- PLACE OF MEETINGS. All meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation, or at such other place either within or without the State of Delaware and at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice or waivers of notice of the meeting.
- VOTING LIST. The officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order for each class of stock, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be opened to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the notice, or if not so specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present.
- ANNUAL MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the stockholders, for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting, shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Delaware, on such date, and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix each year and set forth in the notice of the meeting, which date shall be within 13 months subsequent to the later of the date of incorporation or the last annual meeting of stockholders.
- SPECIAL MEETING. Special meetings of the stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation may be called by the Chairman of the Board (if any), by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Board of Directors, but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons. The Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, or Board so calling any such meeting shall fix the date and time of, and the place (either within or without the State of Delaware) for, the meeting.
- NOTICE OF MEETING. Written notice of the annual, and each special meeting of stockholders, stating the place, date and hour and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat, not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the meeting. Such notice may be delivered either personally or by mail. If mailed, notice is given when deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation.
- QUORUM. The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. The stockholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, the chairman of the meeting or the holders of a majority of the shares of stock, present in person or represented by proxy, although not constituting a quorum, shall have the power to postpone or recess the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting of the date, time, and place of the postponed or recessed meeting. If the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
- VOTING. When a quorum is present at any meeting of the stockholders, the vote of the holders of a majority of the stock having voting power present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any question brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express provision of the statutes, of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these by-laws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern and control the decision of such question. Where a separate vote by class is required, the affirmative vote of the majority of shares of such class present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of such class. Every stockholder having the right to vote at a meeting of stockholders or to express consent or dissent to a corporate action in writing without a meeting shall be entitled to vote in person, or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder, bearing a date not more than three ye ars prior to voting, unless such instrument provides for a longer period, and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation, or such other officer as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by resolution, before, or at the time of, the meeting.
All proxies shall be received and taken charge of and all ballots shall be received and canvassed by the secretary of the meeting who shall decide all questions touching upon the qualification of voters, the validity of the proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes, unless an inspector or inspectors shall have been appointed by the chairman of the meeting, in which event such inspector or inspectors shall decide all such questions. Each proxy shall be revocable unless expressly provided therein to be irrevocable and coupled with an interest sufficient in law to support an irrevocable power.
If such instrument shall designate two or more persons to act as proxies, unless such instrument shall provide the contrary, a majority of such persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or if only one be present, then such powers may be exercised by that one, or, if an even number attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, each proxy so attending shall be entitled to exercise such powers in respect of the same portion of the shares as he is of the proxies representing such shares.
- CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS. Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, other than matters that are required by the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company Act") to be considered at meetings held in person, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given by the Secretary of the Corporation to those stockholders who have not consented in writing.
- VOTING OF STOCK OF CERTAIN HOLDERS; ELECTIONS; INSPECTORS. Shares standing in the name of another corporation, domestic or foreign, may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the by-laws of such corporation may prescribe, or in the absence of such provision, as the Board of Directors of such corporation may determine. Shares standing in the name of a deceased person may be voted by the executor or administrator of such deceased person, either in person or by proxy. Shares standing in the name of a guardian, conservator or trustee may be voted by such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy, but no fiduciary shall be entitled to vote shares held in such fiduciary capacity without a transfer of such shares into the name of such fiduciary. Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver. A stockholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares, unless in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the Corporation, he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the pledgee, or his proxy, may represent the stock and vote thereon.
If shares or other securities having voting power stand of record in the names of two or more persons, whether fiduciaries, members of a partnership, joint tenants, tenants in common, tenants by the entirety or otherwise, or if two or more persons have the same fiduciary relationship respecting the same shares, unless the Secretary of the Corporation is given written notice to the contrary and is furnished with a copy of the instrument or order appointing them or creating the relationship wherein it is so provided, their acts with respect to voting shall have the following effect:
- If only one votes, his act binds all;
- If more than one vote, the act of the majority so voting binds all;
- If more than one vote, but the vote is evenly split on any particular matter, each fraction may vote the securities in question proportionally, or any person voting the shares, or a beneficiary, if any, may apply to the Court of Chancery or such other court as may have jurisdiction to appoint an additional person to act with the persons so voting the shares, which shall then be voted as determined by a majority of such persons and the person appointed by the Court. If the instrument so filed shows that any such tenancy is held in unequal interests, a majority or even-split for the purpose of this subsection shall be a majority of even-split in interest.
All voting, except as required by the Certificate of Incorporation or where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however, that upon demand therefor by stockholders holding a majority of the issued and outstanding stock present in person or by proxy at any meeting a stock vote shall be taken. Every stock vote shall be taken by written ballots, each of which shall state the name of the stockholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under the procedure established for the meeting. All elections of directors shall be by ballot, unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation.
At any meeting at which a vote is taken by ballots, the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors, each of whom shall subscribe an oath or affirmation to execute faithfully the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. Such inspector shall receive the ballots, count the votes and make and sign a certificate of the result thereof. The chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to serve as inspector, except no candidate for the office of director shall be appointed as inspector.
Unless otherwise provided in the Certificate of Incorporation, cumulative voting for the election of directors shall be prohibited.
- CONDUCT OF MEETING. The meetings of the stockholders shall be presided over by the Chairman of the Board (if any), or if he is not present, by the Chief Executive Officer, or if neither the Chairman of the Board (if any), nor Chief Executive Officer is present, by a chairman elected at the meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, if present, shall act as secretary of such meetings, or if he is not present, an Assistant Secretary shall so act; if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, then a secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem to him in order. Unless the chairman of the meeting of stockholders shall otherwise determine, the order of business shall be as follows:
- Calling of meeting to order.
