EXHIBIT 3.a.
BY-LAWS
OF
HEILIG-MEYERS COMPANY
ARTICLE 1 - OFFICES
A. The principal office of the Corporation shall be at 2235
Staples Mill Road, Richmond, Virginia. The Corporation may also have
offices at such other places, within or without the State of Virginia, as the
Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint, or the business of the
Corporation may require.
B. The registered office of the Corporation shall be its initial
registered office as shown in the Articles of Incorporation or at such other
place in Virginia as the Board of Directors shall, from time to time, appoint,
and may, but need not, be at the principal office of the Corporation.
ARTICLE II - STOCK AND OTHER SECURITIES
A. Certificates of Stock shall be in such form as is required by law
and approved by the Board of Directors. Each stockholder shall be entitled to a
certificate signed by either the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer or a Vice President, and by either the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or any other officer
authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each certificate may (but
need not) be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof.
B. The signatures of the officers upon a stock certificate,
bond, note or debenture issued by the Corporation may be facsimiles if such
stock certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent or registered by a
registrar, other than the Corporation itself or an employees of the Corporation,
or if such bond, note or debenture is countersigned or otherwise authenticated
by the signature of a trustee. If any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile
signature has been placed upon, a stock certificate, bond, note or debenture,
shall be ceased to be such officer before such certificate, bond, note or
debenture is issued, or may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as
if he were such officer at the date of its issue.
C. Only stockholders of record on the stock transfer books of
the Corporation shall be entitled to be treated by the Corporation as the
holders of the stock standing in their respective names, and except to the
extent, if any, required by law, the Corporation shall not be obligated to
recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, any share on the part
of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice
thereof.
D. Transfers of stock shall be made on the stock transfer books
only upon surrender of the certificate therefor, endorsed or accompanied
by a written assignment signed by the holder of record or by his duly authorized
attorney-in-fact. The Board of Directors may, from time to time, make reasonable
regulations governing transfers of stock and other securities. No share shall be
transferred, unless otherwise required by law, if such transfer would violate
the terms of any written agreement to which the Corporation, and either the
transferor or transferee, is a party.
E. In case of the loss, mutilation or destruction of a stock
certificate, bond, note or debenture, a duplicate may be issued upon such terms,
and bearing such legend, if any, as the Board of Directors may lawfully
prescribe.
ARTICLE III - STOCKHOLDERS' MEETING
A. Meetings of the stockholders shall be held at the principal
office of the Corporation, or at such other place, within or without the State
of Virginia, as the Board of Directors may designate from time to time. At least
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ten (10) days before each meeting, a complete list of the stockholders entitled
to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, with the address and number
of shares held by each, shall be prepared, kept on file subject to inspection by
any stockholder during regular business hours, at the principal office of the
Corporation or its registered office or the office of its transfer agent or
registrar.
B. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held on the
second Wednesday of July of each year (and if such day is a legal holiday, on
the next business day) or such other date as may be set by the Board of
Directors, for the purpose of electing Directors and transacting such other
business as may properly come before the meeting.
C. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the
Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Secretary
or the Board of Directors.
D. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the
meeting, and, in the case of a special meeting (or required by law or the
Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws), the purpose or purposes for which
the meeting was called, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at
such meeting. Such notice shall be given either personally or by mail, by or at
the direction of the officer or other person or persons calling the meeting not
more than fifty (50) days nor less than ten (10) days before the date of the
meeting (except that such notice shall be given not less than twenty-five (25)
days before a meeting called to act on a plan of merger of consolidation, or on
proposal to amend the Articles of Incorporation or to reduce stated capital, or
to sell,, lease, exchange, mortgage or pledge for a consideration other than
money, all or substantially all the property or assets of the Corporation, if
not in the usual and regular course of its business and such notice shall be
accompanied by a copy of any proposed amendment or plan of reduction, merger or
consolidation). Notice to a stockholder shall be deemed given when deposited in
the United States mail, with postage prepaid, addressed to the stockholder at
his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation.
Any stockholder who attends a meeting shall be deemed to have had
timely and proper notice of the meeting, unless the attends for the express
purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is
not lawfully called or convened.
E. Notice of any meeting may be waived, and any action may be taken by
the stockholders without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the
action to be taken, shall be signed by all the stockholders entitled to vote
thereon, in accordance with " 13.1-27 and 13.1-28 of the Virginia Stock
Corporation Act.
F. The stock transfer books may be closed by order of the Board
of Directors for not more than fifty (50) days for the purpose of determining
stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of the
stockholders or any adjournment thereof (or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other
purpose). In lieu of closing such books, the Board of Directors may fix in
advance, as the record date for any such determination, a date not more than
fifty (50) days before the date on which such meeting is to be held (or such
payment is to be made, or other action requiring such determination is to be
taken). If the books are not thus closed or the record date is not thus fixed,
then the date on which the notice of the meeting was mailed (or on which such
dividend is declared or such other action approved by the Board of Directors)
shall be the record date.
