Exhibit 3.2
BY-LAWS
OF
NORTHWAY FINANCIAL, INC.
ARTICLE I
Shareholders
SECTION 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of shareholders shall be
held at the hour, date and place within or without the United States which is
fixed by the majority of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, if
one is elected, or the President, which time, date and place may subsequently be
changed at any time by vote of the Board of Directors. If no annual meeting has
been held for a period of thirteen months after the Corporation's last annual
meeting of shareholders, a special meeting in lieu thereof may be held, and such
special meeting shall have, for the purposes of these By-laws or otherwise, all
the force and effect of an annual meeting. Any and all references hereafter in
these By-laws to an annual meeting or annual meetings also shall be deemed to
refer to any special meeting(s) in lieu thereof.
SECTION 2. Matters to be Considered at Annual Meetings. At any annual
meeting of shareholders or any special meeting in lieu of annual meeting of
shareholders (the "Annual Meeting"), only such business shall be conducted, and
only such proposals shall be acted upon, as shall have been properly brought
before such Annual Meeting. To be considered as properly brought before an
Annual Meeting, business must be: (a) specified in the notice of meeting, (b)
otherwise properly brought before the meeting by, or at the direction of, the
Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by any
holder of record (both as of the time notice of such proposal is given by the
shareholder as set forth below and as of the record date for the Annual Meeting
in question) of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote
at such Annual Meeting who complies with the requirements set forth in this
Section 2.
In addition to any other applicable requirements, for business to be
properly brought before an Annual Meeting by a shareholder of record of any
shares of capital stock entitled to vote at such Annual Meeting, such
shareholder shall: (i) give timely notice as required by this Section 2 to the
Secretary of the Corporation and (ii) be present at such meeting, either in
person or by a representative. For the first Annual Meeting following the date
the Corporation becomes a reporting company under Section 13(a) or Section 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), a
shareholder's notice shall be timely if delivered to, or mailed to and received
by, the Corporation at its principal executive office not later than the close
of business on the later of (x) the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such
Annual Meeting or (y) the 15th day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such Annual Meeting is first made by the
Corporation. For all subsequent Annual Meetings, a shareholder's notice shall be
timely if delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Corporation at its
principal executive office not less than 75 days nor more than 120 days prior to
the anniversary date of the immediately preceding Annual Meeting (the
"Anniversary Date"); provided, however, that in the event the Annual Meeting is
scheduled to be held on a date more than 30 days before the Anniversary Date or
more than 60 days after the Anniversary Date, a shareholder's notice shall be
timely if delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Corporation at its
principal executive office not later than the close of business on the later of
(1) the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or (2) the
15th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such
Annual Meeting is first made by the Corporation.
For purposes of these By-laws, "public announcement" shall mean: (a)
disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated
Press, or comparable national news service, (b) a report or other document filed
publicly with the Securities and Exchange Commission (including, without
limitation, a Form 8-K), or (c) a letter or report sent to shareholders of
record of the Corporation at the time of the mailing of such letter or report.
A shareholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each
matter proposed to be brought before an Annual Meeting: (i) a brief description
of the business the shareholder desires to bring before such Annual Meeting and
the reasons for conducting such business at such Annual Meeting, (ii) the name
and address, as they appear on the Corporation's stock transfer books, of the
shareholder proposing such business, (iii) the class and number of shares of the
Corporation's capital stock beneficially owned by the shareholder proposing such
business, (iv) the names and addresses of the beneficial owners, if any, of any
capital stock of the Corporation registered in such shareholder's name on such
books, and the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock
beneficially owned by such beneficial owners, (v) the names and addresses of
other shareholders known by the shareholder proposing such business to support
such proposal, and the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital
stock beneficially owned by such other shareholders, and (vi) any material
interest of the shareholder proposing to bring such business before such meeting
(or any other shareholders known to be supporting such proposal) in such
proposal.
If the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof determines
that any shareholder proposal was not made in a timely fashion in accordance
with the provisions of this Section 2 or that the information provided in a
shareholder's notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this
Section 2 in any material respect, such proposal shall not be presented for
action at the Annual Meeting in question. If neither the Board of Directors nor
such committee makes a determination as to the validity of any shareholder
proposal in the manner set forth above, the presiding officer of the Annual
Meeting shall determine whether the shareholder proposal was made in accordance
with the terms of this Section 2. If the presiding officer determines that any
shareholder proposal was not made in a timely fashion in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 2 or that the information provided in a shareholder's
notice does not satisfy the information requirements of this Section 2 in any
material respect, such proposal shall not be presented for action at the Annual
Meeting in question. If the Board of Directors, a designated committee thereof,
or the presiding officer determines that a shareholder proposal was made in
accordance with the requirements of this Section 2, the presiding officer shall
so declare at the Annual Meeting and ballots shall be provided for use at the
meeting with respect to such proposal.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this By-law, a shareholder
shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act, and the
rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this
Section 2, and nothing in this Section 2 shall be deemed to affect any rights of
shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation's proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Except as otherwise required by law and
subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock,
special meetings of the shareholders of the Corporation may be called only by
the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution approved by the affirmative vote
of a majority of the directors then in office, or upon delivery of written
demand therefor to the Secretary describing the purpose or purposes for which it
is to be held by the holders of not less than ten percent (10%) of the shares
entitled to vote at the meeting.
