EXHIBIT 3(b)
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
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BYLAWS
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As Amended through November 3, 1998
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
BYLAWS
INDEX
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ARTICLE I - OFFICES; DEFINITIONS Page
Section 1. Registered Office........................ 1
Section 2. Other Offices............................ 1
Section 3. Definitions.............................. 1
ARTICLE II - MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meetings........................ 1
Section 2. Annual Meeting........................... 1
Section 3. Special Meetings......................... 2
Section 4. Notice of Meetings....................... 3
Section 5. List of Shareholders Entitled to Vote.... 3
Section 6. Quorum................................... 4
Section 7. Requisite Vote........................... 4
Section 8. Voting................................... 5
Section 9. Notice of Shareholder Business at Annual
Meetings.............................. 5
ARTICLE III - DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number; Classification; Nominations;
Election; Term of Office.............. 7
Section 2. Filling of Vacancies..................... 11
Section 3. Qualifications........................... 11
Section 4. Removal.................................. 12
Section 5. General Powers........................... 12
Section 6. Place of Meetings........................ 12
Section 7. Regular Annual Meeting................... 12
Section 8. Additional Regular Meetings.............. 13
Section 9. Special Meetings......................... 14
Section 10. Place of Meetings........................ 14
Section 11. Notices.................................. 14
Section 12. Quorum................................... 14
Section 13. Compensation of Directors................ 15
Section 14. Executive Committee...................... 15
Section 15. Finance Committee........................ 16
Section 16. Other Committees of the Board............ 16
Section 17. Committees - General Rules............... 16
Section 18. Directors Emeritus and Advisory Directors 17
ARTICLE IV - NOTICES
Section 1. Service of Notice........................ 18
Section 2. Waiver of Notices........................ 18
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS Page
Section 1. Titles................................... 18
Section 2. Election................................. 19
Section 3. Term..................................... 20
Section 4. Chairman of the Board.................... 20
Section 5. President................................ 21
Section 6. Vice Chairmen of the Board............... 21
Section 7. Vice Presidents.......................... 21
Section 8. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries...... 21
Section 9. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers....... 22
Section 10. Controller and Assistant Controllers..... 23
Section 11. Appointed Officers....................... 23
ARTICLE VI - CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
Section 1. Certificates............................. 24
Section 2. Signatures on Certificates............... 24
Section 3. Transfer Agents and Registrars;
Facsimile Signatures.................. 24
Section 4. Lost Certificates........................ 25
Section 5. Transfer of Shares....................... 26
Section 6. Registered Shareholders.................. 26
Section 7. Interested Shareholders.................. 26
ARTICLE VII - INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
Section 1. Actions Involving Directors, Officers
or Employees.......................... 27
Section 2. Actions Involving Agents................. 28
Section 3. Determination of Right to Indemnification
in Certain Instances.................. 29
Section 4. Advance Payment of Expenses.............. 30
Section 5. Successful Defense....................... 30
Section 6. Not Exclusive Right...................... 30
Section 7. Insurance................................ 31
Section 8. Subsidiaries of Corporation.............. 31
Section 9. Spousal Indemnification.................. 33
ARTICLE VIII - GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends................................ 33
Section 2. Checks................................... 33
Section 3. Fiscal Year.............................. 34
Section 4. Seal..................................... 34
Section 5. Closing of Transfer Books and Fixing of
Record Dates.......................... 34
ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS
Section 1. ......................................... 35
EMERSON ELECTRIC CO.
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BYLAWS
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ARTICLE I
OFFICES; DEFINITIONS
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered office of Emerson
Electric Co. (the "Corporation") shall be located in the County of St. Louis,
State of Missouri.
Section 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at
such other places both within and without the State of Missouri as the Board
may, from time to time, determine or the business of the Corporation may
require.
Section 3. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires,
defined terms herein shall have the meaning ascribed thereto in the Articles
of Incorporation (the "Articles").
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meeting. All meetings of the shareholders shall
be held at such place within or without the State of Missouri as may be, from
time to time, fixed or determined by the Board.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders
shall be held on the first Tuesday in February of each year if not a legal
holiday, or, if a legal holiday, then on the next business day following, at
such hour as may be specified in the notice of the meeting; provided, however,
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that the day fixed for such meeting in any year may be changed by resolution
of the Board to such other day in February, March, April, May or June not a
legal holiday as the Board may deem desirable or appropriate. At the annual
meeting the shareholders shall elect Directors in accordance with Article 5 of
the Articles of Incorporation and Article III of these Bylaws, and shall
transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
If no other place for the annual meeting is determined by the Board of
Directors and specified in the notice of such meeting, the annual meeting
shall be held at the principal offices of the Corporation at 8000 West
Florissant Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri.