G. The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer or the
President shall preside as Chairman over the meetings of stockholders. If
neither the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer nor the President
is present, the meeting shall elect a chairman. The Secretary, or, in his
absence, an Assistant Secretary, shall act as Secretary of such meeting. If no
such officer is present, the chairman shall appoint the Secretary of the
meeting.
H. Two inspectors of election may be appointed by the Board of
Directors before each meeting of the stockholders; and if no such appointment
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has been made, or if any inspector thus appointed shall not be present, the
Chairman may, and if requested by stockholders holding in the aggregate at least
one-fifth (1/5) of the stock entitled to vote at the meeting shall, appoint such
an inspector or inspectors to determine the qualifications of voters, the
validity of proxies and the number of shares represented at the meeting, to
supervise voting, and to ascertain the results thereof.
I. A stockholder may vote either in person or by proxy executed in
writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. No proxy
shall be valid after eleven (11) months from its date unless otherwise provided
in the proxy. A proxy may be revoked at any time before the shares to which it
relates are voted by written notice, which may be in the form of a substitute
proxy to the secretary of the meeting. A proxy apparently executed in the name
of a partnership or other Corporation, or by one of several fiduciaries, shall
be presumed to be valid until challenged, and the burden of proving invalidity
shall rest upon the challenger.
J. The procedure at each meeting of the stockholders shall be
determined by the Chairman of the meeting, and (subject to paragraph H of this
Article III) the vote on all questions before any meeting shall be taken in such
manner as the Chairman prescribes. However, upon the demand of stockholders
holding in the aggregate at least one-fifth (1/5) of the stock entitled to vote
on any questions, such vote shall be by ballot.
K. A quorum at any meeting of stockholders shall be a majority of the
shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy. The affirmative vote
of a majority of such quorum shall be the act of the stockholders, unless a
greater vote is required by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act or the Articles
of Incorporation (except that in elections of directors, those receiving the
greatest number of votes shall be elected even though less than such a
majority). Less than a quorum may, by the vote of a majority of the shares
present and entitled to vote, adjourn the meeting to a fixed time and place,
without further notice; and if a quorum shall then be present in person or by
proxy, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted if a
quorum had been present at the meeting as originally called.
L. All committees of stockholders created at any meeting of the
stockholders shall be appointed by the Chairman of the meeting unless otherwise
directed by the meeting.
ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. The Board of Directors shall consist of fourteen (14)
persons, none of whom need be residents of Virginia or stockholders of the
Corporation. Nominations for the election of directors may be made by the
Directors or a nominating committee appointed by the Board of Directors or by
any stockholder entitled to vote in the election of directors. A stockholder
entitled to vote in the election of directors may nominate one or more persons
for election as a director at an annual or special meeting of stockholders only
if written notice of such stockholder's intent to make such nomination has been
given, either by personal delivery to the Secretary of the Corporation not later
than the close of business on the tenth day following the date on which notice
of such meeting is first mailed to stockholders or by Untied States mail,
postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Corporation postmarked not later than
the tenth day following the date on which notice of such meeting is first mailed
to stockholders. Each notice required by this section shall set forth: (1) the
name and address of the stockholder who intends to make the nomination; (2) the
name, address, and principal occupation of each proposed nominee; (3) a
representation that the stockholder is entitled to vote at such meeting and
intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or
persons specified in the notice; and (4) the consent of each proposed nominee to
serve as a director of the Corporation if so elected. The Chairman of the
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meeting may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in
compliance with the foregoing procedure.
B. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held
without notice at such time and place as the Board of Directors may designate
from time to time (and, in the absence of such designation, at the principal
office of the Corporation). A regular meeting shall be held as soon as
practicable after each annual meeting of the stockholders for the purpose of
electing officers and transacting such other business as may properly come
before the meeting.
C. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at
any time by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer or by
any director.
D. Notice of the time and place of each special meeting shall be given
to each director either by mail, telegraph, or written communication delivered
to the address of such director as it appears in the records of the Corporation,
at least twenty-four (24) hours before such meeting. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be
specified in the notice or any waiver of notice of such meeting.
A director who attends a meeting shall be deemed to have had
timely and proper notice thereof, unless he attends for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.
E. Notice of any meeting may be waived, and any action may be
taken by the Board of Directors (or by any committee thereof) without a meeting
if a consent in writing, setting forth the action taken, shall be signed by all
the directors (or members of the committee, as the case may be), in accordance
with "13.1-41 and 13.1-41.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act.
F. Each director shall be elected to hold office until the next
succeeding annual meeting, and shall hold office until his successor shall have
been elected and qualifies, or until such earlier time as he shall resign, die
or be removed. No decrease in the number of directors by amendment to these
By-Laws shall change the term of any incumbent director.
G. Any director may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote
of the holders of a majority of the number of shares entitled to vote at an
election of directors.
H. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors (including any vacancy
resulting from an increase of not more than thirty percent (30%) of the
number of directors last elected by the shareholders) may be filled by the
affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even
though less than a quorum, unless filled by the stockholders.
