EXHIBIT 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
of
UNUMPROVIDENT CORPORATION
(HEREINAFTER CALLED THE "CORPORATION")
ARTICLE I OFFICES
SECTION 1. REGISTERED OFFICE. The registered office of the Corporation
shall be in the City of Wilmington, County of New Castle, State of Delaware.
SECTION 2. OTHER OFFICES. The Corporation may also have offices at such
other places both within and without the State of Delaware as the Board of
Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE II MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. PLACE OF MEETINGS. Meetings of the stockholders for the election
of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at such time and place,
either within or without the State of Delaware as shall be designated from time
to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting or in
a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.
SECTION 2. ANNUAL MEETINGS. The Annual Meetings of Stockholders shall be
held on such date and at such time as shall be designated from time to time by
the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meetings, at which
meetings the stockholders shall elect by a plurality vote the directors to be
elected at such meetings, and transact such other business as may properly be
brought before the meetings. Written notice of the Annual Meeting stating the
place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled
to vote at such meeting not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the
date of the meeting.
SECTION 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Unless otherwise prescribed by law or by the
Certificate of Incorporation, Special Meetings of Stockholders, for any purpose
or purposes, may be called by either (i) the Chairman, if there be one, (ii) the
Chief Executive Officer or (iii) the President, and shall be called by any such
officer at the request in writing of a majority of the Board of Directors. Such
request shall state the purpose or purposes of the proposed meeting. Written
notice of a Special Meeting stating the place, date and hour of the meeting and
the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given not less
than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each
stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting.
SECTION 4. QUORUM. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the
Certificate of Incorporation, the holders of a majority of the capital stock
issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders for the transaction of
business. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or represented at any
meeting of the stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present
in person or represented by proxy, shall have power to adjourn the meeting from
time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a
quorum shall be present or represented. At such adjourned meeting at which a
quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which
might have been transacted at the meeting as originally noticed. If the
adjournment is for more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting. The
foregoing provisions shall be subject to the voting rights of holders of any
Preferred Stock of the Corporation and any quorum requirements relating thereto.
SECTION 5. VOTING. Unless otherwise required by law, applicable stock
exchange rules or regulations, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-
Laws, any question brought before any meeting of stockholders shall be decided
by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of stock
represented and entitled to vote thereat and each stockholder represented at a
meeting of stockholders shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of the
capital stock entitled to vote thereat held by such stockholder. Such votes may
be cast in person or by proxy but no proxy shall be voted on or after three
years from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period. The Board
of Directors, in its discretion, or the officer of the Corporation presiding at
a meeting of stockholders, in his discretion, may require that any votes cast at
such meeting shall be cast by written ballot.
SECTION 6. PROPER BUSINESS AT ANNUAL MEETINGS. At any annual meeting of the
stockholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly
brought before such meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting,
business must be specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto)
given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or otherwise properly
brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or
otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder. For business to
be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder, the stockholder
must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the
Corporation, must be a stockholder of the Corporation of record at the time of
the delivery of said notice and must be entitled to vote at the meeting. To be
timely, a stockholder's notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at,
the principal executive offices of the Corporation, not less than 60 days nor
more than 90 days prior to the annual meeting; provided, however, that in the
event that less than 75 days' notice or prior public disclosure of the date of
such meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be
timely must be so received not later than the close of business on the 15th day
following the day on which such notice of the date of the annual meeting was
mailed or such public disclosure was first made. A stockholder's notice to the
Secretary shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring
before the annual meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be
brought before the annual meeting, including the
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complete text of any resolutions to be presented at the meeting with respect to
such business, and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting, (ii) the name and address of record of the stockholder proposing such
business and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made,
(iii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially
owned by the stockholder and such beneficial owner, (iv) any material interest
of the stockholder and such beneficial owner in such business and (v) are
presentation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of the
Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or
by proxy at the meeting to propose such business. The chairman of an annual
meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that
such business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with
these provisions, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the
meeting and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not
be transacted.
SECTION 7. LIST OF STOCKHOLDERS ENTITLED TO VOTE. The officer of the
Corporation who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare
and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders, a complete
list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. 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 where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder of the Corporation who is
present.