Section 3. Special Meetings.
(a) Unless otherwise limited by statute or by the
Articles, special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or purposes,
may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman of
the Board, the President, the Secretary, or a majority of the Board.
(b) A special meeting may also be called by the holders of
not less than 85% of all of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at such
meeting, upon written request delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation.
Such request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting.
Upon receipt of any such request, it shall be the duty of the Secretary to
call a special meeting of the shareholders to be held at any time, not less
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than ten (10) nor more than seventy (70) days thereafter, as the Secretary may
fix. If the Secretary shall neglect to issue such call, the person or persons
making the request may issue the call.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Written notice of every meeting of the
shareholders, specifying the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the
case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
called shall be delivered or mailed, postage prepaid, by or at the direction
of the Secretary, not less than ten (10) nor more than seventy (70) days
before the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote
at such meeting.
Section 5. List of Shareholders Entitled to Vote. At least ten (10)
days before each meeting of the shareholders, a complete list of the
shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting shall be prepared and arranged
in alphabetical order with the address of each shareholder and the number of
shares held by each, which list, for a period of ten (10) days prior to such
meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office of the Corporation and
shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual
business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time
and place of the meeting, and shall be subject to the inspection of any
shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original share ledger
or transfer book, or a duplicate thereof kept in the State of Missouri, shall
be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine
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such list or share ledger or transfer book or to vote at any meeting of the
shareholders. Failure to comply with the above requirements in respect of
lists of shareholders shall not affect the validity of any action taken at
such meeting.
Section 6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the issued and
outstanding shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by
proxy, shall be requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the
shareholders for the transaction of business, except as otherwise provided by
law, the Articles or by these Bylaws. The shareholders present at a meeting
at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until
adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of such number of shareholders as
to reduce the remaining shareholders to less than a quorum. Whether or not a
quorum is present, the chairman of the meeting or a majority of the
shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person or by proxy, shall
have power, except as otherwise provided by statute, successively to adjourn
the meeting to such time and place as they may determine, to a date not longer
than ninety (90) days after each such adjournment, and no notice of any such
adjournment need be given to shareholders other than the announcement of the
adjournment at the meeting. At any 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 called.
Section 7. Requisite Vote. When a quorum is present or represented at
any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to
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vote which are present in person or represented by proxy shall decide any
questions brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which,
by express provision of law, the Articles or by these Bylaws, a different vote
is required, in which case such express provisions shall govern and control
the decision of such question.
Section 8. Voting. Each shareholder shall, at every meeting of the
shareholders, be entitled to one vote in person or by proxy for each share
having voting power held by such shareholder, but no proxy shall be voted
after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution unless otherwise
provided in the proxy. In each election for Directors, no shareholder shall
be entitled to vote cumulatively or to cumulate his votes.
Section 9. Notice of Shareholder Business at Annual Meetings. At any
annual meeting of shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall
have been properly brought before the meeting. In addition to any other
requirements imposed by or pursuant to law, the Articles or these Bylaws, each
item of business to be properly brought before an annual meeting must (a) be
specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at
the direction of the Board or the persons calling the meeting pursuant to the
Articles; (b) be otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the
direction of the Board; or (c) be otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by a shareholder. For business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice
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thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a
shareholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more
than 120 days prior to the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the
event less than 100 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the
annual meeting is given or made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder to
be timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 10th
day following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting
was mailed or such public disclosure was made. For purposes of these Bylaws
"public disclosure" shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the
Dow Jones, Associated Press, Reuters or comparable national news service, or
in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and
Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). A shareholder's notice to
the Secretary shall set forth as to each matter he or she proposes to bring
before the annual meeting (a) a brief description of the business desired to be
brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the
annual meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's
books, of the shareholder(s) proposing such business, (c) the class and number
of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the proposing
shareholder(s), and (d) any material interest of the proposing
shareholder(s) in such business. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws
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to the contrary, but subject to Article III, Section 1(c) hereof, no
business shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section. The Chairman of the annual
meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the annual
meeting that business was not properly brought before the annual meeting in
accordance with the provisions of this Section; and if he or she should so
determine, shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not
properly brought before the annual meeting shall not be transacted. The
Chairman of the meeting shall have absolute authority to decide questions
of compliance with the foregoing procedures, and his or her ruling thereon
shall be final and conclusive. The provisions of this Section 9 shall also
govern what constitutes timely notice for purposes of Rule 14a-4(c) under
the 1934 Act.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number; Classification; Nominations; Election; Term of
Office.
