Exhibit 3.1
MICROS SYSTEMS, INC.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.01.Annual Meeting. The Corporation shall hold an annual meeting of its stockholders to elect directors and transact any other business within its powers. The meeting shall be held on a date to be fixed by the Board of Directors at the time and place to be fixed by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Except as the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) or statute provides otherwise, any business may be considered at an annual meeting without the purpose of the meeting having been specified in the notice. Failure to hold an annual meeting does not invalidate the Corporation’s existence or affect any otherwise valid corporate acts.
SECTION 1.02.Special Meeting. At any time in the interval between annual meetings, a special meeting of the stockholders may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors by vote at a meeting or in writing (addressed to the Secretary of the Corporation) with or without a meeting. Special meetings of the stockholders shall be called by the Secretary at the request of the stockholders only on the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting and then only as may be required by law. The Board of Directors shall have sole power to fix the date and time of the special meeting.
SECTION 1.03.Place of Meetings. Unless the Charter provides otherwise, meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place as is set from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 1.04.Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice. Not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety (90) days before each stockholders’ meeting, the Secretary shall give written notice of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting and each other stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting, the means of remote communication, if any, and, if the meeting is a special meeting or notice of the purpose is required by statute, the purpose of the meeting. Notice is given to a stockholder when it is personally delivered to him or her, left at his or her residence or usual place of business, mailed to him or her at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Corporation or transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. If the Corporation has received a request from a stockholder that notice not be sent by electronic transmission, the Corporation may not provide notice to the stockholder by electronic transmission. Notice given by electronic transmission shall be considered ineffective if the Corporation is unable to deliver two consecutive notices and the inability to deliver the notices becomes known to the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the transfer agent or other person responsible for giving the notice. The inadvertent failure to deliver any notice by electronic transmission does not invalidate any meeting or other action. An affidavit of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the transfer agent
1
or other agent of the Corporation that notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission, in the absence of actual fraud, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the affidavit. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, each person who is entitled to notice waives notice if the person before or after the meeting delivers a written waiver or a waiver by electronic transmission which is filed with the records of stockholders’ meetings, or is present at the meeting in person or by proxy.
SECTION 1.05.Quorum; Voting. Unless any statute or the Charter provides otherwise, at a 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 the meeting constitutes a quorum, and a majority of all the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to approve any matter which properly comes before the meeting, except that a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director.
SECTION 1.06.Adjournments. Whether or not a quorum is present, a meeting of stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time to time without further notice by a majority vote of the stockholders present in person or by proxy to a date not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the original record date. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified may be deferred and transacted at any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present.
SECTION 1.07.General Right to Vote; Proxies. Unless the Charter provides for a greater or lesser number of votes per share or limits or denies voting rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, is entitled to one (1) vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders; however, a share is not entitled to be voted if any installment payable on it is overdue and unpaid. In all elections for directors, each share of stock 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 stockholder may vote the stock the stockholder owns of record either in person or by proxy. A stockholder may sign a writing authorizing another person to act as proxy. Signing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholder’s authorized agent signing the writing or causing the stockholder’s signature to be affixed to the writing by any reasonable means, including facsimile signature. A stockholder may authorize another person to act as proxy by transmitting, or authorizing the transmission of, an authorization by a telegram, cablegram, datagram, electronic mail or any other electronic or telephonic means to the person authorized to act as proxy or to any other person authorized to receive the proxy authorization on behalf of the person authorized to act as the proxy, including a proxy solicitation firm or proxy support service organization. Unless a proxy provides otherwise, it is not valid more than eleven (11) months after its date. A proxy is revocable by a stockholder at any time without condition or qualification unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest. A proxy may be made irrevocable for so long as it is coupled with an interest. The interest with which a proxy may be coupled includes an interest in the stock to be voted under the proxy or another general interest in the Corporation or its assets or liabilities.
SECTION 1.08.List of Stockholders. At each meeting of stockholders, a full, true and complete list of all stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, showing the number and class of shares held by each and certified by the transfer agent for such class or by the Secretary, shall be furnished by the Secretary.
