date, which shall not be more than sixty days nor less than ten days
before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other
action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting.
Section
6
.
Beneficial
Owners.
The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the
exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to
receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable for calls and
assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares, and shall
not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such
share or shares of the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have
express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by
law.
ARTICLE
VI
NOTICES
Section
1
.
Notices.
Whenever
written notice is required by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these
By-Laws, to be given to any director, member of a committee or stockholder, such
notice may be given by mail, addressed to such director, member of a committee
or stockholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation,
with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the
time when the same shall be deposited in the United States
mail. Written notice may also be given personally or by telegram,
telex or cable.
Section
2
.
Waivers of
Notice.
Whenever any notice is required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director,
member of a committee or stockholder, a waiver thereof in writing, signed, by
the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE
VII
GENERAL
PROVISIONS
Section
1
.
Dividends.
Dividends
upon the capital stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors
at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property, or in
shares of the capital stock. Before payment of any dividend, there
may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends
such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in its absolute
discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of Directors may modify or
abolish any such reserve.
Section
2
.
Disbursements.
All
checks or demands for money and notes of the Corporation shall be signed by such
officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board of Directors
may from time to time designate.
Section
3
.
Fiscal
Year.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by
resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section
4
.
Corporate
Seal.
The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name
of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words "Corporate Seal,
Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof
to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE
VIII
INDEMNIFICATION AND
DIRECTORS' LIABILITY
Section
1
.
Indemnification of Directors
and Officers.
The Corporation shall be required, to the
fullest extent authorized by Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the
State of Delaware (the "GCL"), as the same may be amended and supplemented, to
indemnify any and all directors and officers of the Corporation.
ARTICLE
IX
AMENDMENTS
Section
1.
These By-Laws may be altered, amended or repealed, in whole
or in part, or new By-Laws may be adopted by the stockholders or by the Board of
Directors, provided, however, that notice of such alteration, amendment, repeal
or adoption of new By-Laws be contained in the notice' of such meeting of
stockholders or Board of Directors, as the case may be. All such
amendments must be approved by either the holders of a majority of the
outstanding capital stock entitled to vote thereon or by a majority of the
entire Board of Directors then in office.
Section
2
.
Entire Board of
Directors.
As used in this Article IX and in these By-Laws
generally, the term "entire Board of Directors" means the total number of
directors which the Corporation would have if there were no
vacancies.
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