(a) The Board shall consist of such number of
Directors as the Board may from time to time determine, provided that in no
event shall the number of Directors be less than three (3), and provided
further that no reduction in the number of Directors shall have the effect
of shortening the term of any incumbent Director. In addition, the Board may,
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from time to time, appoint such number of "Advisory Directors" and "Directors
Emeritus" as it may deem advisable.
(b) The Board of Directors (herein the "Board") shall be
divided into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. In the
event of any increase in the number of Directors, the additional Director(s)
shall be added to such class(es) as may be necessary so that all classes shall
be as nearly equal in number as possible. In the event of any decrease in the
number of Directors, all classes of Directors shall be decreased as nearly
equally as may be possible. Subject to the foregoing, the Board shall
determine the class(es) to which any additional Director(s) shall be added and
the class(es) which shall be decreased in the event of any decrease in the
number of Directors.
At each annual meeting of shareholders the successors
to the class of Directors whose term shall then expire shall be elected for a
term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting after such election.
(c) In addition to the qualifications set out in Section 3
of this Article III, in order to be qualified for election as a Director,
persons must be nominated in accordance with the following procedure:
Nominations of persons for election to the Board of
the Corporation may be made at a meeting of shareholders by or at the
direction of the Board or by any shareholder of the Corporation entitled to
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vote for the election of Directors at the meeting who complies with the
procedures set forth in this Section 1(c). In order for persons nominated to
the Board, other than those persons nominated by or at the direction of the
Board, to be qualified to serve on the Board, such nominations shall be made
pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation. To
be timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received
by the Secretary of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120
days prior to the meeting; provided, however, that in the event less than 100
days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or
made to shareholders, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so
received not later than the close of business on the 10th day following the
day on which such notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or such public
disclosure was made. Such shareholder's notice shall set forth (i) as to each
person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election
as a Director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of
such person, (B) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (C)
the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned
by such person, (D) any other information relating to such person 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (including without
limitation such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement
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as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected) and (E) if the
shareholder(s) making the nomination is an Interested Person, details of any
relationship, agreement or understanding between the shareholder(s) and the
nominee; and (ii) as to the shareholder(s) making the nomination (A) the name
and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books, of such shareholder(s)
and (B) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by such shareholder(s). At the request of the Board,
any person nominated by the Board for election as a Director shall furnish
to the Secretary of the Corporation that information required to be set forth
in a shareholder's notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. No
person shall be qualified for election as a Director of the Corporation unless
nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1(c).
The Chairman of a meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures
prescribed by the Bylaws, and if he or she should so determine, shall so
declare to the meeting, and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
The Chairman of a meeting shall have absolute authority to decide questions
of compliance with the foregoing procedures, and his or her ruling thereon
shall be final and conclusive.
(d) Directors shall be elected at annual meetings of the
shareholders, except as provided in Section 2 of this Article III, and each
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Director shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and
qualified.
Section 2. Filling of Vacancies. Vacancies and newly created
directorships shall be filled only by a majority of the remaining Directors,
though less than a quorum, and each person so elected shall be a Director
until his or her successor is elected by the shareholders, who may make such
election at the next annual meeting of the shareholders at which Directors of
his or her class are elected or at any special meeting of shareholders duly
called for that purpose and held prior thereto.
Section 3. Qualifications. Directors must be nominated in accordance
with the procedure set out in Section 1(c) of this Article III. Directors
need not be shareholders. No person shall be eligible for election as a
Director, either under Section 1 or Section 2 of this Article III, if such
person's seventy-second (72d) birthday shall fall on a date prior to the
commencement of the Term for which such Director is to be elected or
appointed; provided, however, that this limitation shall not apply to persons
who were Directors of the Corporation on April 4, 1967. No person shall be
qualified to be elected and to hold office as a Director if such person is
determined by a majority of the whole Board to have acted in a manner contrary
to the best interests of the Corporation, including, but not limited to,
violation of either State or Federal law, maintenance of interests not
properly authorized and in conflict with the interests of the Corporation, or
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breach of any agreement between such Director and the Corporation relating to
such Director's services as a Director, employee or agent of the Corporation.
Section 4. Removal. By action of a majority of the whole Board, any
Director may be removed from office for cause if such Director shall at the
time of such removal fail to meet the qualifications for election as a
Director as set forth under Article III, Section 3 hereof. Notice of the
proposed removal shall be given to all Directors of the Corporation prior to
action thereon. Directors may be otherwise removed only in the manner
prescribed in the Articles.
