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Exhibit 3.4
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
AXT, INC.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
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ARTICLE I STOCKHOLDERS....................................................1
Section 1.1 Annual Meeting..................................................1
Section 1.2 Special Meetings................................................1
Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings..............................................1
Section 1.4 Quorum..........................................................1
Section 1.5 Conduct of the Stockholders' Meeting............................2
Section 1.6 Conduct of Business.............................................2
Section 1.7 Notice of Stockholder Business..................................2
Section 1.8 Proxies and Voting..............................................3
Section 1.9 Stock List......................................................3
ARTICLE II BOARD OF DIRECTORS..............................................4
Section 2.1 Number and Term of Office.......................................4
Section 2.2 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships.......................4
Section 2.3 Removal.........................................................4
Section 2.4 Regular Meetings................................................5
Section 2.5 Special Meetings................................................5
Section 2.6 Quorum..........................................................5
Section 2.7 Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone...............5
Section 2.8 Conduct of Business.............................................5
Section 2.9 Powers..........................................................5
Section 2.10 Compensation of Directors.......................................6
Section 2.11 Nomination of Director Candidates...............................6
ARTICLE III COMMITTEES......................................................7
Section 3.1 Committees of the Board of Directors............................7
Section 3.2 Conduct of Business.............................................8
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS........................................................8
Section 4.1 Generally.......................................................8
Section 4.2 Chairman of the Board...........................................8
Section 4.3 President.......................................................8
Section 4.4 Vice President..................................................8
Section 4.5 Treasurer.......................................................8
Section 4.6 Secretary.......................................................9
Section 4.7 Delegation of Authority.........................................9
Section 4.8 Removal.........................................................9
Section 4.9 Action With Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.........9
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
(Continued)
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ARTICLE V STOCK...........................................................9
Section 5.1 Certificates of Stock...........................................9
Section 5.2 Transfers of Stock..............................................9
Section 5.3 Record Date.....................................................9
Section 5.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates.........................10
Section 5.5 Regulations....................................................10
ARTICLE VI NOTICES........................................................10
Section 6.1 Notices........................................................10
Section 6.2 Waivers........................................................10
ARTICLE VII MISCELLANEOUS..................................................10
Section 7.1 Facsimile Signatures...........................................10
Section 7.2 Corporate Seal.................................................11
Section 7.3 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records.......................11
Section 7.4 Fiscal Year....................................................11
Section 7.5 Time Periods...................................................11
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS......................11
Section 8.1 Right to Indemnification.......................................11
Section 8.2 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit................................12
Section 8.3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights......................................12
Section 8.4 Indemnification Contracts......................................12
Section 8.5 Insurance......................................................13
Section 8.6 Effect of Amendment............................................13
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS.....................................................13
Section 9.1 Amendment of Bylaws............................................13
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AXT, INC.
A DELAWARE CORPORATION
SECOND AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the
election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting,
shall be held at such place, on such date, and at such time as the Board of
Directors shall each year fix, which date shall be within thirteen months
subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation or the last annual meeting
of stockholders.
Section 1.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders, for
any purpose or purposes prescribed in the notice of the meeting, may be called
only (i) by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a
majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there
exists any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such
resolution is presented to the Board of Directors for adoption) or (ii) by the
holders of not less than 10% of all shares entitled to cast votes at the
meeting, voting together as a single class. Business transacted at special
meetings shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice.
Upon request in writing sent by registered mail to the president or chief
executive officer by any stockholder or stockholders entitled to call a special
meeting of stockholders pursuant to this Section 1.2, the board of directors
shall determine a place and time for such meeting, which time shall be not less
than one hundred twenty (120) nor more than one hundred thirty (130) days after
the receipt of such request, and a record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting shall be fixed by the board of
directors, in advance, which shall not be more than sixty (60) days nor less
than ten (10) days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty (60)
days prior to any other action. Following such receipt of a request and
determination by the Secretary of the validity thereof, it shall be the duty of
the secretary to cause notice to be given to the stockholders entitled to vote
at such meeting, in the manner set forth in Section 1.3, hereof, that a meeting
will be held at the place and time so determined.
Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings. Written notice of the place, date, and
time of all meetings of the stockholders shall be given, not less than ten (10)
nor more than sixty (60) days before the date on which the meeting is to be
held, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, except as otherwise
provided herein or required by law (meaning, here and hereinafter, as required
from time to time by the Delaware General Corporation Law or the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Corporation).
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When a meeting is adjourned to another place, date or time, written notice
need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the place, date and time thereof
are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken; provided,
however, that if the date of any adjourned meeting is more than thirty (30) days
after the date for which the meeting was originally noticed, or if a new record
date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the place, date, and
time of the adjourned meeting shall be given in conformity herewith. At any
adjourned meeting, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the original meeting.
Section 1.4 Quorum. At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a
majority of all of the shares of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting,
present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for all purposes,
unless or except to the extent that the presence of a larger number may be
required by law.
If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, the chairman of the meeting
or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote who are
present, in person or by proxy, may adjourn the meeting to another place, date,
or time.
If a notice of any adjourned special meeting of stockholders is sent to
all stockholders entitled to vote thereat, stating that it will be held with
those present constituting a quorum, then except as otherwise required by law,
those present at such adjourned meeting shall constitute a quorum, and all
matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast at such meeting.
Section 1.5 Conduct of the Stockholders' Meeting. At every meeting of the
stockholders, the Chairman, if there is such an officer, or if not, the
President of the Corporation, or in his absence the Vice President designated by
the President, or in the absence of such designation any Vice President, or in
the absence of the President or any Vice President, a chairman chosen by the
majority of the voting shares represented in person or by proxy, shall act as
Chairman. The Secretary of the Corporation or a person designated by the
Chairman shall act as Secretary of the meeting. Unless otherwise approved by the
Chairman, attendance at the stockholders' meeting is restricted to stockholders
of record, persons authorized in accordance with Section 8 of these Bylaws to
act by proxy, and officers of the Corporation.
Section 1.6 Conduct of Business. The Chairman shall call the meeting to
order, establish the agenda, and conduct the business of the meeting in
accordance therewith or, at the Chairman's discretion, it may be conducted
otherwise in accordance with the wishes of the stockholders in attendance. The
date and time of the opening and closing of the polls for each matter upon which
the stockholders will vote at the meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
The Chairman shall also conduct the meeting in an orderly manner, rule on
the precedence of and procedure on, motions and other procedural matters, and
exercise discretion with respect to such procedural matters with fairness and
good faith toward all those entitled to take part. The Chairman may impose
reasonable limits on the amount of time taken up at the meeting on discussion in
general or on remarks by any one stockholder. Should any person in attendance
become unruly or obstruct the meeting proceedings, the Chairman shall have the
power to have such person removed from participation. Notwithstanding anything
in the Bylaws
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to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting except in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.6 and Section 1.7,
below. The Chairman of a meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and
declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting
and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 1.6 and Section 1.7, and
if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such
business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Section 1.7 Notice of Stockholder Business. At an annual or special
meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have
been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before a
meeting, business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any
supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b)
properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, (c) properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, or
(d) properly brought before a special meeting by a stockholder, but if, and only
if, the notice of a special meeting provides for business to be brought before
the meeting by stockholders. For business to be properly brought before a
meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof
in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder
proposal to be presented at an annual meeting shall be received at the
Corporation's principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days in
advance of the date that the Corporation's (or the Corporation's predecessor's)
proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous
year's annual meeting of stockholders, except that if no annual meeting was held
in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more
than 30 calendar days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous
year's proxy statement, or in the event of a special meeting, notice by the
stockholder to be timely must be received not later than the close of business
on the tenth day following the day on which such notice of the date of the
meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. A stockholder's notice to
the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to
bring before the annual or special meeting (a) a brief description of the
business desired to be brought before the annual or special meeting and the
reasons for conducting such business at the special meeting, (b) the name and
address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of the stockholder proposing
such business, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by the stockholder, and (d) any material interest of the
stockholder in such business.
