Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
MGP INGREDIENTS, INC.
Adopted June 15, 1989
Amended March 3, 2005, March 16,
2006, June 8, 2006, June 14, 2007 and March 8, 2008
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Article/Section
|
|
Page
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE I
Off ices
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Section 1.1.
|
Principal
Office
|
|
1
|
Section 1.2.
|
Registered
Office
|
|
1
|
Section 1.3.
|
Other
Offices
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE II
Meeting of Stockholders
|
|
1
|
|
|
|
|
Section 2.1.
|
Annual
Meetings
|
|
1
|
Section 2.2.
|
Special
Meetings
|
|
1
|
Section 2.3.
|
Place and
Time of Special Meetings
|
|
1
|
Section 2.4.
|
Notice of
Meetings
|
|
1
|
Section 2.5.
|
Adjourned
Meetings and Notice Thereof
|
|
2
|
Section 2.6.
|
Quorum and
Vote Required
|
|
2
|
Section 2.7.
|
Chairman and
Minutes
|
|
2
|
Section 2.8.
|
Order of
Business
|
|
2
|
Section 2.9.
|
Voting and
Ballots
|
|
2
|
Section 2.10.
|
Proxies
|
|
3
|
Section 2.11.
|
Inspection
of Stock List
|
|
3
|
Section 2.12.
|
Inspectors
of Votes
|
|
3
|
Section 2.13.
|
Action
Without Meeting
|
|
4
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
|
|
5
|
|
|
|
|
Section 3.1.
|
Powers
|
|
5
|
Section 3.2.
|
Number,
Election Term, Qualification and Removal
|
|
5
|
Section 3.3.
|
Meetings
|
|
5
|
Section 3.4.
|
Adjourned
Meetings and Notice Thereof
|
|
5
|
Section 3.5.
|
Quorum and
Manner of Acting
|
|
5
|
Section 3.6.
|
Action by
Consent
|
|
6
|
Section 3.7.
|
Vacancies
|
|
6
|
Section 3.8.
|
Inspection
of Books and Records
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IV Committees
|
|
6
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE V
Officers
|
|
7
|
|
|
|
|
Section 5.1.
|
Number
|
|
7
|
Section 5.2.
|
Election and
Term
|
|
7
|
Section 5.3.
|
Absence or
Disability
|
|
7
|
Section 5.4.
|
Removal and
Resignation
|
|
7
|
Section 5.5.
|
Vacancies
|
|
8
|
Section 5.6.
|
Compensation
of Officers
|
|
8
|
i
Section 5.7.
|
Bond
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VI Duties of Officers
|
|
8
|
|
|
|
|
Section 6.1.
|
Chairman of
the Board
|
|
8
|
Section 6.2.
|
The
President
|
|
8
|
Section 6.3.
|
Vice
Presidents
|
|
9
|
Section 6.4.
|
The
Secretary
|
|
9
|
Section 6.5.
|
Assistant
Secretary
|
|
10
|
Section 6.6.
|
The
Treasurer
|
|
10
|
Section 6.7.
|
Assistant
Officers
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VII
Signature Authority and Representation
|
|
10
|
|
|
|
|
Section 7.1.
|
Contracts,
Checks, etc.
|
|
10
|
Section 7.2.
|
Proxies in
Respect of Securities of Other Corporations
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE VIII
Certificates of Stock, Bonds, and Records
|
|
11
|
|
|
|
|
Section 8.1.
|
Form &
Signature
|
|
11
|
Section 8.2.
|
Transfers
|
|
11
|
Section 8.3.
|
Record Owner
|
|
11
|
Section 8.4.
|
Lost
Certificates
|
|
12
|
Section 8.5.
|
Books and
Records
|
|
12
|
Section 8.6.
|
Record Dates
|
|
12
|
Section 8.7.
|
Closing
Stock Books
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE IX
Dividends
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE X
Indemnification
|
|
13
|
|
|
|
|
Section 10.1.
|
Right to
Indemnification
|
|
13
|
Section 10.2.
|
Certain
Limits on Indemnity
|
|
14
|
Section 10.3.
|
Rights to
Indemnity Shall be Contractual and Continuing
|
|
14
|
Section 10.4.
|
Certain
Procedural Matters
|
|
15
|
Section 10.5.
|
Non-Exclusivity
of Rights
|
|
15
|
Section 10.6.
|
Insurance
|
|
15
|
|
|
|
|
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
|
|
16
|
|
|
|
|
Section 11.1.
|
Seal
|
|
16
|
Section 11.2.
|
Fiscal Year
|
|
16
|
Section 11.3.
|
Amendments
|
|
16
|
Section 11.4.
|
Waiver of
Notice
|
|
16
|
Section 11.5.
|
Interpretation
|
|
16
|
Section 11.6.
|
Inoperative
Portion
|
|
16
|
Section 11.7.
|
Inapplicability
of Control Share Acquisition Act
|
|
17
|
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 100 Commercial Street, Atchison, Atchison County, Kansas 66044.[As
amended effective March 3, 2005 and June 14, 2007]
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
1
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
4
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 certificated 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 agreements,
8
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; June 2007.]
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 certificated 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, certificated
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.
9
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; June
2007.]
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
10
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 or, if and to
the extent the Board of Directors determines, shall be uncertificated shares.
Notwithstanding any such determination by the Board of Directors, every
stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates of stock bearing
the holders name and number of shares and 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. [As amended June ,
2007]
Section 8.2. Transfers. -
Certificated 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. Uncertificated shares shall be transferred in the share register of
the Corporation upon an instruction originated by the appropriate person to
transfer the shares. 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. [As amended
June , 2007]
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
11
thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of
Kansas. [As corrected June , 2007)
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
12
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 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
13
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 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.]
14
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.
15
ARTICLE XI
Miscellaneous
Section 11.1. Seal.
- - The seal of the Corporation
shall be circular in form and shall contain the following words:
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, commencing June 30, 2008. The fiscal year ending June 30,
2008 commenced on July 2, 2007; each subsequent fiscal year shall commence
on July 1. {As amended effective March 8, 2008.]
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.
16
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.
SECRETARYS CERTIFICATE
The undersigned Secretary of
MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the Company) hereby certifies on September 12,
2008 that the foregoing is a true and correct copy of the Bylaws of the
Company, as amended.
|
MGP Ingredients, Inc.
|
|
|
|
|
|
By:
|
/s/ Marta
Myers
|
|
|
Marta Myers,
Secretary
|
17