Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
Adopted June 15, 1989
Amended March 3, 2005 and March 16, 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article/Section
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Page
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ARTICLE I
Offices
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1
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Section 1.1.
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Principal
Office
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1
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Section 1.2.
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Registered
Office
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1
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Section 1.3.
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Other
Offices
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1
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ARTICLE II
Meeting of Stockholders
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1
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Section 2.1.
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Annual
Meetings
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1
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Section 2.2.
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Special
Meetings
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1
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Section 2.3.
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Place and
Time of Special Meetings
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1
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Section 2.4.
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Notice of
Meetings
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1
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Section 2.5.
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Adjourned
Meetings and Notice Thereof
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2
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Section 2.6.
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Quorum and
Vote Required
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2
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Section 2.7.
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Chairman and
Minutes
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2
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Section 2.8.
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Order of
Business
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2
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Section 2.9.
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Voting and
Ballots
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2
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Section 2.10.
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Proxies
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3
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Section 2.11.
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Inspection
of Stock List
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3
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Section 2.12.
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Inspectors
of Votes
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3
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Section 2.13.
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Action
Without Meeting
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4
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ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
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5
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Section 3.1.
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Powers
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5
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Section 3.2.
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Number,
Election Term, Qualification and Removal
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5
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Section 3.3.
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Meetings
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5
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Section 3.4.
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Adjourned
Meetings and Notice Thereof
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5
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Section 3.5.
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Quorum and
Manner of Acting
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5
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Section 3.6.
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Action by
Consent
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6
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Section 3.7.
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Vacancies
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6
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Section 3.8.
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Inspection
of Books and Records
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6
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ARTICLE IV
Committees
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6
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ARTICLE V
Officers
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7
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Section 5.1.
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Number
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7
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Section 5.2.
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Election and
Term
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7
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Section 5.3.
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Absence or
Disability
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7
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Section 5.4.
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Removal and
Resignation
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7
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Section 5.5.
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Vacancies
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8
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Section 5.6.
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Compensation
of Officers
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8
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i
Section 5.7.
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Bond
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8
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ARTICLE VI
Duties of Officers
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8
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Section 6.1.
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Chairman of
the Board
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8
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Section 6.2.
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The
President
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8
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Section 6.3.
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Vice
Presidents
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9
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Section 6.4.
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The
Secretary
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9
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Section 6.5.
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Assistant
Secretary
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10
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Section 6.6.
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The
Treasurer
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10
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Section 6.7.
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Assistant
Officers
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10
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ARTICLE VII
Signature Authority and Representation
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10
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Section 7.1.
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Contracts,
Checks, etc
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10
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Section 7.2.
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Proxies in
Respect of Securities of Other Corporations
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11
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ARTICLE VIII
Certificates of Stock, Bonds, and Records
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11
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Section 8.1.
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Form &
Signature
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11
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Section 8.2.
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Transfers
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11
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Section 8.3.
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Record Owner
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11
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Section 8.4.
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Lost
Certificates
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12
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Section 8.5.
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Books and
Records
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12
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Section 8.6.
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Record Dates
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12
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Section 8.7.
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Closing
Stock Books
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13
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ARTICLE IX
Dividends
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13
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ARTICLE X
Indemnification
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13
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Section 10.1.
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Right to
Indemnification
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13
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Section 10.2.
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Certain
Limits on Indemnity
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14
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Section 10.3.
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Rights to
Indemnity Shall be Contractual and Continuing
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14
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Section 10.4.
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Certain
Procedural Matters
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15
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Section 10.5.
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Non-Exclusivity
of Rights
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15
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Section 10.6.
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Insurance
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15
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ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
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15
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Section 11.1.
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Seal
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15
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Section 11.2.
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Fiscal Year
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16
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Section 11.3.
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Amendments
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16
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Section 11.4.
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Waiver of
Notice
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16
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Section 11.5.
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Interpretation
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16
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Section 11.6.
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Inoperative
Portion
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16
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Section 11.7.
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Inapplicability
of Control Share Acquisition Act
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16
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ii
BYLAWS
OF
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
(A KANSAS CORPORATION)
(Restated for Filing Purposes in Accordance
with Rule 102(c) of Regulation S-T)
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1.1. Principal Office. - The
principal office for the transaction of business by MGP Ingredients, Inc. (formerly
Midwest Grain Products, Inc.) (hereinafter called the Corporation) shall be
at 1300 Main Street, Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas 66044.[As amended
effective March 3, 2005.]
Section 1.2. Registered Office. - The
Corporation, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may change the location
of the registered office that it has designated in the Articles of
Incorporation to any other place in Kansas. By similar resolution, the
Corporation may change its resident agent to any other person or corporation,
including itself.
