EXHIBIT 3.2
BY-LAWS OF
REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(As amended and restated May 13, 2010)
ARTICLE I. OFFICES
Section 1. | Registered Office. |
The registered office shall be established and maintained at the office of the Corporation Service Company, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, in the State of Delaware, and said corporation shall be the registered agent of this Corporation in charge thereof.
Section 2. | Other Offices. |
The Corporation may have other offices, either within or without the State of Delaware, at such place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint or the business of the Corporation may require.
Section 3. | Principal Place of Business. |
The principal place of business of the Corporation shall be in Birmingham, Alabama.
ARTICLE II. MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. | Annual Meetings. |
Annual meetings of stockholders for the election of Directors and for such other business as may be stated in the notice of the meeting, shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Delaware, and at such time and date as the Board of Directors, by resolution, shall determine and as set forth in the notice of the meeting.
At each annual meeting, the stockholders entitled to vote shall elect Directors, and they may transact such other corporate business as may properly come before the meeting.
Section 2. | Special Meetings. |
Special meetings of the stockholders for any purpose or purposes, other than the election of Directors, may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary, or by resolution of the Directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 3. | Voting. |
Each stockholder entitled to vote in accordance with the terms of the Certificate of Incorporation and in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws shall be entitled to one vote, in person or by proxy,
for each share of stock entitled to vote held by such stockholder, but no proxy shall be voted after eleven (11) months from its date unless such proxy provides for a longer period. A stockholder may authorize another person to act as proxy by transmitting, or authorizing the transmission of, a telegram, cablegram or other means of electronic transmission to the person authorized to act as proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization, or other person authorized by the person who will act as proxy to receive the transmission, in each case as the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the presiding officer of the meeting may determine from time to time. Such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the time of the meeting. Except as may be otherwise required by the Certificate of Incorporation, each Director shall be elected by the vote of the majority of the votes cast (meaning the number of shares voted “for” a nominee must exceed the number of shares voted “against” such nominee) at any meeting for the election of Directors at which a quorum is present, provided that the Directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast (instead of by votes cast “for” or “against” a nominee) at any meeting at which a quorum is present for which (i) the Secretary of the Corporation receives a notice in compliance with the applicable requirements for stockholder nominations for Director set forth in these By-Laws and (ii) such proposed nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder on or prior to the tenth day preceding the date the Corporation first mails its notice of meeting for such meeting to the stockholders. In all matters other than the election of Directors, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast “for” or “against” the matter by stockholders entitled to vote on the subject matter, whether present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting, shall be the act of the stockholders, except as otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise required by Delaware law or applicable listing standards. Abstentions and broker non-votes shall not be treated as affirmative votes “for” or “against” and shall not be taken into account in determining whether a matter is approved.
A complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the ensuing election, arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of each, and the number of shares held by each, shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified at the notice of the meeting, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
Section 4. | Quorum. |
A majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at meetings of stockholders. For purposes of the foregoing, where a separate vote by class or classes is required for any matter, the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of such class or classes, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum to take action with respect to that vote on that matter. Two or more classes or series of stock shall be considered a single class if the holders thereof are entitled to vote together as a single class at the meeting. In determining whether a quorum is present, shares held by a subsidiary corporation owned by this Corporation, and treasury shares, shall not be counted. If less than a majority of the outstanding shares are represented, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, but until a quorum is secured no other business may be transacted. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until an adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
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Section 5. | No Stockholder Action by Consent. |
No action required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may be taken without a meeting, and the power of stockholders to consent in writing, without a meeting, to the taking of any action is specifically denied.
Section 6. | Notice of Meetings. |
Written notice, stating the place, date and time of the meeting, and the general nature of the business to be considered, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at such stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 7. | Notice of Stockholder Business and Nominations. |
(A) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation and the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (a) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this By-Law, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (c) of paragraph (A)(1) of Section 8 of this Article II, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must be a proper matter for stockholder action. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s proxy statement; provided, however, that in the event that no annual meeting were held the previous year or that the date of the annual meeting is more than 30 days before or after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not later than the close of business on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); (b) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; (c) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner, (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner, and (iii) with respect to nominations, a description of all arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and such beneficial owner and each proposed nominee and any other person or persons (including their names) pursuant to which the nominations are to be made by such stockholder; and (d) the names and addresses of any other stockholders or beneficial
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owners known to be supporting such nomination or business by the proposing stockholder or beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made.
