Exhibit No. 3(a)
Bylaws
of
Armstrong
ARMSTRONG WORLD INDUSTRIES, INC.
LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA
EFFECTIVE APRIL 25, 1994
_____________________________________________________________________________
ARTICLE I
Office
The principal office of the Company shall be in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
All meetings of directors and stockholders shall be held at the principal
office of the Company unless the Board of Directors shall decide otherwise, in
which case such meetings may be held within or without the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania as the Board may from time to time direct.
ARTICLE II
Stockholder's Meetings
An annual meeting of stockholders shall be held in each calendar year on
such date and at such time as may be fixed by the Board of Directors for the
purpose of electing directors and the transaction of such other business as may
properly come before the meeting.
Special meetings of the stockholders may be called at any time by the
President or the Board of Directors. At any time, upon written request of any
person or persons who have duly called a special meeting, it shall be the duty
of the Secretary to fix the date of the meeting, to be held not more than sixty
days after the receipt of the request, and to give due notice thereof. If the
Secretary shall neglect or refuse to fix the date of the meeting and give notice
thereof, the person or persons calling the meeting may do so.
Special meetings of the holders of No Par Preferred Stock for the purpose
of electing directors may be called as provided in the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended.
Written notice of the place, day, and hour of all meetings of stockholders
and, in the case of a special meeting, of the general nature of the business to
be transacted, shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at
the particular meeting either personally or by sending a copy of the notice
through the mail, or by telegram, charges prepaid, to the address of the
stockholder appearing on the books of the Company or supplied by him to the
Company for the purpose of notice. Except as otherwise provided by these bylaws
or by law, such notice shall be given at least five days before the date of the
meeting by the President, Vice President, or Secretary. A waiver in writing of
any written notice required to be given, signed by the person entitled to such
notice, whether before or after the time stated, shall be deemed equivalent to
the giving of such notice. Attendance of a person, either in person or by
proxy, at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting,
except where a person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to
the transaction of any business because the meeting was not lawfully called or
convened.
25
Nominations of candidates for election to the Board of Directors may be
made by the Board of Directors or by any stockholder of the Company entitled to
notice of, and to vote at, any meeting called for the election of directors.
Nominations, other than those made by or on behalf of the Board of Directors of
the Company, shall be made in writing and shall be received by the Secretary of
the Company not later than (i), with respect to an election of directors to be
held at an annual meeting of stockholders, ninety (90) days prior to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting and (ii), with
respect to an election of directors to be held at a special meeting of
stockholders, the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the date
on which notice of such meeting is first given to stockholders or public
disclosure of the meeting is made, whichever is earlier. Such notification
shall contain the following information to the extent known to the notifying
stockholder: (a) the name, age, business address, and residence address of each
proposed nominee and of the notifying stockholders; (b) the principal occupation
of each proposed nominee; (c) a representation that the notifying stockholder
intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or
persons specified in the notice; (d) the class and total number of shares of the
Company that are beneficially owned by the notifying stockholders and, if known,
by the proposed nominee; (e) the total number of shares of the Company that will
be voted by the notifying stockholder for each proposed nominee; (f) a
description of all arrangements or understandings between the notifying
stockholders 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 notifying stockholder; (g) such other information regarding each
nominee proposed by such stockholder as would be required to be included in a
proxy statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to
Rule 14(a) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, had the
nominee been nominated, or intended to be nominated, by the Board of Directors;
and (h) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the Company if so
elected. Nominees of the Board of Directors shall, to the extent appropriate,
provide the same information about themselves as in (a) through (h) above to the
Secretary of the Company. The Company may request any proposed nominee to
furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to
determine the qualifications of the proposed nominee to serve as a director of
the Company. Within fifteen (15) days following the receipt by the Secretary of
a stockholder notice of nomination pursuant hereto, the Board Development and
Nominating Committee shall instruct the Secretary of the Company to advise the
notifying stockholder of any deficiencies in the notice as determined by the
Committee. The notifying stockholder shall cure such deficiencies within
fifteen (15) days of receipt of such notice. No persons shall be eligible for
election as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance herewith.
Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in the discretion of the
presiding officer at the meeting and with the advice of the Board Development
and Nominating Committee, be disregarded by the presiding officer and, upon his
or her instructions, all votes cast for each such nominee may be disregarded.
