Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
AVIV REIT, INC.
(a Maryland Corporation)
(a Maryland Corporation)
PREAMBLE
These Bylaws (“Bylaws”) are subject to, and governed by, the Maryland General Corporation Law (as amended, including any successor statute, the “MGCL”) and the charter of Aviv REIT, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Corporation”). In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these Bylaws and the mandatory provisions of the MGCL or the provisions of the charter of the Corporation (as may be amended from time to time, the “Charter”), such provisions of the MGCL or the Charter, as the case may be, shall control.
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND RESIDENT AGENT. The principal office and resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be as designated from time to time by the board of directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) by the appropriate filing, to the extent applicable, in the office of the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland.
Section 2.ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, both within and without the State of Maryland, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.PLACE. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place, within or without the State of Maryland, as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation as
may properly be brought before such meeting shall be held each calendar year on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.SPECIAL MEETINGS. Each of the duly elected Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President and the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders shall also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such special meeting. Such request shall state the purpose of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at such meeting. The Secretary shall inform such requesting stockholder(s) of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing notice of the meeting and, upon payment to the Corporation by such stockholders of such costs, the Secretary shall give notice to each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting. A special meeting shall be held on such date and at such time as shall be designated by the person(s) calling the meeting and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 4.NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the Secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting, notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any applicable statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless a stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with thisArticle II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting. Any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any applicable law (including, without limitation, the MGCL), to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice of such special meeting.
Section 5.ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the Chairman of the Board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Chairman of the Board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Vice Presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the Secretary, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in
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person or by proxy. The Secretary, or, in the Secretary’s absence, an Assistant Secretary, or, in the absence of both the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as Secretary. In the event that the Secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an Assistant Secretary, or, in the absence of all Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action in accordance with these Bylaws, the MGCL and the Charter as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (e) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 6.QUORUM.
(a) At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but thisSection 6 shall not affect any requirement under any applicable statute (including, without limitation, the MGCL), the Charter or these Bylaws, if in effect and to the extent applicable, for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of stockholders, any stockholder entitled to vote thereat who is present, in person or by proxy, or the chairman of the meeting may adjourn the meetingsine dieor from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting until a quorum shall be present, in person or by proxy. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified;provided,however, that if any meeting of stockholders is adjourned for more than 120 days after the original record date or if a new record date is otherwise fixed for an adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting.
(b) The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact
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business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.
Section 7.VOTING. A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director to the Board of Directors. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any matter other than the election of a director to the Board of Directors which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by applicable law (including, without limitation, the MGCL), the Charter or these Bylaws. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law (including, without limitation, the MGCL), the Charter or these Bylaws, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may beviva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.
Section 8.PROXIES. A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may cast votes in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by applicable law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 9.VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS.
(a) Stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust, limited liability company or other entity, if entitled to be voted at a stockholders meeting, may be voted at such stockholders meeting by the president or a vice president, general partner, trustee or managing member thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement to the Secretary of the Corporation before, or at, the stockholder meeting in which such vote is to be cast, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or fiduciary may vote stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of such director or fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.
(b) Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by the Corporation shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.
(c) The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of such stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the
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stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it, if the certification is with respect to a record date, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Corporation, and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt by the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
Section 10.INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may, but need not, appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. On request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspector(s) shall make a report in writing of any challenge, request, or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them. Each such report shall be signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority of such inspectors shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall beprima facieevidence thereof. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders.
Section 11.CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the MGCL, shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. ThisSection 11 may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
Section 12.STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting (a) if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders, (b) if the action is advised, and submitted to the stockholders for approval, by the Board of Directors and a consent in writing or by electronic transmission of stockholders entitled to cast not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take the action at a meeting of stockholders is delivered to the Corporation in accordance with the MGCL, or (c) in any manner set forth in the terms of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation. The Corporation shall give notice of any action taken by less than unanimous consent to each stockholder not later than ten days after the effective time of such action.
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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1.GENERAL POWERS; RESTRICTIONS ON POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. For so long as Article 4 of the Stockholders Agreement (as defined herein) is in effect, the Board of Directors shall have no power to approve or declare advisable any merger of the Corporation in which the Corporation is not the surviving corporation (i.e., a merger that is not treated as a sale of the Corporation’s shares for federal income tax purposes).
Section 2.NUMBER, TENURE, QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIGNATION.
(a) Except as provided in the following sentence, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors,provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than nine (9); andfurtherprovided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. For so long as the Stockholders Agreement, to be entered into by and among the Corporation, LG Aviv L.P., those holders of the Corporation’s common stock set forth on Schedule I attached thereto, Craig M. Bernfield REIT, L.L.C., Ari Ryan and any person who becomes a party thereto (as may be amended from time to time, the “Stockholders Agreement”), is in effect and provides for such classification, (i) the number of directors shall from time to time be the number specified in the Stockholders Agreement and (ii) the directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes of directors, the “Class A Directors,” the “Class B Directors” and the “Class C Directors.” The number of classes of directors into which the directors are from time to time divided and the classes of directors then serving shall be as specified in the Stockholders Agreement. Each Class A Director, each Class B Director and each Class C Director from time to time serving shall hold office for a term expiring at the next annual meeting of stockholders and when his or her successor has been duly elected and qualified, and shall be entitled to cast the number of votes, and vote on the matters, specified in the Stockholders Agreement. The Board of Directors shall cease to be classified at the time specified in the Stockholders Agreement.
