Exhibit 3.2
PARKWAY, INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of Parkway, Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall be located at such place or places as the board of directors (the “Board of Directors”) may designate.
Section 2.ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Corporation may have additional offices 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 office of the Corporation or at such other place within the United States as shall be set by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors (the “Directors”) and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held each year at a convenient location and on proper notice, on a date and at the time set by the Board of Directors, beginning with the year 2017. Failure to hold an annual meeting shall not invalidate the Corporation’s existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Corporation.
Section 3.SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a)General. Each of the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president and Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the person or persons calling the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.
(b)Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings.
(1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the “Record Date Request”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Requested Record Date”). The Record Date Request shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of
proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request, the Board of Directors may fix a Requested Record Date. The Requested Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Requested Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Requested Record Date, the Requested Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request is received by the secretary.
(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Requested Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request received by the secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Requested Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.
(3) The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.
(4) In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors;provided,however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a business day on the first preceding business day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an
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annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may submit its own proposal or proposals for consideration at any such Stockholder-Requested Meeting.
(5) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Requested Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days prior to the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.
(6) The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the secretary until the earlier of (i) five business days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five business day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
Section 4.NOTICE. Not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give notice 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. Such notice shall state the date, time and place (if any) of the meeting, the means of remote communication (if any) by which the stockholders and proxyholders may be deemed to be present in person and vote at such meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called. Such notice shall be written and may be delivered either by mail or nationally recognized private delivery service, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at his or her residence or usual place of business, or by any other means permitted under Maryland law, including by transmitting it to such stockholder by electronic mail to any electronic mail address of such stockholder or through any other electronic transmission by the Corporation. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his or her post office address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If
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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 this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.
Section 5.SCOPE OF NOTICE. Subject to Section 12(a) of this Article II, 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 statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 12(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to or at the commencement of the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than 10 days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.
Section 6.ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. At every meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the Board of Directors, if there is one, shall conduct the meeting or, in the case of vacancy in office or absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors, one of the following officers present shall conduct the meeting in the order stated: the chief executive officer, the president, the chief operating officer, if there is one, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, if no such officer is present, a chairman chosen by the stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes that all stockholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast. The secretary, or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the chairman, shall act as secretary.
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 as, in the discretion of such 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 or other such persons 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 or other such persons as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other person who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (g) determining when and for how long the polls should be open and closed; (h) recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and place announced at the meeting; (i) concluding a meeting; and (j) 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 7.QUORUM. 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 shall constitute a quorum, but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or under the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however, such
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quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without a new record date and without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
The stockholders present either in person or by proxy at a meeting that has been duly called and at which a quorum was established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than would be required to establish a quorum.
Section 8.VOTING. Each Director to be elected at each annual meeting of stockholders shall be chosen by the majority of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election at the meeting, provided a quorum is present; provided, however, that if, as of the last day on which a stockholder could timely provide notice to the secretary of the Corporation of its intent to nominate a person for election to the Board of Directors at such annual meeting of stockholders pursuant to Section 12 of this Article II, the number of nominees exceeds the number of Directors to be elected, then Directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote, provided a quorum is present. 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; provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, stockholders shall not have the right to cumulate votes. For purposes of this Section 8, a “majority of votes cast” shall mean that the number of votes cast “for” a Director’s election exceeds the number of votes cast “against” that Director’s election. 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 other matter that may properly come before the meeting, unless a different proportion of the votes cast or entitled to be cast is required herein or by rule or regulation or by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided in the Charter, each outstanding share of stock, 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 be by voice unless the presiding officer shall order that voting be by ballot.
Section 9.PROXIES. A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by 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 10.VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. Shares of stock of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, a general partner, a managing member or manager or director thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person (1) has been appointed to vote such shares pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing board of such corporation or other entity or pursuant to an agreement of the partners of the partnership or of the members of the limited liability company, and (2) presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such shares. Any director or other fiduciary may vote shares of stock registered in his or her name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.
Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it 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 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.
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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 the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the 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 or closing of the stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure that the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the stockholder of record of the specified shares in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
Section 11.INSPECTORS. At any meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may, or upon the request of any stockholder shall, appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting. Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting based upon their determination of the validity and effect of proxies, count all votes, report the results, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote and perform such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all the stockholders. In case any person who may be appointed as an inspector fails to appear or act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the chairman of the meeting.
Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or her 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 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 be prima facie evidence thereof.
Section 12.ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER PROPOSALS BY STOCKHOLDERS.
