UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): January 28, 2015
SITESTAR CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Nevada | 000-27763 | 88-0397234 |
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) | (Commission File Number) | (IRS Employer Identification No.) |
7109 Timberlake Road
Lynchburg, Virginia 24502
(Address and Zip Code of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:
(434) 239-4272
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
[ ] Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
[ ] Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
[ ] Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.03 | Amendments to the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
On January 12, 2015, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Sitestar Corporation (the “Company”) approved an amendment and restatement of the Company’s Bylaws (the “Amended and Restated By-laws”). The changes are intended to address what the Company believes are current best practices in corporate governance. The Company had been working on these changes for several weeks prior to the filing of the Definitive Proxy Statement by the Moore Shareholder Group seeking to have the Company's shareholders support the calling of a special meeting to elect its Board nominees and remove from the Board Frank Erhartic, Jr., President and CEO of the Company, and Daniel Judd, CFO of the Company. As set forth below and in the Amended and Restated By-laws, the amendments conform the By-laws that current management inherited from prior management over 12 years ago to the Nevada Revised Statutes, as well as correct typographical errors.
The Amended and Restated By-laws were revised to:
• | update the name of the Company, |
• | include the information Directors are allowed to rely upon in making decisions, |
• | authorize the Board to set the current number of board seats between the range of authorized directors set forth in both the original By-laws and the Amended and Restated By-laws of one to nine, with the current number to be three; |
• | confirm that the Board is authorized to set the number of authorized directors between the range of one to nine, as was the case with the prior By-laws, and, as with the prior By-laws, requires a shareholder vote to increase the Board from more than three directors, which the Company has had for over 15 years, even before current management joined the Company in 2002, |
• | specify how vacancies on the Board may be filled, |
• | elucidate how shareholders may remove directors, |
• | clarify notice for annual and regular meetings of the Board, |
• | insert additional required officers of the Company, |
• | state how officers may be removed from the Company, |
• | clarify the Secretary’s duties, |
• | allow for the use of electronic communication for shareholders to attend meetings, |
• | specify how special meetings of the shareholders are called, |
• | use the Nevada Revised Statutes’ guidelines for noticing a special shareholders meeting, |
• | explain how adjournment is handled for shareholders meetings, |
• | clarify how the record date is set for determining which shareholders receive notice of shareholders meetings, |
• | set forth how directors are elected, |
• | remove the provision for inspectors of election, |
• | clarify how stock certificates are presented, |
• | allow the Company to rely on the record holder’s representation that they are the current record holder of the Company, |
• | indemnify the Company for the issuance of a new certificate in lieu of a lost or damaged stock certificate, |
• | bring the inspection of books and records provision in compliance with the current Nevada Revised Statutes, |
• | set forth when an annual report will be sent to shareholders, |
• | clarify the powers of directors to amend the Bylaws, |
• | define a subsidiary, and |
• | adopt the indemnification provisions of the Nevada Revised Statutes for directors and officers. |
The foregoing summary of the amendments contained within the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws is qualified in its entirety by the text of the Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 3.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 8.01. Other Events.
On January 28, 2015, the Company issued a press release announcing the amendments to its bylaws.
A copy of the press release is attached as Exhibit 99.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits | ||
Exhibit No. | Description | ||
3.1 | Amended and Restated By-laws dated January 12, 2015 (Final) | ||
99.1 | Press Release dated January 28, 2015 |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
SITESTAR CORPORATION |
||
Date: January 28, 2015 | By: | /s/ Frank R. Erhartic, Jr. |
Frank R. Erhartic, Jr. | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
EXHIBIT 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS
OF
SITESTAR CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE . The principal office for the transaction of business of the corporation shall be fixed or may be changed by approval of a majority of the authorized Directors, and additional offices may be established and maintained at such other place or places as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.