(b) Each director, regardless of class (if any), shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is duly elected and qualified or, if earlier, until his death, resignation, or removal from office. None of the directors need be a stockholder of the Corporation or a resident of the State of Maryland. Each director must have attained the age of 18. For so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, in order to be qualified to be nominated or elected as a Class A Director, Class B Director or Class C Director, such individual must meet all of the requirements specified in the Stockholders Agreement for such class. For so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, at any time that the Board of Directors is not classified, in order to be qualified to be nominated for election, or to serve, as a director, an individual must meet all of the qualifications specified in the Stockholders Agreement.
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Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the Secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.
Section 3.ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. Each annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders with no notice other than thisSection 3 being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place within or without the State of Maryland as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution;provided,however, that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the Board of Directors shall hold regular quarterly meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or directors representing a majority of the total voting power of the Board of Directors. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors so called. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 5.NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least five days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by applicable statute or these Bylaws.
Section 6.QUORUM.
(a) A majority of the directors then elected to the Board of Directors present at a duly called meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
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meeting of the Board of Directors,provided that, if less than a majority of such directors is present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, andprovidedfurther that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group, respectively. Notwithstanding the foregoing in thisSection 6, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the number and class of directors constituting a quorum, or the number and class of directors otherwise required for the transaction of business by the Board of Directors, shall be determined in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Stockholders Agreement.
(b) The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.
Section 7.VOTING. The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, any matter must be approved by the affirmative vote, if any, specified in the Stockholders Agreement.
Section 8.ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or, in the absence of the chairman, the Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, shall act as chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President or, in the absence of the President, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, or, in the absence of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as Secretary of the meeting.
Section 9.TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 10.CONSENT BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
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Section 11.VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the term and until a successor is elected and qualifies.
Section 12.COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 13.RELIANCE. Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.
Section 14.RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
Section 15.EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, thisSection 15 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under thisArticle III cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any
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Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) except for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.
Section 16.SURETY BONDS. Unless required by law, no director shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his or her duties.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1.NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and other committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, all committees shall be composed of directors representing all classes and having the qualifications and voting and other rights as required by the terms and conditions of the Stockholders Agreement.
Section 2.POWERS. The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed underSection 1 of thisArticle IV any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by applicable law.
Section 3.MEETINGS. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of such committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of such committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide.
Section 4.TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 5.CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors
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may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.
Section 6.VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1.GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may include a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, a Chief Investment Officer, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the Chief Executive Officer or President may from time to time appoint one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers or other officers in their discretion, subject to removal or replacement by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except President and Vice President may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
Section 2.REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.
Section 3.VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.
Section 4.CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a Chairman of the Board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate the Chairman of the Board as an executive or non-executive chairman. The Chairman of the Board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall
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perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.
Section 5.CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of such designation, the Chairman of the Board shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by applicable law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 6.CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 7.CHIEF INVESTMENT OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Investment Officer. The Chief Investment Officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 8.PRESIDENT. In the absence of a Chairman of the Board and a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by applicable law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 9.VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the President or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the President and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such Vice President by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, or Vice President for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 10.SECRETARY. The Secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by applicable law; (c) be
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custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 11.TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors and in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a Chief Financial Officer by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation. The Treasurer 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 Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 12.ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANTTREASURERS. The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or Treasurer, respectively, or by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors.
Section 13.COMPENSATION. The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.
Section 14.STOCKHOLDERS AGREEMENT. Notwithstanding anything in thisArticle V to the contrary, for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, officers of the Corporation shall have the qualifications, and the duties and responsibilities of any officer shall be, approved by the affirmative vote, if any, specified in the Stockholders Agreement.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section 1.CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by an authorized person.
Section 2.CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the
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Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner, and upon such power and authority, as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.
ARTICLE VII
STOCK
Section 1.CERTIFICATES. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL, or any other applicable law, and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in the manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.
Section 2.TRANSFERS.
(a) All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney-in-fact, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.
(b) Subject toSection 9(c) ofArticle II, the Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter, any applicable law (including, without limitation, the MGCL), the Stockholders Agreement for so long as it is in effect, and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
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Section 3.REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated;provided,however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, may be required, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, President or Chief Executive Officer, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.
Section 4.FIXING OF RECORD DATE OR CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS.
(a) The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.
(b) In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten days before the date of such meeting.
(c) If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders, (i) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (ii) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the directors, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted but the payment or allotment may not be made more than 60 days after the date on which the resolution is adopted.
(d) When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in thisSection 4, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if adjourned or postponed, except if the meeting is adjourned or postponed to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting may be determined as set forth in thisSection 4.
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Section 5.STOCK LEDGER. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class of stock held by such stockholder.
Section 6.FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may issue units consisting of different securities of the Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that, for a specified period, securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.
ARTICLE VIII
FISCAL YEAR
The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix and change the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution. Unless otherwise fixed by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the calendar year.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1.AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of applicable law and the Charter.
Section 2.CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
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ARTICLE X
INVESTMENT POLICY
Subject to the provisions of the Charter, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 1.SEAL. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall be in such form as approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.
Section 2.AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any applicable law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his or her service in such capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advance of expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of, or limit in any way, other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement or otherwise.
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Neither the amendment nor repeal of thisArticle XII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws inconsistent with thisArticle XII, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing, or by electronic transmission given 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. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by applicable statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new bylaws;provided, that for so long as the Stockholders Agreement is in effect, any such adoption, alteration or repeal shall be approved in the manner and by the vote specified in the Stockholders Agreement.
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