SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, DC 20549
FORM 8-A/A
FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12 (g) OF THE
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Maryland 52-0782497
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(State of Incorporation (I.R.S. Employer
or Organization) Identification no.)
1626 East Jefferson Street, Rockville, Maryland 20852
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(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
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If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A. (c), please check the following box. [X]
If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A. (d), please check the following box. [_]
Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:
Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Title of Each Class Name of Each Exchange on Which
to be so Registered Each Class is to be Registered
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Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, $.01 par value New York Stock Exchange
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Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN REGISTRATION STATEMENT
Item 1. Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.
Federal Realty Investment Trust is organized as a real estate investment trust under the laws of the State of Maryland. As a Maryland REIT, Federal Realty is governed by:
. Title 8 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the
Annotated Code of Maryland ("Title 8");
. our declaration of trust; and
. our bylaws.
The following brief description of Federal Realty's common shares of beneficial interest does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the Trust's (1) Declaration of Trust, filed as an exhibit to the Trust's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 21, 1999, (2) Bylaws, as amended, filed as an exhibit hereto, (3) Form of Common Share Certificate, filed as an exhibit to the Trust's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999, and (4) the Articles Supplementary relating to the Trust's Series B Preferred Shares (as defined below), filed on November 26, 2001 as an exhibit to the Trust's Registration Statement on Form 8-A, copies of which may be obtained from the Trust by writing to the Trust at Federal Realty Investment Trust, 1626 E. Jefferson Street, Rockville, MD 20852-4041, Attention: Corporate Secretary.
Authorized Shares of Beneficial Interest
The declaration of trust authorizes the Trust to issue up to 115,000,000 shares of beneficial interest, of which 100,000,000 have been designated common shares and 15,000,000 have been designated preferred shares. The board of trustees is authorized to increase or decrease the authorized aggregate number of shares and the number of authorized shares in any class or series without shareholder approval.
As of the date hereof, the Trust has issued and outstanding 4,000,000 shares of its 7.95% Series A Cumulative Preferred Redeemable Shares (the "Series A Preferred Shares") and 5,400,000 shares of its 8 1/2% Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (the "Series B Preferred Shares"). The Series A Preferred Shares and the Series B Preferred Shares rank prior to the common shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust. The declaration of trust provides that, unless full cumulative dividends on all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares and any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest of the trust ranking, as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, on a parity with the Series A Preferred Shares or Series B Preferred Shares ("Parity Shares") shall have been declared and paid or declared and set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, then no dividends, other than dividends paid solely in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, beneficial interest in the Trust which rank junior to the Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust ("Fully Junior Shares"), shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the common shares nor shall any common shares be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired (other than for purposes of employee incentive or benefit plans of the Trust or by conversion into or exchange for Fully Junior Shares).
In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Trust, the holders of Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive $25 per share, plus all accrued and unpaid dividends, before any distribution shall be made with respect to the common shares.
Shareholder Voting Rights
Under Title 8 and our governing documents, holders of common shares of beneficial interest are entitled to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders. The election of trustees requires a plurality of all the votes cast at the meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. The declaration of trust does not provide for cumulative voting in the election of trustees.
Under the declaration of trust, the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter is required for:
. an amendment to the declaration of trust with board of
trustees approval,
. the termination of the Trust,
. a merger or consolidation of the Trust, or
. a sale or disposition of substantially all of the property of the
Trust.
Except as provided above and except with respect to voting or the election for the removal of trustees or as otherwise may be required by law, the holders of common shares have no voting rights unless the board of trustees shall have directed that a particular matter be submitted for shareholder approval or ratification. The shareholders have no right to amend the declaration of trust without prior approval of the board of trustees.
Pre-emptive Rights
Under the declaration of trust, neither the holders of Series A Preferred Shares or Series B Preferred Shares nor the holders of common shares have preemptive rights. However, the board of trustees, in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares of beneficial interest, may grant holders of shares preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for additional shares of beneficial interest or other securities.
Restrictions on Dividends and Other Distributions
Title 8 does not set forth any standards for dividends or other distributions to shareholders. The declaration of trust allows the board of trustees to authorize the Trust to pay to shareholders dividends or distributions in cash, assets or securities of the Trust or from any other source. The Trust may pay any dividend or make any other distribution to the shareholders as authorized in the declaration of trust and by the board of
trustees if, after giving effect to the dividend or distribution, the Trust would be able to pay its debts as they become due in the usual course of its business. The declaration of trust requires the board of trustees to endeavor to authorize and cause the Trust to pay such dividends and distributions as may be necessary for the Trust to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code.
Dissenting Shareholders' Appraisal Rights
Title 8 does not provide appraisal rights to shareholders of a Maryland REIT if the Maryland REIT's shares, like the Trust's shares, are listed on a national securities exchange. Neither the declaration of trust nor the bylaws provides for appraisal rights, although the board of trustees may, in setting the terms of classified or reclassified shares, grant appraisal rights.
Board of Trustees
Under the declaration of trust, trustees, except for trustees elected by holders of preferred shares, are elected in three classes for staggered, three-year terms. The number of trustees may be increased or decreased pursuant to the bylaws, provided that the total number of trustees may not be less than three or more than 15.
Removal of Trustees
Under the declaration of trust, and subject to the rights of any holders of preferred shares, the shareholders of the Trust may remove a trustee, with or without cause, at any meeting of shareholders called for that purpose, either (1) by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on the matter, if the removal is approved by a vote of not less than two-thirds of the trustees, or (2) by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than 80% of the shares entitled to vote on the matter.
Vacancies on the Board of Trustees
Title 8 does not address vacancies in a board of trustees. The bylaws provide that, subject to the rights of any holders of preferred shares, any vacancy, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of trustees, in the board of trustees may be filled by a majority of the remaining trustees or, if the trustees fail to act, at a meeting called for that purpose by the vote of holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter. Each trustee so elected shall serve for the unexpired term of the trustee he is replacing.