Section 2. OTHER OFFICES . Branch or subordinate offices may at any time be established by the Board of Directors at any place or places where the corporation is qualified to do business.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS - MANAGEMENT
Section 1. RESPONSIBILITY OF BOARD OF DIRECTORS . Subject to the provisions of applicable law and to any limitations in the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation relating to action required to be approved by the Shareholders, or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised by or under the direction of the Board of Directors. The Board may delegate the management of the day-to-day operation of the business of the corporation to an executive committee or others, provided that the business and affairs of the corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised under the ultimate direction of the Board.
Section 2. STANDARD OF CARE . Each Director shall perform the duties of a Director, including the duties as a member of any committee of the Board upon which the Director may serve, in good faith, in a manner such Director believes to be in the best interests of the corporation, and with such care, including reasonable inquiry, as an ordinary prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances.
In performing the duties of a Director, a Director shall be entitled to rely on information, opinions, reports, or statements, including financial statements and other financial data, in which case prepared or presented by:
(1) One or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the Director believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented,
(2) Counsel, independent accountants or other persons as to which the Director believes to be within such person's professional or expert competence, or
(3) A Committee of the Board upon which the Director does not serve, as to matters within its designated authority, which committee the Director believes to merit confidence, so long as in any such case the Director acts in good faith, after reasonable inquiry when the need therefore is indicated by the circumstances and without knowledge that would cause such reliance to be unwarranted.
Section 3. NUMBER AND QUALIFICATION OF DIRECTORS . The authorized number of Directors shall be not less thanone (1) nor more than nine (9) until changed by a duly adopted amendment to the Articles of Incorporation or by an amendment to this by-law adopted by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
The exact number of directors may be fixed within the limits specified by resolution adopted by the vote of the majority of directors in office or by the vote of holders of shares representing a majority of the voting power at any annual meeting, or any special meeting called for such purpose; but no reduction of the number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director prior to the expiration of his term.
Section 4. ELECTION AND TERM OF OFFICE OF DIRECTORS . Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of the Shareholders to hold office until the next annual meeting. Each Director, including a Director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
Section 5. VACANCIES . Vacancies in the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors, though less than a quorum, by (1) the unanimous written consent of the directors then in office, (2) the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors then in office at a meeting held pursuant to notice or waivers of notice complying with the Code, or (3) a sole remaining Director. Each Director so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Shareholders and until a successor has been elected and qualified. A vacancy in the Board of Directors created by the removal of a Director may only be filled by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present, or by the written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares.
A vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors shall be deemed to exist in the event of the death, resignation, or removal of any Director, or if the Board of Directors by resolution declares vacant the office of a Director who has been declared of unsound mind by an order of court or convicted of a felony, or if the authorized number of Directors is increased, or if the Shareholders fail, at any meeting of Shareholders at which any Director or Directors are elected, to elect the number of Directors to be voted for at that meeting.
Any Director may resign effective on giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary, or the Board of Directors, unless the notice specifies a later time for that resignation to become effective. If the resignation of a Director is effective at a future time, the Board of Directors may elect a successor to take office when the resignation becomes effective.
No reduction of the authorized number of Directors shall have the effect of removing any Director before that Directors' term of office expires.
Section 6. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS . Subject to applicable law, the entire Board of Directors or any individual Director may be removed from office by the vote of Shareholders representing not less than two-thirds of the voting power of the issued and outstanding stock entitled to vote. In such case, the remaining
Board members may elect a successor Director to fill such vacancy for the remaining unexpired term of the Director so removed.
Section 7. NOTICE, PLACE AND MANNER OF MEETINGS . Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, or the President, or any Vice President, or the Secretary, or any two (2) Directors and shall be held at the principal executive office of the corporation, unless some other place is designated in the notice of the meeting. Members of the Board may participate in a meeting through use of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment so long as all members participating in such a meeting can hear one another. Accurate minutes of any meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, shall be maintained by the Secretary or other person designated for that purpose.
Section 8. ANNUAL MEETINGS . The Annual Meetings of the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing officers and the transaction of other business shall be held immediately following the adjournment of the Annual Meetings of the Shareholders. Notice of this meeting shall not be required. Minutes of any meeting of the Board, or any committee thereof, shall be maintained as required by the Code by the Secretary or other officer designated for that purpose.