SECTION 4. Matters to be Considered at Special Meetings. No business
other than specified in the call for the meeting shall be transacted at any
special meeting of the shareholders.
SECTION 5. Notice of Meetings; Adjournments. A written notice of each
Annual Meeting stating the hour, date, and place of such Annual Meeting shall be
given by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary (or other person authorized by
these By-laws or by law) not less than 10 days nor more than 60 days before the
Annual Meeting, to each shareholder entitled to vote thereat and to each
shareholder who, by law or under the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation (as the same may hereafter be amended and/or restated, the "Articles
of Incorporation") or under these By-laws, is entitled to such notice, by
delivering such notice to him or by mailing it, postage prepaid, addressed to
such shareholder at the address of such shareholder as it appears on the
Corporation's stock transfer books. Such notice shall be deemed to be delivered
when hand delivered to such address or deposited in the mail so addressed, with
postage prepaid.
Notice of all special meetings of shareholders shall be given in the
same manner as provided for Annual Meetings, except that the written notice of
all special meetings shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting
has been called.
Notice of an Annual Meeting or special meeting of shareholders need not
be given to a shareholder if a written waiver of notice is signed before or
after such meeting by such shareholder or if such shareholder attends such
meeting, unless such attendance was for the express purpose of objecting at the
beginning of the meeting to the transaction of any business because the meeting
was not lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at,
nor the purpose of, any Annual Meeting or special meeting of shareholders need
be specified in any written waiver of notice.
The Board of Directors may postpone and reschedule any previously
scheduled Annual Meeting or special meeting of shareholders and any record date
with respect thereto, regardless of whether any notice or public announcement
with respect to any such meeting has been sent or made pursuant to Section 2 of
this Article I or Section 3 of Article II hereof or otherwise. In no event shall
the public announcement of an adjournment, postponement, or rescheduling of any
previously scheduled meeting of shareholders commence a new time period for the
giving of a shareholder's notice under Section 2 of Article I and Section 3 of
Article II of these By-laws.
When any meeting is convened, the presiding officer may adjourn the
meeting if (a) no quorum is present for the transaction of business, (b) the
Board of Directors determines that adjournment is necessary or appropriate to
enable the shareholders to consider fully information which the Board of
Directors determines has not been made sufficiently or timely available to
shareholders, or (c) the Board of Directors determines that adjournment is
otherwise in the best interests of the Corporation. When any Annual Meeting or
special meeting of shareholders is adjourned to another hour, date, or place,
notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting other than an announcement at
the meeting at which the adjournment is taken of the hour, date, and place to
which the meeting is adjourned; provided, however, that if the adjournment is
for more than 120 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat and each shareholder who, by
law or under the Articles of Incorporation or these By-laws, is entitled to such
notice.
SECTION 6. Quorum. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, present
in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of
shareholders. If less than a quorum is present at a meeting, the holders of
voting stock representing a majority of the voting power present at the meeting
or the presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and the
meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, except as provided in
Section 5 of this Article I. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum is
present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the
meeting as originally noticed. The shareholders present at a duly constituted
meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.
SECTION 7. Voting and Proxies. Shareholders shall have one vote for
each share of stock entitled to vote owned by them of record according to the
books of the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of
Incorporation. Shareholders may vote either in person or by written proxy, but
no proxy shall be voted or acted upon after eleven months from its date, unless
the proxy expressly provides for a longer period. Proxies shall be filed with
the Secretary of the meeting before being voted. Except as otherwise limited
therein or as otherwise provided by law, proxies shall entitle the persons
authorized thereby to vote at any adjournment of such meeting, but they shall
not be valid after final adjournment of such meeting. The Corporation, if acting
in good faith, may accept a proxy with respect to stock held in the name of two
or more persons if executed by or on behalf of any one of them.
SECTION 8. Action at Meeting. When a quorum is present, any matter
before any meeting of shareholders shall be decided by the affirmative vote of
the majority of shares present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting
and entitled to vote on such matter, except where a larger vote is required by
law, by the amended and restated Articles of Incorporation, or by these By-laws.
Any election by shareholders shall be determined by a plurality of the votes of
the shares present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting and entitled
to vote on the election of directors, except where a larger vote is required by
law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these By-laws. The Corporation
shall not directly or indirectly vote any shares of its own stock; provided,
however, that the Corporation may vote shares which it holds in a fiduciary
capacity to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION 9. Shareholder Lists. The Secretary or an Assistant Secretary
(or the Corporation's transfer agent or other person authorized by these By-laws
or by law) shall prepare and make available for inspection, within two business
days after notice of the Annual Meeting or special meeting for which the list
was prepared and continuing through such Annual Meeting or special meeting, a
complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order and by voting group and class and series, if applicable, and
showing the address of each shareholder and the number of shares registered in
the name of each shareholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any
shareholder, or such shareholder's agent or attorney, for any purpose germane to
the meeting, during ordinary business hours, upon written demand, 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
hour, date, and place of the meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be
inspected by any shareholder, and any such shareholder's agent or attorney, who
is present.
