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Exhibit 3-D
COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP
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AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
AMENDED AND RESTATED AS OF
FEBRUARY 22, 2000
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BY-LAWS
Of
COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP
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ARTICLE I.
SEAL.
The corporate seal of the Corporation shall consist of a metallic stamp
circular in form, bearing in its center the figures "1926" and the words
"Incorporated" and "Delaware" and on the outer edge the name of the Corporation.
ARTICLE II.
OFFICES.
The location of the Corporation's principal office shall be in the
County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
The Corporation may, in addition to its principal office in the State
of Delaware, establish and maintain an office or offices in such other states
and places as the Board of Directors may from time to time find necessary or
desirable.
The books, documents, and papers of the Corporation, except as may be
otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware, may be kept outside of
the said State at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time
designate.
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ARTICLE III.
CAPITAL STOCK.
Every stockholder shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by,
or in the name of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board, the President
or a Vice President and the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary
or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by him in the Corporation; provided, however, that any such signature on
the certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer or officers, Transfer
Agent or Registrar who shall have signed, or whose facsimile signature or
signatures shall have been used on any such certificate or certificates shall
cease to be such officer or officers of the Corporation, Transfer Agent or
Registrar, whether because of death, resignation or otherwise, before such
certificate or certificates shall 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 shall have been used thereon had not ceased to
be such officer or officers of the Corporation, Transfer Agent or Registrar.
Such certificates shall be transferable on the stock books of the Corporation in
person or by attorney, but, except as hereinafter provided in the case of loss,
destruction or mutilation of certificates, no transfer of stock shall be entered
until the previous certificate, if any, given for the same shall have been
surrendered and cancelled.
The person in whose name shares of stock stand on the books of the
Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes as regards the
Corporation.
The Board of Directors may make such rules and regulations as it may
deem expedient, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, concerning the issue,
transfer and registration of certificates for shares of the capital stock of the
Corporation. It may
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appoint one or more Transfer Agents or one or more Registrars or both, and may
require all certificates of stock to bear the signature of either or both.
In order that the Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled
to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of stockholders or any adjournment
thereof, or to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting,
or entitled to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or
allotment of any rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any
other change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other
lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a record date, which
shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date of such
meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. If in any case
involving the determination of stockholders for any purpose other than notice of
or voting at a meeting of stockholders the Board shall not fix such a record
date, the record date for determining stockholders for such purpose shall be the
close of business on the day on which the Board shall adopt the resolution
relating thereto. A determination of stockholders 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 may fix a new record date for the
adjourned meeting.
In case of loss, destruction or mutilation of any certificate of stock,
another may be issued in its place upon proof of such loss, destruction or
mutilation and upon the giving to the Corporation of a bond sufficient to
indemnify the Corporation, its Transfer Agents and Registrars, against any claim
that may be made against it or them on account of the alleged loss or
destruction of any such certificate or the issuance of such new certificate;
provided, however, that a new certificate may be issued without requiring any
bond when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, it is proper so to do.
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ARTICLE IV.
STOCKHOLDERS' MEETINGS.
(a) All meetings of the stockholders shall be held either at the
principal office of the Corporation in the State of Delaware, or at such other
place, either within or without the State of Delaware as the Board of Directors
shall determine. The place at which any given meeting shall be held shall be
distinctly specified in the notice of such meeting.
(b) The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, for the
election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may come
before the meeting, shall be held on the third Wednesday in May of each year, at
nine o'clock in the morning, unless such day shall fall on a legal holiday, in
which event the annual meeting shall be held on the day following.
Such date and time of meeting may be changed by action of the Board of
Directors.
(c) Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called
only by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of
the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there exist any
vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time any such resolution
is presented to the Board for adoption).
(d) If the annual meeting of the stockholders be not held as herein
prescribed, the election of Directors may be held at any meeting thereafter
called pursuant to these By-Laws.