Section 9. OTHER REGULAR MEETINGS . Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at the corporate offices, or such other place as may be designated by the Board of Directors, at any time during business hours at least once per year.
Such regular meetings may be held without notice, provided the time and place of such meetings has been fixed by the Board of Directors, and further provided the notice of any change in the time of such meeting shall be given to all the Directors. Notice of a change in the determination of the time shall be given to each Director in the same manner as notice for such special meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. SPECIAL MEETINGS - NOTICES – WAIVERS . Special meetings of the Board may be called at any time by the President or, if he or she is absent or unable or refuses to act, by any Vice President or the Secretary or by any two (2) Directors, or by one (1) Director if only one is provided.
At least a forty-eight (48) hour notice of the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally to the Directors or personally communicated to them by a corporate Officer by telephone or email or text message. If the notice is sent to a Director by letter, it shall be addressed to him or her at his or her address as it is shown upon the records of the corporation, or if it is not so shown on such records or if not readily ascertainable, at the place in which the meetings of the Directors are regularly held. In case such notice is mailed, it shall be deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, in the place in which the principal executive officer of the corporation is located at least four (4) days prior to the time of the holding of the meeting. Such mailing, emailing, text messaging, telephoning or delivery as above provided shall be due, legal and personal notice to such Director.
When all of the Directors are present at any Directors' meeting, however, called or noticed, and either (i) sign a written consent thereto on the records of such meeting, or, (ii) if a majority of the Directors is present and if those not present sign a waiver of notice of such meeting or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minute thereof, whether prior to or after the holding of such meeting, which said waiver, consent or approval shall be filed with the Secretary of the corporation, or, (iii) if a Director attends a meeting without notice but without protesting, prior thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice, then the transactions thereof are as valid as if had at a meeting regularly called and noticed.
Section 11. DIRECTORS' ACTION BY UNANIMOUS WRITTEN CONSENT . Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting and with the same force and effect as if taken by a unanimous vote of Directors, if authorized by a writing signed individually or collectively by all members of the Board. Such consent shall be filed with the regular minutes of the Board.
Section 12. QUORUM . A majority of the number of Directors as fixed by the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the action of a majority of the Directors present at any meeting at which there is a quorum, when duly assembled, is valid as a corporate act; provided that a minority of the Directors, in the absence of a quorum, may adjourn from time to time, but may not transact any business. A meeting at which a quorum is initially present may continue to transact business, notwithstanding the withdrawal of Directors, if any action taken is approved by a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.
Section 13. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT . Notice of the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given to absent Directors if the time and place be fixed at the meeting adjourned and held within twenty-four (24) hours, but if adjourned more than twenty-four (24) hours, notice shall be given to all Directors not present at the time of the adjournment.
Section 14. COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS . Directors, as such, shall not receive any stated salary for their services, but by resolution of the Board a fixed sum and expense of attendance, if any, may be allowed for attendance at each regular and special meeting of the Board; provided that nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Director from serving the corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 15. COMMITTEES . Committees of the Board may be appointed by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board. Committees shall be composed of two (2) or more members of the Board and shall have such powers of the Board as may be expressly delegated to it by resolution of the Board of Directors, except those powers expressly made non-delegable by applicable law.
Section 16. ADVISORY DIRECTORS . The Board of Directors from time to time may elect one or more persons to be Advisory Directors who shall not by such appointment be members of the Board of Directors. Advisory Directors shall be available from time to time to perform special assignments specified by the President, to attend meetings of the Board of Directors upon invitation and to furnish consultation to the Board. The period during which the title shall be held may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. If no period is prescribed, the title shall be held at the pleasure of the Board.
Section 17. RESIGNATIONS . Any Director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the Corporation, unless the notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the resignation is effective at a future time, a successor may be elected by the Board of Directors to take office when the resignation becomes effective and until the next Annual Shareholders Meeting.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 1. OFFICERS . The Officers of the corporation shall be a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who may also be called a Chief Financial Officer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries, or one or more Assistant Treasurers, and such other Officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 of this Article. Any number of offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. ELECTION . The Officers of the corporation, except such Officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions of Section 3 or Section 5 of this Article, shall be chosen annually by the Board of Directors, and each shall hold office until he or she shall resign or shall be removed or otherwise disqualified to serve or a successor shall be elected and qualified.