2
SECTION 1.09.Conduct of Business and Voting. At all meetings of stockholders, unless the voting is conducted by inspectors, the proxies and ballots shall be received, and all questions touching the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies, the acceptance or rejection of votes, and procedures for the conduct of business not otherwise specified by these Bylaws, the Charter or law, shall be decided or determined by the chairman of the meeting. If demanded by stockholders, present in person or by proxy, entitled to cast ten percent (10%) in number of votes entitled to be cast, or if ordered by the chairman of the meeting, the vote upon any election or question shall be taken by ballot and, upon like demand or order, the voting shall be conducted by two (2) inspectors, in which event the proxies and ballots shall be received, and all questions touching the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided by such inspectors. Unless so demanded or ordered, no vote need be by ballot and voting need not be conducted by inspectors. The stockholders at any meeting may choose an inspector or inspectors to act at such meeting, and in default of such election the chairman of the meeting may appoint an inspector or inspectors. No candidate for election as a director at a meeting shall serve as an inspector thereat.
SECTION 1.10.Informal Action by Stockholders. Except as provided below, any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous written consent which sets forth the action and is signed by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter is filed with the records of stockholders’ meetings. Unless the Charter requires otherwise, the holders of any class of stock other than common stock, entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, may take action or consent to any action by the written consent 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 stockholders’ meeting if the Corporation gives notice of the action to each stockholder not later than ten (10) days after the effective time of the action.
SECTION 1.11.Meeting by Conference Telephone.Stockholders may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
ARTICLE II
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.01.Function of Directors. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. All powers of the Corporation may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Directors, except as conferred on or reserved to the stockholders by statute or by the Charter or Bylaws.
3
SECTION 2.02.Number of Directors. The Corporation shall have at least one (1) director. The Corporation shall have the number of directors provided in the Charter until changed as herein provided. A majority of the entire Board of Directors may alter the number of directors set by the Charter to not exceeding 25 nor less than the minimum number then permitted herein, but the action may not affect the tenure of office of any director.
SECTION 2.03.Election and Tenure of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of stock separately entitled to elect one (1) or more directors, at each annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect directors to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected and qualify.
SECTION 2.04.Removal of Director. Unless statute or the Charter provides otherwise, the stockholders may remove any director, with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast generally for the election of directors.
SECTION 2.05.Vacancy on Board of Directors. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class or series of stock separately entitled to elect one (1) or more directors, the stockholders may elect a successor to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results from the removal of a director. A director elected by the stockholders to fill a vacancy which results from the removal of a director shall serve for the balance of the term of the removed director. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of stock separately entitled to elect one (1) or more directors, a majority of the remaining directors, whether or not sufficient to constitute a quorum, may fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results from any cause except an increase in the number of directors, and a majority of the entire Board of Directors may fill a vacancy which results from an increase in the number of directors. A director elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy serves until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies.
SECTION 2.06.Regular Meetings. After each meeting of stockholders at which directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors shall meet as soon thereafter as practicable for the purpose of organization and the transaction of other business. In the event that no other time and place are specified by resolution of the Board of Directors or announced by the President or the Chairman of the Board at such stockholders’ meeting, the Board of Directors shall meet immediately following the close of, and at the place of, such stockholders’ meeting. Any other regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and time and at such place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. No notice of such meeting following a stockholders’ meeting or any other regular meeting shall be necessary if held as hereinabove provided.
SECTION 2.07.Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors by vote at a meeting, or in writing with or without a meeting. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors. In the absence of designation such meeting shall be held at such place as may be designated in the call.
4
SECTION 2.08.Notice of Meeting. Except as provided inSection 2.06, the Secretary shall give notice to each director of each regular and special meeting of the Board of Directors. The notice shall state the time and place of the meeting. Notice is given to a director when it is delivered personally to him or her, left at his or her residence or usual place of business, or sent by telegraph, facsimile transmission or telephone, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time of the meeting or, in the alternative by mail to his or her address as it shall appear on the records of the Corporation, at least seventy-two (72) hours before the time of the meeting. Unless these Bylaws or a resolution of the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the notice need not state the business to be transacted at or the purposes of any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. No notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need be given to any director who attends except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, or to any director who, in writing executed and filed with the records of the meeting either before or after the holding thereof, waives such notice. Any meeting of the Board of Directors, regular or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned meeting other than by announcement.