(e) Notice of the annual and of all special meetings of the
stockholders shall be given each holder of stock of the Corporation
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having power to vote at such meeting by depositing in the United States mail a
written or printed notice of the same not less than ten nor more than sixty days
prior to the meeting, with postage prepaid, to each such stockholder of record
of the Corporation and addressed to him at his address as registered upon the
books of the Corporation. Except in special cases where other provision is made
by statute, no publication of any notice of a meeting of stockholders shall be
required. Every notice of a meeting of stockholders shall state 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. Notice of any meeting of stockholders
shall not be required to be given to any stockholder who shall attend such
meeting in person or by proxy except a stockholder who shall attend such meeting
for the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or
convened. Except where otherwise required by statute for an adjournment
exceeding thirty days or if a new record date is fixed for the adjourned
meeting, notice of any adjourned meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation
shall not be required to be given if the time and place thereof are announced at
the meeting which is adjourned.
It shall be the duty of the officer who shall have charge of the stock
ledger of the Corporation to prepare and make, at least ten days before every
meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at
said meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing their addresses of record
and the number of shares held by each. Such list shall be open 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, town or village where the meeting is to be
held and which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not
so specified, at the place where said meeting is to be held, and the list shall
be produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the
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whole time thereof, and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be
present.
(f) The holders of a majority of the stock issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person, or represented by proxy, shall be
requisite and shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for
the transaction of any business except as otherwise provided by law, by the
Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws. If, however, such majority
shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the stockholders, the
stockholders entitled to vote thereat present in person or by proxy shall have
power to adjourn the meeting from time to time. At any such adjourned meeting at
which the requisite amount of voting stock shall be represented any business may
be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
called.
(g) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of
the Corporation must be effected at a duly called annual or special meeting of
stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by any consent in
writing by such stockholders.
(h) At any annual or special meeting of stockholders, proposals by
stockholders and persons nominated for election as directors by stockholders
shall be considered only if advance notice thereof has been timely given as
provided herein and such proposals or nominations are otherwise proper for
consideration under applicable law and the Certificate of Incorporation and
By-Laws of the Corporation. Notice of any proposal to be presented by any
stockholder or of the name of any person to be nominated by any stockholder for
election as a director of the Corporation at any meeting of stockholders shall
be delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation at its principal executive
office not less than 60 nor more than 90 days prior to the date of the meeting;
provided,
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however, that if the date of the meeting is first publicly announced or
disclosed (in a public filing or otherwise) less than 70 days prior to the date
of the meeting, such advance notice shall be given not more than ten days after
such date is first so announced or disclosed. Public notice shall be deemed to
have been given more than 70 days in advance of the annual meeting if the
Corporation shall have previously disclosed, in these By-Laws or otherwise, that
the annual meeting in each year is to be held on a determinable date, unless and
until the Board determines to hold the meeting on a different date. Any
stockholder who gives notice of any such proposal shall deliver therewith the
text of the proposal to be presented and a brief written statement of the
reasons why such stockholder favors the proposal and setting forth such
stockholder's name and address, the number and class of all shares of each class
of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned by such stockholder and any
material interest of such stockholder in the proposal (other than as a
stockholder). Any stockholder desiring to nominate any person for election as a
director of the Corporation shall deliver with such notice a statement in
writing setting forth the name of the person to be nominated, the number and
class of all shares of each class of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned
by such person, the information regarding such person required by paragraphs
(a), (e) and (f) of Item 401 of Regulation S-K adopted by the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (or the corresponding provisions of any regulation
subsequently adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission applicable
to the Corporation), such person's signed consent to serve as a director of the
Corporation if elected, such stockholder's name and address and the number and
class of all shares of each class of stock of the Corporation beneficially owned
by such stockholder. As used herein, shares "beneficially owned" shall mean all
shares as to which such person, together with such person's affiliates and
associates (as defined in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934),
may be deemed to beneficially own pursuant to Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
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as well as all shares as to which such person, together with such person's
affiliates and associates, has the right to become the beneficial owner pursuant
to any agreement or understanding, or upon the exercise of warrants, options or
rights to convert or exchange (whether such rights are exercisable immediately
or only after the passage of time or the occurrence of conditions). The person
presiding at the meeting, in addition to making any other determinations that
may be appropriate to the conduct of the meeting, shall determine whether such
notice has been duly given and shall direct that proposals and nominees not be
considered if such notice has not been given.