The determinations of the presiding officer at the meeting shall be conclusive
and binding upon all stockholders of the Company for all purposes.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the presence, in person or by proxy, of
stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes which all
stockholders are entitled to cast upon any matter shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business upon such matter, and the stockholders present at a
duly organized meeting can continue to do business until adjournment,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a
quorum. If a meeting cannot be organized because a quorum has not attended,
those present may, except as otherwise provided by law, adjourn the meeting to
such time and place as they may determine, but in the case of any meeting called
for the election of directors, those who attend the second of such adjourned
meetings, although less than a quorum, shall nevertheless constitute a quorum
for the purpose of electing directors.
26
Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended,
or by law, every stockholder of record shall have the right, at every
stockholders' meeting, to one vote for every share standing in his name on the
books of the Company. In each election of directors, every stockholder entitled
to vote shall have the right to multiply the number of votes to which he may be
entitled by the total number of directors to be elected, and he may cast the
whole number of such votes for one candidate or he may distribute them among any
two or more candidates.
Every stockholder entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by proxy. Every proxy shall
be executed in writing by the stockholder or by his duly authorized attorney in
fact and filed with the Secretary of the Company.
All questions shall be decided by the vote of the stockholders present, in
person or by proxy, entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes which all
stockholders present are entitled to cast, unless otherwise provided by the
Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or by law.
Elections for directors need not be by ballot except on demand made by a
stockholder at the election and before the voting begins. In advance of any
meeting of stockholders, the Board of Directors may appoint judges of election
who need not be stockholders to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof,
and if such appointment is not made, the chairman of any such meeting may, and
on request of any stockholder or his proxy shall, make such appointment at the
meeting. The number of judges shall be one or three; and if appointed at a
meeting on request of one or more stockholders or proxies, the majority of the
shares present and entitled to vote shall determine whether one or three judges
are to be appointed. No person who is a candidate for office shall act as a
judge. In case any person appointed as judge fails to appear or fails or
refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment made by the Board of
Directors in advance of the convening of the meeting or at the meeting by the
person or officer acting as chairman. On request of the chairman of the meeting
or of any stockholder or his proxy, the judges shall make a report in writing of
any challenge or question or matter determined by them and execute a certificate
of any fact found by them.
ARTICLE III
Directors
SECTION 1. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by a
Board of Directors. The directors need not be stockholders of the Company. The
Board shall consist of not less than nine (9) nor more than thirteen (13)
directors, the exact number to be fixed from time to time by the Board of
Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority vote of the directors
than in office, such number being in addition to any directors that the holders
of any class of preferred stock, voting as a class, may be entitled to elect as
provided in the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, or in a resolution of the
Board establishing any series of preferred stock.
The directors, other than the directors to be elected by the holders of No
Par Preferred Stock, voting as a class, shall be classified in respect to the
time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three
classes, each consisting, as nearly as possible, of one-third of the whole
number of such directors. At each annual meeting, the successors to the class
of directors whose terms expire that year shall be elected to hold office for
the term of three years. Each such director shall hold office for the term for
which he is elected and until his successor shall have been elected and
qualified. Any vacancy in the office of any such directors shall be filled by
an election by the Board for the unexpired term.
Directors to be elected by the holders of No Par Preferred Stock, voting as
a class, shall be elected and hold office as provided in the Articles of
Incorporation, as amended.
27
SECTION 2. The Board of Directors shall hold an annual meeting, without
notice, immediately following the annual meeting of the stockholders and shall
elect a President, such number of Vice Presidents as the Board may deem
advisable, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Controller, and such Assistant
Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers as the Board may deem advisable. The Board
may also at its discretion elect a Chairman of the Board. Unless sooner removed
by the Board, all officers shall hold office until the next annual meeting of
the Board and until their successors shall have been elected. The Board shall
also, from time to time, elect such other officers and agents as it deems
advisable.
The President and the Chairman of the Board, if elected, must be selected
from the members of the Board of Directors, but the other officers may but need
not be directors.
Any two or more offices may be held by the same person except the offices
of President and Secretary, but in no case shall the same person act in the same
matter in two such official capacities.
SECTION 3. All vacancies in office shall be filled by the Board of
Directors, and the Board shall have power to define the duties of all officers
and agents and fix their compensation and may remove at its discretion any
officer or agent.
