Exhibit (3)-4
Commonwealth Edison Company
Form 10-K File No. 1-1839
Commonwealth Edison Company
By-Laws
Effective September 2, 1988
As Amended Through
March 11, 1998
CONTENTS
PAGE
NUMBER
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ARTICLE I. Stock.................................................. 1
ARTICLE II. Meetings of Stockholders............................... 2
ARTICLE III. Board of Directors..................................... 4
ARTICLE IV. Committees of the Board of Directors................... 5
ARTICLE V. Officers............................................... 9
ARTICLE VI. Miscellaneous.......................................... 13
ARTICLE VII. Alteration, Amendment or Repeal of By-Laws............. 14
Commonwealth Edison Company
By-Laws
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ARTICLE I.
Stock.
Section 1. Each holder of fully paid stock shall be entitled to a
certificate or certificates of stock stating the number and class of shares, and
the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents. All
certificates of stock shall at the time of their issuance be signed either
manually or by facsimile signature by the Chairman, the President or a Vice
President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. All certificates of
stock shall be sealed with the seal of the Company or a facsimile of such seal,
shall be countersigned either manually or by facsimile signature by a Transfer
Agent and shall be authenticated by manual signature and registered by a
Registrar. The Board of Directors shall appoint one or more Transfer Agents,
none of whom shall be officers of the Company authorized to sign certificates of
stock, and one or more Registrars, each of which Registrars shall be a bank or
trust company. Certificates of stock shall not be valid until countersigned by a
Transfer Agent and authenticated and registered by a Registrar in the manner
provided by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Shares of stock shall be transferable only on the books of
the Company and, except as hereinafter provided or as otherwise required by law,
shall be transferred only upon proper endorsement and surrender of the
certificates issued therefor. If an outstanding certificate of stock shall be
lost, destroyed or stolen, the holder thereof may have a new certificate upon
producing evidence satisfactory to the Board of Directors of such loss,
destruction or theft, and upon furnishing to the Company, the Transfer Agents
and the Registrars a bond of indemnity deemed sufficient by the Board of
Directors against claims under the outstanding certificate.
Section 3. The certificates for each class or series of stock shall be
numbered and issued in consecutive order and a record shall be kept of the name
and address of the person to whom each certificate is issued, the number of
shares represented by the certificate and the number and date of the
certificate. All certificates exchanged or returned to the Company for transfer
shall be canceled and filed.
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Section 4. For the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to
notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders, or stockholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of
stockholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors may fix in
advance a date as the record date for any such determination for stockholders,
such date in any case to be not more than sixty days and, for a meeting of
stockholders, not less than ten days, or in the case of a merger, consolidation,
share exchange, dissolution or sale, lease or exchange of assets, not less than
twenty days, immediately preceding such meeting.
Section 5. If any subscription for stock in the Company or any
installment of such subscription shall be unpaid when due, as the Board of
Directors shall have determined the time for payment, and shall continue unpaid
for twenty days after demand for the amount due, made either in person or by
written notice duly mailed to the last address, as it appears on the records of
the Company, of the subscriber or other person by whom the subscription or
installment shall be payable, the stock or subscription upon which payment shall
be so due shall, upon the expiration of said twenty days, become and be
forfeited to the Company without further action, demand or notice, and such
stock or subscription may be sold at public sale, subject to payment of the
amount due and unpaid, plus all costs and expenses incurred by the Company in
that connection, at a time and place to be stated in a written notice to be
mailed to the recorded address of the delinquent subscriber or other person in
default on the subscription at least ten days prior to the time fixed for such
sale; provided, that the excess of proceeds of such sale realized over the
amount due and unpaid on said stock or subscription shall be paid to the
delinquent subscriber or other person in default on the subscription, or to his
or her legal representative; and, provided further, that no forfeiture of stock,
or of any amounts paid upon a subscription therefor, shall be declared as
against the estate of any decedent before distribution shall have been made of
the estate.