Section 1.8 Proxies and Voting. All elections shall be determined by a
plurality of the votes cast, and except as otherwise required by law or the
Certificate of Incorporation or the Bylaws of this Corporation, all other
matters shall be determined by a majority of the votes cast affirmatively or
negatively.
Each stockholder shall at every meeting of the stockholders be entitled to one
vote for each share of capital stock having voting power held by such
stockholder. Such vote may be evidenced (i) in person; (ii) by proxy authorized
by an instrument in writing; or (iii) by a transmission permitted by law filed
in accordance with the procedure established for the meeting. No stockholder may
authorize more than one proxy for his shares. No proxy shall be voted on after
three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period, and,
except where the transfer books of the Corporation have been closed or a date
has been fixed as a record date for
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the determination of its stockholders entitled to vote, no share of stock shall
be voted on at any election of directors which has been transferred on the books
of the Corporation within twenty days preceding such election of directors.
Action shall be taken by stockholders only at an annual or special meeting of
stockholders, and stockholders may not act by written consent.
Section 1.9 Stock List. A complete list of stockholders entitled to vote
at any meeting of stockholders, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of
stock and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares
registered in his or her name, shall be open to the examination of any such
stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business
hours for a period of at least ten (10) 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 stock list shall also be kept at the place of the meeting during the
whole time thereof and shall be open to the examination of any such stockholder
who is present. This list shall presumptively determine the identity of the
stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting and the number of shares held by
each of them.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 2.1 Number and Term of Office. The number of directors shall be
Five (5) and, the number of directors shall be fixed from time to time
exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a
majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist
any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such
resolution is presented to the Board for adoption). Upon the closing of the
first sale of the Corporation's common stock pursuant to a firmly underwritten
registered public offering (the "IPO"), the directors shall be divided into
three classes, with the term of office of the first class to expire at the first
annual meeting of stockholders held after the IPO, the term of office of the
second class to expire at the second annual meeting of stockholders held after
the IPO, the term of office of the third class to expire at the third annual
meeting of stockholders held after the IPO and thereafter for each such term to
expire at each third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders after such
election. A vacancy resulting from the removal of a director by the stockholders
as provided in Article II, Section 2.3 below may be filled at special meeting of
the stockholders held for that purpose. All directors shall hold office until
the expiration of the term for which elected and until their respective
successors are elected, except in the case of the death, resignation or removal
of any director.
Section 2.2 Vacancies and Newly Created Directorships. Subject to the
rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, newly
created directorships resulting from any increase in the authorized number of
directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from death,
resignation, retirement, disqualification or other cause (other than
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removal from office by a vote of the stockholders) may be filled only by a
majority vote of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, and
directors so chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual
meeting of stockholders. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the
Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent director.
Section 2.3 Removal. Subject to the rights of holders of any series of
Preferred Stock then outstanding, any directors, or the entire Board of
Directors, may be removed from office at any time, with or without cause, but
only by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the voting
power of all of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a
single class. Vacancies in the Board of Directors resulting from such removal
may be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a
quorum, or by the stockholders as provided in Article II, Section 2.1 above.
Directors so chosen shall hold office until the new annual meeting of
stockholders.
Section 2.4 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held at such place or places, on such date or dates, and at such time
or times as shall have been established by the Board of Directors and publicized
among all directors. A notice of each regular meeting shall not be required.
Section 2.5 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called by one-third of the directors then in office (rounded up to the
nearest whole number) or by the chief executive officer and shall be held at
such place, on such date, and at such time as they or he or she shall fix.
Notice of the place, date, and time of each such special meeting shall be given
each director by whom it is not waived by mailing written notice not fewer than
five (5) days before the meeting or by telegraphing or personally delivering the
same not fewer than twenty-four (24) hours before the meeting. Unless otherwise
indicated in the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at a
special meeting.
Section 2.6 Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority
of the total number of authorized directors shall constitute a quorum for all
purposes. If a quorum shall fail to attend any meeting, a majority of those
present may adjourn the meeting to another place, date, or time, without further
notice or waiver thereof.
Section 2.7 Participation in Meetings by Conference Telephone. Members of
the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof, may participate in a
meeting of such Board or committee by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other and such participation shall constitute presence in
person at such meeting.