- Election of a chairman and the appointment of a secretary if necessary.
- Presentation of proof of the due calling of the meeting.
- Presentation and examination of proxies and determination of a quorum.
- Reading and settlement of the minutes of the previous meeting.
- Reports of officers and committees.
- The election of directors if an annual meeting, or a meeting called for that purpose.
- Unfinished business.
- New business.
- Adjournment.
- TREASURY STOCK. The Corporation shall not vote, directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it; and such shares shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares.
- FIXING RECORD DATE. The Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not exceeding 60 days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment there of, or the date for payment of any dividend or distribution, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change, or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with obtaining express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at, any such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of such dividend or distribution, or to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or to give such consent, and in such case such stockholders and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to receive payment of such dividends or distribution, or to receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, or to give such consent, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the corporation after any such record dated fixed as aforesaid. With respect to a meeting of stockholders, the record date shall not be less than ten days before the date of such meeting.
If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date for any meeting of the stockholders, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at such meeting shall be at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if in accordance with Section 5.2 of these bylaws notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held. If, in accordance with Section 2.8 of this Article II, corporate action without a meeting of stockholders is to be taken, the record date for determining stockholders entitled to express consent to such corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no prior action by the Board of Directors is necessary, shall be the day on which the first written consent is expressed. The record date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto. A de termination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
- MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS, DISSOLUTION, AMENDMENT OF CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BY-LAWS, ETC. Notwithstanding any provision of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or any other provision of these By-laws, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of all of the issued and outstanding Common Stock of the Corporation shall be required:
- for a merger or consolidation of the Corporation with or into any other corporation if the Corporation is not the surviving corporation,
- for any sale or lease of all or any substantial part of the assets of the Corporation to any other corporation, person or entity,
- to dissolve the Corporation, or
- to amend, alter, change or repeal, directly or indirectly, the Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation or Sections 2.13 or 3.2 of these by-laws.
Such affirmative vote or consent shall be in addition to the vote or consent of the holders of any class or series of stock of the Corporation otherwise required by the General Corporation Law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws or the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of such class or series which have or may be adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
- ROLL-UP. In connection with a proposed Roll-up (as hereinafter defined), the Corporation shall offer to stockholders who vote against the proposed Roll-up the choice of:
- accepting the securities of the Roll-up Entity (as hereinafter defined) offered in the proposed Roll-up; or
- one of the following: (i) remaining as a stockholder in the Corporation and preserving their interests therein on the same terms and conditions as existed previously; or (ii) receiving cash in an amount equal to the appraised value of the net assets of the Corporation.
For purposes of this Section 2.14, the term "Roll-up" shall mean a transaction involving the acquisition, merger, conversion, or consolidation, either directly or indirectly, of the Corporation and the issuance of securities of a Roll-up Entity; provided, however, that such term does not include:
- a transaction involving securities of the Corporation that have been listed for at least 12 months on a national securities exchange or traded through the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation National Market System; or
- a transaction involving the conversion to corporate, partnership, trust or association form of only the Corporation if, as a consequence of the transaction, there will be no significant adverse change in any of the following: (i) stockholders' voting rights, (ii) the term of existence of the Corporation, (iii) the aggregate management and advisory fees paid by the Corporation, or (iv) the Corporation's investment objectives.
For purposes of this Section 2.14, the term "Roll-up Entity" shall mean a partnership, real estate investment trust, corporation, trust, or other entity that would be created or would survive after the successful completion of a proposed Roll-up.
- STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS. At an annual or special meeting of the stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before an annual or special meeting business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, or the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder.
No proposal by a stockholder shall be presented at an annual or special meeting of stockholders unless such stockholder shall provide the Board of Directors or the Secretary of the Corporation with timely written notice of intention to present a proposal for action at the forthcoming meeting of stockholders, which notice shall include (a) the name and address of such stockholder, (b) the number of voting securities he or she holds of record and which he or she holds beneficially, (c) the text of the proposal to be presented at the meeting, (d) a statement in support of the proposal, and (e) any material interest of the stockholder in such proposal. To be timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in the event that less than 70 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to sto ckholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the fifth (5th) day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was made. Any stockholder may make any other proposal at an annual or special meeting of stockholders and the same may be discussed and considered, but unless stated in writing and filed with the Board of Directors or the Secretary prior to the date set forth above, no action with respect to such proposal shall be taken at such meeting and such proposal shall be laid over for action at an adjourned, special, or annual meeting of the stockholders taking place no earlier than 60 days after such meeting.
This provision shall not prevent the consideration and approval or disapproval at an annual meeting of reports of officers, directors, and committees; but in connection with such reports, no new business shall be acted upon at such annual meeting unless stated and filed as provided in this Section 2.15. Notwithstanding anything in the By-laws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at any annual or special meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 2.15. The Chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of this Section 2.15, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Notwithstanding any other provision of these By-laws, the Corporation shall be under no obligation to include any stockholder proposal in its proxy statement materials or otherwise present any such proposal to stockholders at a special or annual meeting of stockholders if the Board of Directors reasonably believes the proponents thereof have not complied with Sections 13 and 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, and the Corporation shall not be required to include in its proxy statement material to stockholders any stockholder proposal not required to be included in its proxy material to stockholders in accordance with such Act, rules, or regulations.
- NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures of this Section 2.16 shall be eligible for election as directors. Subject to the rights of holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, nominations for the election of directors may be made by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.16. Any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors generally may nominate one or more persons for election as a director at a meeting only if timely written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination or nominations has been given, either by personal delivery or by U.S. mail, first class postage prepaid, return receipt requested, to the Secretary of the Corporation.