The foregoing provisions for the forfeiture and sale of stock or
subscriptions shall not exclude any other remedy which may lawfully be
enforceable at any time, by forfeiture of stock or of amounts theretofore paid
or otherwise, against any person for nonpayment of a subscription or of any
installment thereof.
ARTICLE II.
Meetings of Stockholders.
Section 1. The regular annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Company for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other
business as may come before the meeting shall be held on such day in April or
May of each year as the Board of Directors may by resolution determine. Each
such regular annual meeting and each special meeting of the stockholders shall
be held at such place as may
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be fixed by the Board of Directors and at such hour as the Board of Directors
shall order.
Section 2. Special meetings of the stockholders may be called by the
Chairman, by the Board of Directors, by a majority of the Directors individually
or by the holders of not less than one-fifth of the total outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company.
Section 3. Written notice stating the place, day and hour of the
meeting of the stockholders and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose
or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be delivered not less than ten
nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, or in the case of a
merger, consolidation, share exchange, dissolution or sale, lease or exchange of
assets not less than twenty nor more than sixty days before the date of the
meeting, either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the Chairman,
the Secretary or the persons calling the meeting, to each stockholder of record
entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be
delivered when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder
at the stockholder's address as it appears upon the records of the Company, with
postage thereon prepaid.
Section 4. At all meetings of the stockholders, a majority of the
outstanding shares of stock, entitled to vote on a matter, represented in person
or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum for consideration of such matter, but the
stockholders represented at any meeting, though less than a quorum, may adjourn
the meeting to some other day or sine die. If a quorum is present, the
affirmative vote of the majority of the shares of stock represented at the
meeting and entitled to vote on a matter shall be the act of the stockholders,
unless the vote of a greater number or voting by classes is required by law or
the articles of incorporation.
Section 5. At every meeting of the stockholders, each outstanding share
of stock shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted for a vote. In
all elections for Directors, every stockholder shall have the right to vote the
number of shares owned by such stockholder for as many persons as there are
Directors to be elected, or to cumulate such votes and give one candidate as
many votes as shall equal the number of Directors to be elected multiplied by
the number of such shares or to distribute such cumulative votes in any
proportion among any number of candidates. A stockholder may vote either in
person or by proxy. A stockholder may appoint a proxy to vote or otherwise act
for him or her by signing an appointment form and delivering it to the person so
appointed.
Section 6. The Secretary of the Company shall make, within twenty days
after the record date for a meeting of stockholders of the Company or ten days
before such meeting, whichever is earlier, a complete list of the stockholders
entitled to vote at such meeting,
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arranged in alphabetical order, with the address of and the number of shares
held by each, which list, for at least ten days prior to such meeting, shall be
kept on file at the registered office of the Company and shall be subject to
inspection by any stockholder, and to copying at such stockholder's expense, at
any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept
open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection
of any stockholder during the whole time of the meeting.
Section 7. The Chairman and the Secretary of the Company shall, when
present, act as chairman and secretary, respectively, of each meeting of the
stockholders.
Section 8. At any meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting
may, or upon the request of any stockholder shall, appoint one or more persons
as inspectors for such meeting, unless an inspector or inspectors shall have
been previously appointed for such meeting by the Chairman. Such inspectors
shall ascertain and report the number of shares of stock represented at the
meeting, based upon their determination of the validity and effect of proxies,
count all votes and report the results and do such other acts as are proper to
conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all the
stockholders.
ARTICLE III.
Board of Directors.
Section 1. The business and affairs of the Company shall be managed by
or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The number of Directors of the
Company shall be not less than eight nor more than thirteen. The Directors shall
be elected at each annual meeting of the stockholders, but if for any reason the
election shall not be held at an annual meeting, it may be subsequently held at
any special meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose after proper
notice. The Directors so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting
and until their respective successors, willing to serve, shall have been elected
and qualified. Directors need not be residents of the State of Illinois or
stockholders of the Company. No person shall be eligible for nomination or
renomination as a Director by the management of the Company who, prior to the
date of election, shall have attained age seventy-two.