SECTION 8. STOCK LEDGER. The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the
only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled to examine the stock
ledger, the list required by Section 7 of this Article II or the books of the
Corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
SECTION 9. (a) ORGANIZATION. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided
over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his absence by the Vice
Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his absence by the Chief Executive Officer,
or in his absence by the President, or in his absence by a Vice President, or in
the absence of the foregoing persons by a chairman designated by the Board of
Directors, or in the absence of such designation by a chairman chosen at the
meeting. The Secretary shall act as secretary of the meeting, but in his absence
the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person to act as secretary of the
meeting.
(b) CONDUCT OF MEETINGS. The date and time of the opening and the closing
of the polls for each matter upon which the stockholders will vote at a meeting
shall be
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announced at the meeting by the person presiding over the meeting. The Board of
Directors may adopt by resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of
the meeting of stockholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent
inconsistent with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of
Directors, the chairman of any meeting of stockholders shall have the right and
authority to prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such
acts as, in the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper
conduct of the meeting. Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted
by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may
include, without limitation, the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda
or order of business for the meeting; (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining
order at the meeting and the safety of those present; (iii) limitations on
attendance at or participation in the meeting to stockholders of record of the
corporation, their duly authorized and constituted proxies or such other persons
as the chairman of the meeting shall determine; (iv) restrictions on entry to
the meeting after the time fixed for the commencement thereof and (v)
limitations on the time allotted to questions or comments by participants.
Unless and to the extent determined by the Board of Directors or the chairman of
the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in
accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
ARTICLE III DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. NUMBER AND ELECTION OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors
constituting the Board of Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the
Board of Directors in the manner prescribed in the Certificate of Incorporation.
Except as provided in Section 3 of this Article, the directors to be elected at
each Annual Meeting of Stockholders shall be elected by a plurality of the votes
cast at such Annual Meeting of Stockholders, and each director so elected shall
hold office until the third Annual Meeting following such election and until his
successor is duly elected and qualified, or until his earlier resignation,
retirement or removal. No person elected or re-elected a director shall, after
such person's seventy-second birthday, serve as a director of the Corporation
beyond the date of the Corporation's annual meeting ending the term for which
such person has been elected; PROVIDED, that, no person shall be required to
retire because of their age prior to such date. Any director may resign at any
time upon notice to the Corporation. Directors need not be stockholders.
SECTION 2. NOMINATION PROCEDURES. Only persons who are nominated in
accordance with the following procedures shall be eligible for election as
Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation may be made at a meeting of stockholders by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors, by any nominating committee or person appointed by the
Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the Corporation entitled to vote for
the election of Directors at the meeting. Such nominations, other than those
made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, shall be made pursuant to
timely notice in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation by a stockholder of
the Corporation of record at the time of the delivery of said notice who is
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entitled to vote at the meeting. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be
delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 90 days prior to the meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that less than 75 days' notice or prior
public disclosure of the date of the meeting is given or made to stockholders,
notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so received not later than the
close of business on the 15th day following the day on which such notice of the
date of the meeting was mailed or such public disclosure was first made. Such
stockholder's notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder
proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (i) the name,
age, business address and residence address of the person, (ii) the principal
occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the class and number of shares of
the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the person, (iv) a description
of all arrangements, understandings or relationships between the stockholder and
each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons)
pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the
stockholder and (v) any other information relating to the person that is
required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Directors
pursuant to Rule 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Act"), and any other applicable laws or rules or regulations of any
governmental authority or of any national securities exchange or similar body
overseeing any trading market on which shares of the Corporation are traded, and
(b) as to the stockholder giving the notice (i) the name and address of record
of the stockholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
nomination is made, and (ii) the class and number of shares of the Corporation
which are beneficially owned by the stockholder and such beneficial owner and
(iii) a representation that the stockholder is a holder of record of shares of
the Corporation 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. No person shall be eligible for election as a Director of the
Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein.
The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
SECTION 3. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation, vacancies and newly created directorships resulting from any
increase in the authorized number of directors shall only be filled by a
majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum, or by a
sole remaining director, and the directors so chosen shall hold office until the
next annual election and until their successors are duly elected and qualified,
or until their earlier resignation or removal.