Section 1.3. Other Offices. - The
Corporation may have offices at any other place or places, within or without
the state of Kansas, as from time to time the Board of Directors may decide
necessary or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
Meeting of Stockholders
Section 2.1. Annual Meetings. - The
annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of Directors and for the
transaction of such other business as may be properly brought before the
meeting, shall be held on the second Wednesday in October in each year or on
such other day as shall be determined in advance by the Board of Directors. The
hour and place of the meeting, within or without the State of Kansas, shall be
fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2.2. Special Meetings. - Special
meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the Chairman of the
Board, the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 2.3. Place and Time of Special
Meetings. - The stockholders of the Corporation shall
hold each special meeting at the place and at the hour, within or without the
state of Kansas, that the person or persons calling the meeting have fixed.
Section 2.4. Notice of Meetings. - Written
notice of the date, time and place (and, in the case of a special meeting, the
general nature of the business to be transacted) of each annual or special
stockholders meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to
vote at that meeting (except as provided by Kansas Statutes Annotated (K.S.A.)
§ 17-6520 and any and all amendments thereto), not less than ten (10) nor more
than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting. Such notice shall be
deemed delivered to a stockholder when personally delivered to
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the stockholder or when deposited in the
United States mail, postage paid, addressed to the stockholder at such persons
address as it appears on the Corporations records, or, if there is no record
of a stockholders address, at the stockholders last address known to the
Secretary of the Corporation, or when transmitted to the stockholder at such
address by telegraph, telecopier, cable, facsimile, wireless or other form of
recorded communication. Except as the law expressly requires, notice of a
meeting of stockholders need not be published. [As amended effective March 16,
2006]
Section 2.5. Adjourned Meetings and Notice
Thereof. - Any stockholders meeting, annual or special,
whether or not a quorum is present, may be adjourned from time to time by the
vote of a majority of the shares, the holders of which are either present in
person or represented by proxy, but in the absence of a quorum, no other
business may be transacted at such meeting. When any stockholders meeting,
either annual or special, is adjourned for thirty (30) days or more, notice of
the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting. Except
as aforesaid, it shall not be necessary to give any notice of an adjournment or
of the business to be transacted at an adjourned meeting, if the time and place
are announced at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken.
Section 2.6. Quorum and Vote Required. - The
presence in person or by proxy of persons entitled to vote a majority of the
issued and outstanding stock of each class of stock entitled to vote shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The stockholders present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to do business until
adjournment, despite the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a
quorum. When a quorum is present at a meeting, any question brought before such
meeting shall be decided by the vote of the holders of a majority of each class
of stock entitled to vote on the question present in person or represented by
proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the
question is one upon which by express provision of statute or of the Articles
of Incorporation, a different vote is required in which case such express
provision shall govern and control the decision of such question.
Section 2.7. Chairman and Minutes. - At
each meeting of the stockholders, the Chairman of the Board, or in the Chairmans
absence or if requested by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or in the
Presidents absence the chief financial officer, or in the chief financial
offiers absence, another officer of the Corporation chosen by the vote of a
majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy,
or if all the officers of the Corporation are absent, a stockholder so chosen,
shall act as Chairman and preside at the meeting. The Secretary of the
Corporation, or if the Secretary is absent or required under this section to
act as Chairman, the person (who shall be an Assistant Secretary of the
Corporation, if an Assistant Secretary is present) whom the Chairman of the
meeting shall appoint shall act as Secretary of the meeting and keep the
minutes. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 2.8. Order of Business. - The
Chairman of each meeting of the stockholders shall determine the order of
business, provided that the order of business may be changed by the vote of a
majority in voting interest of the stockholders present in person or by proxy.
Section 2.9. Voting and Ballots. - Except
where otherwise provided by law, or by the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation, the exercise of voting rights by stockholders shall
2
be governed by the following provisions: Each stockholder (whether a holder of Common
Stock or Preferred Stock) entitled to vote shall, at each meeting of the
stockholders, be entitled to one vote for each share of capital stock held by
such stockholder as of the record date. No cumulative voting shall be permitted.