(a)Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of business other than nominations of Directors to be considered by the stockholders at an annual meeting of stockholders shall be made: (i) pursuant to the notice of the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) otherwise by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by a stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice of the meeting and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of directors or on the proposal of other business, as the case may be, and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in Sections 12(a)(2), (4) and (5), in the case of nominations of Directors, and Sections 12(a)(3) and (4), in the case of business other than the nomination of Directors.
(2) For nominations to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 12(a)(1)(iii), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation (the “Stockholder Notice”) containing the information specified in this Section 12(a)(2). To be timely, such Stockholder Notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting nor earlier than the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy
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statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting;provided,however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, such Stockholder Notice to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such Stockholder Notice shall set forth: (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director, (A) a description of all agreements, arrangements or understandings between such stockholder and such beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the nomination is made, on the one hand, and such potential nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons), on the other hand, pursuant to which the nomination is to be made by such stockholder, and (B) all other information relating to such potential nominee that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under 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; and (ii) as to the stockholder giving such Stockholder Notice and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the nomination is made, the additional information specified in Section 12(a)(4) below. For purposes of this Article II, references to “beneficial” ownership or other correlative terms shall be deemed to have the meaning given thereto under Rule 13d-3 of the Exchange Act, except that such person or entity shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such person or entity has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future.
(3) For business other than the nomination of Directors to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to Section 12(a)(1)(iii), the stockholder must have given a timely Stockholder Notice in writing to the secretary of the Corporation containing the information specified in this Section 12(a)(3). To be timely, such Stockholder Notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting nor earlier than the 150th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting;provided,however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, such Stockholder Notice to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such Stockholder Notice shall set forth: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting (including the complete text of any proposed resolutions or proposed amendments to these Bylaws or other governing documents of the Corporation), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, a brief written statement of the reasons why the stockholder and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made support such business, and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and of such beneficial owner (if any); (ii) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such business between or among the stockholder and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made, on the one hand, and any of their respective affiliates or associates and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, on the other hand, and a representation that such stockholder and such beneficial owner (if any) will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date on which public announcement of the record date is first made; and (iii) as to the stockholder giving such Stockholder Notice and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the proposal is made, the additional information specified in Section 12(a)(4) below.
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(4) Each Stockholder Notice delivered pursuant to Section 12(a)(2) or Section 12(a)(3) also must contain the following information as to the stockholder giving the Stockholder Notice and the beneficial owner (if any) on whose behalf the nomination is made (in the case of Section 12(a)(2)) or the business other than the nomination of Directors is desired to be brought (in the case of Section 12(a)(3)):
(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner (if any);
(B) the class or series and number of shares of stock of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner (if any), including the proportionate interest in the shares of stock of the Corporation held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder or such beneficial owner (if any) is a general partner or a direct or indirect beneficial owner of an interest in a general partner, as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, and a representation that such stockholder and such beneficial owner (if any) will notify the Corporation in writing of the class or series and number of such shares (including the proportionate interest in the shares held through a general or limited partnership) owned of record and beneficially as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date on which public announcement of the record date is first made;
(C) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including, without limitation, any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into by such stockholder and/or such beneficial owner (if any) as of the date of the Stockholder Notice, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage the risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder or beneficial owner or any of their respective affiliates, and a representation that such stockholder and such beneficial owner (if any) will notify the Corporation in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date on which public announcement of the record date is first made;
(D) a representation that such stockholder intends to appear at the meeting in person or by proxy to make the nomination or propose the other business specified in such Stockholder Notice, as the case may be; and
(E) a representation as to whether such stockholder or such beneficial owner (if any) intends, or is intended to be part of a group (within the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) that intends, (i) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of stock required to elect the proposed Director nominee or to approve or adopt the other business proposal, as the case may be, and/or (ii) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nominee or other business proposal, as the case may be.
(5) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 12(a), in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation of such action or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by Section 12(a)(2) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if the notice is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day immediately following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
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(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 only (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of the meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that Directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 12(b) and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 12(b). 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 as a Director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice containing the information required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 12 shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c)General.
(1) Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a Director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall provide, within five business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), written verification, satisfactory to the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, in his, her or its sole discretion, of the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 12. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may treat the information as to which written verification was requested as not having been provided in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12.
(2) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 12 shall be eligible for election by stockholders 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 Section 12. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any other 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 Section 12 and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with this Section 12, to declare that such defective nomination or proposal be disregarded.
(3) For purposes of this Section 12, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(4) Sections 12(a) and (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit business before an annual meeting of the stockholders. Notwithstanding the
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foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 12;provided,however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to Sections 12(a) and (b). Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8, or any successor provision, under the Exchange Act.