ARTICLE V.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
(a) The management of business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
under the direction of a Board of Directors consisting of not less than thirteen
(13) or more than eighteen (18) persons, the exact number to be fixed from time
to time exclusively by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted
by a majority of the total number of authorized directors (whether or not there
exist any vacancies in previously authorized directorships at the time of any
such resolution is presented to the Board for adoption). At the 1986 annual
meeting of stockholders, the directors shall be divided into three classes, as
nearly equal in number as possible, with the term of office of the first class
to expire at the 1987 annual meeting of stockholders, the term of office of the
second class to expire at the 1988 annual meeting of stockholders and the term
of office of the third class to expire at the 1989 annual meeting of the
stockholders. Except as otherwise provided in the Corporation's Certificate of
Incorporation, at each annual meeting of the stockholders following such initial
classification and election, directors elected to succeed those
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directors whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at
the third succeeding annual meeting of the stockholders after their election.
(b) Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving
written notice thereof to the Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at
the time specified therefor, and unless otherwise specified with respect thereto
the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Subject to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Stock to elect directors
under specified circumstances, any director, or the entire Board of Directors,
may be removed from office at any time, but only for cause and only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80 percent of the combined voting
power of all of the then outstanding shares of stock of all classes and series
of the Corporation entitled to vote generally (the "Voting Stock"), voting
together as a single class (it being understood that, for all purposes of these
By-Laws, each share of the Preferred Stock shall have the number of votes
granted to it pursuant to the Corporation's Certificate of Incorporation or any
designation of terms of any class or series of Preferred Stock made pursuant to
the Certificate of Incorporation). The Corporation must notify the director of
the grounds of his impending removal and the director shall have an opportunity,
at the expense of the Corporation, to present his defense to the stockholders by
a statement which accompanies or precedes the Corporation's solicitation of
proxies to remove him. The term 'entire Board' as used in these By-Laws means
the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no
vacancies.
(c) Newly created directorships resulting from any increase in the
authorized number of directors or any vacancies in the Board of Directors
resulting from death, resignation, retirement, disqualification, removal from
office or other cause may be filled only by a majority vote of the directors
then in office, even though
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less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, acting at a regular or special
meeting. If any applicable provision of the Delaware General Corporation Law
expressly confers power on stockholders to fill such a directorship at a special
meeting of stockholders, such a directorship may be filled at such a meeting
only by the affirmative vote of at least 80 percent of the Voting Stock of the
Corporation; provided, however, that when (a) pursuant to the provision of
Article Fourth of the Certificate of Incorporation the holders of Preferred
Stock have the right, and have exercised such right, to elect directors and (b)
The Delaware General Corporation Law expressly confers on stockholders voting
rights as aforesaid, if the directorship to be filled had been occupied by a
director elected by holders of Common Stock, then such directorship shall be
filled by an 80 percent vote as aforesaid, but if such directorship to be filled
had been elected by holders of Preferred Stock, then such directorship shall be
filled by the majority vote of the holders of Preferred Stock. Any director
elected in accordance with the two preceding sentences shall hold office for the
remainder of the full term of the directors in which the new directorship was
created or the vacancy occurred and until such director's successor shall have
been elected and qualified. No decrease in the authorized number of directors
constituting the entire Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any
incumbent director.
(d) Without prejudice to the general powers conferred by subdivision
(a) of this Article, the Board of Directors shall have and exercise each and
every power granted to them in Article Ninth of the Certificate of Incorporation
of the Corporation.
(e) Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such
office or offices, whether within or without the State of Delaware, and at such
times as the Board shall from time to time determine.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by
the Chief Executive Officer or, if he is incapacitated or
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unable to call such meetings, by any member of the Board of Directors. Such
meetings may take place in the office of the Corporation in the State of
Delaware or in such office or offices as the Directors may establish.
(f) Except as aforesaid, notice of all special meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be given to each Director by five days' service of the same by
telegram, or telephone or letter or personally. Notice of any special meeting of
the Board of Directors shall state the place and hour of the meeting, but need
not state the purposes thereof. Notice of any meeting of the Board or of any
Committee need not be given to any Director if waived by him in writing, or by
telegraph or cable, whether before or after such meeting be held, or if he shall
be present at the meeting; and any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
Committee shall be a legal meeting without any notice thereof having been given,
if all the members shall be present thereat. Notice of regular meetings of the
Board need not be given. In the absence of written instructions from a Director
designating some other address, notice shall be sufficiently given if addressed
to him at his usual business address.