Section 2.8 Conduct of Business. At any meeting of the Board of Directors,
business shall be transacted in such order and manner as the Board may from time
to time determine, and all matters shall be determined by the vote of a majority
of the directors present, except as otherwise provided herein or requited by
law. Action may be taken by the Board of Directors without a meeting if all
members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are
filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
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Section 2.9 Powers. The Board of Directors may, except as otherwise
required by law, exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may
be exercised or done by the Corporation, including, without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, the unqualified power:
(a) To declare dividends from time to time in accordance with law;
(b) To purchase or otherwise acquire any property, rights or privileges
on such terms as it shall determine;
(c) To authorize the creation, making and issuance, in such form as it
may determine, of written obligations of every kind, negotiable or
non-negotiable, secured or unsecured, and to do all things necessary in
connection therewith;
(d) To remove any officer of the Corporation with or without cause, and
from time to time to devolve the powers and duties of any officer upon any other
person for the time being;
(e) To confer upon any officer of the Corporation the power to appoint,
remove and suspend subordinate officers, employees and agents;
(f) To adopt from time to time such stock, option, stock purchase, bonus
or other compensation plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries as it may determine;
(g) To adopt from time to time such insurance, retirement, and other
benefit plans for directors, officers, employees and agents of the Corporation
and its subsidiaries as it may determine; and
(h) To adopt from time to time regulations, not inconsistent with these
bylaws, for the management of the Corporation's business and affairs.
Section 2.10 Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, may receive,
pursuant to resolution of the Board of Directors, fixed fees and other
compensation for their services as directors, including, without limitation,
their services as members of committees of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.11 Nomination of Director Candidates. Subject to the rights of
holders of any class or series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, nominations
for the election of Directors may be made by the Board of Directors or a proxy
committee appointed by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to
vote in the election of Directors generally. However, any stockholder entitled
to vote in the election of Directors generally may nominate one or more persons
for election as Directors at a meeting only if timely notice of such
stockholder's intent to make such nomination or nominations has been given in
writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholder
nomination for a director to be elected at an annual meeting shall be received
at the Corporation's principal executive offices not less than 120 calendar days
in advance of the date that the Corporation's (or the Corporation's
Predecessor's)
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Proxy statement was released to stockholders in connection with the previous
year's annual meeting of stockholders, except that if no annual meeting was held
in the previous year or the date of the annual meeting has been changed by more
than 30 calendar days from the date contemplated at the time of the previous
year's proxy statement, or in the event of a nomination for director to be
elected at a special meeting, notice by the stockholders to be timely must be
received not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day
on which such notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed or such
public disclosure was made. Each such notice shall set forth: (a) the name and
address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination and of the person
or persons to be nominated; (b) a representation that the stockholder is a
holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for the election
of Directors on the date of such notice and intends to appear in person or by
proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;
(c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the stockholder
and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons)
pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the
stockholder; (d) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such
stockholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed
pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission, had the
nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors;
and (e) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation if
so elected.
In the event that a person is validly designated as a nominee in
accordance with this Section 2.11 and shall thereafter become unable or
unwilling to stand for election to the Board of Directors, the Board of
Directors or the stockholder who proposed such nominee, as the case may be, may
designate a substitute nominee upon delivery, not fewer than five days prior to
the date of the meeting for the election of such nominee, of a written notice to
the Secretary setting forth such information regarding such substitute nominee
as would have been required to be delivered to the Secretary pursuant to this
Section 2.11 had such substitute nominee been initially proposed as a nominee.
Such notice shall include a signed consent to serve as a director of the
Corporation, if elected, of each such substitute nominee.
If the chairman of the meeting for the election of Directors determines
that a nomination of any candidate for election as a Director at such meeting
was not made in accordance with the applicable provisions of this Section 2.11,
such nomination shall be void; provided, however, that nothing in this Section
2.11 shall be deemed to limit any voting rights upon the occurrence of dividend
arrearages provided to holders of Preferred Stock pursuant to the Preferred
Stock designation for any series of Preferred Stock.