(B) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which Directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting (a) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this By-Law, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this By-Law. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more Directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (A)(2) of Section 8 of this Article II shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the last to occur of (a) the close of business on the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such special meeting or (b) the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of a special meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(C) General. (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law shall be eligible to serve as Directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law. Except as otherwise provided by Delaware law, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made, or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this By-Law and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this By-Law, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
(2) For purposes of this By-Law, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-Law, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this By-Law. Nothing in this By-Law shall be deemed to affect any rights of (i) stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect Directors under specified circumstances.
ARTICLE III. DIRECTORS
Section 1. | Number and Term. |
The number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board shall be fixed, from time to time, by resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, but shall not be less than three persons. The number of Directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any Director at the time in office.
At each annual meeting of stockholders, all Directors shall be elected for terms of one year, and except as hereinafter provided, each Director shall hold office until the next annual meeting or until his or
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her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier retirement, death, resignation or removal. Directors need not be residents of Delaware.
Section 2. | Chairman of the Board and Vice Chairman of the Board. |
The Board of Directors shall by majority vote designate from time to time from among its members a Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors of the Corporation. He or she shall have and perform such duties as are prescribed by the By-Laws and by the Board of Directors. The position of Chairman of the Board is a Board position, provided however, the position of Chairman of the Board may be held by a person who is also an officer of the Corporation.
The Board of Directors may by majority vote designate from time to time from among its members one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board. A Vice Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and of the Board of Directors of the Corporation which the Chairman of the Board shall be unable to attend. He or she shall assist the Chairman of the Board in the exercise of his or her duties and shall have and perform such duties as are prescribed from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the event of the death or incapacity of the Chairman of the Board, he or she shall perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board until the next annual meeting of the stockholders or until the Board of Directors shall have sooner elected a successor Chairman of the Board. The position of Vice Chairman of the Board is a Board position, provided however, that the position of Vice Chairman of the Board may be held by a person who is also an officer of the Corporation.
In the absence of the Chairman of Board and Vice Chairman of the Board or in case of their inability to act, the Independent Lead Director, if at the time a Director of the Corporation has been designated by the Board of Directors as such, shall have and exercise all the powers and duties of such office and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. If at any Board of Directors meeting none of such persons is present or able to act, the Board of Directors shall select one of its members as acting chair of the meeting or portion thereof.
Section 3. | Resignations. |
Any Director may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be made in writing, and shall take effect at the time of its receipt by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or the Secretary or at such other time as may be specified therein. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 4. | Vacancies. |
If the office of any Director becomes vacant, the remaining Directors in office, though less than a quorum, by a majority vote, may appoint any qualified person to fill such vacancy, who shall hold office until the next annual meeting or until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his or her earlier retirement, death, resignation or removal.
Section 5. | Removal. |
Any Director may be removed at any time, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors considered for this purpose as one class cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose.
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Section 6. | Powers. |
The Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers of the Corporation except such as are by law, by the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or by these By-Laws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.
Section 7. | Meetings. |
A regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately before or after the annual meeting of stockholders. Additional regular meetings of the Directors may be held without notice at such places and times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Directors.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, the President, or by the Secretary on the written request of a majority of the Board of Directors on at least two days’ notice to each Director and shall be held at such place or places as may be determined by the Directors, or as shall be stated in the call of the meeting.
Unless otherwise restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee, by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such participation in a meeting shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 8. | Quorum. |
A majority of the Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If at any meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given other than by announcement at the meeting which shall be so adjourned. Notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors to leave less than a quorum, the Directors present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment.
Section 9. | Compensation. |
Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as Directors or as members of committees, except that by resolution of the Board of Directors, retainer fees, meeting fees, and expenses of attendance at meetings may be authorized. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent or otherwise, and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 10. | Action Without Meeting. |
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting, if prior to such action a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board of Directors, or of such committee as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.