Section 3. SUBORDINATE OFFICERS, ETC . The Board of Directors may appoint such other Officers as the business of the corporation may require, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties as are provided by the By-Laws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
Section 4. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF OFFICERS . Subject to the rights, if any, of any Officer under any contract of employment, any Officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by a majority of the Board of Directors, at any regular or special meeting of the Board, or except in case of an Officer chosen by the Board of Directors by any Officer upon whom such power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors.
Any Officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the corporation. Any resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later time specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice, the acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Any resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of the corporation under any contract to which the Officer is a party.
Section 5. VACANCIES . A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or any other cause shall be filed in the manner prescribed in the By-Laws for regular appointment to that office.
Section 6. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Chairman of the Board, if such an officer be elected, shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be from time to time assigned by the Board of Directors or prescribed by the By-Laws. If there is no President, the Chairman of the Board shall in addition be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall have the powers and duties prescribed in Section 7 of this Article.
Section 7. PRESIDENT/CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . Subject to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors to the Chairman of the Board, if there be such an Officer, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors, have general supervision, direction and control of the business and Officers of the corporation. He or she shall preside at all meetings of the Shareholders and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, or if there be none, at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The President shall be ex officio a member of all the standing committees, including the Executive Committee, if any, and shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in the office of President of a corporation, and shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws.
Section 8. VICE PRESIDENT . In the absence or disability of the President, the Vice Presidents, if any, in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors, or if not ranked, the Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to, all the restrictions upon, the President. The Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws. If there is no Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer shall act as the Vice President.
Section 9. SECRETARY . The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, a book of minutes at the principal office or such other place as the Board of Directors may order, of all meetings of Directors and Shareholders, with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special, and if special, how authorized, the notice thereof given, the names of those present at Directors’ meetings, the number of shares present or represented at Shareholders’ meetings and the proceedings thereof.
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office of the Corporation or at the office of the Corporation's transfer agent, a share register, or duplicate share register, showing the names of the Shareholders and their addresses; the number and classes or shares held by each; the number and date of certificates issued for the same; and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all the meetings of the Shareholders and of the Board of Directors required by the By-Laws or by law to be given. He or she shall keep the seal of the corporation in safe custody, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the By-Laws.
Section 10. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . The Chief Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, adequate and correct accounts of the properties and business transactions of the corporation, including accounts of its assets, liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, earnings (or surplus) and shares. The books of accounts shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any Director.
This Officer shall deposit all moneys and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the corporation with such depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors. He or she shall disburse the funds of the corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, shall render to the President and Directors, whenever they request it, an account of all of his or her transactions and of the financial condition of the corporation, and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws.
ARTICLE IV
SHAREHOLDERS' MEETINGS
Section l. PLACE OF MEETINGS . All meetings of the Shareholders may be held at a physical location, through electronic communications, videoconferencing, teleconferencing or other available technology as designated by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETINGS . The annual meetings of the Shareholders shall be held once per year. At the annual meeting, the Shareholders shall elect a Board of Directors, consider reports of the affairs of the corporation and transact such other business as may be properly brought before the meeting.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS . Special meetings of the Shareholders may be called at any time by the entire Board of Directors, any two Directors, or the President of the corporation. Except as next provided, notice shall be given as for the annual meeting.
Upon receipt of a written request addressed to the Chairman, President, Vice President, or Secretary, mailed or delivered personally to such Officer by any person (other than the Board) entitled to call a special meeting of Shareholders, such Officer shall cause notice to be given, to the Shareholders entitled to vote, that a meeting will be held at a time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days after the receipt of such request. If such notice is not given within ten (10) days after receipt of such request, the persons calling the meeting may give notice thereof in the same manner provided by these By-Laws.