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
Section 3.1 Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors,
by a vote of a majority of the whole Board, may from time to time designate
committees of the Board, with
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such lawfully delegable powers and duties as it thereby confers, to serve at the
pleasure of the Board and shall, for those committees and any others provided
for herein, elect a director or directors to serve as the member or members,
designating, if it desires, other directors as alternate members who may replace
any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any committee
so designated may exercise the power and authority of the Board of Directors to
declare a dividend, to authorize the issuance of stock or to adopt a certificate
of ownership and merger pursuant to Section 253 of the Delaware General
Corporation Law if the resolution which designates the committee or a
supplemental resolution of the Board of Directors shall so provide. In the
absence or disqualification of any member of any committee and any alternate
member in his place, the member or members of the committee present at the
meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or she or they
constitute a quorum, may by unanimous vote appoint another member of the Board
of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the absent or disqualified
member.
Section 3.2 Conduct of Business. Each committee may determine the
procedural rules for meeting and conducting its business and shall act in
accordance therewith, except as otherwise provided herein or required by law.
Adequate provision shall be made for notice to members of all meetings;
one-third of the authorized members shall constitute a quorum unless the
committee shall consist of one or two members, in which event one member shall
constitute a quorum; and all matters shall be determined by a majority vote of
the members present. Action may be taken by any committee without a meeting if
all members thereof consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are
filed with the minutes of the proceedings of such committee.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
Section 4.1 Generally. The officers of the Corporation shall consist of a
President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The
Corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a
Chairman of the Board and such other officers as may from time to time be
appointed by the Board of Directors. Officers shall be elected by the Board of
Directors, which shall consider that subject at its first meeting after every
annual meeting of stockholders. Each officer shall hold office until his or her
successor is elected and qualified or until his or her earlier resignation or
removal. The Chairman of the Board, if there shall be such an officer, and the
President shall each be members of the Board of Directors. Any number of offices
may he held by the same person.
Section 4.2 Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if there
shall be such an officer, shall, if present, preside at all meetings of the
Board of Directors, and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may
be from time to time assigned to him by the Board of Directors or prescribed by
these bylaws.
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Section 4.3 President. The President shall be the chief executive officer
of the Corporation. Subject to the provisions of these bylaws and to the
direction of the Board of Directors, he or she shall have the responsibility for
the general management and control of the business and affairs of the
Corporation and shall perform all duties and have all powers which are commonly
incident to the office of chief executive or which are delegated to him or her
by the Board of Directors. He or she shall have power to sign all stock
certificates, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation which are
authorized and shall have general supervision and direction of all of the other
officers, employees and agents of the Corporation.
Section 4.4 Vice President. Each Vice President shall have such powers and
duties as may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors. One Vice
President shall be designated by the Board to perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the President in the event of the President's absence or
disability.
Section 4.5 Treasurer. Unless otherwise designated by the Board of
Directors, the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation shall be the
Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the responsibility for maintaining the
financial records of the Corporation and shall have custody of all monies and
securities of the Corporation. He or she shall make such disbursements of the
funds of the Corporation as are authorized and shall render from time to time an
account of all such transactions and of the financial condition of the
Corporation. The Treasurer shall also perform such other duties as the Board of
Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.6 Secretary. The Secretary shall issue all authorized notices
for, and shall keep, or cause to be kept, minutes of all meetings of the
stockholders, the Board of Directors, and all committees of the Board of
Directors. He or she shall have charge of the corporate books and shall perform
such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
Section 4.7 Delegation of Authority. The Board of Directors may from time
to time delegate the powers or duties of any officer to any other officers or
agents, notwithstanding any provision hereof.
Section 4.8 Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed at any
time, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors.
Section 4.9 Action With Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, the President or any
officer of the Corporation authorized by the President shall have power to vote
and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by proxy, at any
meeting of stockholders of or with respect to any action of stockholders of any
other corporation in which this Corporation may hold securities and otherwise to
exercise any and all rights and powers which this Corporation may possess by
reason of its ownership of securities in such other corporation.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
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Section 5.1 Certificates of Stock. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a
certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by, the President or a
Vice President, and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or the Treasurer
or an Assistant Treasurer, certifying the number of shares owned by him or her.