No person who is an employe or a former employe of the Company or of a
subsidiary of the Company shall be eligible for nomination or renomination as a
Director by the management of the Company for a term commencing after such
person ceases to be such an employe; provided, however that any Director in
office on June 15, 1989 who is or has been such an employe may be renominated as
a Director unless such person shall have attained age sixty-five on or before
the date of election of Directors.
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Section 2. A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held
immediately, or as soon as practicable, after the annual election of Directors
in each year, provided a quorum for such meeting can be obtained. Notice of
every meeting of the Board, stating the time and place at which such meeting
will be held, shall be given to each Director personally, by telephone or by
other means of communication at least one day, or by depositing the same in the
mails properly addressed at least two days before the day of such meeting. A
meeting of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Chairman or
by any two Directors and shall be held at such place as shall be specified in
the notice for such meeting.
Section 3. A majority of the number of Directors then in office, but
not less than six, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
any meeting of the Board, but a lesser number may adjourn the meeting from time
to time until a quorum is obtained, or may adjourn sine die. The act of the
majority of the Directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Each member of the Board not receiving a salary from the
Company or a subsidiary of the Company shall be paid such fees as the Board of
Directors may from time to time, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the Directors then in office, determine.
Section 5. At the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the
annual meeting of shareholders each year, the Board shall elect a Lead Director.
The Lead Director shall be elected from among the Outside Directors of the
Company. For purposes hereof, "Outside Directors" shall be those who are not and
never have been employees of the Company or any of its direct or indirect
subsidiaries. The duties of the Lead Director shall be to convene and chair
meetings of the Outside Directors and to assume other responsibilities which the
Outside Directors might designate from time to time. The Lead Director will
consult with other Outside Directors as to appropriate items for discussion at
each such meeting.
ARTICLE IV.
Committees of the Board of Directors.
Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of the Board
consisting of not less than three nor more than six members. The Board of
Directors shall, at its first meeting after the annual meeting of the
stockholders in each year, elect a chairman and the other members of the
Executive Committee. The remaining Directors shall constitute alternates to
serve temporarily, and as far as practicable in rotation (in such order as shall
be established by the Board), in the place of any member who may be unable to
serve. The
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Chairman or the Directors calling a meeting of the Executive Committee shall
call upon alternates, in rotation, to serve as herein provided. When any
alternate serves, the minutes of the meeting shall record the name of the member
in whose place such alternate serves. The Directors elected as members of the
Executive Committee shall serve as such for one year and until their respective
successors, willing to serve, shall have been elected. The Executive Committee
shall, when the Board is not in session, have and may exercise all of the
authority of the Board of Directors, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 10 of this Article IV. Vacancies in the membership of the Executive
Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee
shall keep minutes of the proceedings at its meetings.
Section 2. There shall be an Audit Committee of the Board consisting of
not less than three nor more than five members who are not employes of the
Company. The Directors elected as members of the Audit Committee shall serve as
such for three years and until their respective successors, willing to serve,
shall have been elected, provided that, to the extent practicable, the members
of the Audit Committee shall be elected for staggered terms. The Board of
Directors shall, at its first meeting after the annual meeting of stockholders
in each year, elect the successors of the members whose terms shall then expire.
The Board of Directors shall designate from time to time the member who is to
serve as chairman of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall meet with
the Company's independent auditors at least once each year to review the
Company's financial statements and the scope and results of such auditors'
examinations, monitor the internal accounting controls and practices of the
Company, review the annual report to stockholders and make recommendations as to
its approval to the Board and recommend, subject to stockholder approval, the
appointment of independent auditors, and shall report its findings at least once
each year to the Board. The Audit Committee shall have such powers as it shall
deem necessary for the performance of its duties. Vacancies in the membership of
the Audit Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The Audit
Committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at its meetings.