SECTION 10. Presiding Officer. The Chairman of the Board, if one is
elected, or if not elected or in his or her absence, the Vice-Chairman, shall
preside at all Annual Meetings or special meetings of shareholders and shall
have the power, among other things, to adjourn such meeting at any time and from
time to time, subject to Sections 5 and 6 of this Article I. The order of
business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of the shareholders
shall be determined by the presiding officer.
SECTION 11. Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections. The
Corporation shall, in advance of any meeting of shareholders, appoint one or
more inspectors to act at the meeting and make a written report thereof. The
Corporation may designate one or more persons as alternate inspectors to replace
any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate is able to act at a
meeting of shareholders, the presiding officer shall appoint one or more
inspectors to act at the meeting. Any inspector may, but need not, be an
officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation. Each inspector, before entering
upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully
to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the
best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall perform such duties as are
required by the New Hampshire Business Corporation Act, as amended from time to
time (the "NHBCA"), including the counting of all votes and ballots. The
inspectors may appoint or retain other persons or entities to assist the
inspectors in the performance of the duties of the inspectors. The presiding
officer may review all determinations made by the inspectors, and in so doing
the presiding officer shall be entitled to exercise his or her sole judgment and
discretion and he or she shall not be bound by any determinations made by the
inspectors. All determinations by the inspectors and, if applicable, the
presiding officer, shall be subject to further review by any court of competent
jurisdiction.
ARTICLE II
Directors
SECTION 1. Powers. All corporate powers shall be exercised by or under
the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be
managed under the direction of, the Board of Directors, except as otherwise
provided by the Articles of Incorporation or required by law.
SECTION 2. Number and Terms. At the effective date of these By-laws,
the number of directors of the Corporation shall be ten. Thereafter, the number
of directors of the Corporation shall be no less than eight and no more than
thirteen. The exact number of directors within the minimum and maximum
limitations specified in the preceding sentence shall be fixed from time to time
during the three year period following the effective date of these By-laws by
the Board pursuant to a resolution adopted by two-thirds of the entire Board of
Directors and thereafter by a majority of the entire Board. No decrease in the
number of directors constituting the Board shall shorten the term of any
incumbent director. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors of the
Corporation shall be required to amend or repeal or adopt any provision in
contravention of or inconsistent with the required directors' vote to fix the
number of directors during the three-year period following the effective date of
these By-laws as set forth in the third sentence of this Section 2.
SECTION 3. Director Nominations. Nominations of candidates for election
as directors of the Corporation at any Annual Meeting may be made only (a) by,
or at the direction of, a [majority] of the Board of Directors or (b) by any
holder of record (both as of the time notice of such nomination is given by the
shareholder as set forth below and as of the record date for the Annual Meeting
in question) of any shares of the capital stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote at such Annual Meeting who complies with the timing, informational, and
other requirements set forth in this Section 3. Any shareholder who has complied
with the timing, informational, and other requirements set forth in this Section
3 and who seeks to make such a nomination, or his, her, or its representative,
must be present in person at the Annual Meeting. Only persons nominated in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 3 shall be eligible for
election as directors at an Annual Meeting.
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 as set forth in this Section 3. For the first
Annual Meeting following the date the Corporation becomes a reporting company
under Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act, a shareholder's notice
shall be timely if delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Corporation
at its principal executive office not later than the close of business on the
later of (i) the 75th day prior to the scheduled date of such Annual Meeting or
(ii) the 15th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of
such Annual Meeting is first made by the Corporation. For all subsequent Annual
Meetings, a shareholder's notice shall be timely if delivered to, or mailed to
and received by, the Corporation at its principal executive office not less than
75 days nor more than 120 days prior to the Anniversary Date; provided, however,
that in the event the Annual Meeting is scheduled to be held on a date more than
30 days before the Anniversary Date or more than 60 days after the Anniversary
Date, a shareholder's notice shall be timely if delivered to, or mailed and
received by, the Corporation at its principal executive office not later than
the close of business on the later of (x) the 75th day prior to the scheduled
date of such Annual Meeting or (y) the 15th day following the day on which
public announcement of the date of such Annual Meeting is first made by the
Corporation.
A shareholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth as to each
person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as
a director: (1) the name, age, business address, and residence address of such
person, (2) the principal occupation or employment of such person, (3) the class
and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock which are beneficially
owned by such person on the date of such shareholder notice, and (4) the consent
of each nominee to serve as a director if elected. A shareholder's notice to the
Secretary shall further set forth as to the shareholder giving such notice: (a)
the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's stock transfer books,
of such shareholder and of the beneficial owners (if any) of the Corporation's
capital stock registered in such shareholder's name and the name and address of
other shareholders known by such shareholder to be supporting such nominee(s),
(b) the class and number of shares of the Corporation's capital stock which are
held of record, beneficially owned, or represented by proxy by such shareholder
and by any other shareholders known by such shareholder to be supporting such
nominee(s) on the record date for the Annual Meeting in question (if such date
shall then have been made publicly available) and on the date of such
shareholder's notice, and (c) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between such shareholder 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 such shareholder.