Section 5. General Powers. The property and business of the
Corporation shall be controlled and managed by its Board of Directors which
may exercise all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts
and things as are not, by law, the Articles or by these Bylaws, directed or
required to be exercised and done by the shareholders or the Continuing
Directors.
Section 6. Place of Meetings. The Board may hold meetings, both
regular and special, either within or without the State of Missouri.
Section 7. Regular Annual Meeting. A regular annual meeting of the
Board, including newly elected Directors, shall be held immediately following
the annual meeting of the shareholders and shall be held at the principal
offices of the Corporation at 8000 West Florissant Avenue, St. Louis,
Missouri, unless another time or place shall be fixed therefor by the
Directors. No notice of such meeting shall be necessary to the Directors in
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order, legally, to constitute the meeting, provided a majority of the whole
Board shall be present. In the event such annual meeting of the Board is not
held at the time and place specified herein, or at such other time and place
as may be fixed by the Directors, the meeting may be held at such time and
place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for
meetings of the Board, or as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by
all of the Directors.
Section 8. Additional Regular Meetings. Additional regular meetings
of the Board shall be held once each month on the first Tuesday thereof, or on
such other day thereof as the Board may, by resolution, prescribe, and at such
hour of such day as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting; provided
that the Chairman, in his or her discretion, may dispense with any one or more
of such meetings, by having notice of the intention so to do given, by letter
or telegram, to each Director not less than ten (10) days prior to the
regularly scheduled date of each meeting so to be dispensed with. If the
first Tuesday of any month shall be a legal holiday, the regular meeting for
such month shall be held on the Thursday following, and if the Monday
preceding the first Tuesday of any month shall be a legal holiday, the regular
meeting for such month shall be held on the Wednesday following, in each case
unless the Board shall otherwise prescribe by resolution. Notice of any
regular meeting shall be given to each Director at least forty-eight (48)
hours in advance thereof, either personally, by mail or by telegram.
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Section 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be
called by the Chairman, any Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President or
the Secretary, on notice given personally, by mail, by telephone, by telegram
or by facsimile to each Director given twenty-four (24) hours in advance of
such meeting. Special meetings shall be called by the Chairman, any Vice
Chairman, the President or Secretary in like manner and on like notice on the
written request of any two Directors.
Section 10. Place of Meetings. Special meetings and regular meetings
of the Board, other than the regular annual meeting, shall be held at such
place within the City or County of St. Louis, Missouri, as may be specified in
the notice of such meeting; provided that any meeting may be held elsewhere,
within or without the State of Missouri, pursuant to resolution of the Board
or pursuant to the call of the Chairman, any Vice Chairman or the President.
Members of the Board and its Committees may participate in meetings by means
of conference telephone or similar communications equipment whereby all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and such
participation shall constitute presence at the meeting.
Section 11. Notices. Notice of any meeting may be given by the
Chairman, any Vice Chairman, the President, any Vice President or the
Secretary and shall specify the time and place of the meeting.
Section 12. Quorum. At all meetings of the Board a majority of
Directors in office (the "whole Board") shall be necessary to constitute a
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quorum for the transaction of business, and the acts of a majority of the
Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the acts
of the Board, except as otherwise may be specifically provided by law or by
the Articles. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board,
the Directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to time,
without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be
present. So long as the whole Board shall consist of sixteen (16) or more
members, a Director who may be disqualified, by reason of personal interest,
from voting on any particular matter before a meeting of the Board may
nevertheless be counted for the purpose of constituting a quorum of the Board.
Section 13. Compensation of Directors. Directors, as such, shall
receive for their services such compensation as may be fixed, from time to
time, by resolution of the Board, together with a stipend for attendance, and
expenses of attendance, if any, for each meeting of the Board or meetings of
any committee on which the Directors may serve; provided that nothing herein
contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 14. Executive Committee. The Board may, by resolution passed
by a majority of the whole Board, designate two or more of its number to
constitute an Executive Committee which, to the extent provided in such
resolution, shall have and exercise the authority of the Board in the
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management and business of the Corporation.
Section 15. Finance Committee. The Board may, by resolution passed by
a majority of the whole Board, designate two or more of its number, one of
whom shall be the Committee Chairman, as the Finance Committee of the Board,
which to the extent provided in such resolution shall have and exercise the
authority of the Board in the management and business of the Corporation. The
Committee shall study and consider financial matters affecting the operations
of the Corporation, including its long range financial requirements, shall
advise the Board in respect thereto, and shall have such other duties as shall
be specified by resolution of the Board.