SECTION 4. DUTIES AND POWERS. The business of the Corporation shall be
managed by or under the direction of the Board of Directors which may exercise
all such powers of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are
not by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these By-Laws
directed or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
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SECTION 5. MEETINGS. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold
meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the state of
Delaware. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice
at such time and at such place as may from time to time be determined by the
Board of Directors. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by
the Chairman, if there be one, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, or
any three directors. Notice thereof stating the place, date and hour of the
meeting shall be given to each director either by mail not less than forty-eight
(48) hours before the date of the meeting, by telephone or telegram on twenty-
four (24) hours' notice, or on much shorter notice as the person or persons
calling such meeting may deem necessary or appropriate in the circumstances.
SECTION 6. QUORUM. Except as may be otherwise specifically provided by law,
the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, at all meetings of the Board
of Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the
directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum shall be the act of
the Board of Directors. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the
Board of Directors, 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.
SECTION 7. ACTIONS OF BOARD. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate
of Incorporation or these By-Laws, any action required or permitted to be taken
at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may betaken
without a meeting, if all the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as
the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are
filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or committee.
SECTION 8. MEETINGS BY MEANS OF CONFERENCE TELEPHONE OR SIMILAR
COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT. Unless otherwise provided by the Certificate of
Incorporation or these By-Laws, members of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may
participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of
a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a
meeting pursuant to this Section 8 shall constitute presence in person at such
meeting.
SECTION 9. COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by
a majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more committees,
each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the Corporation.
The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members
of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of any such committee. In the absence or disqualification of a member of
a committee, and in the absence of a designation
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by the Board of Directors of an alternate member to replace the absent or
disqualified member, 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 member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in the place of any absent or disqualified member. Any committee, to the
extent allowed by law and provided in the resolution establishing such
committee, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board
of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
Each committee shall keep regular minutes and report to the Board of Directors
when required.
SECTION 10. INTERESTED DIRECTORS. No contract or transaction between the
Corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between the
Corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which
authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are
counted for such purpose if (i) the material facts as to his or their
relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or
are known to the Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors
or committee in good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the
affirmative votes of a majority of the disinterested directors, even though the
disinterested directors be less than a quorum; or (ii) the material facts as to
his or their relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the shareholders entitled to vote thereon, and the
contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the
shareholders; or (iii) the contract or transaction is fair as to the Corporation
as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of
Directors, a committee thereof or the shareholders. Common or interested
directors may be counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of
the Board of Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or
transaction.
SECTION 11. [Section 11 was deleted by action of the Board of Directors on
December 17, 1999.]
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS
SECTION 1. GENERAL. The officers of the Corporation shall be chosen by the
Board of Directors and shall be a Chief Executive Officer, a President, a
Secretary and a Treasurer. The Board of Directors, in its discretion, may also
choose a Chairman of the Board of Directors (who must be a director) and one or
more Vice-Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other
officers. Any number of offices may be held by the same person, unless otherwise
prohibited by law, the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws. The
officers of the Corporation need not be stockholders of the Corporation nor,
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except in the case of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, need such officers
be directors of the Corporation.
SECTION 2. ELECTION. The Board of Directors shall elect the officers of the
Corporation 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 of Directors; and all officers of the Corporation shall hold office until
their successors are chosen and qualified, or until their earlier resignation or
removal. Any officer elected by the Board of Directors may be removed at any
time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors. Any
vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall be filled by the Board
of Directors.