Section 13.TELEPHONE MEETINGS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may permit stockholders to 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 14.INFORMAL ACTION BY STOCKHOLDERS. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent that sets forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and is filed with the records of the stockholders meetings.
Section 15.CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (or any successor statute) (the “MGCL”) shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This section 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.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1.GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. In the case of failure to elect Directors at an annual meeting of the stockholders, the Directors holding over shall continue to direct the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation until their successors are elected and qualify.
Section 2.NUMBER, ELECTION, AND QUALIFICATIONS. From time to time, 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 fewer than the minimum number required by the MGCL, nor more than the maximum number permitted by the Charter; and further provided, that the tenure of office of a Director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of Directors. Unless otherwise provided in the Charter or these Bylaws, the Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, and each Director shall be elected to serve until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her earlier death, resignation or removal. Any Director may resign at any time by delivering written notice to the Board of Directors, effective upon execution and delivery of such written notice or upon any future date specified in the notice. The acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. At least a majority of the Board of Directors shall be directors whom the Board of Directors has determined are independent under the standards established by the Board of Directors and in accordance with the then applicable listing requirements of the New York Stock Exchange. A Director shall be an individual at least 21 years of age who is not under legal disability. The fifth sentence of this Article III, Section 2 shall be effective from and after the commencement of trading of securities of the Corporation on the New York Stock Exchange, and not prior thereto.
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Section 3.ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on the same day and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the date, time and place, either within or without the State of Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
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 of Directors, the chief executive officer or the president or by a majority of the Directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the date, 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, U.S. mail or courier to each Director at his or her business or residence address or by any other means permitted under Maryland law. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by U.S. 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 U.S. mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the U.S. 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 statute or these Bylaws.
Section 6.QUORUM. A majority of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such Directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the Directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other proportion of a particular group of Directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority of such group.
The Directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum was established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough Directors to leave less than would be 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 less than 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.
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Section 8.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 9.INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS. 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 to such action is signed or submitted by electronic transmission to the Corporation by each Director and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 10.ORGANIZATION. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors or, in the absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors, the vice chairman, if any, of the Board of Directors, or, in the absence of both the chairman and the vice chairman, if any, 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 remaining 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, a person appointed by the chairman, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
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 (even if fewer than a quorum of Directors remain). Vacancies on the Board of Directors shall be filled as provided in the Charter. Any individual so elected as director shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and until a successor is duly elected and qualified, or until such director’s earlier death, resignation or removal.
Section 12.COMPENSATION. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as Directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting 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 any service or activity performed or engaged 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.LOSS OF DEPOSITS. No Director shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other institution with whom moneys or stock have been deposited.
Section 14.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.
Section 15.REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. The stockholders may remove any Director in the manner provided in the Charter.
Section 16.RELIANCE. Each Director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of
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the Corporation, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees or by the advisers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Directors or officers of the Corporation, as to matters which the Director, officer, employee or agent reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Director.
Section 17.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 18.CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. A Director who is not also an officer of the Corporation shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any Director or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.
Section 19.EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 19 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 Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (a) a meeting of the Board of Directors may be called by any Director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances, (b) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an 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 (c) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1.NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members a Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and an Investment Committee and may appoint other committees, composed of one or more Directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors;provided,however, that the membership of each of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee, the Audit Committee, the Compensation Committee and the Investment Committee at all times shall comply with the independence and other listing requirements and rules and regulations of the New York Stock Exchange and the rules and regulations promulgated under the federal securities laws, and any other independence and other requirements set forth in the Company’s corporate governance guidelines and applicable committee charters.
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Section 2.POWERS. The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article IV any of the powers of the Directors, except as prohibited by law.
Section 3.MEETINGS. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another Director to act in the place of such absent member provided that such Director meets the requirements of such committee. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report the same to the Board of Directors at the next succeeding meeting, and any action by the committee shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of Directors, provided that no rights of third persons shall be affected by any such revision or alteration.
Section 4.QUORUM. A majority of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at a committee meeting, and the act of a majority present shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors, or the members of a committee to which such power has been duly delegated by the Board of Directors, may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or any two members of any committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide.
Section 5.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 6.INFORMAL ACTION BY COMMITTEES. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing to such action is signed or submitted by electronic transmission to the Corporation by each member of the committee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.