If the Board of Directors or a designated committee thereof determines
that any shareholder nomination was not made in accordance with the terms of
this Section 3 or that the information provided in a shareholder's notice does
not satisfy the informational requirements of this Section 3 in any material
respect, then such nomination shall not be considered at the Annual Meeting in
question. If neither the Board of Directors nor such committee makes a
determination as to whether a nomination was made in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 3, the presiding officer of the Annual Meeting shall
determine whether a nomination was made in accordance with such provisions. If
the presiding officer determines that any shareholder nomination was not made in
accordance with the terms of this Section 3 or that the information provided in
a shareholder's notice does not satisfy the informational requirements of this
Section 3 in any material respect, then such nomination shall not be considered
at the Annual Meeting in question. If the Board of Directors, a designated
committee thereof, or the presiding officer determines that a nomination was
made in accordance with the terms of this Section 3, the presiding officer shall
so declare at the Annual Meeting and ballots shall be provided for use at the
meeting with respect to such nominee.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the second paragraph of
this Section 3, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the
Board of Directors of the Corporation is increased pursuant to Section 2 of
Article II and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of
the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of
Directors at least 75 days prior to the Anniversary Date, a shareholder's notice
required by this Section 3 shall also be considered timely, but only with
respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if such
notice shall be delivered to, or mailed to and received by, the Corporation at
its principal executive office not later than the close of business on the 15th
day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the
Corporation.
No person shall be elected by the shareholders as a director of the
Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section. Election of directors at an Annual Meeting need not be by written
ballot, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, or presiding
officer at such Annual Meeting. If written ballots are to be used, ballots
bearing the names of all the persons who have been nominated for election as
directors at the Annual Meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section shall be provided for use at the Annual Meeting.
SECTION 4. Qualification. No director need be a resident of the State
of New Hampshire, but directors must own qualifying shares of the Corporation
with a fair market value at the time of such director's election of $5,000.
SECTION 5. Vacancies. For a period of three years following the
effective date of the Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among The Berlin City
Bank, Northway Financial, Inc., Pemigewasset National Bank and Pemi Bancorp.,
Inc., dated as of March 14, 1997 (the "Merger Agreement"), subject to the
rights, if any, of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock to elect
directors and to fill vacancies in the Board of Directors relating thereto: (i)
any vacancy in the Board of Directors occurring as a result of an increase in
the size of the Board of Directors or the death, resignation, disqualification,
or removal of a director nominated by Pemi Bancorp, Inc. pursuant to Section
1.09 of the Merger Agreement shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum
of the Board of Directors, and (ii) all other vacancies in the Board of
Directors shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum of the Board of
Directors. Thereafter, subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock to elect directors and to fill vacancies on the Board
of Directors relating thereto, any and all vacancies in the Board of Directors,
however occurring, including, without limitation, by reason of an increase in
size of the Board of Directors, or the death, resignation, disqualification, or
removal of a director, shall be filled solely by the affirmative vote of a
majority of the remaining directors then in office, even if less than a quorum
of the Board of Directors. Any director appointed to fill a vacancy in
accordance with the preceding provisions of this Section shall hold office until
the next Annual Meeting and until such director's successor shall have been duly
elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, disqualification,
resignation, or removal. Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of any
series of Preferred Stock to elect directors, when the number of directors is
increased or decreased, the Board of Directors shall determine the class or
classes to which the increased or decreased number of directors shall be
apportioned; provided, however, that no decrease in the number of directors
shall shorten the term of any incumbent director. In the event of a vacancy in
the Board of Directors, the remaining directors, except as otherwise provided by
law, may exercise the powers of the full Board of Directors until the vacancy is
filled. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors of the Corporation
shall be required to amend or repeal or adopt any provision in contravention or
inconsistent with clause (i) of the first sentence of this Section 5 of Article
II.
SECTION 6. Removal. Directors may be removed from office in the manner
provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
SECTION 7. Resignation. A director may resign at any time by giving
written notice to the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President,
or the Secretary. A resignation shall be effective upon receipt, unless the
resignation otherwise provides.
SECTION 8. Regular Meetings. The regular annual meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be held, without notice other than this Section 8, on the same
date and at the same place as the Annual Meeting following the close of such
meeting of shareholders. Other regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be
held at such hour, date, and place as the Board of Directors may by resolution
from time to time determine without notice other than such resolution.
SECTION 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called, orally or in writing, by or at the request of a majority of the
directors, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, or the President. The
person calling any such special meeting of the Board of Directors may fix the
hour, date, and place thereof.