Section 3. There shall be a Corporate Governance and Compensation
Committee of the Board consisting of those Directors who are not employees or
former employees of the Company. The Board of Directors shall, at its first
meeting after the annual meeting of shareholders in each year, elect a chairman
of the Corporate Governance and Compensation Committee. The Directors serving as
members of the Committee shall serve for one year and until their respective
successors, willing to serve, shall have been elected. The Corporate Governance
and Compensation Committee shall (i) oversee corporate governance policies,
practices and procedures of the Company and make such recommendations as it may
deem appropriate to the Board; and (ii) oversee general compensation policy of
the Company, and establish and administer compensation programs applicable to
the
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principal officers of the Company, including but not necessarily limited to the
establishment of base salaries and the administration of awards under the
Commonwealth Edison Company Deferred Compensation Plan and any other
Commonwealth Edison Company compensation plan. The Committee shall have such
power as it deems necessary for the performance of its duties. Vacancies in the
membership of the Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The
Committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at its meetings.
Section 4. There shall be a Finance Committee of the Board consisting
of not less than three nor more than five members. The Board of Directors shall,
at its first meeting after the annual meeting of stockholders in each year,
elect a chairman and the other members of the Finance Committee. The Directors
elected as members of the Finance Committee shall serve as such for one year and
until their respective successors, willing to serve, shall have been elected.
The Finance Committee shall review the scope and results of the Company's
financing program and review the Company's financial statements, construction
budgets and cash budgets as they relate to the Company's financing program, and
shall report its findings at least once each year to the Board. The Finance
Committee shall have such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance
of its duties. Vacancies in the membership of the Finance Committee shall be
filled by the Board of Directors. The Finance Committee shall keep minutes of
the proceedings at its meetings.
Section 5. There shall be a Nominating Committee of the Board
consisting of not less than three nor more than five members, a majority of whom
are not employes of the Company. The Board of Directors shall, at its first
meeting after the annual meeting of stockholders in each year, elect a chairman
and the other members of the Nominating Committee. The Directors elected as
members of the Nominating Committee shall serve as such for one year and until
their respective successors, willing to serve, shall have been elected. The
Nominating Committee shall review the requirements for serving as Director,
review potential candidates for Director, propose nominees for Director to the
Board and recommend to the Board the successor to the Chairman when a vacancy
occurs in that position. The Nominating Committee shall have such power as it
shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties. Vacancies in the
membership of the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the Board of
Directors. The Nominating Committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at its
meetings.
Section 6. There shall be a Nuclear Oversight Committee of the Board
consisting of not less than three nor more than five members. The Board of
Directors shall, at its first meeting after the annual meeting of stockholders
in each year, elect a chairman and other members of the Nuclear Oversight
Committee. The Directors elected as members of the Nuclear Oversight Committee
shall serve as such for one year and until their respective successors, willing
to
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serve, shall have been elected. The Nuclear Oversight Committee shall monitor
the performance and safety of the Company's nuclear facilities, provide Nuclear
Generation Group management with input in establishing performance goals, review
management effectiveness in achieving such goals, provide oversight to the
implementation of strategies to achieve such goals, periodically visit and
inspect the nuclear facilities, and periodically meet with external oversight
groups; and the Committee shall periodically (at least annually) report its
findings and recommendations, if any, to the Board. The Nuclear Oversight
Committee shall have such powers as it shall deem necessary for the performance
of its duties. Vacancies in the membership of the Nuclear Oversight Committee
shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The Nuclear Oversight Committee shall
keep minutes of the proceedings at its meetings.
Section 7. There shall be a Regulatory and Environmental Affairs
Committee of the Board consisting of not less than three nor more than five
members. The Board of Directors shall, at its first meeting after the annual
meeting of stockholders in each year, elect a chairman and the other members of
the Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Committee. The Directors elected as
members of the Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Committee shall serve as
such for one year and until their respective successors, willing to serve, shall
have been elected. The Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Committee shall
review the Company's relationships with economic and environmental regulatory
agencies that exercise significant regulatory jurisdiction over the Company, and
shall review significant matters involving the Company before those agencies; it
shall review the Company's policies and strategic plans respecting regulatory
and environmental affairs; and it shall report its findings at least once each
year to the Board. The Regulatory and Environmental Affairs Committee shall have
such power as it shall deem necessary for the performance of its duties.