SECTION 3. VOTING SECURITIES OWNED BY THE CORPORATION. Powers of attorney,
proxies, waivers of notice of meeting, consents and other instruments relating
to securities owned by the Corporation may be executed in the name of and on
behalf of the Corporation by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any
Vice-President and any such officer may, in the name of and on behalf of the
Corporation, take all such action as any such officer may deem advisable to vote
in person or by proxy at any meeting of security holders of any corporation in
which the Corporation may own securities and at any such meeting shall possess
and may exercise any and all rights and power incident to the ownership of such
securities and which, as the owner thereof, the Corporation might have exercised
and possessed if present. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time
to time confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
SECTION 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors, if there be one, shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders
and of the Board of Directors. Except where by law the signature of the Chief
Executive Officer or the President is required, the Chairman of the Board of
Directors shall possess the same power as the Chief Executive Officer or the
President to sign all contracts, certificates and other instruments of the
Corporation which may be authorized by the Board of Directors. During the
absence or disability of the Chief Executive Officer and the President, the
Chairman of the Board of Directors shall exercise all the powers and discharge
all the duties of the Chief Executive Officer or the President. The Chairman of
the Board of Directors shall also perform such other duties and may exercise
such other powers as from time to time may be assigned to him by these By-Laws
or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Chief Executive Officer shall,
subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision of
the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of
the Board of Directors are carried into effect. He shall execute all bonds,
mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation requiring a seal,
under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to
be otherwise signed and executed and except that the other officers of the
Corporation may sign and execute documents when so authorized by these By-Laws,
the
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Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In the absence
or disability of the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or if there be none,
the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders
and the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall also perform such
other duties and may exercise such other powers as from time to time may be
assigned to him by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6. PRESIDENT. The President shall, subject to the control of the
Board of Directors and the Chief Executive Officer, have general supervision of
the business of the Corporation and shall see that all orders and resolutions of
the Board of Directors are carried into effect. He shall execute all bonds,
mortgages, contracts and other instruments of the Corporation requiring a seal,
under the seal of the Corporation, except where required or permitted by law to
be otherwise signed and executed and except that the other officers of the
Corporation may sign and execute documents when so authorized by these By-Laws,
the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. In the
absence or disability of the Chairman of the Board of Directors and the Chief
Executive Officer, or if neither shall exist, the President shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and the Board of Directors. The President shall
also perform such other duties and may exercise such other powers as from time
to time may be assigned to him by these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7. VICE-PRESIDENTS. At the request of the Chief Executive Officer
or the President or in the event of either of their absences or inability or
refusal to act (and if there be no Chairman of the Board of Directors), the
Vice-President or the Vice-Presidents if there is more than one (in the order
designated by the Board of Directors) shall perform the duties of the Chief
Executive Officer and President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers
of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief Executive Officer and
President. Each Vice-President shall perform such other duties and have such
other powers as the Board of Directors from time to time may prescribe. If there
be no Chairman of the Board of Directors and no Vice-President, the Board of
Directors shall designate the officer of the Corporation who, in the absence of
the Chief Executive Officer and President or in the event of the inability or
refusal of the Chief Executive Officer and President to act, shall perform the
duties of the Chief Executive Officer and President, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Chief
Executive Officer and President.
SECTION 8. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board
of Directors and all meetings of stockholders and record all the proceedings
thereat in a book or books to be kept for that purpose; the Secretary shall also
perform like duties for the standing committees when required. The Secretary
shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all meetings of the stockholders and
special meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties
as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or
President, under whose supervision he shall be. If the Secretary shall be unable
or shall refuse to cause to be given notice of all meetings of the stockholders
and
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special meetings of the Board of Directors, and if there be no Assistant
Secretary, then either the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or
the President may choose another officer to cause such notice to be given. The
Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the Corporation and the Secretary or
any Assistant Secretary, if there be one, shall have authority to affix the same
to any instrument requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the
signature of the Secretary or by the signature of any such Assistant Secretary.
The Board of Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix
the seal of the Corporation and to attest the affixing by his signature. The
Secretary shall see that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other
documents and records required by law to be kept or filed are properly kept or
filed, as the case may be.
SECTION 9. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the corporate
funds and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and
disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys
and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in
such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer
shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of
Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to
the Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Board of Directors, at its
regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account of all
his transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the Corporation
a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to
the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office
and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation,
retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and
other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging
to the Corporation.
SECTION 10. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES. Except as may be otherwise provided in
these By-Laws, Assistant Secretaries, if there be any, shall perform such duties
and have such powers as from time to time may be assigned to them by the Board
of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, any Vice-President, if
there be one, or the Secretary, and in the absence of the Secretary or in the
event of his disability or refusal to act, shall perform the duties of the
Secretary, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to
all the restrictions upon the Secretary.