Section 7.VACANCIES, REMOVAL AND DISSOLUTION. 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 all vacancies, to designate alternate members 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 president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the Board of Directors, a vice chairman of the Board of Directors, a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, chief investment officer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time appoint such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the meeting of the Board of Directors held on the date of the annual meeting of stockholders, except that the chief executive officer or president may appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except
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(1) president and vice president and (2) chief executive officer and vice president may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may leave any office unfilled. 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 by the Board of Directors, with or without cause, 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 giving written notice of his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the Board of Directors, 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 notice of 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.CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. The chief executive officer shall have responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, for the general management and administration of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and for the supervision of other officers. The chief executive officer 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 these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by 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. In the absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors or the vice chairman of the Board of Directors, if there be one, the chief executive officer shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present.
Section 5.CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
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 set forth 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 set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 8.CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of the Board of Directors and shall provide whether the chairman of the Board of Directors shall also be an officer of the Corporation. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present and shall in general oversee all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The chairman of the Board of Directors, if designated as an officer of the Corporation, 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 law to be otherwise executed. The chairman of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
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Section 9.PRESIDENT. In the absence of the chairman of the Board of Directors and the chief executive officer, the president shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. In the absence of a designation of a chief executive officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief executive officer. The president 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 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 or the chief executive officer from time to time.
Section 10.VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of each of the chief executive officer and the president or in the event of a vacancy in all three offices, 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 him or her by the chief executive officer or by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, as senior vice president or as vice president for particular areas of responsibility. The chief executive officer or, in the event there is no chief executive officer, the president may designate one or more vice presidents as vice president for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 11.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 law; (c) be 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 12.TREASURER. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and 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.
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 chief executive officer and Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever they may require it, an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
Section 13.ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. 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 president, the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.
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Section 14.COMPENSATION. The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a Director.
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 Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner 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 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 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. All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares of stock, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares of stock are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer. 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 uncertificated shares of stock, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to record holders of such shares of stock a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on share certificates.
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The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares 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 shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
Section 3.REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer designated by the Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated;provided,however, if such shares of stock 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 such certificates may be issued. When authorizing the issuance of a new certificate, an officer designated by the Board of Directors may, in his or her discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated certificate or the owner’s legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he or she shall require and/or to give bond, with sufficient surety, to the Corporation to indemnify it against any loss or claim which may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.
Section 4.CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE. 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 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 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.
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.
If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders, (a) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 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 (b) 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 Board of Directors declaring the dividend or allotment of rights is adopted.
When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.
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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 issue fractional stock or provide for the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as they 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 to the books of the Corporation only in such unit.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1.AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized and declared by the Board of Directors, subject to the applicable provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the applicable provisions of 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 or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine to be in the best interest of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
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 contain the name of the Corporation and the year and state of its incorporation. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.
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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 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 ADVANCEMENT OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, and in accordance with applicable provisions of the Charter and any indemnification agreement or resolution of the Board of Directors in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify, and pay or reimburse the reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to, (a) any present or former director or officer of the Corporation against any claim or liability to which such individual was made or threatened to be made a party or was otherwise subject to by reason of service in such capacity, and (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 or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, limited liability company or any other enterprise against any claim or liability to which such individual was made or threatened to be made a party or was otherwise subject to by reason of service in such capacity. In addition, the Corporation may, with the approval of the Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (i) or (ii) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Article with respect to any act or failure to act that occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
The Corporation may, to the fullest extent permitted by law, purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person described in the preceding paragraph against any liability which may be asserted against such person.
The indemnification provided herein shall not be deemed to limit the right of the Corporation to indemnify any other person for any such expenses to the fullest extent permitted by law, nor shall it be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification from the Corporation may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise, both as to action in such person’s official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.
ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the
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waiver of notice, unless specifically required by 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 is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws. In addition, the stockholders of the Corporation may adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws by the affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the aggregate votes entitled to be cast with respect thereto.
ARTICLE XV
BOOKS AND RECORDS
The Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of its accounts and transactions and minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders and Board of Directors and of an executive or other committee when exercising any of the powers of the Board of Directors. The books and records of the Corporation may be in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual inspection. Minutes shall be recorded in written form but may be maintained in the form of a reproduction.
ARTICLE XVI
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION
Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought in the right or on behalf of the Corporation, (b) any action asserting a claim for or based on a breach of any duty owed by any current or former director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the stockholders of the Corporation, including a claim alleging the aiding and abetting of such a breach of duty, (c) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of MGCL (including, without limitation, Section 2-401 and 2-405.1 thereof), the Charter or these Bylaws, or (d) any action asserting a claim related to or involving the Corporation or any current or former director, officer, other employee or agent of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
ARTICLE XVII
SEVERABILITY
If any provision of the Bylaws shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of the Bylaws in any jurisdiction.
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