SECTION 2.09.Quorum; Action by Directors. A majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the directors present by majority vote and without notice other than by announcement may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall attend. At any 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. Unless statute or the Charter or Bylaws requires a greater proportion, the action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present is action of the Board of Directors. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a unanimous written consent which sets forth the action is signed by each member of the Board of Directors and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.10.Meeting by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
SECTION 2.11.Compensation. By resolution of the Board of Directors, a fixed sum and expenses, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of committees thereof, and other compensation for their services as such or on committees of the Board of Directors, may be paid to directors. Directors who are full-time employees of the Corporation need not be paid for attendance at meetings of the Board of Directors or committees thereof for which fees are paid to other directors. A director who serves the Corporation in any other capacity also may receive compensation for such other services, pursuant to a resolution of the directors.
5
ARTICLE III
COMMITTEES
SECTION 3.01.Committees. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members one (1) or more committees, each committee to consist of one (1) or more directors and delegate to these committees any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except the power to (i) authorize dividends on stock, (ii) elect directors, (iii) issue stock other than as provided in the next sentence, (iv) recommend to the stockholders any action which requires stockholder approval, other than the election of directors, (v) amend these Bylaws or (vi) approve any merger or share exchange which does not require stockholder approval other than the election of directors. If the Board of Directors has given general authorization for the issuance of stock providing for or establishing a method or procedure for determining the maximum number or the maximum aggregate offering price of shares to be issued, a committee of the Board of Directors, in accordance with that general authorization or any stock option or other plan or program adopted by the Board of Directors, may authorize or fix the terms of stock subject to classification or reclassification and the terms on which any stock may be issued, including all terms and conditions required or permitted to be established or authorized by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.02.Committee Procedure. Each committee may fix rules of procedure for its business. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee. The members of a committee present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act in the place of an absent member. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of a committee may be taken without a meeting, if a unanimous written consent which sets forth the action is signed by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of the committee. The members of a committee may conduct any meeting thereof by conference telephone in accordance with the provisions ofSection 2.10.
SECTION 3.03.Emergency. In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient severity to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Corporation by its directors and officers as contemplated by the Charter and these Bylaws: (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 an emergency may be given less than twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third (1/3) of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
SECTION 4.01.Executive and Other Officers. The Corporation shall have a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer. It may also have a Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors
6
shall designate who shall serve as chief executive officer, who shall have general supervision of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and may also designate a chief operating officer, who shall have supervision of the operations of the Corporation, and a chief financial officer, who shall have supervision over the finances and securities of the Corporation. In the absence of any designation, the Chairman of the Board, if there be one, shall serve as chief executive officer, the President shall serve as chief operating officer, and the Treasurer shall serve as chief financial officer. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be none, the President shall be the chief executive officer. The same person may hold both offices. The Corporation may also have one (1) or more Vice Presidents, assistant officers, subordinate officers and other officers as may be established by the Board of Directors. A person may hold more than one office in the Corporation, except that no person may serve concurrently as both President and Vice President of the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board shall be a director, and the other officers may be directors.
SECTION 4.02.Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one be elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. Unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors, he or she shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. In general, he or she shall perform such duties as are customarily performed by the chief executive officer of a corporation and may perform any duties of the President and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as are from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.03.President.Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the President, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he or she shall be present. Unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the chief operating officer of the Corporation and perform the duties customarily performed by chief operating officers. He or she may execute, in the name of the Corporation, all authorized deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases in which the signing and execution thereof shall have been expressly delegated to some other officer or agent of the Corporation. In general, he or she shall perform such other duties customarily performed by a president of a corporation and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as are from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer of the Corporation.