(g) Except as provided in clause (c) of this Article, one-third of the
total number of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at all meetings of the Board of Directors; but less than a quorum may
adjourn the meeting.
(h) Each Director of the Corporation shall be entitled to receive such
fixed sum per meeting of the Board of Directors attended, or such annual sum, or
both, as the Board shall from time to time determine, together with his expenses
of attendance at such meeting.
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ARTICLE VI.
STANDING COMMITTEES.
(a) The Board of Directors shall, by resolution adopted by a majority
of the whole Board, designate annually three or more of their number, one of
whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer, to constitute an Executive Committee
which shall have power to authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to
all papers which may require it, and shall have and may exercise in the
intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors the powers of the Board
in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation (including the
power and authority to declare a dividend and to authorize the issuance of
stock) except the power in reference to amending the Certificate of
Incorporation, adopting an agreement of merger or consolidation, recommending to
the stockholders the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all the
Corporation's property and assets, recommending to the stockholders a
dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation of a dissolution, or amending the
By-Laws of the Corporation. The Executive Committee shall study and report to
the Board of Directors on such matters as shall be referred to it by the Board
or by the Chairman of the Board or Chief Executive Officer. The Board of
Directors may also designate one or more other Directors as alternate members of
the Executive Committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at
any meeting of the Committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of
the Committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another Director to act at the meeting in the place of any
such absent or disqualified member. Each member of the Executive Committee shall
continue to be a member thereof only during the pleasure of a majority of the
whole Board.
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(b) The Board of Directors shall designate the Chairman of the
Executive Committee, who may be any member thereof. In the absence from any
meeting of the Executive Committee of its Chairman, the Committee may appoint a
Chairman of the meeting. At any meeting at which the Executive Committee may
exercise its power to act in intervals between the meetings of the Board in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, the Secretary of the
Corporation shall act as Secretary thereof. In the absence from any such meeting
of the Secretary, and at any other meeting of the Committee, the Committee may
appoint a Secretary of the meeting.
(c) Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called at the request of
any member of the Committee. Two days' notice of each meeting of the Executive
Committee shall be given by mail, telegraph or telephone or be delivered
personally, to each member of the Committee. Notice of any meeting need not be
given to any member of the Executive Committee if waived by him in writing or by
telegraph or cable, whether before or after such meeting be held, or if he shall
be present at the meeting; and any meeting of the Committee shall be a legal
meeting without any notice thereof having been given, if all the members of the
Committee shall be present thereat. In the absence of written instructions from
a member of the Executive Committee designating some other address, notice shall
be sufficiently given if addressed to him at his usual business address. Subject
to the provisions of this Article VI, the Executive Committee, by resolution of
a majority of all of its members, shall fix its own rules of procedure and shall
keep a record of its proceedings and report them to the Board of Directors at
the next regular meeting thereof after such proceedings shall have been taken.
All such proceedings shall be subject to revision or alteration by the Board of
Directors; provided, however, that third parties shall not be prejudiced by such
revision or alteration.
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(d) A quorum of the Executive Committee for the transaction of business
shall consist of not less than one-third of the total number of members thereof
nor less than two members thereof, and the act of a majority of those present at
a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Executive
Committee. Less than a quorum may adjourn a meeting. The members of the
Executive Committee shall act only as a committee, and the individual members
shall have no power as such.
(e) Any member of the Executive Committee may resign at any time by
giving written notice to the Chief Executive Officer or to the Secretary of the
Corporation. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified in such
notice and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
(f) Any vacancy in the Executive Committee shall be filled by the vote
of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.
(g) The members of the Executive Committee shall be entitled to receive
such fees and compensation as the Board of Directors may determine.
