Section 1. The fiscal year shall begin with the first day of January in each year.
Section 1. Whenever under the provision of these by-laws notice is required to be given to any director, officer or stockholder, it shall not be construed to mean personal notice, but such written notice may be given by mail or private carrier, with postage thereon prepaid, or by e-mail transmission or other similar electronic means of communication providing evidence of transmission addressed to such stockholder, officer or director, at such address as it appears on the books of the corporation, or in default of other address, to such stockholder, director or officer at the general post office at the principal office of the corporation in the State of Alabama. Written notice to the corporation’s stockholders is effective when mailed, if mailed postpaid and correctly addressed to the stockholder's address shown on the books of the corporation. Notice to directors may also be given in person, or by telephone, telecopy or facsimile transmission. Any stockholder, director or officer may waive any notice required to be given either by statute or under these by-laws; and all meetings of stockholders and directors may be held without notice, if waived, at such time and place as may be fixed.
Section 1. Except as otherwise provided by law, these by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed by a majority of the board of directors present at any meeting thereof.
Section 1. Each person who is or was a director, officer or employee of the corporation holding one or more positions of management through and inclusive of department managers or other employees explicitly designated in writing by the president or a vice president of the Company (such individuals being hereinafter referred to as ”indemnified parties”) and who was or is a party or was or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed
claim, action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he is or was a director of the corporation or officer or employee of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, shall be indemnified by the corporation as a matter of right against any and all expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him and against any and all claims, judgments, fines, penalties, liabilities and amounts paid in settlement actually incurred by him in defense of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, including appeals, to the full extent permitted by applicable law. The indemnification provided by this Section shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
Expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred by an indemnified party with respect to the defense of any such claim, action, suit or proceeding may be advanced by the corporation prior to the final disposition of such claim, action, suit or proceeding, as authorized by the board of directors in the specific case, upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person entitled to be indemnified by the corporation under this Section or otherwise; provided, however, that the advancement of such expenses shall not be deemed to be indemnification unless and until it shall ultimately be determined that such person is entitled to be indemnified by the corporation.
The corporation may purchase and maintain insurance at the expense of the corporation on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or any person who is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director (or the equivalent), officer, employee, agent or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any liability or expense (including attorneys’ fees) asserted against him and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against such liability or expense under this Section or otherwise.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing provisions of this Section, no present or future director or officer of the corporation, or his heirs, executors, or administrators, shall be liable for any act, omission, step, or conduct taken or had in good faith, which is required, authorized, or approved by any order or orders issued pursuant to the Public Utility Holding Company Act of 1935, the Federal Power Act, or any federal or state statue or municipal ordinance regulating the corporation or its parent by reason of their being holding or investment companies, public utility companies, public utility holding companies, or subsidiaries of public utility holding companies. In any action, suit, or proceeding based on any act, omission, step, or conduct, as in this paragraph described, the provisions hereof shall be brought to the attention of the court. In the event that the foregoing provisions of this paragraph are found by the court not to constitute a valid defense on the grounds of not being applicable to the particular class of plaintiff, each such director and officer, and his heirs, executors, and
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administrators, shall be reimbursed for, or indemnified against, all expenses and liabilities incurred by him or imposed on him, in connection with, or arising out of, any such action, suit, or proceeding based on any act, omission, step, or conduct taken or had in good faith as in this paragraph described. Such expenses and liabilities shall include, but shall not be limited to, judgments, court costs, and attorneys’ fees.
The foregoing rights shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which any such director or officer or employee may otherwise be entitled and shall be available whether or not the director or officer or employee continues to be a director or officer or employee at the time of incurring any such expenses and liabilities.
ARTICLE XIV
SEVERABILITY AND RULES OF CONSTRUCTION
Section 1. If any word, clause or provision of the by-laws or any indemnification made under Article XIII hereof shall for any reason be determined to be invalid, the provisions of the by-laws shall not otherwise be affected thereby but shall remain in full force and effect. The masculine pronoun, as used in the by-laws, means the masculine and feminine wherever applicable.
As amended January 26, 2007
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