Section 4. NOTICE OF MEETINGS - REPORTS . Notice of meetings, annual or special, shall be given in writing not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to Shareholders entitled to vote thereat. Such notice shall be given by the Secretary or the Assistant Secretary, or if there be no such Officer, or in the case of his or her neglect or refusal, by any Director or Shareholder.
Such notices or any reports shall be given personally, email, press release or by mail and shall be sent to the Shareholder's address appearing on the books of the corporation, or supplied by him or her to the corporation for the purpose of the notice.
Notice of any meeting of Shareholders shall specify the place, the day and the hour of meeting, and (1) in case of a special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted and no other business may be transacted, or (2) in the case of an annual meeting, those matters which the Board, at the date of mailing, intends to present for action by the Shareholders. At any meetings where Directors are to be elected, notice shall include the names of the nominees, if any, intended at date of notice to be presented by management for election.
If a Shareholder supplies no address, notice shall be deemed to have been given if delivered to the place where the principal executive office of the corporation is situated.
Notice shall be deemed given at the time it is delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by other means of written communication. The Officer giving such notice or report shall prepare and file an affidavit or declaration thereof.
If a Shareholders’ meeting is adjourned to another date, time or place, notice need not be delivered of the date, time or place of the adjourned meeting if they are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. If a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, notice of the adjourned meeting must be delivered to each stockholder of record as of the new record date.
Section 5. WAIVER OF NOTICE OR CONSENT BY ABSENT SHAREHOLDERS . The transactions of any meeting of Shareholders, however called and notice, shall be valid as though had at a meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present either in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the Shareholders entitled to vote, not present in person or by proxy, sign a written waiver of notice, or a consent to the holding of such meeting or an approval shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance shall constitute a waiver of notice, unless objection shall be made as provided in applicable law.
Section 6. SHAREHOLDERS ACTING WITHOUT A MEETING . Any action which may be taken at a meeting of the Shareholders, may be taken without a meeting or notice of meeting if authorized by a writing signed by all of the Shareholders entitled to vote at a meeting for such purpose, and filed with the Secretary of the corporation, provided, further, that while ordinarily Directors can be elected by unanimous written consent, if the Directors fail to fill a vacancy, then a Director to fill that vacancy may be elected by the written consent of persons holding a majority of shares entitled to vote for the election of Directors.
Section 7. OTHER ACTIONS WITHOUT A MEETING . Unless otherwise provided for under applicable law or the Articles of Incorporation, any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of Shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, signed by the holders of outstanding shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize to take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and voted.
Unless the consents of all Shareholders entitled to vote have been solicited in writing,
(1) | Notice of any Shareholder approval without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be give at least ten (10) days before the consummation of the action authorized by such approval, and |
(2) | Prompt notice shall be given of the taking of any other corporate action approved by Shareholders without a meeting by less than unanimous written consent, to each of those Shareholders entitled to vote who have not consented in writing. |
Any Shareholder giving a written consent, or the Shareholder’s proxyholders, or a transferee of the shares of a personal representative of the Shareholder or their respective proxyholders, may revoke the consent by a writing received by the corporation prior to the time that written consents of the number of shares require to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the Secretary of the corporation, but may not do so thereafter. Such revocation is effective upon its receipt by the Secretary of the corporation.
Section 8. QUORUM . The holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote thereat, present in person, or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the Shareholders for the transaction of business except as otherwise provided by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, or by these By-Laws. If, however, such majority shall not be present or represented at any meeting of the Shareholders, the shareholders entitled to vote thereat, present in person, or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, until the requisite amount of voting shares shall be present. At such adjourned meeting at which the requisite amount of voting shares shall be represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at a meeting as originally notified.
If a quorum be initially present, the Shareholders may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken is approved by a majority of the Shareholders required to initially constitute a quorum.