Vacancies in the membership of the Regulatory and Environmental Affairs
Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors. The Regulatory and
Environmental Affairs Committee shall keep minutes of the proceedings at its
meetings.
Section 8. The Board of Directors may from time to time create other
committees, standing or special, appoint Directors to serve on such committees
and confer such powers upon such committees and revoke such powers and terminate
the existence of such committees, as the Board at its pleasure may determine,
subject to the limitations set forth in Section 10 of this Article IV.
Section 9. Meetings of any committee of the Board may be called at any
time by the Chairman, by any two Directors or by the chairman of the committee
the meeting of which is being called and shall be held at such place as shall be
designated in the notice of such meeting. Notice of each committee meeting
stating the time and place at which such meeting will be held shall be given to
each member of the committee personally, or by telegraph, or by depositing the
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same in the mails properly addressed, at least one day before the day of such
meeting. A majority of the members of a committee shall constitute a quorum
thereof but a lesser number may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a
quorum is obtained, or may adjourn sine die. A majority vote of the members of a
committee present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be necessary
for committee action.
Section 10. Unless otherwise limited by the Board of Directors and
subject to the limitations set forth in the next sentence, each committee of the
Board of Directors consisting of two or more Directors may exercise the
authority of the Board. Notwithstanding any other provision of the by-laws, no
committee of the Board of Directors shall: (1) authorize distributions; (2)
approve or recommend to stockholders any act required by law to be approved by
stockholders; (3) fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any of its
committees; (4) elect or remove officers or fix the compensation of any member
of the committee; (5) adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws; (6) approve a plan of
merger not requiring stockholder approval; (7) authorize or approve
reacquisition of stock, except according to a general formula or method
prescribed by the Board of Directors; (8) authorize or approve the issuance or
sale, or contract for sale, of stock or determine the designation and relative
rights, preferences, and limitations of a series of stock, except that a
committee may fix the specific terms of the issuance or sale or contract for
sale or the number of shares of stock to be allocated to particular employes
under an employe benefit plan; or (9) amend, alter, repeal, or take action
inconsistent with any resolution or action of the Board of Directors when the
resolution or action of the Board of Directors provides by its terms that it
shall not be amended, altered or repealed by action of a committee.
ARTICLE V.
Officers.
Section 1. There shall be elected by the Board of Directors, at its
first meeting after the annual election of Directors in each year if
practicable, the following principal officers of the Company, namely: a
Chairman, a President, such number of Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice
Presidents and Vice Presidents as the Board at the time may decide upon, a
Secretary, a Treasurer and a Comptroller; and the Board may also provide for a
Vice Chairman and such other officers, and prescribe for each of them such
duties, as in its judgment may from time to time be desirable to conduct the
affairs of the Company. No officer shall be elected for a term extending beyond
the first day of the month following the month in which such officer attains the
age of 65 years, on which date such officer shall be retired. The Chairman shall
be a Director of the Company; any other officer above named may, but need not,
be a Director of the Company. Any two or more offices may be held by the same
person, except that
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one person may not at the same time hold the office of Chairman or President and
the office of Secretary. All officers shall hold their respective offices until
the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the next succeeding annual
election of Directors and until their successors, willing to serve, shall have
been elected, but any officer may be removed from office by the Board of
Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Company will be
served thereby. Such removal, however, shall be without prejudice to the
contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election of an officer shall
not of itself create contract rights.
Section 2. The Chairman shall be the chief executive officer of the
Company and shall have general authority over all the affairs of the Company,
including the power to appoint and discharge any and all officers, agents and
employes of the Company not elected or appointed directly by the Board of
Directors. The Chairman shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall have authority to
call special meetings of the stockholders and meetings of the Board of
Directors, and of any committee of the Board of Directors and, when neither the
Board of Directors nor the Executive Committee is in session, to suspend the
authority of any other officer or officers of the Company, subject, however, to
the pleasure of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee at its next
meeting. The Chairman, or such other officer as the Chairman may direct, shall
be responsible for all internal audit functions, and internal audit personnel
shall report directly to the Chairman or to such other officer.