SECTION 10. Notice of Meetings. Notice of the hour, date, and place of
all special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director
by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, or in case of the death, absence,
incapacity, or refusal of such persons, by the Chairman of the Board, if one is
elected, or the President or such other officer designated by the Chairman of
the Board, if one is elected, or the President. Notice of any special meeting of
the Board of Directors shall be given to each director in person, by telephone,
or by facsimile, telex, telecopy, telegram, or other written form of electronic
communication, sent to his or her business or home address, at least 24 hours in
advance of the meeting, or by written notice mailed to his or her business or
home address, at least 48 hours in advance of the meeting. Such notice shall be
deemed to be delivered when hand delivered to such address, read to such
director by telephone, deposited in the mail so addressed, with postage thereon
prepaid if mailed, dispatched or transmitted if faxed, telexed or telecopied, or
when delivered to the telegraph company if sent by telegram.
When any Board of Directors meeting, either regular or special, is
adjourned for 30 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as
in the case of an original meeting. It shall not be necessary to give any notice
of the hour, date, or place of any meeting adjourned for less than 30 days or of
the business to be transacted thereat, other than an announcement at the meeting
at which such adjournment is taken of the hour, date, and place to which the
meeting is adjourned.
A written waiver of notice signed before or after a meeting by a
director and filed with the records of the meeting shall be deemed to be
equivalent to notice of the meeting. The attendance of a director at a meeting
shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director
attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting at the beginning of the
meeting or promptly upon his or her arrival to the transaction of any business
because such meeting is not lawfully called or convened and does not thereafter
vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting. Except as otherwise required
by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws, neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of
Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
SECTION 11. Quorum. At any meeting of the Board of Directors, a
majority of the directors then in office shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, but if less than a quorum is present at a meeting, a
majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, and
the meeting may be held as adjourned without further notice, except as provided
in Section 10 of this Article II. Any business which might have been transacted
at the meeting as originally noticed may be transacted at such adjourned meeting
at which a quorum is present.
SECTION 12. Action at Meeting. At any meeting of the Board of Directors
at which a quorum is present, a majority of the directors present may take any
action on behalf of the Board of Directors, unless otherwise required by law, by
the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws.
SECTION 13. Action by Consent. Any action required or permitted to be
taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if
all members of the Board of Directors unanimously consent thereto in writing.
Such action shall be evidenced by one or more written consents describing the
action taken, signed by each director, and filed with the records of the
meetings of the Board of Directors and shall be treated for all purposes as a
vote at a meeting of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 14. Manner of Participation. Directors may participate in
meetings of the Board of Directors by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all directors participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting in accordance
herewith shall constitute presence in person at such meeting for purposes of
these By-laws.
SECTION 15. Committees. The Board of Directors, by vote of a majority
of the directors then in office, may elect from its number one or more
committees, including, without limitation, an Executive Committee, a
Compensation Committee, and an Audit Committee, each of which must contain two
or more members, and may delegate thereto some or all of its powers except those
which by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these By-laws may not be
delegated. Except as the Board of Directors may otherwise determine, any such
committee may make rules for the conduct of its business, but unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors or in such rules, its business shall be
conducted so far as possible in the same manner as is provided by these By-laws
for the Board of Directors. All members of such committees shall hold such
offices at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may
abolish any such committee at any time. Any committee to which the Board of
Directors delegates any of its powers or duties shall keep records of its
meetings and shall report its action to the Board of Directors. The Board of
Directors shall have power to rescind any action of any committee, to the extent
permitted by law, but no such rescission shall have retroactive effect.
SECTION 16. Compensation of Directors. Directors shall receive such
compensation for their services as shall be determined by a majority of the
Board of Directors provided that directors who are serving the Corporation as
employees and who receive compensation for their services as such shall not
receive any salary or other compensation for their services as directors of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE III
Officers
SECTION 1. Enumeration. The officers of the Corporation shall consist
of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, a President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, and such
other officers, including, without limitation, a Chairman of the Board of
Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, and one or more Vice Presidents (including
Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), Assistant Vice Presidents,
Assistant Treasurers, and Assistant Secretaries, as the Board of Directors may
determine.
SECTION 2. Election. At the regular annual meeting of the Board of
Directors following the Annual Meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors
shall elect the President, the Treasurer, and the Secretary. Other officers may
be elected by the Board of Directors at such regular annual meeting of the Board
of Directors or at any other regular or special meeting.
SECTION 3. Qualification. No officer need be a shareholder or a
director. Any person may occupy more than one office of the Corporation at any
time. Any officer may be required by the Board of Directors to give bond for the
faithful performance of his or her duties in such amount and with such sureties
as the Board of Directors may determine.
SECTION 4. Tenure. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of
Incorporation or by these By-laws, each of the officers of the Corporation shall
hold office until the regular annual meeting of the Board of Directors following
the next Annual Meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor is
elected and qualified or until his or her earlier death, disqualification,
resignation, or removal.
SECTION 5. Resignation. Any officer may resign at any time by
delivering his or her written resignation to the Corporation addressed to the
President or the Secretary, and such resignation shall be effective upon receipt
unless it is specified to be effective at some other time or upon the happening
of some other event.
SECTION 6. Removal. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Board of
Directors may remove any officer at any time with or without cause by the
affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors then in office.
SECTION 7. Absence or Disability. In the event of the absence or
disability of any officer, the Board of Directors may designate another officer
to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.