Section 16. Other Committees of the Board. The Board may, by
resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate two or more of
its members to constitute such other Committees of the Board as the Board by
such resolution or resolutions may determine. To the extent provided in such
resolution or resolutions, such Committees shall have and exercise the
authority of the Board in the management and business of the Corporation.
Section 17. Committees-General Rules. Each Committee of the Board
shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board
when required. Vacancies in the membership of each Committee shall be filled
by the Board at any regular or special meeting of the Board. A Director who
may be disqualified, by reason of personal interest, from voting on any
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particular matter before a meeting of a Committee may nevertheless be counted
for the purpose of constituting a quorum of the Committee. At all meetings of
a Committee, a majority of the Committee members then in office shall
constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business, and the acts of a
majority of the Committee members present at any meeting at which there is a
quorum shall be the acts of the Committee.
Section 18. Directors Emeritus and Advisory Directors. The Board may
from time to time create one or more positions of Director Emeritus and
Advisory Director, and may fill such position or positions for such term as
the Board deems proper. Each Director Emeritus and Advisory Director shall
have the privilege of attending meetings of the Board but shall do so solely
as an observer. Notice of such meetings to a Director Emeritus or Advisory
Director shall not be required under any applicable law, the Articles, or
these Bylaws. Each Director Emeritus and Advisory Director shall be entitled
to receive such compensation as may be fixed from time to time by the Board.
No Director Emeritus or Advisory Director shall be entitled to vote on any
business coming before the Board, nor shall they be counted as members of the
Board for the purpose of determining the number of Directors necessary to
constitute a quorum, for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is
present, or for any other purpose whatsoever. In the case of a Director
Emeritus or Advisory Director, the occurrence of any event which in the case
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of a Director would create a vacancy on the Board, shall be deemed to create a
vacancy in such position; but the Board may declare the position terminated
until such time as the Board shall again deem it proper to create and to fill
the position.
ARTICLE IV
NOTICES
Section 1. Service of Notice. Notices to Directors and shareholders
shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed or sent by telegram,
telex or facsimile transmission to the Directors or shareholders at their
addresses appearing on the books of the Corporation, except that notice to
Directors of a special meeting of the Board may be given orally. Notice by
mail shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be mailed;
notice by telegram when such notice is delivered to the telegraph company;
notice by facsimile transmission when transmitted.
Section 2. Waiver of Notices. Whenever any notice is required to be
given under the provisions of law, the Articles, or of these Bylaws, a waiver
thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to said notice,
whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent
thereto.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. Titles. The Officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by
the Board of Directors and shall be a Chairman of the Board (herein the
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"Chairman"), a President, at least one Vice President, a Secretary and a
Treasurer. The Board may also elect one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board
(herein "Vice Chairmen"), additional Vice Presidents, a Controller, one or
more Assistant Controllers, and such other officers as the Board may deem
appropriate. Any two of the aforesaid offices, except those of President and
Vice President or President and Secretary, may be held by the same person.
Vice Presidents of the Corporation may be given distinctive designations such
as Executive Vice President, Group Vice President, Senior Vice President and
the like.
Section 2. Election. The Board, at its annual meeting immediately
following each annual meeting of the shareholders, shall elect a Chairman and a
President, and may elect one or more Vice Chairmen, all of whom shall be
Directors or Advisory Directors; and the Board shall also at such annual
meeting elect one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer, who
may, but need not, be Directors or Advisory Directors. The Board may elect
such other officers and agents as it shall determine necessary who shall hold
their offices for such terms and shall exercise such powers and perform such
duties as shall be determined from time to time by the Board. In connection
with the election of any officer of the Corporation, the Board may determine
that such officer, in addition to the title of the office to which he is
elected, shall have a further title such as Chief Administrative Officer,
Chief Operating Officer or such other title as the Board may designate, and
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the Board may prescribe powers to be exercised and duties to be performed by
any such officer to whom any such additional title of office is given in
addition to those powers and duties provided for by these Bylaws for such
office.
Section 3. Term. The officers of the Corporation shall hold office
until their respective successors are elected and qualify. Any officer
elected or appointed by the Board may be removed by the Board at any time with
or without cause by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board.
Any vacancy occurring in any such office may be filled only by the Board.
Section 4. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman shall be the Chief
Executive Officer of the Corporation. In addition to his or her duties as
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman shall be responsible for
the general and active management of the business and affairs of the
Corporation, subject only to the control of the Board; shall have full
authority in respect to the signing and execution of deeds, bonds, mortgages,
contracts and other instruments of the Corporation; and, in the absence or
disability of a Vice Chairman or the President, shall exercise all of the
powers and discharge all of the duties of such Vice Chairman or the President.