Section 3. If, at any time, it is brought to the attention of any
Director that the Chairman has or may become absent or disabled and may thereby
be unable to perform the duties of Chairman for some period of time, the Lead
Director shall, as promptly as practicable upon his own initiative, or after
notice from another Director, convene a meeting (in person or by telephone
conference call) of the Outside Directors (who for purposes hereof shall consist
of all Directors who are not and have never been employees of the Company or any
of its direct or indirect subsidiaries) who shall decide whether the Chairman
has become absent or disabled. Upon such determination the Outside Directors
shall designate an Acting Chairman, who may be the Lead Director or any other
Director of the Company, and who shall exercise the power and duties of the
Chairman until the Outside Directors shall have determined that the Chairman can
resume his duties as Chairman or until a new Chairman has been elected by the
Board of Directors. The Acting Chairman, however, shall have no authority to
make changes in the persons holding any office at the executive payroll level of
the Company or to make changes in any such person's duties or responsibilities,
or compensation or benefits, without prior approval of the Board of Directors.
For purposes of this Section, any action of the Outside Directors shall be by
majority vote of those present at a meeting of such Directors, provided that a
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majority of such Directors shall constitute a quorum for such a meeting.
Section 4. Except insofar as the Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee or the Chairman shall have devolved responsibilities on the other
principal officers, the President shall be responsible for the general
management and direction of the affairs of the Company, subject to the control
of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and the Chairman. The
President shall have such other powers and duties as usually devolve upon the
President of a corporation and such further powers and duties as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or the Chairman.
The President shall report to the Chairman.
Section 5. The Executive Vice Presidents, the Senior Vice Presidents
and the Vice Presidents shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed
for them, respectively, by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or
the Chairman. Each of such officers shall report to the Chairman or such other
officer as the Chairman shall direct.
Section 6. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the stockholders,
of the Board of Directors and of each committee of the Board of Directors, shall
keep a true and faithful record thereof in proper books and shall have the
custody and care of the corporate seal, records, minute books and stock books of
the Company and of such other books and papers as in the practical business
operations of the Company shall naturally belong in the office or custody of the
Secretary or as shall be placed in the Secretary's custody by order of the Board
of Directors or the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall keep a suitable
record of the addresses of stockholders and shall, except as may be otherwise
required by statute or the by-laws, sign and issue all notices required for
meetings of stockholders, of the Board of Directors and of the committees of the
Board of Directors. Whenever requested by the requisite number of stockholders
or Directors, the Secretary shall give notice, in the name of the stockholder or
stockholders or Director or Directors making the request, of a meeting of the
stockholders or of the Board of Directors or of a committee of the Board of
Directors, as the case may be. The Secretary shall sign all papers to which the
Secretary's signature may be necessary or appropriate, shall affix and attest
the seal of the Company to all instruments requiring the seal, shall have the
authority to certify the by-laws, resolutions of the stockholders and Board of
Directors and committees of the Board of Directors and other documents of the
Company as true and correct copies thereof and shall have such other powers and
duties as are commonly incidental to the office of Secretary and as may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or the Chairman.
The Secretary shall report to the Chairman or such other officer as the Chairman
shall direct.
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Section 7. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be responsible for
the collection, receipt, custody and disbursement of the funds of the Company.
The Treasurer shall deposit the Company's funds in its name in such banks, trust
companies or safe deposit vaults as the Board of Directors may direct. Such
funds shall be subject to withdrawal only upon checks or drafts signed or
authenticated in such manner as may be designated from time to time by
resolution of the Board of Directors or of the Executive Committee. The
Treasurer shall have the custody of such books and papers as in the practical
business operations of the Company shall naturally belong in the office or
custody of the Treasurer or as shall be placed in the Treasurer's custody by
order of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall
have such other powers and duties as are commonly incidental to the office of
Treasurer or as may be prescribed for the Treasurer by the Board of Directors,
the Executive Committee or the Chairman. Securities owned by the Company shall
be in the custody of the Treasurer or of such other officers, agents or
depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee. The Treasurer may be required to give bond to the Company for the
faithful discharge of the duties of the Treasurer in such form and in such
amount and with such surety as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
The Treasurer shall report to the Chairman or such other officer as the Chairman
shall direct.