SECTION 11. ASSISTANT TREASURERS. Assistant Treasurers, if there be any,
shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time may be
assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, any Vice-President, if there be one, or the Treasurer, and in the
absence of the Treasurer or in the event of his disability or refusal to act,
shall perform the duties of the Treasurer, and when so acting, shall have all
the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the Treasurer. If
required by the Board of Directors, an Assistant Treasurer shall give the
Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be
satisfactory to the Board of
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Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the
restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or
removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, money and other property of
whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the
Corporation.
SECTION 12. OTHER OFFICERS. Such other officers as the Board of Directors
may choose shall perform such duties and have such powers as from time to time
may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may
delegate to any other officer of the Corporation the power to choose such other
officers and to prescribe their respective duties and powers.
SECTION 13. [Section 13 was deleted by action of the Board of Directors on
December 17, 1999.]
ARTICLE V STOCK
SECTION 1. FORM OF CERTIFICATES. Every holder of stock in the Corporation
shall be entitled to have a certificate signed, in the name of the Corporation
(i) by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President or a Vice-President and (ii) by 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.
SECTION 2. SIGNATURES. Where a certificate is countersigned by (i) a
transfer agent other than the Corporation or its employee, or (ii) a registrar
other than the Corporation or its employee, any other signature on the
certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar
who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate
shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect
as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue.
SECTION 3. LOST CERTIFICATES. The Board of Directors may direct a new
certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the
Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of
an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be
lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the
Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the
issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate, or his legal representative, to advertise the same in such manner
as the Board of Directors shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in
such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made
against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed.
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SECTION 4. TRANSFERS. Stock of the Corporation shall be transferable in the
manner prescribed by law and in these By-Laws. Transfers of stock shall be made
on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate or
by his attorney lawfully constituted in writing and upon the surrender of the
certificate therefor, which shall be canceled before a new certificate shall be
issued.
SECTION 5. RECORD DATE. In order that the Corporation may determine the
stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or
any adjournment thereof, 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 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 days nor less than ten days before the
date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any other action. A
determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned
meeting.
SECTION 6. BENEFICIAL OWNERS. The Corporation shall be entitled to
recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner
of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and to hold liable
for calls and assessments a person registered on its books as the owner of
shares, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not
it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by
law.
ARTICLE VI NOTICES
SECTION 1. NOTICES. Whenever written notice is required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director,
member of a committee or stockholder, such notice may be given by mail,
addressed to such director, member of a committee or stockholder, at his address
as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid,
and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when the same shall be
deposited in the United States mail. Written notice may also be given personally
or by telegram, telex, cable, facsimile or overnight courier.
SECTION 2. WAIVERS OF NOTICE. Whenever any notice is required by law, the
Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, to be given to any director,
member of a committee or stockholder, 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.
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ARTICLE VII GENERAL PROVISIONS
SECTION 1. DIVIDENDS. Dividends upon the capital stock of the Corporation,
subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation, if any, may be
declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting, and may be
paid in cash, in property, or in shares of the capital stock. Before payment of
any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation
available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to
time, in its absolute discretion, deems proper as a reserve or reserves to meet
contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any
property of the Corporation, or for any proper purpose, and the Board of
Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
SECTION 2. DISBURSEMENTS. 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 of Directors may from time to time designate.
SECTION 3. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed
by resolution of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. CORPORATE SEAL. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon
the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words
"Corporate Seal, Delaware". The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile
thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.