(h) The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of
the whole Board, also appoint such other standing or temporary committees from
time to time as they may see fit, investing them with all or any part of their
own powers. All committees shall adopt their own rules of procedure and shall
keep regular minutes of their transactions in books kept in the office of the
Corporation, and shall report the same to the Board of Directors or to the
Executive Committee at the various meetings thereof.
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ARTICLE VII.
OFFICERS.
(a) The officers of the Corporation shall be the President, one or more
Vice Presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer, who shall be elected by the
Board of Directors, and such additional Assistant Secretaries, Assistant
Treasurers, and special subordinate officers as may from time to time be elected
or appointed by the Board of Directors or appointed by the Chief Executive
Officer. A Chairman of the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board may be elected
by the Board of Directors. The Board shall designate an officer as the Chief
Executive Officer.
Any two of the above offices, not counting the title of Chief Executive
Officer, may be held by the same person.
The Chief Executive Officer shall, if present, preside at all meetings
of the stockholders and at all meetings of the Board of Directors, provided,
however, that if there is a Chairman of the Board who is not the Chief Executive
Officer, the Chairman of the Board, if present, shall preside at all meetings of
the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer or an
officer designated by him shall make a report on the state of the business of
the Corporation at each annual meeting of stockholders. From time to time, the
Chief Executive Officer or officers designated by him shall report to the
stockholders and to the Board of Directors and to the Executive Committee all
matters within the knowledge of the Chief Executive Officer which in his
judgment the interests of the Corporation may require to be brought to their
notice.
All of the officers of the Corporation shall hold office for one year
and until others are elected or appointed and qualified in their stead, unless
in the election or appointment of the officer it shall be specified that he
holds his office for a shorter period or
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subject to the pleasure of the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer.
All vacancies in such offices by resignation, death or otherwise may be
filled by the Board of Directors. In the case of absence or inability to act of
any officer of the Corporation, and of any person herein authorized to act in
his place, the Board of Directors may from time to time delegate the powers or
duties of such officer to any other officer or any Director or other person whom
they may select.
(b) The Chief Executive Officer shall have general and active
supervision and direction over the business and affairs of the Corporation and
over its several officers; subject, however, to the control of the Board of
Directors and of the Executive Committee. He shall see that all orders and
resolutions of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Committee are carried
into effect. He may be ex officio a member of all standing committees of the
Board of Directors, and he shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to
him from time to time by the Board of Directors or by the Executive Committee.
(c) The Chairman or Vice Chairman of the Board, if elected, shall
perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned by the Board of
Directors or by the Executive Committee.
(d) The President and the Vice Presidents shall perform such duties as
the Board of Directors shall, from time to time, require.
(e) The Treasurer shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall deposit all moneys
and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the Corporation, in such
depositaries as may be directed by the Board of Directors, shall disburse the
funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board or the Chief Executive
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Officer taking proper vouchers therefor, and shall render to the Chief Executive
Officer and the Directors whenever they may require it an account of all his
transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
He shall also perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may
from time to time require.
If required by the Board of Directors he shall give the Corporation a
bond in a form and in a sum with surety satisfactory to the Board of Directors
for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and the restoration to
the Corporation in the case of his death, resignation or removal from office, of
all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of whatever kind in his
possession belonging to the Corporation.
At the request of the Treasurer, or in his absence or inability to act,
the Assistant Treasurer or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Treasurer
designated by the Treasurer, shall perform the duties of the Treasurer and when
so acting shall have the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions of the
Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurers shall perform such other duties as may from
time to time be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer, the Treasurer
or the Board of Directors.
(f) The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors
and of the stockholders and act as Clerk thereof and record all votes and the
minutes of all proceedings in a book to be kept for that purpose, and shall
perform like duties for the standing committees when required.
He shall keep in safe custody the seal of the Corporation and, whenever
authorized by the Board or the Executive Committee, affix the seal to any
instrument requiring the same.
He shall see that proper notice is given of all meetings of the
stockholders of the Corporation and of the Board of Directors and shall perform
such other duties as may be prescribed from time to time by the Board of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
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At the request of the Secretary, or in his absence or inability to act,
the Assistant Secretary or, if there be more than one, the Assistant Secretary
designated by the Secretary, shall perform the duties of the Secretary and when
so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions of
the Secretary. The Assistant Secretaries shall perform such other duties as may
from time to time be assigned to them by the Chief Executive Officer, the
Secretary or the Board of Directors.