The Chairman shall also be, ex officio, a member of all standing Board
Committees, shall preside at all meetings of shareholders and Directors, and
shall perform such other duties as the Board may prescribe.
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Section 5. President. The President shall be an executive Officer of
the Corporation, shall preside at all meetings of the shareholders and
Directors in the absence of the Chairman and the Senior Vice Chairman, and
shall perform such other duties as the Chairman or the Board shall prescribe.
The President shall have equal authority with the Chairman and the Vice
Chairmen, if any, to sign and execute deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and
other instruments of the Corporation.
Section 6. Vice Chairmen of the Board. Vice Chairmen, if any, may but
need not be executive officers of the Corporation. The Vice Chairmen shall
perform such other duties, and have such other powers as the Chairman or the
Board may, from time to time, prescribe. Each Vice Chairman shall have equal
authority with the Chairman and the President with respect to the signing and
execution of deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the
Corporation.
Section 7. Vice Presidents. The Vice President, or if there shall be
more than one, the Vice Presidents shall, in the absence or disability of the
Chairman, the President and all Vice Chairmen, perform the duties and exercise
the powers of the President. Each Vice President shall perform such other
duties and have such other powers as the Chairman and the Board may, from time
to time, prescribe.
Section 8. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall
attend all meetings of the Board and all meetings of the shareholders and
record all the proceedings of the meetings of the Corporation and of the Board
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in books to be kept for that purpose, shall perform like duties for Committees
of the Board when required, and shall perform such other duties as may be
prescribed by the Board, the Chairman, any Vice Chairman, or the President.
The Secretary shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and affix
the same to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, it shall be
attested by his or her signature or by the signature of an Assistant
Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or, if there be more than one, the
Assistant Secretaries, in the order determined by the Board, shall, in the
absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the Secretary and shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board may, from time to time, prescribe.
Section 9. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall
have charge of the funds of the Corporation; shall keep the same in
depositories designated by the Board or by officers of the Corporation
authorized by the Board to make such designation; shall cause said funds to
be disbursed upon checks, drafts, bills of exchange or orders for the payment
of money signed in such manner as the Board or authorized officers of the
Corporation may, from time to time, direct; shall perform such other duties
as directed by the Board, the Chairman or other senior officers; and, if
required by the Board, shall give bond for the faithful performance of his or
her duties in such form and amount as may be determined by the Board. The
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Assistant Treasurer, or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers,
in the order determined by the Board, shall, in the absence or disability of
the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer,
and shall have such other duties and powers as the Board may prescribe.
Section 10. Controller and Assistant Controllers. The Controller, if
one is elected by the Board, shall have charge of the accounting records of
the Corporation; shall keep full and accurate accounts of all receipts and
disbursements in books and records belonging to the Corporation; shall
maintain appropriate internal control and auditing of the Corporation; and
shall perform such other duties as directed by the Board, the Chairman or
other senior officers. The Assistant Controller or, if there be more than
one, the Assistant Controllers, in the order determined by the Board, shall,
in the absence or disability of the Controller, perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Controller and shall have such other duties and
powers as the Board may prescribe.
Section 11. Appointed Officers. In addition to the corporate officers
elected by the Board as hereinabove in this Article V provided, the Chairman
may, from time to time, appoint one or more other persons as appointed
officers who shall not be deemed to be corporate officers, but may,
respectively, be designated with such titles as the Chairman may deem
appropriate. The Chairman may prescribe the powers to be exercised and the
duties to be performed by each such appointed officer, may designate the term
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for which each such appointment is made, and may, from time to time, terminate
any or all of such appointments with or without cause. Such appointments and
termination of appointments shall be reported periodically to the Board.
ARTICLE VI
CERTIFICATES OF SHARES
Section 1. Certificates. The certificates of shares of the
Corporation shall be numbered and registered in a share register as they are
issued. They shall exhibit the name of the registered holder and the number
and class of shares and the series, if any, represented thereby and the par
value of each share or a statement that such shares are without par value as
the case may be.
Section 2. Signatures on Certificates. Every share certificate shall
be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President;
and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer; and shall be sealed with the Corporation's seal which
may be facsimile, engraved or printed.