SECTION 4.04.Vice Presidents. The Vice President or Vice Presidents, at the request of the chief executive officer or the President, or in the President’s absence or during his or her inability to act, shall perform the duties and exercise the functions of the President, and when so acting shall have the powers of the President. If there be more than one (1) Vice President, the Board of Directors may determine which one (1) or more of the Vice Presidents shall perform any of such duties or exercise any of such functions, or if such determination is not made by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the President may make such determination; otherwise, any of the Vice Presidents may perform any of such duties or exercise any of such functions. Each Vice President shall perform such other duties and have such other powers, and have such additional descriptive designations in their titles (if any), as are from time to time assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the President.
7
SECTION 4.05.Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, of the Board of Directors, and of any committees, in books provided for the purpose. The Secretary shall see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law. He or she shall be custodian of the records of the Corporation. The Secretary may also witness any document on behalf of the Corporation, the execution of which is duly authorized, see that the corporate seal is affixed where such document is required or desired to be under its seal, and, when so affixed, may attest the same. In general, he or she shall perform such other duties customarily performed by a secretary of a corporation, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as are from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the President.
SECTION 4.06.Treasurer.The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Corporation, and shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, in the name of the Corporation, all moneys or other valuable effects in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall, from time to time, be selected by the Board of Directors. Unless otherwise specified by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation. He or she shall render to the President and to the Board of Directors, whenever requested, an account of the financial condition of the Corporation. In general, he or she shall perform such other duties customarily performed by a treasurer of a corporation, and shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as are from time to time assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the President.
SECTION 4.07.Assistant and Subordinate Officers and Other Officers.The assistant and subordinate officers of the Corporation are all officers below the office of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer. The assistant or subordinate officers, and other officers appointed by the Board of Directors, shall have such duties as are from time to time assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer or the President.
SECTION 4.08.Election, Tenure, and Removal of Officers. The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may from time to time authorize any committee or officer to appoint assistant and subordinate officers. Election or appointment of an officer, employee or agent shall not of itself create contract rights. All officers shall be appointed to hold their offices, respectively, during the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors (or, as to any assistant or subordinate officer, any committee or officer authorized by the Board of Directors) may remove an officer at any time. The removal of an officer does not prejudice any of his or her contract rights. The Board of Directors (or, as to any assistant or subordinate officer, any committee or officer authorized by the Board of Directors) may fill a vacancy which occurs in any office for the unexpired portion of the term.
SECTION 4.09.Compensation.The Board of Directors shall have power to fix the salaries and other compensation and remuneration, of whatever kind, of all officers of the Corporation. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may authorize any committee or officer, upon whom the power of appointing assistant and subordinate officers may have been conferred, to fix the salaries, compensation and remuneration of such assistant and subordinate officers.
8
ARTICLE V
DIVISIONAL TITLES
SECTION 5.01.Conferring Divisional Titles. The Board of Directors may from time to time confer upon any employee of a division of the Corporation the title of President, Vice President, Treasurer or Controller of such division or any other title or titles deemed appropriate, or may authorize the Chairman of the Board or the President to do so. Any such titles so conferred may be discontinued and withdrawn at any time by the Board of Directors, or by the Chairman of the Board or the President if so authorized by the Board of Directors. Any employee of a division designated by such a divisional title shall have the powers and duties with respect to such division as shall be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President.
SECTION 5.02.Effect of Divisional Titles.The conferring of divisional titles shall not create an office of the Corporation under Article IV unless specifically designated as such by the Board of Directors, but any person who is an officer of the Corporation may also have a divisional title.