(g) Any officer of the Corporation may be removed, either with or
without cause, at any time, by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors at a
regular meeting or at a special meeting of the Board called for that purpose, by
any Committee upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of
Directors or by a superior officer upon whom such power of removal may be
conferred by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE VIII.
CONTRACTS, CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.
(a) All contracts and agreements authorized by the Board of Directors
or the Executive Committee, and all checks, drafts, notes, bonds, bills of
exchange and orders for the payment of money (including orders for repetitive or
non-repetitive electronic funds transfers) shall, unless otherwise directed by
the Board of Directors, or unless otherwise required by law, be signed by any
two of the following officers: the Chairman of the Board, the President, any
Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, any Assistant Treasurer or any
Assistant Secretary; provided that in every case at least one such officer shall
be the Chairman of the Board, the President, a Vice President, the Treasurer or
the Secretary. The Board of Directors may, however, notwithstanding the
foregoing provision, by resolution adopted at any meeting,
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authorize any of said officers to sign checks, drafts and such orders for the
payment of money singly and without necessity of countersignature, and may
designate officers of the Corporation other than those named above, or different
combinations of such officers, who may, in the name of the Corporation, execute
checks, drafts, and such orders for the payment of money in its behalf. Further,
the Treasurer is authorized to designate to the Corporation's banks, in writing,
individuals employed in the Columbia Energy Group Service Corporation Cash
Management Department, who need not be officers or employees of the Corporation,
to give in the name of the Corporation telephonic, telegraphic, or electronic
transfer instructions for the payment of money, which may, with respect to
routine items, include instructions as to the amount to be transferred, to any
bank, pursuant to previously issued written orders, signed by officers of the
Corporation in any manner provided above, which designate the recipients of such
amounts and which identify what shall be treated as routine items.
(b) Anything in subdivision (a) of this Article VIII to the contrary
notwithstanding, the officers of this Corporation may open in the name of the
Corporation special accounts appropriately designated in which shall be
deposited funds of the Corporation transferred from the Corporation's other
accounts by its checks signed in accordance with the requirements of subdivision
(a) of this Article VIII, but from which special accounts funds may be disbursed
by check, draft, or other instrument of the Corporation designated as drawn
against such special account and signed by the single signature of any one of
the executive officers of the Corporation authorized by subdivision (a) of this
Article VIII to sign checks, drafts and other instruments of the Corporation or
signed by the single signature of any other person expressly authorized by the
Board to sign checks, drafts and other instruments disbursing funds from such
special accounts.
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(c) Anything in subdivision (a) of this Article VIII to the contrary
notwithstanding, (i) bonds, notes, debentures and other evidence of indebtedness
of the Corporation issued under an indenture may be executed in the name of the
Corporation by the facsimile signature, printed, engraved or otherwise used
thereon, of the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President of
the Corporation, and the corporate seal affixed thereto or impressed, printed,
engraved or otherwise reproduced thereon may be attested by the facsimile
signature of the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation,
provided that the indenture require the same to be authenticated by the trustee
under such indenture, and (ii) interest coupons attached to any such bond, note,
debenture or other evidence of indebtedness may be executed on behalf of the
Corporation by the facsimile signature of the Treasurer of the Corporation.
ARTICLE IX.
FISCAL YEAR.
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on the first day of
January in each year.
ARTICLE X.
AMENDMENT OF BY LAWS.
These By-Laws may be amended, added to, rescinded or repealed at any
meeting of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders, provided notice of the
proposed change was given in the notice of the meeting or, in the case of a
meeting of the Board of Directors, in a notice given not less than two days
prior to the meeting; provided, however, that, notwithstanding any other
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provisions of these By-Laws or any provision of law which might otherwise permit
a lesser vote or no vote, but in addition to any affirmative vote of the holders
of any particular class or series of the Voting Stock required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation, any class or series of Preferred Stock or these
By-Laws, the affirmative vote of at least 80 percent of the total number of
authorized directors (whether or not there exist any vacancies in previously
authorized directorships at the time any such alteration, amendment or repeal is
presented to the Board for adoption), shall be required to alter, amend or
repeal Article IV (c), IV (g), V (a), V (b), V (c), and V (g) of these By-Laws
or this proviso to this Article X of these By-Laws.