Section 9. VOTING . In lieu of closing the stock ledger of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date not exceeding 60 days, nor less than ten days, as the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of shareholders, or to consent to any proposal without a meeting, or for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividends or allotment of any rights, or for the purpose of any other action. If no record date is fixed, the record date for the determination of 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 the notice is given, or, if no notice is given, the day preceding the day on which the meeting is held. The record date for determining shareholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the directors relating thereto is adopted. When a determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of shareholders has been made, as provided for herein, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, unless the directors fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
Directors shall be elected at each annual meeting of the Shareholders to hold office until the next annual meeting. If any such annual meeting of Shareholders is not held or the Directors are not elected thereat, the Directors may be elected at any special meeting of Shareholders held for that purpose. Each Director, including a Director elected to fill a vacancy, shall hold office until the expiration of the term for which elected and until a successor has been elected and qualified.
Except as may otherwise be provided herein, or in the Articles of Incorporation by way of cumulative voting rights, the members of the Board of Directors of this Corporation, who need not be shareholders, shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders, by the holders of shares of stock present in person or by proxy, entitled to vote in the election.
Section 10. PROXIES . Every Shareholder entitled to vote, or to execute consents, may do so, either in person or by written proxy, executed in accordance with the provisions of applicable law filed with the Secretary of the corporation.
Section 11. ORGANIZATION . The President, or in the absence of the President, any Vice President, shall call the meeting of the Shareholders to order, and shall act as Chairman of the meeting. In the absence of the President and all of the Vice Presidents, Shareholders shall appoint a Chairman for such meeting. The Secretary of the corporation shall act as Secretary of all meetings of the Shareholders, but in the absence of the Secretary at any meeting of the Shareholders, the presiding Officer may appoint any person to act as Secretary of the meeting.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES AND TRANSFER OF SHARES
Section 1. CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES . The certificates representing shares of the Corporation's stock shall be in such form as shall be adopted by the Board of Directors, and shall be numbered and registered in the order issued. The certificates shall bear the following: the Corporate Seal, the holder's name, the number of shares of stock and the signatures of: (1) the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, President or a Vice President and (2) the Secretary, Chief Financial Officer, any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Chief Financial Officer.
Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any Officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed on a certificate shall have ceased to be that Officer, transfer agent, or registrar before that certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect as if that person were an Officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issuance.
Section 2. TRANSFER ON THE BOOKS . Upon surrender to the Secretary or transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any legal, equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such share or shares of stock on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by law.
Section 3. LOST OR DESTROYED CERTIFICATES . Any person claiming a certificate of stock to be lost or destroyed shall make an affidavit or affirmation of that fact and shall, if the Directors so require, give the corporation a bond of indemnity, in form and with one or more sureties satisfactory to the Board, in at least double the value of the stock represented by said certificate, to indemnify the Corporation against any claims, loss, liability or damage it may suffer on account of the issuance of the new certificate. A new certificate may be issued without requiring any such evidence or bond when, in the judgment of the Board of directors, it is proper to do so.
Section 4. TRANSFER AGENTS AND REGISTRARS . The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents or transfer clerks, and one or more registrars which shall be an incorporated bank or trust company, either domestic or foreign, who shall be appointed at such times and places as the requirements of the corporation may necessitate and the Board of Directors may designate.
ARTICLE VI
RECORDS - REPORTS - INSPECTION
Section 1. RECORDS . The corporation shall maintain, in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, adequate and correct accounts, books and records of its business and properties. All of such books, records and accounts shall be kept at its principal executive office as fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 2. INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS . All books and records shall be open to inspection of the Directors at all reasonable times during office hours and in the manner provided under applicable law. Any person who has been a stockholder of record of any corporation and owns not less than 15 percent of all of the issued and outstanding shares of the stock of such corporation or has been authorized in writing by the holders of at least 15 percent of all its issued and outstanding shares, upon at least 5 days’ written demand, is entitled to inspect in person or by agent or attorney, during normal business hours, the books of account and all financial records of the corporation, to make copies of records, and to conduct an audit of such records. Holders of voting trust certificates representing 15 percent of the issued and outstanding shares of the corporation are regarded as stockholders for the purpose of this subsection. All costs for making copies of records or conducting an audit must be borne by the person exercising the rights set forth previously. These rights may be denied to any stockholder upon the stockholder’s refusal to furnish the corporation an affidavit that such inspection, copies or audit is not desired for any purpose not related to his or her interest in the corporation as a stockholder. Any stockholder or other person, exercising rights set forth previously, who uses or attempts to use information, records or other data obtained from the corporation, for any purpose not related to the stockholder’s interest in the corporation as a stockholder, is guilty of a gross misdemeanor.