All elections of directors shall be by written ballot; unless demanded by a stockholder of the
Corporation present in person or by proxy at any meeting of the stockholders
and entitled to vote thereat, or so directed by the chairman of the meeting,
the vote on any other question at such meeting need not be by written ballot. Upon
a demand of any such stockholder for a vote by written ballot on any question,
or at the direction of the chairman that a vote by ballot be taken on any
question, such vote shall be so taken. On a vote by written ballot, each ballot
shall be signed by the stockholder voting, or by such persons proxy, if there
be such a proxy, and shall state the number of shares voted. [As amended
effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 2.10. Proxies. - Every
person entitled to vote or execute consents shall have the right to do so
either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a written proxy
executed by such person or such persons duly authorized agent and filed with
the Secretary of the Corporation. Provided, however, that no such proxy shall
be valid after the expiration of three (3) years from the date of its
execution, unless the proxy instrument provides for a longer period. [As
amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 2.11. Inspection of Stock List. - The
Secretary of the Corporation, or the other officer of the Corporation who shall
have charge of the stock ledger, either directly, through another officer of
the Corporation that the Secretary designates, or through a transfer agent that
the Board of Directors appoints shall prepare, at least ten (10) days before
every meeting of the stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled
to vote at such meeting. The officer responsible for the list will arrange it
in alphabetical order, showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each. The list shall be open to inspection
by any 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, at
the Corporations principal place of business. 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 who is present. [As amended effective
March 16, 2006.]
Section 2.12. Inspectors of Votes.
(a) Prior
to each meeting of the stockholders, the Corporation shall appoint one or more
inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. If no
inspector is able to act at a meeting, the person presiding at the meeting shall
appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Before entering upon the
discharge of the duties of inspector, each inspector shall subscribe an oath
faithfully to execute the duties of an inspector with strict impartiality and
according to the best of the inspectors ability. The inspectors shall take
charge of the ballots at the meeting. After the balloting on any question, they
shall count the ballots cast and make a report in writing to the Secretary of
the meeting of the results of that vote. An inspector need not be a stockholder
of the Corporation, and any officer of the Corporation may be an inspector on
any question other than a vote for or against such officers election to any
position with the Corporation or on any other question in which such officer
may be directly interested. The
3
inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist
the inspectors in the performance of their duties.
(b) The
inspectors shall
(1) ascertain
the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each;
(2) determine
the shares represented at the meeting and the validity of proxies and ballots;
(3) count
all votes and ballots;
(4) determine
and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any
challenges made to any determination by the inspectors; and
(5) certify
their determination of the number of shares represented at the meeting, and
their count of all votes and ballots.
(c) The
date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon
which the stockholder will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting.
No ballot, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto,
shall be accepted by the inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the
district court upon application by a stockholder determines otherwise.
(d) In
determining the validity and counting of proxies and ballots, except as may
otherwise be permitted by law the inspectors shall be limited to an examination
of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with those proxies, any information
provided in accordance with subsection (f) of K.S.A. 17-6501 or subsection
(c)(2) of 17-6502, and amendments thereto, or any information provided pursuant
to subsection (a)(2)(B)(i) or (iii) of K.S.A. 17-6501, and amendments thereto,
ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation, except that the
inspectors may consider other reliable information for the limited purpose of
reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of banks, brokers,
their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes than the holder of
a proxy is authorized by the record owner to cast or more votes than the
stockholder holds of record. If the inspectors consider other reliable information
for the limited purpose permitted herein, the inspectors at the time they make
their certification pursuant to subsection (c) (5) above shall specify the
precise information considered by them, including the persons or persons from
whom they obtained the information, when the information was obtained, the
means by which the information was obtained and the basis for the inspectors
belief that such information is accurate and reliable. [As amended effective
March 16, 2006.]
Section 2.13. Action Without Meeting. - Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the stockholders may
be taken without a meeting if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth
the action so taken, are signed (personally or by duly authorized attorney) by
all persons who would be entitled to vote upon such action at a meeting, and
filed with the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders. Such consent or
consents shall be delivered in a manner prescribed by law to the Corporation by
delivery to its registered office in Kansas, its
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principal place of business or an officer or agent of the Corporation
having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of stockholders
are recorded. [As amended effective March 3, 2005.]
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 3.1. Powers. - The
property, business, and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under
the direction of a Board of Directors.
Section 3.2. Number, Election Term,
Qualification and Removal. - There shall be nine (9) directors, of which
four (4) shall be Group A directors, and five (5) shall be Group B directors. The
nine (9) directors shall also be divided into three classes consisting of three
(3) directors each (Class A, B and C). One class of directors shall be elected
to office at each annual meeting of the stockholders. The term of office of
each director shall be for three (3) years and until such persons successor is
elected and qualified, or until such persons earlier resignation or removal. Class
A and Class B shall each consist of two (2) Group B directors and one (1) Group
A director, and Class C shall consist of two (2) Group A directors and one (1)
Group B director. Directors need not be stockholders. Directors may be removed
in such manner as may be provided by the Kansas General Corporation Code (the Code)
or by the Articles of Incorporation. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 3.3. Meetings. - Meetings
of the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be held within or without the
state of Kansas. The Board of Directors shall hold an annual meeting without
notice immediately after the final adjournment of and at the same place as each
annual meeting of the stockholders. The Board of Directors may hold other
regular meetings with or without notice at such times and places as the Board
may provide. The Board may hold special meetings at any time upon the call of
any member of the Board or the President. Notice of any special meeting,
including the time and place of the meeting, shall be given to each director by
any of the following means: (a) by a
writing deposited in the United States mail, postage paid, addressed to the
director at the directors residence or principal business office, at least
five (5) days prior to the date of the meeting; (b) by telegraph, cable,
wireless, telecopier, facsimile or other form of recorded communication sent
not later than the day before the date of the meeting; or (c) by oral
communication, personally or by telephone, not later than the day before the
date of the meeting. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 3.4. Adjourned Meetings and Notice
Thereof. - Any meeting of the Board of Directors may be
adjourned from time to time, whether or not a quorum is present, by the vote of
a majority of directors present. Notice of any adjourned meeting need not be
given if the Board fixed the time and place at the meeting from which
adjournment was taken.