Any of or all the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile.
Section 5.2 Transfers of Stock. Transfers of stock shall be made only upon
the transfer books of the Corporation kept at an office of the Corporation or by
transfer agents designated to transfer shares of the stock of the Corporation.
Except where a certificate is issued in accordance with Section 4 of Article V
of these bylaws, an outstanding certificate for the number of shares involved
shall be surrendered for cancellation before a new certificate is issued
therefor.
Section 5.3 Record Date. The Board of Directors may fix a record date,
which shall not be more than sixty (60) nor fewer than ten (10) days before the
date of any meeting of stockholders, nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the
time for the other action hereinafter described, as of which there shall be
determined the stockholders who are entitled: to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof; to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights; or to exercise any
rights with respect to any change, conversion or exchange of stock or with
respect to any other lawful action.
Section 5.4 Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. In the event of the
loss, theft or destruction of any certificate of stock, another may be issued in
its place pursuant to such regulations as the Board of Directors may establish
concerning proof of such loss, theft or destruction and concerning the giving of
a satisfactory bond or bonds of indemnity.
Section 5.5 Regulations. The issue, transfer, conversion and registration
of certificates of stock shall be governed by such other regulations as the
Board of Directors may establish.
ARTICLE VI
NOTICES
Section 6.1 Notices. Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or
required by law, all notices required to be given to any stockholder, director,
officer, employee or agent shall be in writing and may in every instance be
effectively given by hand delivery to the recipient thereof, by depositing such
notice in the mails, postage paid, or by sending such notice by prepaid
telegram, mailgram, telecopy or commercial courier service. Any such notice
shall be addressed to such stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent at
his or her last known address as the same appears on the books of the
Corporation. The time when such notice shall be deemed to be given shall be the
time such notice is received by such stockholder, director, officer, employee or
agent, or by any person accepting such notice on behalf of such person, if
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hand delivered, or the time such notice is dispatched, if delivered through the
mails or be telegram or mailgram.
Section 6.2 Waivers. A written waiver of any notice, signed by a
stockholder, director, officer, employee or agent, whether before or after the
time of the event for which notice is to be given, shall be deemed equivalent to
the notice required to be given to such stockholder, director, officer, employee
or agent. Neither the business nor the purpose of any meeting need be specified
in such a waiver.
ARTICLE VII
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 7.1 Facsimile Signatures. In addition to the provisions for use of
facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these bylaws,
facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may be used
whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
Section 7.2 Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors may provide a suitable
seal, containing the name of the Corporation, which seal shall be in the charge
of the Secretary. If and when so directed by the Board of Directors or a
committee thereof, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer
or by an Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.
Section 7.3 Reliance Upon Books, Reports and Records. Each director, each
member of any committee designated by the Board of Directors, and each officer
of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties, be fully protected
in relying in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the
Corporation, including reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers,
by an independent certified public accountant, or by an appraiser selected with
reasonable care.
Section 7.4 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be as
fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.5 Time Periods. In applying any provision of these bylaws which
require that an act be done or not done a specified number of days prior to an
event or that an act be done during a period of a specified number of days prior
to an event, calendar days shall be used, the day of the doing of the act shall
be excluded, and the day of the event shall be included.