I. A quorum at a meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a
majority of the number of directors fixed by these By-Laws. The act of the
majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
J. An Executive Committee consisting of at least two (2) or more
directors may be designated by a resolution adopted by a majority of the number
of directors fixed by these By-Laws. To the extent provided in such resolution,
such Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the
Board of Directors except to approve an amendment to the Articles of
Incorporation or a plan of merger or consolidation. Other committees with
limited authority may be designated by resolution adopted by a majority of the
directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present.
Regular meetings of any committee may be held without notice
at such time and place as shall be fixed by a majority of the committee. Special
meetings of any committee may be called at the request of the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer or any member of the committee. Notice of such
special meetings shall be given by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer or any member of any such committee, and shall be deemed duly given, or
may be waived, or action may be taken without a meeting, as provided in
paragraphs D and E of this Article IV. A majority of any such committee shall
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constitute a quorum, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting
at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee, unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE V - OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
A. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer,
each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors at the regular meeting
of the Board of Directors to be held as soon as practicable after each annual
meeting of the stockholders, and any officer may be elected at any meeting of
the Board of Directors. Any officer may hold more than one office and he may,
but need not be a director, except that the same person may not be Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer and Secretary, and the Chairman of the
Board and Chief Executive Officer shall be a director. The Board may elect one
or more Vice Presidents and any other officers and assistant officers and may
fill any vacancies. The officers shall have such authority and perform such
duties as generally pertain to their offices and as may lawfully be provided by
these By-Laws or by resolution of the Board of Directors not inconsistent with
these By-Laws.
B. The Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer shall
have general supervision over, responsibility for, and control of the other
officers, agents, and employees of the Corporation and shall preside as Chairman
at meetings of the stockholders and the directors. The Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such duties and shall also have such
authority as may lawfully be required of or conferred upon him by the Board of
Directors.
C. The President and each Vice President shall perform such duties and
shall have such authority as may be lawfully required of or conferred upon him
by the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer or the Board of
Directors. The President shall, during the absence, disqualification, or
incapacity of the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, exercise
all the functions and perform all the duties of the Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer.
D. The Secretary shall, as Secretary of the meeting, record all
proceedings at stockholders' meetings and directors' meetings, in books
kept for that purpose. He shall maintain the record of stockholders of the
Corporation, giving the names and addresses of all stockholders and the number,
classes and series of the shares held by each; and, unless otherwise prescribed
by the Board of Directors, he shall maintain the stock transfer books.
E. The Treasurer shall have custody of all moneys and securities of the
Corporation. He shall deposit the same in the name and to the credit of the
Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors,
disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be required, and cause books and
records of account to be kept in accordance with generally accepted accounting
practices and principles.
F. During the absence, disqualification, or incapacity of any officer
of the Corporation other than the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive
Officer, the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may be written
order, or the Board of Directors may by resolution, delegate the power of each
such officer to any other officer or employee of the Corporation.
G. Each officer shall be elected to hold office until the next
succeeding regular meeting of the Board of Directors to be held as soon as
practicable after each annual meeting of the stockholders, or for such longer or
shorter term as the Board of Directors may lawfully specify; and he shall hold
office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until such
earlier time as he shall resign, die or be removed.
H. Any officer may be removed, with or without cause, at any time
whenever the Board of Directors in its absolute discretion shall consider that
the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby. Any officer or
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agent appointed otherwise than by the Board of Directors may be removed with or
without cause at any time by any officer having authority to appoint such an
officer or agent, except as may be otherwise provided in these By-Laws, whenever
such officer in his absolute discretion shall consider that the best interests
of the Corporation will be served thereby. Any such removal shall be without
prejudice to the recovery of damages for breach of the contract rights, if any,
of the person removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not
of itself create contract rights.
I. Checks, drafts, notes and orders for the payment of money shall be
signed by such officer or officers or such other person or persons as the Board
of Directors may, from time to time, authorize, and any endorsement of such
paper in the ordinary course of business shall be similarly made, except that
any officer or assistant officer of the Corporation may endorse checks, drafts
or notes for collection or deposit to the credit of the Corporation. The
signature of any such officer or other person may be a facsimile when authorized
by the Board of Directors.
J. Unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer may, from time to time,
himself or by such proxies, attorneys, or agents of the Corporation as he shall
designate in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, cast the votes to which
the Corporation may be entitled as a stockholder or otherwise in any other
Corporation, at meetings, or consent in writing to any action by any such
Corporation. He may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner
of casting such votes or giving such consent, and may execute or cause to be
executed on behalf of the Corporation and under its corporate seal, or
otherwise, such written proxies consents, waivers, or other instruments as he
may deem necessary or desirable in the premises.
ARTICLE VI - SEAL
The seal of the Corporation shall be a flat-face circular die, of which
there may any number of counterparts or facsimiles, in such form as the Board of
Directors shall, from time to time, adopt as the corporate seal of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS
These By-Laws may be repealed or changed, and new By-Laws
made, by the stockholders entitled to vote at any annual or special meeting, or
by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting. By-Laws made by the
directors may be repealed or changed by the stockholders; and By-Laws made by
the stockholders may be repealed or changed by the directors, except as, and to
the extent that, the stockholders prescribe that the By-Laws, or any specified
By-Law, shall not be altered, amended or repealed by the directors.
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