Section 3.5. Quorum and Manner of Acting. - Five
(5) of the nine directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at any meeting, and the act of a majority of the directors present at
any meeting at which a quorum shall be present shall be the act of the Board of
Directors. The directors present at a duly called or held meeting at which a
quorum is present may continue to do business until adjournment, despite the
withdrawal of enough
5
directors to leave less than a quorum. Members of the Board, or of any
committee the Board designates, may participate in a meeting of the Board or of
that committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications
equipment through which all persons participating in the meeting can hear one
another. Such participation shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 3.6. Action by Consent. - Any
action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors
or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the
Board or the committee consent to such action in writing and the writing or
writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or the
committee.
Section 3.7. Vacancies. - A
majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or a
sole remaining director may fill vacancies on the Board. If at any time the
Corporation should have no directors in office, then any officer, stockholder,
executor, administrator, trustee, or guardian of a stockholder, or other fiduciary
entrusted with responsibility for the person or estate of a stockholder may
call a special meeting of the stockholders in accordance with the provisions of
these bylaws for the purpose of electing directors.
A vacancy on
the Board shall exist in case of the death, resignation, or removal of any
director, if the stockholders increase the number of directors, if the
stockholders fail at any meeting at which they elect directors to elect the
full number of directors for which they are voting at that meeting, or if a
director refuses to serve. If a director resigns, effective at a future date,
the Board, including any directors whose resignations are not yet effective,
shall have the power to fill that vacancy, the successor to take office when
the resignation becomes effective.
Each director
chosen as this section provides shall hold office until the next regular
election of directors or of the class of which such director is a part and
until the election and qualification of such persons successor. No reduction
in the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any
director prior to the expiration of such persons term of office. [As amended
effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 3.8. Inspection of Books and
Records. - Any director shall have the right to examine
the Corporations stock ledger, a list of its stockholders entitled to vote and
its other books and records for a purpose reasonably related to such directors
position as a director. When there is any doubt concerning the inspection
rights of a director, the parties may petition the District Court which may, in
its discretion, determine whether an inspection may be made and whether any
limitations or conditions should be imposed upon the same.
ARTICLE IV
Committees
Executive and
Other Committees.
- - The Board of Directors may, by
resolution or resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate an
Executive Committee and one or more other committees, each to consist of one
(1) or more directors. The Executive Committee shall not have authority to
make, alter, or amend bylaws, or to fill vacancies in its
6
own membership or that of the
Board, but it shall exercise all other powers of the Board between meetings of
that body. Other committees of the Board shall have the powers of the Board to
the extent their authorizing resolutions provide. The Executive and such other committees
shall meet at stated times or on notice to all committee members by any one of
them. The committees shall fix their own rules of procedure. A majority shall
constitute a quorum, but the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole
committee shall be necessary for any action. The Executive and other committees
shall keep regular minutes of their proceedings and report these to the Board
of Directors.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Section 5.1. Number. - The
Officers of the Corporation shall be a President, Chairman of the Board,
Secretary, Treasurer and such other officers, including one or more Vice Presidents,
Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other assistant officers, as
the Board of Directors may from time to time elect.The Board shall designate an
Officer as chief executive officer and an Officer as chief financial officer,
and may provide such other designations, such as chief operating officer or
chief accounting officer, as it may deem appropriate. If more than one Vice
President be elected, the Board may designate one or more of them as Executive
Vice President or Senior Vice President. Additionally, the chief executive
officer may appoint one or more divisional or segment vice presidents. Any two
or more offices may be held by the same individual. [As amended effective March
16, 2006.]