SECTION 8. Vacancies. Any vacancy in any office may be filled for the
unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. President. The President shall, subject to the direction of
the Board of Directors, have general supervision and control of the
Corporation's business. The President shall have such other powers and perform
such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
SECTION 10. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one is
elected, shall preside, when present, at all meetings of the shareholders and of
the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall have such other powers
and shall perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to
time designate.
SECTION 11. Vice-Chairman of the Board. The Vice-Chairman of the Board,
if one is elected, shall, in the absence of the Chairman, preside at all
meetings of the shareholders and the Board of Directors. The Vice-Chairman shall
perform the duties and have the powers of the President or the Chief Executive
Officer if he or she is absent and shall have such other powers and shall
perform such other duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time
designate. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of the directors of the
Corporation shall be required to amend or repeal or adopt any provision in
contravention of or inconsistent with this Section 11 during the three-year
period following the effective date of these By-laws.
SECTION 12. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer, if
one is elected, shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as the
Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
SECTION 13. Vice Presidents and Assistant Vice Presidents. Any Vice
President (including any Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President) and
any Assistant Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform such
duties as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to
time designate.
SECTION 14. Treasurer and Assistant Treasurers. The Treasurer shall,
subject to the direction of the Board of Directors and except as the Board of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may otherwise provide, have general
charge of the financial affairs of the Corporation and shall cause to be kept
accurate books of account. The Treasurer shall have custody of all funds,
securities, and valuable documents of the Corporation. He or she shall have such
other duties and powers as may be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.
Any Assistant Treasurer shall have such powers and perform such duties
as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
designate.
SECTION 15. Secretary and Assistant Secretaries. The Secretary shall
record all the proceedings of the meetings of the shareholders and the Board of
Directors (including committees of the Board) in books kept for that purpose. In
his or her absence from any such meeting, a temporary secretary chosen at the
meeting shall record the proceedings thereof. The Secretary shall have charge of
the stock ledger (which may, however, be kept by any transfer or other agent of
the Corporation). The Secretary shall have custody of the seal of the
Corporation, if any, and the Secretary, or an Assistant Secretary, shall have
authority to affix it to any instrument requiring it, and, when so affixed, the
seal may be attested by his or her signature or that of an Assistant Secretary.
The Secretary shall have such other duties and powers as may be designated from
time to time by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer. In the
absence of the Secretary, any Assistant Secretary may perform his or her duties
and responsibilities.
Any Assistant Secretary shall have such powers and perform such duties
as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer may from time to time
designate.
SECTION 16. Other Powers and Duties. Subject to these By-laws and to
such limitations as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe, the
officers of the Corporation shall each have such powers and duties as generally
pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from
time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive
Officer.
ARTICLE IV
Capital Stock
SECTION 1. Certificates of Stock. Each shareholder shall be entitled to
a certificate of the capital stock of the Corporation in such form as may from
time to time be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Such certificate shall be
signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or a Vice
President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary. The Corporation seal and the signatures by the
Corporation's officers, the transfer agent, or the registrar may be facsimiles.
In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose
facsimile signature has been placed on such 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 or she were such
officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the time of its issue. Every
certificate for shares of stock which are subject to any restriction on transfer
and every certificate issued when the Corporation is authorized to issue more
than one class or series of stock shall contain such legend with respect thereto
as is required by law.
SECTION 2. Transfers. Subject to any restrictions on transfer and
unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, shares of stock may be
transferred only on the books of the Corporation by the surrender to the
Corporation or its transfer agent of the certificate theretofore properly
endorsed or accompanied by a written assignment or power of attorney properly
executed, with transfer stamps (if necessary) affixed, and with such proof of
the authenticity of signature as the Corporation or its transfer agent may
reasonably require.
SECTION 3. Record Holders. Except as may otherwise be required by law,
by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these By-laws, the Corporation shall be
entitled to treat the record holder of stock as shown on its books as the owner
of such stock for all purposes, including the payment of dividends and the right
to vote with respect thereto, regardless of any transfer, pledge, or other
disposition of such stock, until the shares have been transferred on the books
of the Corporation in accordance with the requirements of these By-laws.
It shall be the duty of each shareholder to notify the Corporation of
his or her post office address and any changes thereto.
SECTION 4. Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders 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 a record date, which
record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the
record date is adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall
not be more than seventy days prior to such meeting or other action. If no
record date is fixed: (i) the record date for determining shareholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on
which the meeting is held and (ii) the record date for determining shareholders
for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
Board of Directors adopts the resolution relating thereto.
SECTION 5. Replacement of Certificates. In case of the alleged loss,
destruction, or mutilation of a certificate of stock, a duplicate certificate
may be issued in place thereof, upon such terms as the Board of Directors may
prescribe.