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Section 11. | Committees. |
A majority of the whole Board of Directors shall have the authority to designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the Directors of the Corporation. The Board may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board or in these By-Laws, shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it; provided, however, that in the absence or disqualification of any member of such committee or committees, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not the member or members constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member.
ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS
Section 1. | Officers. |
The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, who may be designated Senior Executive Vice Presidents, Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents, and Assistant Vice Presidents, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Secretaries, a Chief Financial Officer, a Controller, an Auditor and such other officers as may be deemed appropriate. All such officers shall be appointed annually by the Board of Directors to serve for a term of one year and until their respective successors are appointed and qualified or until such officer’s earlier death, resignation, retirement, or removal, except that the Board of Directors may delegate the authority to appoint officers holding the position of Senior Executive Vice President and below in accordance with procedures established or modified by the Board of Directors from time to time. None of the officers of the Corporation need be Directors. More than one office may be held by the same person.
Section 2. | Chief Executive Officer. |
The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer is the most senior officer of the Corporation, and shall be vested with authority to act for the Corporation in all matters and shall have general supervision of the Corporation and of its business affairs, including authority over the detailed operations of the Corporation and over its personnel, with full power and authority during intervals between sessions of the Board of the Directors to do and perform in the name of the Corporation all acts and deeds necessary or proper, in his or her opinion, to be done and performed and to execute for and in the name of the Corporation all instruments, agreements, and deeds which may be authorized to be executed on behalf of the Corporation or which may be required by law. The Chief Executive Officer may, but need not, also hold the office of President.
Section 3. | President. |
The President shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the By-Laws, by the Board of Directors, and by the Chief Executive Officer.
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Section 4. | Vice Presidents. |
The Vice Presidents shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President, have and may exercise the authority vested in them in all proper matters, including authority over the detailed operations of the Corporation and over its personnel.
Section 5. | Chief Financial Officer. |
The Chief Financial Officer or his designee shall have custody of all funds of the Corporation. He or his designee shall have and perform such duties as are incident to the office of Chief Financial Officer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, or the President.
Section 6. | Secretary. |
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors unless otherwise directed by those bodies. He shall have custody of the corporate seal, and the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary shall affix the same to all instruments or papers requiring the seal of the Corporation. The Secretary, or in his absence, any Assistant Secretary, shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Corporation. He shall perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, and shall do and perform such other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President.
Section 7. | Controller. |
The Controller shall, under the direction of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or a more senior officer, have general supervision and authority over all reports required of the Corporation by law or by any public body or officer or regulatory authority pertaining to the condition of the Corporation and its assets and liabilities. The Controller shall have general supervision of the books and accounts of the Corporation and its methods and systems of recording and keeping accounts of its business transactions and of its assets and liabilities. The Controller shall be responsible for preparing statements showing the financial condition of the Corporation and shall furnish such reports and financial records as may be required of him or her by the Board of Directors or by the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or other more senior officer.
Section 8. | Auditor. |
The Auditor shall have general supervision of the auditing of the books and accounts of the Corporation, and shall continuously and from time to time check and verify the Corporation’s transactions, its assets and liabilities, and the accounts and doings of the officers, agents and employees of the Corporation with respect thereto. The Auditor shall be directly accountable to and under the jurisdiction of the Board of Directors and, if applicable, its designated committee, acting independently of all officers, agents and employees of the Corporation. The Auditor shall render reports covering matters in his or her charge regularly and upon request to the Board and, if applicable, its designated committee.
Section 9. | Other Officers and Agents. |
The Board of Directors may appoint such other officers and agents as it may deem advisable, who shall exercise such powers and perform such duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board of Directors.
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Section 10. | Executive Council. |
There shall be an officers’ committee of the Corporation (the “Executive Council”), which shall consist of such officers of the Corporation and its subsidiaries as may be appointed to sit thereon by the Chief Executive Officer. The chairman of the committee shall be the Chief Executive Officer, and the committee shall meet at the chairman’s call.