ARTICLE XI.
NATIONAL EMERGENCY.
(a) Definition and Application. For the purposes of this Article XI the
term "national emergency" is defined as an emergency situation resulting from an
attack upon the United States, a nuclear disaster within the United States, a
catastrophe, or other emergency condition, as a result of which attack,
disaster, catastrophe or emergency condition a quorum of the Board of Directors
cannot readily be convened for action. Persons not directors of the Corporation
may conclusively rely upon a determination by the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, at a meeting held or purporting to be held pursuant to this Article
XI that a national emergency as hereinabove defined exists regardless of the
correctness of such determination made or purporting to be made as hereinafter
provided. During the existence of a national emergency the provisions of this
Article XI shall become operative, but, to the extent not inconsistent with such
provisions, the other provisions of these By-Laws shall remain in effect during
any
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national emergency and upon its termination the provisions of this Article XI
shall cease to be operative.
(b) Meetings, etc. When it is determined in good faith by any director
that a national emergency exists, special meetings of the Board of Directors may
be called by such director. The director calling any such special meeting shall
make a reasonable effort to notify all other directors of the time and place of
such special meeting, and such effort shall be deemed to constitute the giving
of notice of such special meeting, and every director shall be deemed to have
waived any requirement, of law or otherwise, that any other notice of such
special meeting be given. At any such special meeting two directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business including, without limiting
the generality hereof, the filling of vacancies among directors and officers of
the Corporation and the election of additional Vice Presidents, Assistant
Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. The act of a majority of the directors
present thereat shall be the act of the Board of Directors. If at any such
special meeting of the Board of Directors there shall be only one director
present, such director present may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a
quorum is obtained, and no further notice thereof need be given of any such
adjournment.
The directors present at any such special meeting shall make reasonable
effort to report any action taken thereat to all absent directors, but failure
to give such report shall not affect the validity of the action taken at any
such meeting. All directors, officers, employees and agents of, and all persons
dealing with, the Corporation, if acting in good faith, may conclusively rely
upon any action taken at any such special meeting.
(c) Amendment. The Board of Directors shall have the power to alter,
amend, or repeal any of these By-Laws by the affirmative vote of at least
two-thirds (2/3) of the directors present at any special meeting attended by two
(2) or more directors and held in the manner prescribed in (b) of this Article,
if it is
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determined in good faith by said two-thirds (2/3) that such alteration,
amendment or repeal would be conducive to the proper direction of the
Corporation's affairs.
(d) Chief Executive Officer. If, during the existence of a national
emergency, the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation becomes incapacitated,
cannot by reasonable effort be located, or otherwise is unable or unavailable to
perform the duties of his office, an Executive Vice President of the
Corporation, if there be one, is hereby designated as Chief Executive Officer.
The Executive Vice President senior in office, if there be more than one, shall
so serve. If an Executive Vice President is unable or unavailable to perform the
duties of the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, the senior available
Vice President shall be designated as Chief Executive Officer, such seniority to
be determined by the date on which such Vice President was first elected or
appointed to such office. If none of the foregoing officers is able or available
to perform the duties of the Chief Executive Officer, the next senior available
officer of the Corporation is hereby designated as Chief Executive Officer, such
seniority to be determined by the date on which he was first elected or
appointed to serve.
(e) Substitute Directors. To the extent required to constitute a quorum
at any meeting of the Board of Directors during a national emergency, the
officers of the Corporation who are present shall be deemed, in order of rank of
office and within the same rank in order of election or appointment to such
office, directors for such meeting.
I, Carolyn McKinney Afshar, Secretary of COLUMBIA ENERGY GROUP, hereby
certify that the foregoing constitutes a true and correct copy of the By-Laws of
said Corporation, amended and restated as of February 22, 2000.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and the seal of said
Corporation, this 22nd day of February 2000.
/s/ Carolyn Afshas
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Secretary
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