ARTICLE V
Indemnification
SECTION 1. Definitions. For purposes of this Article:
(a) "Director" means an individual who is or was on the Board of
Directors of the Corporation or an individual who, while a director of the
Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation's request as a director,
officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee, benefit plan, or other
enterprise;
(b) "Disinterested Director" means, with respect to each Proceeding in
respect of which indemnification is sought hereunder, a Director of the
Corporation who is not and was not a Party to such Proceeding;
(c) "Expenses" means all reasonable attorneys' fees, retainers, court
costs, transcript costs, fees of expert witnesses, private investigators, and
professional advisors (including, without limitation, accountants and investment
bankers), travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, costs
of preparation of demonstrative evidence and other courtroom presentation aids
and devices, costs incurred in connection with document review, organization,
imaging, and computerization, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees,
and all other disbursements, costs, or expenses of the type customarily incurred
in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend,
investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in, settling, or otherwise
participating in, a Proceeding;
(d) "Liability" means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement,
penalty, fine, including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee
benefit plan, or reasonable Expenses incurred in connection with a Proceeding;
(e) "Non-Officer Employee" means an individual who is or was an
employee of the Corporation but who is not or was not a Director or Officer, or
an individual who, while a Non-Officer Employee of the Corporation, is or was
serving at the Corporation's request as a director, officer, partner, trustee,
employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust, employee, benefit plan, or other enterprise;
(f) "Party" includes any individual who was, is, or is threatened to be
made a named defendant or respondent in a Proceeding.
(g) "Proceeding" means any threatened, pending or completed action,
suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, inquiry,
investigation, administrative hearing, or other proceeding, whether civil,
criminal, administrative, arbitrative, or investigative and whether formal or
informal;
(h) "Officer" means an individual who is or was appointed by the Board
of Directors of the Corporation or an individual who, while an Officer of the
Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation's request as a director,
officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee, benefit plan, or other
enterprise;
SECTION 2. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Subject to the
operation of Section 4 of this Article V, each Director and Officer shall be
indemnified and held harmless by the Corporation to the fullest extent
authorized by the NHBCA, as the same exists or may hereafter be amended (but, in
the case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits
the Corporation to provide broader indemnification rights than such law
permitted the Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against any and
all Expenses and Liabilities that are incurred by such Director or Officer or on
such Director or Officer's behalf in connection with any Proceeding or any
claim, issue, or matter therein, which such Director or Officer is a Party to or
participant in by reason of such Director or Officer's status as a Director or
Officer, if such Director or Officer acted in good faith and in a manner such
Director or Officer reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best
interests of the Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had
no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of
indemnification provided by this Section 2 shall continue as to a Director or
Officer after he or she has ceased to be a Director or Officer and shall inure
to the benefit of his or her heirs, executors, administrators, and personal
representatives. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation shall indemnify
any Director or Officer seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding
initiated by such Director or Officer only if such Proceeding was authorized by
the Board of Directors of the Corporation.
SECTION 3. Indemnification of Non-Officer Employees. Subject to the
operation of Section 4 of this Article V, each Non-Officer Employee may, in the
discretion of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, be indemnified by the
Corporation to the fullest extent authorized by the NHBCA, as the same exists or
may hereafter be amended, against any or all Expenses and Liabilities that are
incurred by such Non-Officer Employee or on such Non-Officer Employee's behalf
in connection with any Proceeding, or any claim, issue, or matter therein, which
such Non-Officer Employee is a Party to or participant in by reason of such
Non-Officer Employee's status as a Non-Employee Officer, if such Non-Officer
Employee acted in good faith and in a manner such Non-Officer Employee
reasonably believed to be in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the
Corporation and, with respect to any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful. The rights of indemnification
provided by this Section 3 shall continue as to a Non-Officer Employee after he
or she has ceased to be a Non-Officer Employee and shall inure to the benefit of
his or her heirs, personal representatives, executors, and administrators.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Corporation may indemnify any Non-Officer
Employee seeking indemnification in connection with a Proceeding initiated by
such Non-Officer Employee only if such Proceeding was authorized by the Board of
Directors of the Corporation.
SECTION 4. Good Faith. Unless ordered by a court, no indemnification
shall be provided pursuant to this Article V to a Director, to an Officer or to
a Non-Officer Employee unless a determination shall have been made that such
person acted in good faith and in a manner such person reasonably believed to be
in, or not opposed to, the best interests of the Corporation and, with respect
to any criminal Proceeding, such person had no reasonable cause to believe his
or her conduct was unlawful. Such determination shall be made by (a) a majority
vote of the Disinterested Directors, even though less than a quorum of the Board
of Directors, (b) if there are no such Disinterested Directors, or if a majority
of Disinterested Directors so direct, by independent legal counsel in a written
opinion, or (c) by the shareholders of the Corporation provided that shares
owned by or voted under the control of Directors who are not Disinterested
Directors may not be voted in the determination.