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ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
Section 8.1 Right to Indemnification. Each person who was or is made a party or
is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
("proceeding"), by reason of the fact that he or she or a person of whom he or
she is the legal representative, is or was a director, officer or employee of
the Corporation or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a
director, officer or employee of another corporation, or of a Partnership, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise, including service with respect to employee
benefit plans, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an
official capacity as a director, officer or employee or in any other capacity
while serving as a director, officer or employee, shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by Delaware Law, as
the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any such
amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation to
provide broader indemnification rights than said Law permitted the Corporation
to provide prior to such amendment) against all expenses, liability and loss
(including attorneys' fees, judgments, fines, ERISA excise taxes or penalties,
amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and amounts expended in seeking
indemnification granted to such person under applicable law, this bylaw or any
agreement with the Corporation) reasonably incurred or suffered by such person
in connection therewith and such indemnification shall continue as to a person
who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the
benefit of his or her heirs, executors and administrators; provided, however,
that, except as provided in Section 8.2 of this Article VIII, the Corporation
shall indemnify any such person seeking indemnity in connection with an action,
suit or proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such person only if (a) such
indemnification is expressly required to be made by law, (b) the action, suit or
proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, (c) such indemnification is provided by the Corporation, in its
sole discretion, pursuant to the powers vested in the Corporation under the
Delaware General Corporation Law, or (d) the action, suit or proceeding (or part
thereof) is brought to establish or enforce a right to indemnification under an
indemnity agreement or any other statute or law or otherwise as required under
Section 145 of the Delaware General Corporation Law. Such right shall be a
contract right and shall include the right to be paid by the Corporation
expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final
disposition; provided, however, that, unless the Delaware General Corporation
Law then so prohibits, the payment of such expenses incurred by a director or
officer of the Corporation in his or her capacity as a director or officer (and
not in any other capacity in which service was or is tendered by such person
while a director or officer, including, without limitation, service to an
employee benefit plan) in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding,
shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of an undertaking, by or on
behalf of such director or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it
should be determined ultimately that such director or officer is not entitled to
be indemnified under this Section or otherwise.
Section 8.2 Right of Claimant to Bring Suit. If a claim under Section 8.1
of this Article VIII is not paid in full by the Corporation within ninety (90)
days after a written claim
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has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may at any time thereafter
bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim
and, if such suit is not frivolous or brought in bad faith, the claimant shall
be entitled to be paid also the expense of prosecuting such claim. The burden of
proving such claim shall be on the claimant. It shall be a defense to any such
action (other then an action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in
defending any proceeding in advance of its final disposition where the required
undertaking, if any, has been tendered to this Corporation) that the claimant
has not met the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the
Delaware General Corporation Law for the Corporation to indemnify the claimant
for the amount claimed. Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its
Board of Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) to have made
a determination prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of
the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in the Delaware General Corporation
Law, nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant has
not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the action or
create a presumption that claimant has not met the applicable standard of
conduct.
Section 8.3 Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights conferred on any person
in Sections 8.1 and 8.2 shall not be exclusive of any other right which such
persons may have or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the
Certificate of Incorporation, bylaw, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 8.4 Indemnification Contracts. The Board of Directors is
authorized to enter into a contract with any director, officer, employee or
agent of the Corporation, or any person serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, including employee
benefit plans, providing for indemnification rights equivalent to or, if the
Board of Directors so determines, greater than, those provided for in this
Article VIII.
Section 8.5 Insurance. The Corporation shall maintain insurance to the
extent reasonably available, at its expense, to protect itself and any such
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any such expense,
liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under the Delaware
General Corporation Law.
Section 8.6 Effect of Amendment. Any amendment, repeal or modification of
any provision of this Article VIII by the stockholders and the directors of the
Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a director or
officer of the Corporation existing at the time of such amendment, repeal or
modification.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
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Section 9.1 Amendment of Bylaws. The Board of Directors is expressly
empowered to adopt, amend or repeal Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption,
amendment or repeal of Bylaws of the Corporation by the Board of Directors shall
require the approval of a majority of the total number of authorized directors
(whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships
at the time any resolution providing for adoption, amendment or repeal is
presented to the Board). The stockholders shall also have power to adopt, amend
or repeal the Bylaws of the Corporation. Any adoption, amendment or repeal of
Bylaws of the Corporation by the stockholders shall require, in addition to any
vote of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation required
by law or by the Certificate of Incorporation, the affirmative vote of the
holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds percent (66-2/3%) of the voting
power of all of the then outstanding shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting
together as a single class.
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CERTIFICATE OF SECRETARY
I hereby certify that I am the duly elected and acting Secretary of AXT,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), and that the foregoing Bylaws,
comprising fifteen (15) pages, constitute the Bylaws of the Corporation as duly
adopted by the unanimous written consent at of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation on April 24, 2001.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto subscribed my name on April 24, 2001.
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Don Tatzin, Secretary
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