Section 5.2. Election and Term. - The
Officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors
at its first meeting following the annual meeting of the stockholders and shall
hold office until such officers successor is elected and qualified or until
such officers earlier resignation or removal. At any meeting, the Board of
Directors may elect such other officers to hold office until such officers
successor is elected and qualified or until such officers earlier resignation
or removal. A division or segment vice president appointed by the chief
executive officer may be appointed at any time, and any person so appointed
shall hold such office until such persons resignation or removal. Each Officer
of the Corporation and each division or segment vice president shall be subject
to the control of, and shall hold office at the pleasure of, the Board of
Directors. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 5.3. Absence or Disability. - In
the event of the absence or disability of any officer of the Corporation and of
any person authorized to act in such officers place during such period of
absence or disability, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate
the powers and duties of that officer to any other officer, or any director or
any other person whom it may select. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 5.4. Removal and Resignation. - Any
officer may be removed with or without cause at any time by the Board of
Directors, and any segment or division vice president appointed by the chief
executive officer may be removed with or without cause at any time by the chief
executive officer. Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to
the Corporation. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
7
Section 5.5. Vacancies. - In
case any office filled by the Board of Directors pursuant to Section 5.1 shall
become vacant by reason of death, resignation, removal or otherwise, the
directors then in office, although less than a majority of the entire Board of Directors,
may, by a majority vote of those voting, choose a successor or successors for
the unexpired term. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 5.6. Compensation of Officers. - The
Board of Directors, a committee of the Board of Directors or such officer as
the Board or such committee may designate, may fix or provide the method for
determining the compensation for officers. [As amended effective March 16,
2006.]
Section 5.7. Bond. - The
Board of Directors, by resolution, may require any and all of the officers to
give bond to the Corporation, with sufficient surety or sureties, conditioned
for the faithful performance of the duties of their respective offices, and to
comply with such other conditions as may from time to time be required by the
Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VI
Duties of Officers
Section 6.1. Chairman of the Board. - The Chairman
of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and shall
also have such further authority and duties as the Board of Directors may from
time to time direct and as may be provided in these bylaws.. In the absence of
the President or upon the death, resignation or removal of the President, the
Chairman of the Board shall have the duties of the President. [As amended
effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 6.2. The President. - The
President shall have such authority and duties as the Board of Directors may
from time to time direct and as may be provided in these bylaws. Unless the
Board otherwise provides, the President shall be the chief executive officer of
the Corporation with such general executive powers and duties of supervision
and management as are usually vested in the office of the chief executive
officer of a corporation. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
The President shall
see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into
effect, subject to the right of the directors to delegate any specific powers
to any other officer or officers of the Corporation. [As amended effective
March 16, 2006.]
In the absence
the Chairman of the Board, the President shall preside at meetings of the Board
of Directors, and in the absence of or if requested by the Chairman of the
Board, shall preside at meetings of stockholders.
The President,
alone or with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the Corporation
thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors, may sign certificates for
shares of the Corporation, deeds, conveyances, bonds, mortgages, contracts or
other instruments which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed,
and unless the Board of Directors shall order otherwise by resolution, may
borrow such funds, make such contracts, and execute such
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agreements, financing
statements, certificates, documents and other instruments as may be incident
thereto, as the ordinary conduct of the Corporations business may require.
Unless the
Board otherwise provides, the President or any person designated in writing by the
President may (i) attend meetings of stockholders of other corporations to
represent the Corporation thereat and to vote or take action with respect to
the shares of any such corporation owned by this Corporation in such manner as
the President or the Presidents designee may determine, and (ii) execute and
deliver written consents, waivers of notice and proxies for and in the name of
the Corporation with respect to any such shares owned by this Corporation.
The President shall,
unless the Board provides otherwise, be ex-officio a member of all standing
committees.
In the
absence, disability or inability to act of the Chairman of the Board, the
President shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman of
the Board. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 6.3. Vice Presidents. - Any
Vice President elected by the Board of Directors shall perform such duties as
shall be assigned to such person and shall exercise such powers as may be
granted to such person by the Board of Directors or by the chief executive
officer. In the absence of the President and Chairman of the Board, the Vice
Presidents elected by the Board of Directors, in order of their seniority, may
perform the duties and exercise the powers of the chief executive officer with
the same force and effect as if performed by the chief executive officer. Divisional
or segment vice presidents appointed by the chief executive officer shall
perform such duties and exercise such powers as are approved by the Board of
Directors. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 6.4. The Secretary. - The
Secretary shall keep the minutes of the stockholders, the Board of Directors,
and the Executive Committees meetings in books provided for that purpose.
The Secretary
shall be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation.
The Secretary shall see that the seal of the Corporation is affixed to all
certificates for shares prior to the issue thereof and to all documents, the
execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly
authorized in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws.
The Secretary
shall sign with the President, the Chairman of the Board or a Vice President,
certificates for shares of the Corporation, the issue of which shall have been
authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. Except to the extent
delegated by the Board to an institutional stock transfer agent and registrar, the
Secretary shall have general charge of the stock transfer books of the
Corporation and shall keep a register of the post office address of each
stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder.