Section 3. Transfer Agents and Registrars; Facsimile Signatures. The
Board may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer clerks and one or
more registrars and may require all certificates for shares to bear the
signature or signatures of any of them. Where a certificate is signed (a) by
a transfer agent or an assistant or co-transfer agent, or (b) by a transfer
clerk or (c) by a registrar or co-registrar, the signature of any officer
thereon may be facsimile. Where a certificate is signed by a registrar or co-
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registrar the certificate of any transfer agent or co-transfer agent thereon
may be by facsimile signature of the authorized signatory of such transfer
agent or co-transfer agent. In case any officer or officers of the
Corporation who have signed, or whose facsimile signature or signatures have
been used on, any such certificate or certificates shall cease to be such
officer or officers, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise,
before such certificate or certificates have been delivered by the
Corporation, such certificate or certificates may, nevertheless, be issued and
delivered as though the person or persons who signed such certificate or
certificates or whose facsimile signature or signatures have been used thereon
had not ceased to be such officer or officers of the Corporation.
Section 4. Lost Certificates. In case of loss or destruction of any
certificate of stock or other security of the Corporation, another may be
issued in its place upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction and
upon the giving of a satisfactory bond of indemnity to the Corporation and to
the transfer agents and registrars, if any, of such stock or other security,
in such sum as the Board may provide. The Board may delegate to any officer
or officers of the Corporation the authorization of the issue of such new
certificate or certificates and the approval of the form and amount of such
indemnity bond and the surety thereon.
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Section 5. Transfer of Shares. Upon surrender to the Corporation or a
transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, the Corporation may issue a new certificate to the person entitled
thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
Section 6. Registered Shareholders. The Corporation and its transfer
agents shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares
as the holder in fact thereof and shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claims to, or interest in, such shares on the part of any
other person and shall not be liable for any registration or transfer of
shares which are registered, or to be registered, in the name of a fiduciary
or the nominee of a fiduciary unless made with actual knowledge that a
fiduciary, or nominee of a fiduciary, is committing a breach of trust in
requesting such registration or transfer, or with knowledge of such facts that
its participation therein amounts to bad faith.
Section 7. Interested Shareholders. The provisions of these Bylaws,
including without limitation the provisions of this Article VI as they apply
to any Interested Person or shares beneficially owned by such Interested
Person, are subject to the provisions of Article 9 of the Articles.
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ARTICLE VII
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS
Section 1. Actions Involving Directors, Officers or Employees. The
Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party (other than a
party plaintiff suing on his own behalf or in the right of the Corporation),
or who is threatened to be made such a party, to any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right
of the Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is or was a Director,
officer or employee of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
the Corporation as a director, officer or employee of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses
(including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding; provided, that no such person shall be indemnified
(a) except to the extent that the aggregate of losses to be indemnified under
the provisions of this Article VII exceeds the amount of such losses for which
the Director, officer or employee is insured pursuant to any directors and
officers liability insurance policy maintained by the Corporation; (b) in
respect to remuneration paid to such person if it shall be finally adjudged
that such remuneration was in violation of law; (c) on account of any suit in
which judgment is rendered against such person for an accounting of profits
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made from the purchase or sale by such person of securities of the Corporation
pursuant to the provisions of Section 16(b) of the 1934 Act and amendments
thereto or similar provisions of any federal, state or local statutory law;
(d) on account of such person's conduct which is finally adjudged to have been
knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct; and (e)
if it shall be finally adjudged that such indemnification is not lawful.
Section 2. Actions Involving Agents. The Corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party (other than a party plaintiff suing on his
own behalf or in the right of the Corporation), or who is threatened to be
made such a party, to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative
(including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of the
Corporation) by reason of the fact that he or she is an agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as an
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding, all to the full extent
permitted by law.
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Section 3. Determination of Right to Indemnification in Certain
Instances.
(a) Any indemnification under Section 1 of this Article VII
(unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation unless a
determination is reasonably and promptly made that indemnification of the
director, officer or employee is not proper in the circumstances because he or
she has not satisfied the conditions set forth in such Section 1. Such
determination shall be made (1) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum
consisting of Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or
proceeding, or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable,
a quorum of disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel
in a written opinion, or (3) by the shareholders; provided, that no such
determination shall preclude an action brought in an appropriate court to
challenge such determination.
(b) Any indemnification under Section 2 of this Article
VII (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation only as
authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of
the agent is proper in the circumstances because he or she has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in such Section 2. Such determination
shall be made (1) by the Board by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of
Directors who were not parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if
such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable, a quorum of
disinterested Directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written
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opinion, or (3) by the shareholders.
Section 4. Advance Payment of Expenses. Expenses incurred by
defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding may be paid by the
Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director,
officer, employee or agent to repay such amounts unless it shall ultimately be
determined that he or she is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this Article.
