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CROSSMANN COMMUNITIES OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC.
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BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. The registered office shall be located in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Section 2. The corporation may also have offices at such other places both within and without the State of North Carolina as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. All meetings of shareholders, for the election of directors shall be held in Indianapolis, State of Indiana, at such place as may be fixed from time to time by the board of directors.
Section 2. Annual meetings of shareholders, commencing with the year 1999, shall be held on March 30, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the next secular day following, at which they shall elect, pursuant to law, a board of directors, and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 3. Written or printed notice of the annual meeting stating that date, time and place of the meeting, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) days not more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the president, the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.
ARTICLE III
SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Special meetings of shareholders for any purpose other than the election of directors may be held at such time and place within or without the State of North Carolina as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.
Section 2. Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes, may be called by the president, the board of directors, or upon written demand of at least ten percent (10%) of all of the votes entitled to be cast on any issue proposed to be considered.
Section 3. Written or printed notice of a special meeting stating the date, time, and place of the meeting and the purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the president, the secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 4. The business transacted at any special meeting of shareholders shall be limited to the purposes stated in the notice.
ARTICLE IV
QUORUM AND VOTING OF STOCK
Section 1. A majority of the votes entitled to be cast on a matter by a voting group constitutes a quorum of the voting group for action on that matter, except as otherwise provided by statute or by the
articles of incorporation. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the shareholders, the shareholders present in person or represented by proxy shall have power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
Section 2. If a quorum is present, action on a matter by a voting group is approved if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action.
Section 3. Each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders unless the articles of incorporation provide otherwise. A shareholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact.
Section 4. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the shareholders may be taken without a meeting, if one or more written consents setting forth the action so taken shall be signed, either manually or in facsimile, by all of the shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
ARTICLE V
DIRECTORS
Section 1. The number of directors shall be two (2). Directors need not be residents of the State of North Carlina nor shareholders of the corporation. The directors, other than the first board of directors, shall be elected at the annual meeting of the shareholders, and each director elected shall serve until the next succeeding annual meeting and until his successor shall have been elected and qualified. The first board of directors shall hold office until the first meeting of shareholders.
Section 2. Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors, may be filled by the shareholders, the board of directors, or if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum of the board, the vacancy may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors remaining in office.
Section 3. The business affairs of the corporation shall be managed by its board of directors, which may exercise all such powers of the corporation and do all lawful acts.
Section 4. The directors may keep the books of the corporation, except such as are required by law to be kept within the state, outside of the State of North Carolina, at such place or places as they may from time to time determine.
Section 5. The board of directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office, and irrespective of any personal interest of any of its members, shall have authority to establish reasonable compensation of all directors for services to the corporation as directors, officers or otherwise.
ARTICLE VI
BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS
Section 1. Meeting of the board of directors, regular or special, may be held either within or without the State of North Carolina.
Section 2. Regular meetings of the board of directors may be held upon such notice, or without notice, and at such time and at such place as shall from time to time be determined by the board.
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Section 3. Special meetings of the board of directors may be called on five (5) days' notice to each director, either personally, by mail or by telegram.
Section 4. Attendance or participation of a director at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, unless the director, at the beginning of the meeting, objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting, and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of the notice of such meeting.
Section 5. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, unless a greater number is required by law or by the articles of incorporation. The act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the board of directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by statute or by the articles of incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall be present.
Section 6. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the directors may be taken without a meeting if one or more written consents, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed, either manually or in facsimile, by all of the directors entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.
ARTICLE VII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES
Section 1. The board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the number of directors fixed by the bylaws or otherwise, may designate two or more directors to constitute an executive committee, which committee, to the extent provided in such resolution, shall have and exercise all of the authority of the board of directors in the management of the corporation, except as otherwise required by law. Vacancies in the membership of the committee shall be filled by the board of directors at a regular or special meeting of the board of directors. The executive committee shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the board when required.
ARTICLE VIII
NOTICES
Section 1. Whenever notice is required to be given to any director or shareholder under the provisions of the statutes, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, it shall be construed to mean written notice, which may be by mail, addressed to such director or shareholder, at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation, with postage thereon prepaid, and such notice shall be deemed to given at the time it is deposited in the United States mail or as otherwise provided by law. Notice to directors may also be given by telegram.
Section 2. Whenever notice is required to be given under the provisions of the statutes, the articles of incorporation or these bylaws, a waiver thereof, in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice.
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ARTICLE IX
OFFICERS
Section 1. The officers of the corporation shall be chosen by the board of directors, and shall be a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer. The board of directors may also choose additional vice-presidents, and one or more assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers.