The Secretary
shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of
these bylaws or as required by law and that the voting list is prepared for
stockholders meetings.
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In general,
the Secretary shall perform all duties incident to the office and such other
duties as may from time to time be assigned to the Secretary by the chief executive
officer or by the Board of Directors. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 6.5. Assistant Secretary. - At
the request of the Secretary, or in the event of the Secretarys absence or
disability, any Assistant Secretary appointed by the Board of Directors shall
perform any of 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. Except
where by law the signature of the Secretary is required, each of the Assistant
Secretaries shall possess the same power as the Secretary to sign certificates,
contracts, obligations and other instruments of the Corporation, and to affix
the seal of the Corporation to such instruments, and attest the same. [As
amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 6.6. The Treasurer. - The
Treasurer shall have responsibility for the funds and securities of the
Corporation, shall receive and give receipts for moneys due and payable of the
Corporation from any source whatsoever, and shall deposit all such moneys in
the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other
depositaries as shall be selected by the Board of Directors or by any officer
of the Corporation to whom such authority has been granted by the Board of Directors.
The Treasurer
shall disburse or permit to be disbursed the funds of the Corporation as may be
ordered or authorized generally by the Board.
The Treasurer shall
render to the President, the Chairman of the Board and the directors whenever
they may require it an account of all such officers transactions as Treasurer
and of those under such officers jurisdiction and of the financial condition
of the Corporation.
In general,
the Treasurer shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Treasurer
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to the Treasurer by
the chief executive officer or by the Board of Directors. [As amended effective
March 16, 2006.]
Section 6.7. Assistant Officers. - Each
assistant officer that may be selected pursuant to these bylaws shall hold
office at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. In the absence or
nonavailability of the principal, the assistant may perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the principal with the same force and effect as if
performed by the principal. The assistant shall also have such lesser or
greater authority and perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may
prescribe.
ARTICLE VII
Signature Authority and Representation
Section 7.1. Contracts, Checks, etc. - All
contracts and agreements authorized by the Board of Directors, and all checks,
drafts, bills of exchange or other orders for the payment of money, notes, or
other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation, shall be
signed by such officer or officers, or agent or agents, as may from time to
time be authorized by these bylaws, designated by the Board of Directors, or as
may be designated by such officer or
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officers as the Board of Directors may appoint, which designation or
designations may be general or confined to specific instances. The Board of
Directors may authorize the use of facsimile signatures on any such document.
Section 7.2. Proxies in Respect of
Securities of Other Corporations.
- - Unless the Board of Directors
provides otherwise, the President, Chairman of the Board, or a Vice President
may from time to time appoint an attorney or an agent to exercise, in the name
and on behalf of the Corporation, the powers and rights which the Corporation
may have as the holder of stock or other securities in any other corporation to
vote or to consent in respect of that stock or those securities. The President,
Chairman of the Board, or Vice President may instruct the person or persons
such officer appoints as to the manner of exercising the powers and rights, and
the President or Chairman of the Board may execute or cause to be executed in
the name and on behalf of the Corporation all written proxies, powers of
attorney, or other written instruments that such officer deems necessary in
order for the Corporation to exercise those powers and rights. [As amended
effective March 16, 2006.]
ARTICLE VIII
Certificates of Stock, Bonds, and Records
Section 8.1. Form & Signature. - The
shares of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates which shall be
numbered and entered in the books of the Corporation as the Corporation issues
them. The certificates of stock shall bear the holders name and number of
shares, and shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the
Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary; provided, however, that any or all of the other
signatures on the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer of the
Corporation, transfer agent or registrar who shall have signed or whose
facsimile signature shall have been placed upon a certificate ceases to be such
officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, the
Corporation may nevertheless issue the certificate with the same effect as
though the person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of
issuance.
Section 8.2. Transfers. - All
shares of stock may be transferred on the books of the Corporation by the
registered holders thereof or by their attorneys legally constituted or their
legal representatives by surrender of the certificates therefor for
cancellation and a written assignment of the shares evidenced thereby. The
Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such Transfer Agents and
Registrars of stock as it may deem advisable and may define their powers and
duties.
Section 8.3. Record Owner. - The
Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person on
its books as the owners 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 shares on the part of any other person,
whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
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Section 8.4. Lost Certificates. - Any
person applying for a certificate of stock to be issued in lieu of one alleged
to be lost or destroyed shall furnish to the Corporation such information as it
may require to ascertain whether a certificate of stock has been lost or
destroyed and shall furnish such bond as the Board may deem sufficient to
indemnify the Corporation and its transfer agent and registrar against any
claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss.