ARTICLE VI
STOCK
SECTION 6.01.Certificates for Stock.The Board of Directors may determine to issue certificated or uncertificated shares of capital stock and other securities of the Corporation. For certificated stock, each stockholder is entitled to certificates which represent and certify the shares of stock he or she holds in the Corporation. Each stock certificate shall include on its face the name of the Corporation, the name of the stockholder or other person to whom it is issued, and the class of stock and number of shares it represents. The stock certificate shall also include on its face or back (a) a statement of any restrictions on transferability and a statement of the designations and any preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of the stock of each class which the Corporation is authorized to issue, of the differences in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each series of a preferred or special class in series which the Corporation is authorized to issue, to the extent they have been set, and of the authority of the Board of Directors to set the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series of a preferred or special class of stock or (b) a statement which provides in substance that the Corporation will furnish a full statement of such information to any stockholder on request and without charge. Such request may be made to the Secretary or to its transfer agent. Except as provided in the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code—Investment Securities, the fact that a stock certificate does not contain or refer to a restriction on transferability that is adopted after the date of issuance does not mean that the restriction is invalid or unenforceable. Upon the issuance of uncertificated shares of capital stock, the Corporation shall send the stockholder a written
9
statement of the same information required above on the certificate and by the Maryland Uniform Commercial Code—Investment Securities. It shall be in such form, not inconsistent with law or with the Charter, as shall be approved by the Board of Directors or any officer or officers designated for such purpose by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each stock certificate shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, Vice Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice President, Chief Executive Officer or Chief Financial Officer, and countersigned by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer. Each certificate may be sealed with the actual corporate seal or a facsimile of it or in any other form and the signatures may be either manual or facsimile signatures. A certificate is valid and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an officer when it is issued. A certificate may not be issued until the stock represented by it is fully paid.
SECTION 6.02.Transfers.The Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates of stock, and may appoint transfer agents and registrars thereof. The duties of transfer agent and registrar may be combined.
SECTION 6.03.Record Dates or Closing of Transfer Books.The Board of Directors may, and shall have the sole power to, set a record date or direct that the stock transfer books be closed for a stated period for the purpose of making any proper determination with respect to stockholders, including which stockholders are entitled to request a special meeting of stockholders, notice of a meeting of stockholders, vote at a meeting of stockholders, receive a dividend or be allotted other rights. The record date may not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed nor, subject toSection 1.06, more than ninety (90) days before the date on which the action requiring the determination will be taken; further, the transfer books may not be closed for a period longer than twenty (20) days, and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, the record date or the closing of the transfer books shall be at least ten (10) days before the date of the meeting. Any shares of the Corporation’s own stock acquired by the Corporation between the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders and the time of the meeting may be voted at the meeting by the holder of record as of the record date and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at the meeting.
SECTION 6.04.Stock Ledger.The Corporation shall maintain a stock ledger which contains the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of stock of each class which the stockholder holds. The stock ledger may be in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual inspection. The original or a duplicate of the stock ledger shall be kept at the offices of a transfer agent for the particular class of stock, or, if none, at the principal office in the State of Maryland or the principal executive offices of the Corporation.
SECTION 6.05.Certification of Beneficial Owners.The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder of the Corporation 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 certify; the purpose for which the certification may be made; the form
10
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 which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt of a certification which complies with the procedure adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with thisSection 6.05, the person specified in the certification is, for the purpose set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
SECTION 6.06.Lost Stock Certificates.The Board of Directors may determine the conditions for issuing a new stock certificate in place of one which is alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, or the Board of Directors may delegate such power to any officer or officers of the Corporation. In their discretion, the Board of Directors or such officer or officers may require the owner of the certificate to give bond, with sufficient surety, to indemnify the Corporation against any loss or claim arising as a result of the issuance of a new certificate. In their discretion, the Board of Directors or such officer or officers may refuse to issue such new certificate save upon the order of some court having jurisdiction in the premises.
ARTICLE VII
FINANCE
SECTION 7.01.Checks, Drafts, etc.All checks, drafts and orders for the payment of money, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name of the Corporation, shall, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, a Vice President, an Assistant Vice President, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.
SECTION 7.02.Annual Statement of Affairs.The President or chief accounting officer shall prepare annually a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Corporation, to include a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year. The statement of affairs shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the stockholders and, within twenty (20) days after the meeting, be placed on file at the Corporation’s principal office.
SECTION 7.03.Fiscal Year.The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the twelve (12) calendar months period ending May 31st in each year, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7.04.Dividends.If declared by the Board of Directors at any meeting thereof, the Corporation may pay dividends on its shares in cash, property or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, unless such dividend is contrary to law or to a restriction contained in the Charter.