ARTICLE VIII INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 1. INDEMNIFICATION IN ACTIONS, SUITS, OR PROCEEDINGS OTHER THAN
THOSE BY OR IN THE RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. Subject to Section 3 of this
Article VIII, the Corporation shall indemnify each person who is or was, or is
threatened to be made, a party to or witness in any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit, proceeding or claim, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than one by or in the right of the
Corporation), by reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer or
employee of the Corporation or of Union Mutual Life Insurance Company, a Maine
mutual insurance company (the "Mutual Company"), or is or was serving at the
request of the Corporation or the Mutual Company as a director, officer,
employee or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including
attorney's fees and expenses), judgments, fines, penalties, and amounts paid in
settlement, incurred by him in connection with defending, investigating,
preparing to defend, or being or preparing to be a witness in, such action,
suit, proceeding or claim, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
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SECTION 2. INDEMNIFICATION IN ACTIONS, SUITS OR PROCEEDINGS BY OR IN THE
RIGHT OF THE CORPORATION. Subject to Section 3 of this Article VIII, the
Corporation shall indemnify each person who is or was, or is threatened to be
made, a party to or witness in any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, proceeding or claim by or in the right of the Corporation to procure a
judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is or was a director,
officer or employee of the Corporation or of the Mutual Company or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation or the Mutual Company as a director,
officer, employee or trustee of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against expenses (including
attorney's fees and expenses), and, if and to the extent permitted by applicable
law, judgments, penalties and amounts paid in settlement, incurred by him in
connection with defending, investigating, preparing to defend, or being or
preparing to be a witness in, such action, suit, proceeding or claim, if he
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; provided, however, that no
indemnification shall be made in respect of any such claim or any issue or
matter in any such action, suit or proceeding as to which such person shall have
been adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless (and only to the extent
that) the Court of Chancery or the court in which such claim, action, suit or
proceeding was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification for such expenses
and amounts which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
SECTION 3. AUTHORIZATION OF INDEMNIFICATION. (a) Any indemnification under
this Article VIII (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 person seeking indemnification is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in
Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be. Such determination (and
determinations under Sections 5 and 6 of this Article VIII) shall be made (i) by
the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors
who were not parties to the action, suit, proceeding or claim with respect to
which indemnification is sought ("disinterested directors"), or (ii) if such a
quorum is not obtainable, or if a quorum of disinterested directors so directs,
in a written opinion of independent legal counsel chosen by the Board of
Directors, or (iii) by the stockholders; provided, however, that if a Change in
Control (as defined in this Section 3) has occurred and the person seeking
indemnification so requests, such determination (and determination under
Sections 5 and 6 of this Article VIII) shall be made in a written opinion
rendered by independent legal counsel chosen by the person seeking
indemnification and not reasonably objected to by the Board of Directors (whose
fees and expenses shall be paid by the Corporation). To the extent, however,
that a director, officer, employee or trustee or former director, officer,
employee or trustee has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of
any action, suit, proceeding or claim described above, or in defense of any
claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses
(including attorney's fees and expenses) incurred by him in connection
therewith, without the necessity of
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authorization in the specific case. (b) For purposes of the proviso to the
second sentence of Section 3(a), "independent legal counsel" shall mean legal
counsel other than an attorney, or a firm having associated with it an attorney,
who has been retained by or who has performed services for the Corporation, the
Mutual Company or the person seeking indemnification within the previous three
years. (c) A "Change in Control" shall mean a change in control of the
Corporation of a nature that would be required to be reported in response to
Item 5(f) of Schedule 14A of Regulation 14A promulgated under the Act, whether
or not the Corporation is then subject to such reporting requirement; provided
that, without limitation, such a change in control shall be deemed to have
occurred if (i) any "person" (as such term is used in sections 13(d) and 14(d)
of the Act) is or becomes the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
the Act), directly or indirectly, of securities of the Corporation representing
35% or more of the combined voting power of the Corporation's then outstanding
securities without the prior approval of at least two-thirds of the members of
the Board of Directors in office immediately prior to such acquisition, or (ii)
the Corporation is a party to a merger, consolidation, sale of assets or other
reorganization, or proxy contest, as a consequence of which members of the Board
of Directors in office immediately prior to such transaction or event constitute
less than a majority of the Board of Directors thereafter, or (iii) during any
period of two consecutive years, individuals who at the beginning of such period
constituted the Board of Directors (including for this purpose any new director