Section 8.5. Books and Records. - The
Corporation may keep its books and records at any places within or without the
state of Kansas that the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 8.6. Record Dates. - Record
dates may be set as follows:
(1) In order for the
Corporation to determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at
any meeting, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date which
shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is
adopted by the Board of Directors, and not be more than sixty (60) days nor
less than ten (10) days before the date of a meeting. If the Board of Directors
does not fix a record date, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting shall be the close of business on
the day that next precedes the day on which notice of the meeting is given or,
if notice is waived, the close of business on the day that next precedes the
day on which the stockholders meet.
(2) In order for the
Corporation to determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix, in
advance, a record date which shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which
date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the
Board does not fix a record date, the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no
prior action of the Board is necessary, shall be the date on which the first
written consent is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its registered
office within the state of Kansas, its principal place of business, or
Secretary. Delivery made to the Corporations registered office shall be by
hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record
date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action of the Board of
Directors is required, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to
consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be at the close
of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts a resolution
taking such other action.
(3) In order for the
Corporation to determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend, distribution or allotment of, any rights, or 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 a record date, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the
record date is adopted, and which record date shall be not more than sixty (60)
days prior to such action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for
determining stockholders for any such purpose shall be at the close of business
on the day on which the Board of Directors
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adopts a
resolution relating thereto. In connection with the declaration of dividends,
the Board may specify a variable payment date which will be the earlier of the
sixtieth day following the record date or the date of a future event such as
the mailing of a notice or report to stockholders.
Section 8.7. Closing Stock Books. - The
Board of Directors may close the books of the Corporation against transfers of
shares during the whole or any part of a period not more than sixty (60) days
prior to the date of a stockholders meeting, the date when the right to any
dividend, distribution, or allotment of rights vests, or the effective date of
any change, conversion, or exchange of shares.
ARTICLE IX
Dividends
Subject to the
Articles of Incorporation, whenever the Board of Directors decides that the
affairs of the Corporation render it advisable, the Board, at any regular or
special meeting, may declare and pay dividends in an amount the Board believes
proper upon the shares of stock of the Corporation either (1) out of the Corporations
surplus as defined and computed in accordance with the provisions of law, or
(2) in case the Corporation shall not have any such surplus, out of the net
profits for the fiscal year in which the Board declares the dividend and/or the
net profits of the preceding fiscal year.
Before the
Corporation pays any dividend or makes any distribution of profits, the Board
may set aside out of the surplus or net profits of the Corporation any sum that
the directors in their absolute discretion think proper as a reserve to meet
contingencies, to equalize dividends, to repair or maintain property of the
Corporation, or to accomplish any other purpose the directors think is in the
interests of the Corporation.
ARTICLE X
Indemnification
Section 10.1. 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 threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (hereinafter a proceeding),
by reason of the fact that such person, or a person of whom such person is the
legal representative, is or was a director or officer, of the Corporation, or
who, while a director, officer or employee of the Corporation, is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director or officer of another
enterprise, whether the basis of such proceeding is alleged action in an
official capacity as a director or officer, or in any other capacity while
serving as a director or officer, shall be indemnified and held harmless by the
Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the K.S.A., as the same exist
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 and amounts paid or to
be paid in settlement) reasonably
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incurred or suffered by such person in
connection therewith; provided, however, that, the Corporation shall indemnify
any such person seeking indemnity in connection with a proceeding (or part
thereof) initiated by such person only if such proceeding (or part thereof) was
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. The right to
indemnification conferred in this Section shall include the right to be paid by
the Corporation the expenses, including attorneys fees, incurred in defending any such proceeding in
advance of its final disposition; provided, however, that the payment of such
expenses incurred by a present or former director or officer in advance of the
final disposition of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the
Corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such present or former director
or officer, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be
determined that such present or former director or officer is not entitled to
be indemnified under this Section or otherwise. For purposes of this Article X,
the term enterprise shall include corporations, both profit and nonprofit,
partnerships, joint ventures, trusts, employee plans and associations, and the
term officer shall include with respect to partnerships, joint ventures,
trusts or other enterprises, the offices of general partner, trustee or other
fiduciary (as defined in the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended).