SECTION 4. The Board of Directors shall hold meetings at such times and
places as it may determine. Directors may participate in a meeting of the Board
or a Committee thereof by conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other. No notice of regular meetings of the Board need be given. Special
meetings of the Board may be called by the President or a Vice President or the
Secretary or by any two directors by giving written notice at least twenty-four
hours in advance of the time of the meeting to each director, either personally
or by telegram, charges prepaid, or by sending a copy of the notice through the
mail at least two days before the day of the meeting, to the director's address
appearing on the books of the Company or supplied by the director to the Company
for the purpose of notice.
Attendance at any meeting of the Board shall be a waiver of notice thereof.
If all the members of the Board are present at any meeting, no notice shall be
required. A majority of the whole number of the directors shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business, but if at any meeting a quorum shall not
be present, the meeting may adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall be
present.
SECTION 5. The Board of Directors shall cause to be sent to the
stockholders, within 120 days after the close of each fiscal year, financial
statements which shall include a balance sheet as of the close of such year,
together with statements of income and surplus for such year, prepared so as to
present fairly its financial condition and results of its operations. Such
financial statements shall have been examined in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards by a firm of independent certified public
accountants selected by the Board and shall be accompanied by such firm's
opinion as to the fairness of the presentation thereof.
SECTION 6. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority
of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist
of two or more of the directors of the Company. The Board may designate one or
more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent
or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. Any such committee to
the extent provided in such resolution shall have and exercise the authority of
the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Company.
28
ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS
President
SECTION 1. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the
Company. He shall preside at all meetings of the stockholders and, in the
absence of a Chairman of the Board, at all meetings of the Board of Directors at
which he is present. He shall be ex-officio a member of all standing
committees. He shall have the custody of the corporate seal or may entrust the
same to the Secretary. He shall make reports of the Company's business to the
Board at such times as the Board shall require. He shall perform all the usual
duties incident to the office of President.
Vice-Presidents
SECTION 2. In the absence or disability of the President, his duties
shall be performed by one or more Vice-Presidents designated by the Board of
Directors. They shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to them by
the Board.
Chairman of the Board
SECTION 3. The Chairman of the Board, if elected, shall preside at
all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he is present. He shall perform
such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board.
Secretary
SECTION 4. The Secretary shall attend the meetings of the
stockholders and Board of Directors and keep minutes thereof in suitable books.
He shall send out notices of all meetings as required by law or these bylaws.
He shall be ex-officio an Assistant Treasurer. He shall perform all the usual
duties incident to the office of Secretary.
Assistant Secretaries
SECTION 5. In the absence or disability of the Secretary, his duties
shall be performed by the Assistant Secretaries. They shall perform such other
duties as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
Treasurer
SECTION 6. The Treasurer shall have custody of funds of the Company
and keep or cause to be kept accurate accounts of all money received or payments
made in books kept for that purpose. He shall deposit all money received by him
in the name and to the credit of the Company in such bank or other place or
places of deposit as the Board of Directors shall designate. He shall be ex-
officio an Assistant Secretary. He shall perform all the usual duties incident
to the office of Treasurer.
Assistant Treasurers
SECTION 7. In the absence or disability of the Treasurer, his duties
shall be performed by the Assistant Treasurers. They shall perform such other
duties as may be assigned to them by the Board of Directors.
Controller
SECTION 8. The Controller shall have general charge of the accounting
of the Company and shall perform all the usual duties incident to the office of
Controller.
29
Bonds
SECTION 9. Such officers and employees of the Company as the Board of
Directors shall determine shall give bond for the faithful discharge of their
duties in such form and for such amount and with such surety or sureties as the
Board shall require. The expense of procuring such bonds shall be borne by the
Company.
ARTICLE V
Seal
The Company shall have a seal which shall contain the words "Armstrong
World Industries, Inc.," in a circle within which the words "Incorporated Dec.
30, 1891" shall be contained.
ARTICLE VI
Stock Certificates and Transfers
Stock certificates shall be in such form as the Board of Directors may
from time to time determine and shall either be signed by the President or one
of the Vice-Presidents or other officer designated by the Board, and
countersigned by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and sealed with the
seal of the Company, or, if not so signed and sealed, shall bear the engraved or
printed facsimile signatures of the officers authorized to sign and the engraved
or printed facsimile of the seal of the Company.