whose election or nomination for election by the Corporation's stockholders was
approved by a vote of at least two-thirds of the directors then still in office
who were directors at the beginning of the period) cease for any reason to
constitute at least a majority of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. GOOD FAITH DEFINED, ETC. (a) For purposes of any determination
under Section 3 of this Article VIII, a person shall be deemed to have acted in
good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, to have had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful,
if such person relied on the records or books of account of the Corporation, the
Mutual Company or another enterprise, or on information supplied to him by the
officers of the Corporation, the Mutual Company or another enterprise, or on
information or records given or reports made to the Corporation, the Mutual
Company or another enterprise by an independent certified public accountant or
by an appraiser or other expert selected with reasonable care by the
Corporation, the Mutual Company or another enterprise. The term "another
enterprise" as used in this Section 4(a) shall mean any other corporation or any
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise of
which such person is or was serving at the request of the Corporation or the
Mutual Company as a director, officer, employee or trustee. (b) The termination
of any action, suit, proceeding or claim by judgment, order, settlement,
conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of
itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a
manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation, or, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, that he had no reasonable cause to believe that his conduct
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was unlawful. (c) References in this Article VIII to "penalties" include any
excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan;
references in this Article VIII to "serving at the request of the Corporation or
the Mutual Company" include any service as a director, officer or employee or
former director, officer or employee of the Corporation or the Mutual Company
which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such person with respect to an
employee benefit plan or its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who
acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
opposed to the best interests of the participants or beneficiaries of such an
employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation. (d) The provisions of this Section 4 shall not be deemed to be
exclusive or to limit in any way the circumstances in which a person may be
deemed to have met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or
2 of this Article VIII, as the case may be.
SECTION 5. RIGHT TO INDEMNIFICATION UPON APPLICATION; PROCEDURE UPON
APPLICATION; ETC. Except as otherwise provided in the proviso to Section 2 of
this Article VIII: (a) Any indemnification under Section 1 or 2 of this Article
VIII shall be made no later than 45 days after receipt by the Corporation of the
written request of the director, officer, employee or trustee or former
director, officer, employee or trustee unless a determination is made within
said 45-day period in accordance with Section 3 of this Article VIII that such
person has not met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in Section 1 or
2 of this Article VIII. (b) The right to indemnification under Section 1 or 2 of
this Article VIII or advances under Section 6 of this Article VIII shall be
enforceable by the director, officer, employee or trustee or former director,
officer, employee or trustee in any court of competent jurisdiction. Following a
Change in Control, the burden of proving that indemnification is not appropriate
shall be on the Corporation. Neither the absence of any prior determination that
indemnification is proper in the circumstances, nor a prior determination that
indemnification is not proper in the circumstances, shall be a defense to the
action or create a presumption that the director, officer, employee or trustee
or former director, officer, employee or trustee has not met the applicable
standard of conduct. The expenses (including attorney's fees and expenses)
incurred by the director, officer, employee or trustee or former director,
officer, employee or trustee in connection with successfully establishing his
right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action (or in any
action or claim brought by him to recover under any insurance policy or policies
referred to in Section 9 of this Article VIII) shall also be indemnified by the
Corporation. (c) If any person is entitled under any provision of this Article
VIII to indemnification by the Corporation for some or a portion of expenses,
judgments, fines, penalties or amounts paid in settlement incurred by him, but
not, however, for the total amount thereof, the Corporation shall nevertheless
indemnify such person for the portion of such expenses, judgments, fines,
penalties and amounts to which he is entitled.
SECTION 6. EXPENSES PAYABLE IN ADVANCE. Expenses (including attorney's fees
and expenses) incurred by a director, officer, employee or trustee or a former
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director, officer, employee or trustee in defending, investigating, preparing to
defend, or being or preparing to be a witness in, a threatened or pending
action, suit, proceeding or claim against him, whether civil or criminal, may be
paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action,
suit, proceeding or claim upon receipt by the Corporation of a written request
therefor and a written undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer,
employee or trustee or former director, officer, employee or trustee to repay
such amounts if it shall be determined in accordance with Section 3 of this
Article VIII that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation;
provided, however, that if he seeks to enforce his rights in a court of
competent jurisdiction pursuant to Section 5(b) of this Article VIII, said
undertaking to repay shall not be applicable or enforceable unless and until
there is a final court determination that he is not entitled to indemnification
as to which all rights of approval have been exhausted or have expired.