The Corporation may, by action of its Board of Directors, provide
indemnification and expense advances to employees and agents of the Corporation
with the same scope and effect as the foregoing indemnification of present and
former directors and officers. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 10.2. Certain Limits on Indemnity. - Notwithstanding
anything contained in this Article X to the contrary, the Corporation shall not
be liable, unless otherwise provided by separate written agreement, by-law or
other provision for indemnity, to make any payment in connection with any claim
made against the director or officer:
(1) for an accounting of
profits made from the purchase or sale by the officer or director of securities
of the Corporation within the meaning of Section 16(b) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 and amendments thereto; or
(2) for amounts paid in
settlement of any proceeding effected without the written consent of the
Corporation, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
Section 10.3. Rights to Indemnity Shall be
Contractual and Continuing. - The provisions of this Article X shall be
deemed to be a contract between this Corporation and each person who serves as
contemplated as a director or officer at any time while such provisions are in
effect; they shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or
officer; and they shall inure to the benefit of such persons heirs, executors
and administrators. Such provisions may be limited or qualified as to service
occurring subsequent to such limitation or qualification by authority of the
Board of Directors of this Corporation; provided, however, any such limitation
or qualification, or any other repeal or amendment of this Article X shall not
affect any right or obligation then existing with respect to any state of facts
then or theretofore existing or any action, suit or proceeding theretofore or
thereafter brought based in whole or in part upon any such state of facts. [As
amended effective March 16, 2006.]
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Section 10.4. Certain Procedural Matters.
-
(1) In the event of payment
under the provisions of this Article, the Corporation shall be subrogated to the
extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of the director or
officer.
(2) The Corporation shall
be entitled to participate at its expense in any proceeding for which a
director or officer may be entitled to indemnity, and it may assume the defense
thereof with counsel satisfactory to the director or officer unless the officer
or director reasonably concludes that there may be a conflict of interest
between the Corporation and the director or officer in the conduct of such
defense.
(3) If a claim under this
Article is not paid in full by the Corporation within ninety (90) days after a
written claim 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 successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be
entitled to be paid also the expense (including reasonable attorneys fees) of
prosecuting such claim. It shall be a defense to any such action (other than an
action brought to enforce a claim for expenses incurred in defending any proceeding
in advance of its final disposition where the required undertaking has been
tendered to the Corporation) that the claimant has not met the standards of
conduct which make it permissible under the K.S.A. for the Corporation to
indemnify the claimant for the amount claimed, but the burden of proving such
defense shall be on the Corporation. 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 such person has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in the
K.S.A., nor an actual determination by the Corporation (including its Board of
Directors, independent legal counsel, or its stockholders) that the claimant
had not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a defense to the
action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met the applicable
standard of conduct. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 10.5. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. - The
right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending a
proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Section shall
not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have or hereafter
acquire under any statute, provision of the Articles of Incorporation, bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
Section 10.6. Insurance. - The
Corporation may maintain insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or another enterprise
against any expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would
have the power to indemnify such person or enterprise against such expense,
liability or loss under the K.S.A.
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
Section 11.1. Seal. - The
seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and shall contain the
following words:
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MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
CORPORATE
SEAL
KANSAS
[As amended effective March 3, 2005.]
Section 11.2. Fiscal Year. - The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the 30th day of June in each year.
Section 11.3. Amendments. - All
bylaws of the Corporation shall be subject to alteration or repeal, and new
bylaws may be made, by the Board of Directors subject to the power of the
stockholders of the Corporation to alter or repeal any bylaws made by the Board
of Directors.
Section 11.4. Waiver of Notice. - Whenever
notice of an annual, regular or special meeting of the stockholders, the Board
of Directors or any committee of the Board is required to be delivered to a
person under any of the provisions of these bylaws, a written waiver of notice
signed by such person, whether signed before or after the meeting, shall be
deemed equivalent to the timely delivery to such person of written notice of
such meeting. Attendance of a person at a meeting also shall be deemed
equivalent to the timely delivery to such person of written notice of such
meeting, unless such person attends such meeting for the purpose of objecting
to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called
or convened and states such to be such persons purpose at the beginning of the
meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any
annual, regular or special meeting of the stockholders, the Board of Directors
or any committee of the Board need be specified in any written waiver of notice
of such meeting, regardless whether such specification would be required in the
notice of such meeting. [As amended effective March 16, 2006.]
Section 11.5. Interpretation. - Whenever
the context indicates, the masculine gender in these bylaws shall include the
feminine and neuter, and the singular shall include the plural or vice versa. The
table of contents and headings are solely for organization, convenience, and
clarity. They do not define, limit, or describe the scope of these bylaws or the
intent in any of the provisions.
Section 11.6. Inoperative Portion. - If
any portion of these bylaws shall be invalid or inoperative, then, to the
extent reasonable and possible, the remainder shall be valid and operative, and
effect shall be given to the intent that the portion held invalid or
inoperative manifests.
Section 11.7. Inapplicability of Control
Share Acquisition Act. - The provisions of Section 17-1286 to 17-1298
of the Kansas Statutes, also known as the Kansas Control Share Acquisition Act,
shall not apply to this Corporation.
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SECRETARYS CERTIFICATE
The
undersigned Secretary of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the Company) hereby certifies
on March 16, 2006 that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Bylaws
of the Company, as amended.
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MGP Ingredients, Inc.
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By:
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Marta Myers,
Secretary
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