Section 2. The board of directors, at its first meeting after each annual meeting of shareholders, shall choose a president, one or more vice-presidents, a secretary and a treasurer, none of whom need be a member of the board.
Section 3. The board of directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it shall deem necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the board of directors.
Section 4. The salaries of all officers and agents of the corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors.
Section 5. The officers of the corporation shall hold office until their successors are chosen and qualify. Any officer elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation shall be filled by the board of directors.
THE PRESIDENT
Section 6. The president shall be the chief executive officer of the corporation, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and the board of directors, shall have general and active management of the business of the corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the board of directors are carried into effect.
Section 7. He shall execute bonds, mortgages and other contracts requiring a seal, under the seal of the corporation, except where required or permitted by law to be otherwise signed and executed, and except where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the board of directors to some other officer or agent of the corporation.
THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Section 8. The vice-president, or if there shall be more than one, the vice-presidents in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the president, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the president and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
THE SECRETARY AND ASSISTANT SECRETARIES
Section 9. The secretary shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and all meetings of the shareholders, and shall record all proceedings of the meetings of the corporation and of the board of directors in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall perform like duties for the standing committees when required. He shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the shareholders and special meetings of the board of directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or president, under whose supervision he shall be. He shall have custody of the corporate seal of the corporation, and he, or an assistant secretary, shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument requiring it, and when so affixed, it may be attested by his signature or by the signature of such assistant secretary. The board of directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature.
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Section 10. The assistant secretary, or if there be more than one, the assistant secretaries in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the secretary, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
THE TREASURER AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS
Section 11. The treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate funds and securities, and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the corporation, and shall deposit all moneys and other value effects in the name and to the credit of the corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the board of directors.
Section 12. He shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the board of directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and the board of directors, at its regular meetings, or when the board of directors so requires, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the corporation.
Section 13. If required by the board of directors, he shall give the corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the board of directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control, belonging to the corporation.
Section 14. The assistant treasurer or, if there shall be more than one, the assistant treasurers in the order determined by the board of directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the treasurer, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the board of directors may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE X
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES
Section 1. The shares of the corporation shall be represented by certificates signed by the president or a vice-president and the secretary or treasurer or an assistant secretary or treasurer of the corporation, or by the board of directors, and may be sealed with the seal of the corporation or a facsimile thereof.
When the corporation is authorized to issue different classes of shares or different series within a class, there shall be set forth upon the face or back of the certificate, or the certificate shall have a statement that the corporation will furnish to any shareholder upon request and without charge, a full statement of the designations, preferences, limitations, and relative rights, applicable to each class, and the variations in the relative rights, preferences, and limitations determined for each series and the authority of the board of directors to determine variations for future series.
Section 2. The board of directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the corporation, which is alleged to have been lost or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the board of directors, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, may prescribe such terms and conditions as it deemed expedient, and may require such indemnities as it deems adequate to protect the corporation from any claim that may be made against it with respect to any such certificate alleged to have been lost or destroyed.
Section 3. Upon surrender, to the corporation or the transfer agent of the corporation, of a certificate representing shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, a new certificate shall be issued to the person entitled thereto, and the old certificate shall be cancelled and the transaction recorded upon the books of the corporation.
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Section 4. For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of shareholders, or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the board of directors may fix a record date, in advance, that may not be more than seventy (70) days before the meeting or action requiring a determination of shareholders.
Section 5. The corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote with respect to the shares shown to be owned, and to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of shares and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the law.
Section 6. A list of shareholders as of the record date, certified by the corporate officer responsible for its preparation or the transfer agent, shall be open for inspection at any meeting of shareholders.
ARTICLE XI
OTHER PROVISIONS
DIVIDENDS
Section 1. Subject to the law and any applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation, dividends may be declared by the board of directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of the corporation.
Section 2. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as the directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, thing proper, as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing or maintaining any property of the corporation, or for such other purpose as the directors shall think conducive to the interest of the corporation, and the directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
CHECKS
Section 3. All check or demands for money, and notes of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, or such other person or persons as the board of directors may from time to time designate.
FISCAL YEAR
Section 4. The fiscal year of the corporation shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These bylaws may be amended or repealed or new bylaws may be adopted, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the board of directors at any regular or special meeting of the board unless the articles of incorporation or law reserves this power to the shareholders.
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CROSSMANN COMMUNITIES OF NORTH CAROLINA, INC. ***** BYLAWS