SECTION 5. Advancement of Expenses to Directors Prior to Final
Disposition. The Corporation shall advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf
of any Director in connection with any Proceeding in which such Director is
involved by reason of such Director's status as a Director within ten days after
the receipt by the Corporation of a written statement from such Director
requesting such advance or advances from time to time, whether prior to or after
final disposition of such Proceeding. Such statement or statements shall
reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by such Director and shall be preceded
or accompanied by (i) a written affirmation of such Director's good faith belief
that such Director has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 2 above,
and (ii) a written undertaking by or on behalf of such Director to repay any
Expenses so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Director is
not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
SECTION 6. Advancement of Expenses to Officers and Non-Officer
Employees Prior to Final Disposition. The Corporation may, in the discretion of
the Board of Directors of the Corporation, advance any or all Expenses incurred
by or on behalf of any Officer or Non-Officer Employee in connection with any
Proceeding in which such Officer or Non-Officer Employee is involved by reason
of such Officer or Non-Officer Employee's status as an Officer or Non-Officer
Employee upon the receipt by the Corporation of a statement or statements from
such Officer or Non-Officer Employee requesting such advance or advances from
time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.
Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by
such Officer or Non-Officer Employee and shall be preceded or accompanied by (i)
a written affirmation of such Officer's or Non-Officer Employee's good faith
belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct set forth in Section 2 or
Section 3, hereof, as the case may be, and (ii) a written undertaking by or on
behalf of such Officer or Non-Officer Employee to repay any Expenses so
advanced if it shall ultimately be determined that such Officer or Non-Officer
Employee is not entitled to be indemnified against such Expenses.
SECTION 7. Contractual Nature of Rights. The foregoing provisions of
this Article V shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each
Director and Officer who serves in such capacity at any time while this Article
V is in effect, and any repeal or modification thereof shall not affect any
rights or obligations then existing with respect to any state of facts then or
theretofore existing or any Proceeding theretofore or thereafter brought based
in whole or in part upon any such state of facts. If a claim for indemnification
or advancement of Expenses hereunder by a Director or Officer is not paid in
full by the Corporation within (a) 60 days after the Corporation's receipt of a
written claim for indemnification, or (b) in the case of a Director, 10 days
after the Corporation's receipt of documentation of Expenses and the required
undertaking, such Director or Officer may at any time thereafter bring suit
against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim, and if
successful in whole or in part, such Director or Officer shall also be entitled
to be paid the expenses of prosecuting such claim. The failure of the
Corporation (including its Board of Directors or any committee thereof,
independent legal counsel, or shareholders) to make a determination concerning
the permissibility of such indemnification or, in the case of a Director,
advancement of Expenses, under this Article V shall not be a defense to the
action and shall not create a presumption that such indemnification or
advancement is not permissible.
SECTION 8. Non-Exclusivity of Rights. The rights to indemnification and
advancement of Expenses set forth in this Article V shall not be exclusive of
any other right which any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee may have or
hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation, or these By-laws, or pursuant to any agreement, vote of
shareholders or Disinterested Directors or otherwise.
SECTION 9. Insurance. The Corporation may maintain insurance, at its
expense, to protect itself and any Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee
against any liability of any character asserted against or incurred by the
Corporation or any such Director, Officer, or Non-Officer Employee, or arising
out of any such person's status as such Director, Officer, or Non-Officer
Employee, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify such
person against such liability under the NHBCA or the provisions of this Article
V.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
SECTION 1. Fiscal Year. Except as otherwise determined by the Board of
Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the last day of
December of each year.
SECTION 2. Seal. The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt and
alter the seal of the Corporation.
SECTION 3. Execution of Instruments. All deeds, leases, transfers,
contracts, bonds, notes, and other obligations to be entered into by the
Corporation in the ordinary course of its business without director action may
be executed on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, if one is
elected, the President, or the Treasurer or any other officer, employee, or
agent of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or Executive Committee may
authorize.
SECTION 4. Voting of Securities. Unless the Board of Directors
otherwise provides, the Chairman of the Board, if one is elected, the President,
or the Treasurer may waive notice of and act on behalf of this Corporation, or
appoint another person or persons to act as proxy or attorney in fact for this
Corporation with or without discretionary power and/or power of substitution, at
any meeting of shareholders or shareholders of any other corporation or
organization, any of whose securities are held by this Corporation.
SECTION 5. Resident Agent. The Board of Directors may appoint a
resident agent upon whom legal process may be served in any action or proceeding
against the Corporation.
SECTION 6. Corporate Records. The original or attested copies of the
Articles of Incorporation, By-laws, and records of all meetings of the
incorporators, shareholders, and the Board of Directors and the stock transfer
books, which shall contain the names of all shareholders, their record
addresses, and the amount of stock held by each, may be kept outside the State
of New Hampshire and shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation
and at such other place or places as may be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors.
SECTION 7. Amendment of By-laws.
(a) Amendment by Directors. Except as provided otherwise by law or
elsewhere in these By-laws, these By-laws may be amended or repealed by the
Board of Directors by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then
in office.
(b) Amendment by Shareholders. These By-laws may be amended or repealed
at any Annual Meeting of shareholders, or special meeting of shareholders called
for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote
on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class; provided,
however, that if the Board of Directors recommends that shareholders approve
such amendment or repeal at such meeting of shareholders, such amendment or
repeal shall only require the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares
present in person or represented by proxy at such meeting and entitled to vote
on such amendment or repeal, voting together as a single class.
Adopted September 16, 1997 and effective as of September 16, 1997.