The Executive Council shall develop, publish, and implement policies and procedures for the operation of the Corporation and its subsidiaries and affiliates. The Board of Directors shall have the right to amend or revoke actions of the Executive Council. The Executive Council may amend, make additions to, or deletions from, or revoke such policies and procedures, to the extent the committee deems such actions to be necessary and desirable. In addition to the duties prescribed above, the Executive Council shall have such other and further duties and responsibilities as may from time to time be assigned to it by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
ARTICLE V. MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. | Certificates of Stock. |
The shares of stock in the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, provided that the Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions that some or all of any or all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock shall be uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate theretofore issued until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation. Notwithstanding the adoption of such a resolution by the Board of Directors, every holder of stock represented by certificates, and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares, shall be entitled to have a certificate signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer or Controller, and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Corporation, representing the number of shares of stock registered in certificate form owned by such holder. Any or all of the signatures may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 2. | Lost Certificates. |
The Board of Directors may order a new certificate or certificates of stock to be issued in the place of any certificate or certificates of the Corporation alleged to have been lost or destroyed, but in every such case the owner of the lost certificate or certificates shall first cause to be given to the Corporation or its authorized agent a bond in such sum as said Board may direct, as indemnity against any loss that the Corporation may incur by reason of such replacement of the lost certificate or certificates; but the Board of Directors may, at their discretion refuse to replace any lost certificate of stock save upon the order of some court having jurisdiction in such matter and may cause such legend to be inscribed on the new certificate or certificates as in the Board’s discretion may be necessary to prevent loss to the Corporation.
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Section 3. | Transfer of Shares. |
The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only upon its books, and in the case of certificated shares of stock, by the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, and upon the surrender of the certificate therefore; or, in the case of uncertificated shares of stock, upon receipt of proper transfer instructions from the holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives, and compliance with appropriate procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. In the case of certificated shares, upon such transfer the old certificates shall be surrendered to the Corporation by the delivery thereof to the person in charge of the stock and transfer books, and ledgers, or to the authorized agent of the Corporation, by whom they shall be canceled, and new certificates shall thereupon be issued. A record shall be made of each transfer and whenever a transfer shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be expressed in the entry of the transfer.
The Corporation may decline to register on its stock books transfers of stock standing in the name of infants, unless (a) the law of the state of which the infant is a resident relieves the Corporation of all liability therefor in case the infant or anyone acting for him thereafter elects to rescind such transfer, or (b) a court having jurisdiction of the infant and the subject matter enters a valid decree authorizing such transfer.
Section 4. | Fractional Shares. |
No fractional part of a share of stock shall ever be issued by this Corporation.
Section 5. | Stockholders Record Date. |
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 6. | Dividends. |
Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may, out of funds legally available therefore at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation as and when they deem expedient. Before declaring any dividend there may be set apart out of any fund of the Corporation available for dividends, such sum or sums as the Directors from time to time in their discretion deem proper for working capital or as a reserve fund to meet contingencies or for equalizing dividends or for such other purposes as the Directors shall deem conducive to the interests of the Corporation.
The Corporation may decline to pay cash dividends to infant stockholders except where full and valid release may be granted by the infant or under a decree of court of competent jurisdiction.
Section 7. | Seal. |
The corporate seal shall consist of two concentric circles between which shall be “REGIONS FINANCIAL CORPORATION DELAWARE” with a representation of the Corporate Logogram in the center.
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Section 8. | Fiscal Year. |
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 9. | Checks. |
All checks, drafts 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, agent or agents of the Corporation, and in such manner as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. | Notice and Waiver of Notice. |
Whenever any notice is required by these By-Laws to be given, personal notice is not meant unless expressly so stated, and any notice so required shall be deemed to be sufficient if given by depositing the same in the United States mail, postage prepaid, or by telegram, teletype, facsimile transmission or other form of wire, wireless, or other electronic communication or by private carrier addressed to the person entitled thereto at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, and such notice shall be deemed to have been given on the date of such mailing. Stockholders not entitled to vote shall not be entitled to receive notice of any meetings except as otherwise provided by statute.