The Board of Directors may appoint for any class of stock one or more
incorporated banks or trust companies in the city of New York, New York, or
elsewhere, to act as Registrar or Registrars, and also one or more incorporated
banks or trust companies in the city of New York, New York, or elsewhere, to act
as Transfer Agent or Transfer Agents. No certificate of stock of any class for
which a Transfer Agent and Registrar have been appointed shall be valid or
binding unless countersigned by a Transfer Agent and registered by a Registrar
before issue.
The shares of the capital stock of the Company shall, upon the
surrender and cancellation of the certificate or certificates representing the
same, be transferred upon the books of the Company at the request of the holder
thereof, named in the surrendered certificate or certificates, in person or by
his legal representatives or by his attorney duly authorized by written power of
attorney filed with the Company's Transfer Agent. In case of loss or
destruction of a certificate of stock, another may be issued in lieu thereof in
such manner and upon such terms as the Board shall authorize.
The Board of Directors may fix a time, not more than seventy (70) days
prior to the date of any meeting of the stockholders, or the date fixed for the
payment of any dividend or distribution or the date for the allotment of rights,
or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock will be
made or go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the
stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any such meeting, or entitled
to receive payment of any such dividend or distribution, or to receive any such
allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect to any such change,
conversion, or exchange of capital stock. In such case, only such stockholders
as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to
notice of, or to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend
or distribution, or to receive such allotment of rights, or exercise such
rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of stock on the books
of the company after any record date fixed as aforesaid.
ARTICLE VII
Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Company shall end on the 31st day of December.
30
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, as
amended, these bylaws may be amended by a vote of two-thirds of the members of
the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting duly convened after the
notice of that purpose, subject always to the power of stockholders under law
and in accordance with the Articles of Incorporation, as amended, to change such
action.
ARTICLE IX
Limitation on Directors' Personal Liability;
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. A director of the Company shall not be personally liable
for monetary damages for any action taken or failure to take any action unless
the director has breached or failed to perform the duties of his or her office
under Section 8363 of the Pennsylvania Directors' Liability Act and such breach
or failure to perform constitutes self-dealing, willful misconduct or
recklessness; provided, however, that the foregoing provision shall not
eliminate or limit the liability of a director (i) for any responsibility or
liability of such director pursuant to any criminal statute, or (ii) for any
liability of a director for the payment of taxes pursuant to local, state or
federal law.
SECTION 2. The Company shall indemnify to the full extent authorized
or permitted by law any person made, or threatened to be made, a party to or
otherwise involved in (as a witness or otherwise) an action, suit or proceeding
(whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, and whether by or in
the right of the Company or otherwise) by reason of the fact that the person is
or was a director or officer of the Company or while a director or officer of
the Company, either serves or served as a director, officer, trustee, employee
or agent of any other related enterprise or in connection with a related
employee benefit plan at the request of the Company or serves or served as a
director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of any other unrelated enterprise
at the specific written request of the Company against any expenses and
liability actually incurred including without limitation judgments and amounts
paid or to be paid in settlement of and in actions brought by or in the right of
the Company. Expenses incurred by such a person in defending a civil or
criminal action, suit or proceeding or in enforcing any right under this Article
shall be paid by the Company in advance of the final disposition of the action,
suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person
to repay such amount to the extent it shall ultimately be determined that such
person is not entitled to be indemnified by the Company or, in the case of a
criminal action, the majority of the Board of Directors so determines. The
right to indemnification and advancement of expenses conferred in this Section
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which any person
indemnified may be entitled under any agreement, vote of stockholders or
directors or otherwise, the Company having the express authority to enter such
agreements as the Board of Directors deems appropriate for the indemnification
of and advancement of expenses, including the creation of a fund therefor or
equivalent guarantee, to present or future directors and officers of the Company
in connection with their service as director or officer of the Company or their
service as director, officer, trustee, employee or agent of any other enterprise
or in connection with an employee benefit plan at the request of the Company.
The right to indemnification and the advancement of expenses provided in this
Section shall be a contract right, shall continue as to a person who has ceased
to serve in the capacities described herein, and shall inure to the benefit of
the heirs, executors and administrators of such person.
SECTION 3. No amendment, alteration or repeal of this Article IX, nor
the adoption of any provision inconsistent with this Article IX, shall
31