Section 8. The Comptroller shall be responsible for the executive
direction of the accounting organization and shall have functional supervision
over the records of all other departments pertaining to revenues, expenses,
money, securities, properties, materials and supplies. The Comptroller shall
prescribe the form of all vouchers, accounts and accounting procedures, and
reports required by the various departments. The Comptroller shall be
responsible for the preparation and interpretation of all accounting reports and
financial statements as required and for the proper review and approval of all
bills received for payment. No bill or voucher shall be so approved unless the
charges covered by the bill or voucher shall have been previously approved
through job order, requisition or otherwise by the head of the department in
which it originated, or unless the Comptroller shall otherwise be satisfied of
its propriety and correctness. The Comptroller shall have such other powers and
duties as are commonly incidental to the office of Comptroller or as may be
prescribed for the Comptroller by the Board of Directors, the Executive
Committee or the Chairman. The Comptroller may be required to give bond to the
Company for the faithful discharge of the duties of the Comptroller in such form
and in such amount and with such surety as shall be determined by the Board of
Directors. The Comptroller shall report to the Chairman or such other officer as
the Chairman shall direct.
Section 9. Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and Assistant
Comptrollers, when elected or appointed, shall respectively
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assist the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Comptroller in the performance of
the respective duties assigned to such principal officers, and in assisting such
principal officer, each of such assistant officers shall for such purpose have
the powers of such principal officer. In case of the absence, disability, death,
resignation or removal from office of any principal officer, such principal
officer's duties shall, except as otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors or
the Executive Committee, temporarily devolve upon such assistant officer as
shall be designated by the Chairman.
Section 10. At least once each year, the Chairman shall report (which
may be oral) to the Outside Directors (who for purposes hereof shall consist of
all Directors who are not and never have been employees of the Company or any of
its direct subsidiaries) on the status of a plan for succession to the office of
Chairman.
ARTICLE VI.
Miscellaneous.
Section 1. No bills shall be paid by the Treasurer unless reviewed and
approved by the Comptroller or by some other person or committee expressly
authorized by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chairman or
the Comptroller to review and approve bills for payment.
Section 2. Any and all shares of stock of any corporation owned by the
Company and any and all voting trust certificates owned by the Company calling
for or representing shares of stock of any corporation may be voted at any
meeting of the stockholders of such corporation or at any meeting of the holders
of such certificates, as the case may be, by any one of the principal officers
of the Company upon any question which may be presented at such meeting, and any
such officer may, on behalf of the Company, waive any notice required to be
given of the calling of such meeting and consent to the holding of any such
meeting without notice. Any such principal officer other than the Secretary,
acting together with the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, shall have
authority to give to any person a written proxy, in the name of the Company and
under its corporate seal, to vote any or all shares of stock or any or all
voting trust certificates owned by the Company upon any question that may be
presented at any such meeting of stockholders or certificate holders, with full
power to waive any notice of the calling of such meeting and consent to the
holding of such meeting without notice.
Section 3. The fiscal year of the Company shall begin on the first day
of January and end on the last day of December in each year.
Section 4. The Company shall indemnify the Directors, officers and
employes of the Company, and shall have the power to indemnify other agents of
the Company and any person acting or serving
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at the request of the Company as a director, officer, employe or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in
accordance with and to the extent permitted by Section 8.75 of The Business
Corporation Act of 1983 of the State of Illinois, as from time to time amended
and in effect. Such indemnification shall be available to any past, present or
future Director, officer or employe of the Company, and may be available to any
past, present or future agent of the Company and any past, present or future
director, officer, employe or agent of such other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, and shall apply to actions, suits,
proceedings or claims arising out of or based upon events occurring prior to, on
or after the date of original adoption of this by-law.
ARTICLE VII.
Alteration, Amendment or Repeal of By-Laws.
These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed by the stockholders
or the Board of Directors.