Section 3. CERTIFICATION AND INSPECTION OF BY-LAWS . The original or a copy of these By-Laws, as amended or otherwise altered to date, certified by the Secretary, shall be kept at the corporation's principal executive office and shall be open to inspection by the Shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours.
ARTICLE VII
ANNUAL REPORTS
Section 1. REPORT TO SHAREHOLDERS, DUE DATE . Provided the Corporation has 100 Shareholders or less, the Annual Report to Shareholders referred to in the Code is expressly dispensed with, but nothing herein shall be interpreted as prohibiting the Board of Directors from issuing annual or other period reports to Shareholders of the Corporation as they deem appropriate.
Should the Corporation have 100 or more Shareholders, the Board of Directors shall cause an annual report to be sent to the Shareholders not later than one hundred twenty (120) days after the close of the fiscal or calendar year adopted by the corporation. This report shall be sent at least fifteen (15) days before the annual meeting of Shareholders to be held during the next fiscal year and in the manner specified in Section 4 of the Article IV of these By-Laws for giving notice to Shareholders of the corporation. The annual report shall contain a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year and an income statement and statement of changes in financial position for the fiscal year, accompanied by any report of independent accountants or, if there is no such report, the certificate of an authorized officer of the corporation that the statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of the corporation.
ARTICLE VIII
AMENDMENTS TO BY-LAWS
Section 1. AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS . New By-Laws may be adopted or these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the vote or written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote; provided, however, that if the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation set forth the number of authorized Directors of the corporation, the authorized number of Directors may be changed only by an amendment of the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 2. POWERS OF DIRECTORS . Subject to the right of the Shareholders to adopt, amend or repeal By-Laws, as provided in Section 1 of this Article VIII, and the limitations, if any, under law, the Board of Directors may adopt, amend or repeal any of these By-Laws.
Section 3. RECORD OF AMENDMENTS . Whenever an amendment or new By-Law is adopted, it shall be copied in the book of By-Laws with the original By-Laws, in the appropriate place. If any By-Law is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or written assent was filed shall be stated in said book.
ARTICLE IX
CORPORATE SEAL
Section 1. SEAL . The corporate seal shall be circular in form, and shall have inscribed thereon the name of the corporation, the date and State of incorporation.
ARTICLE X
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. REPRESENTATION OF SHARES IN OTHER CORPORATIONS . Shares of other corporations standing in the name of this corporation may be voted or represented and all incidents thereto may be exercised on behalf of the corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.
Section 2. SUBSIDIARY CORPORATIONS . Shares of this corporation owned by a subsidiary shall not be entitled to vote on any matter. A subsidiary for these purposes is defined as a corporation, the shares of which possessing more than 25% of the total combined voting power of all classes of shares entitled to vote, are owned directly or indirectly through one (1) or more other corporations of which the Corporation owns, directly or indirectly, more than 50% of the voting power.