SECTION 7. CERTAIN PERSONS NOT ENTITLED TO INDEMNIFICATION. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Article VIII, no person shall be entitled to
indemnification under this Article VIII or to advances under Section 6 of this
Article VIII with respect to any action, suit, proceeding or claim brought or
made by him against the Corporation or the Mutual Company, other than an action,
suit, proceeding or claim seeking, or defending such person's right to,
indemnification and/or expense advances pursuant to this Article VIII or
otherwise.
SECTION 8. NON-EXCLUSIVITY AND SURVIVAL OF INDEMNIFICATION. The provisions
of this Article VIII shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which
the person seeking indemnification or expense advances may be entitled under any
agreement, contract, or vote of stockholders or disinterested directors, or
pursuant to the direction (howsoever embodied) of any court of competent
jurisdiction, or otherwise, both as to action in his official capacity and as to
action in another capacity while holding such office. Except as otherwise
provided in Section 7 of this Article VIII, but notwithstanding any other
provision of this Article VIII, it is the policy of the Corporation that
indemnification of and expense advances to the persons specified in Sections 1
and 2 of this Article VIII shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by law,
and, accordingly, in the event of any change in law, by legislation or
otherwise, permitting greater indemnification of and/or expense advances to any
such person, the provisions of this Article VIII shall be construed so as to
require such greater indemnification and/or expense advances. The provisions of
this Article VIII shall not be deemed to preclude the indemnification of any
person who is not specified in Section 1 or 2 of this Article VIII but whom the
Corporation has the power to indemnify under the provisions of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or otherwise. The provisions of this
Article VIII shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director,
officer, employee or trustee and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such person.
SECTION 9. INSURANCE. The Corporation may purchase and maintain at its
expense insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer or
employee of
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the Corporation or the Mutual Company or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation or the Mutual Company as a director, officer, employee or trustee of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise against any liability or expense asserted against or incurred
by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or
not the Corporation would have the power or the obligation to indemnify him
against such liability or expense under the provisions of this Article VIII or
the provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware. The Company shall not be obligated under this Article VIII to make any
payment in connection with any claim made against any person if and to the
extent that such person has actually received payment therefor under any
insurance policy or policies.
SECTION 10. SUCCESSORS; MEANING OF "CORPORATION". This Article VIII shall
be binding upon and enforceable against any direct or indirect successor by
purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the
business and/or assets of the Corporation. For purposes of this Article VIII,
but subject to the provisions of any agreement relating to any merger or
consolidation of the kind referred to in clause (i) below or of any agreement
relating to the acquisition of any corporation of the kind referred to in clause
(ii) below, references to "the Corporation" shall include (i) any constituent
corporation (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a
consolidation or merger with the Corporation which, if its separate existence
had continued, would have had power and authority to indemnify its directors,
officers and employees, so that any person who is or was a director, officer or
employee of such constituent corporation, or is or was serving at the request of
such constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or trustee of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this
Article VIII with respect to the Corporation as he would have with respect to
such constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued; and (ii)
any corporation of which at least a majority of the voting power (as represented
by its outstanding stock having voting power generally in the election of
directors) is owned directly or indirectly by the Corporation.
SECTION 11. SEVERABILITY. The provisions of this Article VIII shall be
severable in the event that any provision hereof (including any provision within
a single section, subsection, clause, paragraph or sentence) is held invalid,
void or otherwise unenforceable on any ground by any court of competent
jurisdiction. In the event of any such holding, the remaining provisions of this
Article VIII shall continue in effect and be enforceable to the fullest extent
permitted by law.
ARTICLE IX AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. POWER TO AMEND. The Board of Directors shall have concurrent
power with the stockholders as set forth in the By-Laws and the Certificate of
Incorporation to make, alter, amend, change, add to or repeal the By-Laws.
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SECTION 2. REQUIRED VOTE. The Board of Directors may amend the By-Laws upon
the affirmative vote of the number of directors which shall constitute, under
the terms of the By-Laws, the action of the Board of Directors. Stockholders may
not amend the By-Laws except upon the affirmative vote of at least eighty
percent (80%) of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all outstanding
shares of Voting Stock (as such term is defined in the Certificate of
Incorporation) voting together as a single class.
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