Whenever any notice whatever is required to be given under the provisions of any law, or under the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or these By-Laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent thereto.
Section 11. | Indemnification of Officers, Directors, Employees, Agents and Fiduciaries; Insurance. |
(A) The Corporation shall indemnify, in accordance with and to the fullest extent permitted by law, any person made or threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is or was a Director, Advisory Director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Corporation or any constituent corporation absorbed in a consolidation or merger, or serves as such with another corporation, or with a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request of the Corporation or any such constituent corporation.
(B) The indemnification provided by this Section 11 shall not be deemed exclusive of and shall be in addition to any other rights (whether created prior or subsequent to the adoption of these By-Laws) to which those indemnified may be entitled under any statute, rule of law, certificate of incorporation, by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested Directors or otherwise, both as to action in their official capacity and as to action in another capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Director, employee or agent of the Corporation, and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
(C) By action of the Board of Directors notwithstanding any interest of the Directors in such action, the Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance in such amounts as the Board of Directors deems appropriate on behalf of any person who is or was a Director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a Director, officer, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether
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or not the Corporation shall have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Section 11.
Section 12. | Execution of Instruments and Documents. |
The Chief Executive Officer, or the President, or any Senior Executive Vice President, or any Executive Vice President or any Senior Vice President is authorized, in his or her discretion, to do and perform any and all corporate and official acts in carrying on the business of the Corporation, including, but not limited to, the authority to make, execute, acknowledge, accept, and deliver any and all deeds, mortgages, releases, bills of sale, assignments, transfers, leases (as lessor or lessee), powers of attorney or of substitution, proxies to vote stock or any other instrument in writing that may be necessary in the purchase, sale, lease, assignment, transfer, discount, management or handling in any way of any property of any description held, controlled, or used by the Corporation or to be held, controlled, or used by the Corporation and including the authority from time to time to open bank accounts with the Corporation’s subsidiary bank or any other institution, to borrow money in such amounts for such lengths of time, at such rates of interest and upon such terms and conditions as any said officer may deem proper and to evidence the indebtedness thereby created by executing and delivering in the name of the Corporation promissory notes or other appropriate evidences of indebtedness, and to guarantee the obligations of any subsidiary or affiliate of the Corporation. The enumeration herein of particular powers shall not restrict in any way the general powers and authority of said officers.
By way of example and not limitation, such officers of the Corporation are authorized to execute, accept, deliver, and issue, on behalf of the Corporation and as binding obligations of Corporation, such agreements and instruments as may be within the officer’s area of responsibility, including, as applicable, agreements and related documents (such as schedules, confirmations, transfers, assignments, acknowledgments, and other documents) relating to derivative transactions, loan or letter of credit transactions, syndications, participations, trades, purchase and sale or discount transactions, transfers and assignments, servicing and sub-servicing agreements, vendor agreements, securitizations, and transactions of whatever kind or description arising in the conduct of the Corporation’s business.
The authority to execute and deliver documents, instruments, and agreements may be limited by resolution of the Board of Directors, by a committee of the Board, by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the President, by reference to subject matter, category, amount, geographical location, or any other criteria, and may be made subject to such policies, procedures, and levels of approval as may be adopted or amended from time to time.
Section 13. | Voting Corporation’s Securities. |
Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Executive Vice President or above, the Controller, the Corporation’s General Counsel, and any other officer as may be designated by the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend, and to act and to vote, and to execute a proxy or proxies empowering others to attend, and to act and to vote, at any meetings of security holders of any of the corporations in which the Corporation may hold securities and, at such meetings, such officer shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have possessed and exercised, if present.
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ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed and By-Laws may be adopted (A) by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors or (B) by the stockholders at any annual meeting of the stockholders, or at any special meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal or By-Law or By-Laws to be adopted is contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of seventy-five percent (75%) of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting.
Notwithstanding the above, these By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed and By-Laws may be adopted to reestablish a classified Board of Directors by the stockholders at any annual meeting of the stockholders, or at any special meeting thereof if notice of the proposed alteration or repeal or By-Law or By-Laws to be adopted with respect to reclassifying the board is contained in the notice of such special meeting, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting.
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