Section 3. INDEMNITY . Every person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any action, suit, appeal or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, whether formal or informal, and whether brought by or in the right of the corporation, its security holders or otherwise by reason of the fact that he or a person of whom he is the legal representative is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation or is or was serving at the request of the corporation or for its benefit as a director, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, or as its representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust, or other enterprise, shall be indemnified and held harmless to the fullest extent legally permissible under the general corporation law of the State of Nevada from time to time against all expenses, liability and loss (including, without limitation attorneys’ fees and disbursements, judgments, fine penalties, damage, punitive damages, excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan, amounts paid or to be paid in settlement and cost or expense of any nature) reasonably incurred or suffered by him in connection therewith. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, cause the expense of officers and directors incurred in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding to be paid by the corporation as they are incurred and in advance of the final disposition of the action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the director or officer to repay the amount if it is ultimately determined by a court of competent jurisdiction that he is not entitled to be indemnified by the corporation. No such person shall be indemnified against, or be reimbursed for, any expense or payments incurred in connection with any claim or liability established to have arisen out of his own willful misconduct or gross negligence. Any right of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other right which such directors, officers or representatives may have or hereafter acquire and, which such directors, officers, or representatives may have or hereafter acquire and, without limiting the generality of such statement, they shall be entitled to their respective rights of indemnification under any bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders, provision of law or otherwise, as well as their rights under this Article. If an indemnified director, officer or representative is entitled to indemnification in respect of a portion, but not all, of any liabilities to which such person may be subject, the Corporation shall indemnify such indemnified director, officer or representative to the maximum extent for such portion of the liabilities. The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not of itself create a presumption that the indemnified director, officer or representative is not entitled to indemnification.
The Board of Directors may cause the corporation to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director or officer of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director or officer of another corporation, or as its representative in a partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against such person and incurred in any such capacity or arising out of such status, whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify such person.
The Board of Directors may from time to time adopt further Bylaws with respect to indemnification and may amend these and such Bylaws to the full extent permitted by the Code.
Section 4. ACCOUNTING YEAR . The accounting year of the corporation shall be fixed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
EXHIBIT 99.1
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sitestar Amends Bylaws to Improve Corporate Transparency
Lynchburg, VA. — January 28, 2015 — Sitestar, Inc. (OTCQB: SYTE) (“Sitestar” or the “Company”) today issued the following statement regarding its Amended and Restated By-Laws (the “Bylaws”). The Company has revised its Bylaws to better reflect current best corporate governance practices and to make technical updates to improve transparency. The previous Bylaws still reflected the former name, White Dove Systems, and were not clear as to the technical requirements for noticing meetings, voting requirements, and election and removal of directors. The changes to the Bylaws reflect the Company’s ongoing efforts to improve relations between shareholders and the Company and to protect the Company from corporate raiders.
About Sitestar
Sitestar is an Internet Service Provider (ISP) that offers consumer and business-grade Internet access, wholesale managed modem services for downstream ISPs and Web hosting. Sitestar is also a real estate investment entity that acquires distressed real estate primarily from foreclosure auctions at a substantial discount from market value. The acquired properties are initially evaluated to determine if they will be held for lease or resale and for their condition of repair, location and refurbishing costs. For more information regarding Sitestar, go to: www.sitestar.com
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date they were first issued and are based on current expectations as well as the beliefs and assumptions of management. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which involve factors or circumstances that are beyond Sitestar’s control, including worldwide and local economic conditions and the specific risks associated with the very competitive ISP and real estate sectors. Sitestar expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update these forward-looking statements except as required by law. Copies of Sitestar’s press releases and additional information about Sitestar are available at www.sitestar.com.
Important Additional Information
Information regarding the names of the Company’s directors and executive officers and their respective interests in the Company by security holdings or otherwise is set forth in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the SEC on April 15, 2014, and its Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the third quarter of the fiscal year ended September 30, 2014 filed on November 14, 2014 and amended November 20, 2014. To the extent holdings of the Company’s securities have changed since the amounts printed in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, such changes have been reflected on Initial Statements of Beneficial Ownership on Form 3, Statements of Change in Ownership on Form 4, and Annual Statements of Changes in Beneficial Ownership of Securities on Form 5 filed with the SEC. These documents are available free of charge at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov .
STOCKHOLDERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO READ ANY COMPANY SOLICITATION STATEMENT (INCLUDING ANY SUPPLEMENTS THERETO) AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT THE COMPANY MAY FILE WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION. Stockholders will be able to obtain, free of charge, copies of any solicitation statement and any other documents filed by the Company with the SEC at the SEC’s website at www.sec.gov. In addition, copies will also be available at no charge at the Investors section of the Company’s website at www.Sitestar.com . Stockholders may contact the Company with questions.
Sitestar Contacts
Frank R. Erhartic, Jr. and Daniel Judd, Sitestar (434) 239-4272.