11
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 8.01.General Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify (i) its present and former directors and officers, whether serving or having served the Corporation or at the Corporation’s request any other entity, to the full extent required or permitted by Maryland law now or hereafter in force, including the advance of expenses under the procedures and to the fullest extent permitted by law and (ii) other employees and agents to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors, Charter or these Bylaws and as permitted by law. The indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these Bylaws: (i) shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses may be entitled under any law (common or statutory), or any agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or other provision that is consistent with law, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office or while employed by or acting as agent for the Corporation; (ii) shall continue in respect of all events occurring while a person was a director or officer (or employee or agent, if applicable) after such person has ceased to be a director or officer (or employee or agent, if applicable); and (iii) shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of such person. The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these indemnification provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such Bylaws, resolutions or contracts implementing such provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law.
The Corporation shall not be liable for any payment under this Bylaw in connection with a claim made by a person seeking indemnity to the extent such person has otherwise actually received payment under any insurance policy, agreement, vote or otherwise, of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. All rights to indemnification and advance of expenses under the Charter and hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer (or employee or agent, if applicable) of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this Bylaw is in effect. Nothing herein shall prevent the amendment of this Bylaw, provided that no such amendment shall diminish the rights of any person hereunder with respect to events occurring or claims made before its adoption or as to claims made after its adoption in respect of events occurring before its adoption. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification or advance of expenses of such director or officer (or employee or agent, if applicable) or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to events occurring, or claims made, while this Bylaw or any provision hereof is in force.
SECTION 8.02.Procedure. Any indemnification, or payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of any proceeding, shall be made promptly, and in any event within sixty (60) days, upon the written request of a person entitled to seek indemnification (the “Indemnified Party”). The right to indemnification and advances hereunder shall be enforceable by the Indemnified Party in any court of competent jurisdiction, if (i) the Corporation denies such request, in whole or in part or (ii) no disposition thereof is made within sixty (60) days. The Indemnified Party’s costs and expenses (including attorneys’ fees) incurred in connection with
12
successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be paid or reimbursed by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any action for advance for expenses that (i) a determination has been made that the facts then known to those making the determination would preclude indemnification or (ii) the Corporation has not received both (A) an undertaking as required by law to repay such advances in the event a determination shall ultimately be made that the standard of conduct has not been met and (B) a written affirmation by the Indemnified Party of such Indemnified Party’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met.
SECTION 8.03. Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any Indemnified Party against any liability asserted against and incurred by any Indemnified Party in any protected capacity or arising out of his or her position. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on its behalf in respect of any liability it may incur to provide indemnification under the Charter, these Bylaws, or law.
SECTION 8.04.Severability; Definitions. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Article VIII shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. The phrase “this Bylaw” in this Article VIII means this Article VIII in its entirety.
ARTICLE IX
SUNDRY PROVISIONS
SECTION 9.01.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 any executive or other committee when such committee is 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. The original or a certified copy of these Bylaws shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation.
SECTION 9.02.Corporate Seal.The Board of Directors shall provide a suitable seal, bearing the name of the Corporation, which shall be in the charge of the Secretary. The Board of Directors may authorize one (1) or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof. If the Corporation is required to place its corporate seal to a document, it is sufficient to meet the requirement of any law, rule or regulation relating to a corporate seal to place the word “(seal)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to sign the document on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION 9.03.Bonds.The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent or employee of the Corporation to give a bond to the Corporation, conditioned upon the faithful discharge of his or her duties, with one (1) or more sureties and in such amount as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.
13
SECTION 9.04.Voting Stock in Other Corporations.Stock of other corporations or associations, registered in the name of the Corporation, may be voted by the President, a Vice President or a proxy appointed by either of them. The Board of Directors, however, may by resolution appoint some other person to vote such shares, in which case such person shall be entitled to vote such shares upon the production of a certified copy of such resolution.
SECTION 9.05.Mail.Any notice or other document which is required by these Bylaws to be mailed shall be deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid.
SECTION 9.06.Execution of Documents.A person who holds more than one office in the Corporation may not act in more than one capacity to execute, acknowledge or verify an instrument required by law to be executed, acknowledged or verified by more than one officer.
SECTION 9.07.Amendments.Subject to the special provisions ofSection 2.02, any and all provisions of these Bylaws may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded, and new bylaws may be adopted, (a) by the stockholders at any annual meeting of the stockholders, or at any special meeting called for that purpose and (b) by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.
14