Section 5. Successful Defense. Notwithstanding any other provision of
this Article VII, to the extent that a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation has been successful on the merits or otherwise (including the
dismissal of an action without prejudice or the settlement of an action
without admission of liability) in defense of any action, suit or proceeding
referred to in Sections 1 or 2 of this Article VII, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred in
connection therewith.
Section 6. Not Exclusive Right. The indemnification provided by this
Article VII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those
seeking indemnification may be entitled under any statute, bylaw, agreement,
vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to
action in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
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holding such office. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, in
the event of conflict between the provisions of this Article VII and the
provisions of any agreement adopted by the shareholders between the
Corporation on the one hand, and any director, officer, employee or agent of
the Corporation on the other, providing for indemnification, the terms of such
agreement shall prevail. Any indemnification, whether required under this
Bylaw or permitted by statute or otherwise, shall continue as to a person who
has ceased to be a director, officer or employee and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
Section 7. Insurance. The Board shall have the power to cause the
Corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is
or was a Director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by
him or her in any such capacity, arising out of his or her status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the provisions of this Article.
Section 8. Subsidiaries of Corporation. For the purposes of this
Article VII, (a) any officer, Director, or employee of the Corporation who
shall serve as an officer, director, employee or agent of any other
corporation, joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which the
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Corporation, directly or indirectly, is or was a stockholder or creditor, or
in which the Corporation is or was in any way interested, or (b) any officer,
director, or employee of any subsidiary corporation, venture, trust or other
enterprise wholly owned by the Corporation, shall be deemed to be serving as
such director, officer, employee or agent at the request of the Corporation,
unless the Board shall determine otherwise. In all instances where any person
shall serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise of which the Corporation is or was a
stockholder or creditor, or in which it is or was otherwise interested, if it
is not otherwise established that such person is or was serving as such
director, officer, employee or agent at the request of the Corporation, the
Board may determine whether such service is or was at the request of the
Corporation, and it shall not be necessary to show any actual or prior request
for such service.
_____________________
Note: The indemnification provided in the foregoing provisions of Article VII
(and related matters) was approved by the stockholders of the Corporation on
February 10, 1987.
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Section 9. Spousal Indemnification. The spouse of a person entitled
to indemnification under Section 1 hereof or who is granted indemnification
under Section 2 hereof, shall be entitled to be so indemnified; provided, that
the spouse was or is a party (other than a party plaintiff suing on his or her
own behalf or in the right of the Corporation), or was or is threatened to be
made a party, to any threatened, pending, or completed action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative
(including, but not limited to, an action by or in the right of the
Corporation), solely by reason of the spousal relationship to the person
entitled to indemnification under Section 1 hereof or who is granted
indemnification under Section 2 hereof.
ARTICLE VIII
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends. Dividends upon the shares of the Corporation,
subject to the provisions of the Articles, if any, may be declared by the
Board at any regular or special meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be
paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock or other
securities of the Corporation, in rights or warrants relating thereto, or in
any other form authorized by law.
Section 2. Checks. All checks or demands for money and notes of the
Corporation shall be signed by such officer or officers or such other person
or persons as the Board, or officers authorized by the Board, may, from time
to time, designate.
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Section 3. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall
commence on October 1, and close on September 30.
Section 4. Seal. The Corporation's seal shall have inscribed thereon
the name of the Corporation, the numeral "1890" being the year of the
incorporation of the Corporation, and the words "Corporate Seal, Missouri".
The seal may be used by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed,
affixed, reproduced or otherwise.
Section 5. Closing of Transfer Books and Fixing of Record Dates. The
Board shall have power to close the share transfer books of the Corporation
for a period not exceeding seventy (70) days preceding the date of any meeting
of shareholders, or the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for
the allotment of rights, or the date when any change, conversion or exchange
of shares shall go into effect; provided, however, that, in lieu of closing
the share transfer books as aforesaid, the Board may fix in advance a date,
not exceeding seventy (70) days preceding the date of any meeting of
shareholders, or the date for the payment any dividend, or the date for the
allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of
shares shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the
shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, and any
adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or
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to any such allotment of rights, or to exercise rights in respect of any such
change, conversion or exchange of shares; and, in each such case, such
shareholders and only such shareholders as shall be shareholders of record on
the date of closing the share transfer books, or on the record date so fixed,
shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting and any
adjournment thereof, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive
such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be,
notwithstanding any transfer of any shares after such date of closing of the
share transfer books or such record date fixed as aforesaid.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. These Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed solely by
a majority vote of the members of the whole Board at any regular or special
meeting thereof duly called and convened.
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