The declaration of trust provides that when six consecutive quarterly dividends payable to holders of Series A Preferred Shares, Series B Preferred Shares or any series or class of Parity Shares are in arrears, holders of Series A Preferred Shares and Series B Preferred Shares, together with the holders of any series of Parity Shares, voting as a single class regardless of series, will be entitled to elect two additional trustees to serve on the board of trustees. Whenever all dividends in arrears on the Series A Preferred Shares, the Series B Preferred Shares and any Parity Shares shall have been paid and dividends thereon for the current dividend period shall have been paid or set apart for payment, then such voting rights shall immediately cease (subject to reinstatement under similar circumstances in the future) and the term of office of the trustees so elected will automatically terminate.
Annual Meetings of Shareholders
The bylaws provide that an annual meeting of shareholders for the election of trustees and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Trust must be held in the month of May of each year, after the delivery of the annual report. Failure to hold such a meeting does not invalidate the Trust's existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Trust. The bylaws provide procedures which must be followed relating to annual meetings, including the requirement that nominations for elections to the board of trustees and new business proposals be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement relating to the preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is changed by more than 30 days or if the Trust has not previously held an annual meeting, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered within a reasonable time before the Trust begins to print and mail its proxy materials. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder's notice as described above. Such shareholder's notice must set forth:
. as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Trustee all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Trustees in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Exchange Act, including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Trustee if elected;
. as to any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and
. as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner,
if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made:
. the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on
the Trust's books, and of such beneficial owner, and
. the number of each class of shares of the Trust which are
owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such
beneficial owner.
If the number of trustees to be elected to the board of trustees is increased and there is no public announcement by the Trust naming all of the nominees for trustee or specifying the size of the increased board of trustees at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a shareholder's notice shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Trust.
Special Meetings of Shareholders
The bylaws provide that a special meeting of shareholders may be called by the president of the Trust or by one-third of the trustees, and must be called upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than twenty-five percent of all of the votes entitled to be cast at such a meeting. The bylaws provide procedures which must be followed for both the request for a special meeting by shareholders and the conduct of the special meeting, including the requirement that nominations for elections to the board of trustees must be delivered to the secretary not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the special meeting. The bylaws further provide that nominations for elections to the board of trustees at a special meeting may be made by shareholders only if the board of trustees has determined that trustees shall be elected at that special meeting.
Under Title 8, the board of trustees has the sole power to fix (1) the
record date for determining shareholders entitled to request a special meeting;
(2) the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to
vote at the special meeting; and (3) the date, time and place for the special
meeting.
Shareholder Action by Written Consent
Title 8 does not address actions by written consent of shareholders. The declaration of trust provides that any action by shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a majority of shares entitled to vote on the matter, or such larger proportion of shares as shall be required to take such action, consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meeting of shareholders.
Amendments to Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
Under Title 8, an amendment to a declaration of trust must be approved by at least a majority of the board of trustees and the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the shares entitled to vote on such matter unless otherwise provided in the declaration of trust. The declaration of trust provides for amendments to the declaration of trust by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on the matter if the Trustees have unanimously approved a shareholder vote on the matter. The board of trustees has the authority to increase the authorized shares of the trust without the approval of the shareholders.
The declaration of trust provides that the Trustees may amend the declaration of trust, in the manner provided by Title 8, without any action by the shareholders, to qualify as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code or under Title 8 and as otherwise provided in the declaration of trust.
The bylaws provide that the board of trustees has the power to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of the bylaws, except as otherwise provided in a bylaw adopted by the shareholders as provided in the next sentence, and to make new bylaws. In addition, our bylaws give shareholders the power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of the bylaws by a vote of holders of not less than 80% of the shares entitled to vote on the matter.
Limit on Share Ownership
Title 8 does not limit share ownership. The declaration of trust prohibits the ownership by any person of greater than 9.8% in value of the aggregate of the outstanding equity shares and 9.8%, in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the aggregate number of the outstanding common shares. With some exceptions and requirements, the board of trustees, in its sole discretion, may exempt a person from these share ownership limits, or may establish separate share ownership limits for such person. To the extent that any proposed transfer of shares would violate these prohibitions or other specified provisions intended to preserve the Trust's status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code, such shares shall be automatically transferred to a charitable trust or, in certain circumstances, the transfer will be deemed void from inception. The proposed transferee will have no rights in any shares transferred to a charitable trust, although the declaration of trust requires that the shares be sold and the proceeds from the sale be paid to the proposed transferee; provided that the proposed transferee will not be entitled to receive sale proceeds in excess of the price paid by the proposed transferee for those shares or, in certain circumstances, the market value of those shares at a specified date.
Under Maryland corporate law, as applicable to real estate investment trusts formed under Title 8, certain "business combinations" including mergers, asset transfers and issuances of equity securities between a Maryland REIT and any person who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the trust's shares or specified affiliates or associates of the trust or an affiliate of the trust are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Thereafter, any business combination must be recommended by the board of trustees and approved by two super-majority shareholder votes unless, among other conditions, the trust's common shareholders receive a minimum price, to be set in accordance with the guidelines laid out in Maryland corporate law, for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its common shares. These provisions do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of trustees before the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder.
Control Share Acquisitions
Maryland corporate law, as applicable to Maryland REITs, provides that "control shares" of a Maryland REIT acquired in a "control share acquisition" have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter, excluding shares of beneficial interest owned by the acquiror, by officers or by trustees who are employees of the trust. "Control Shares" are voting shares of beneficial interest which, if aggregated with all other such shares of beneficial interest previously acquired by the acquiror, or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power, except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy, would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:
. one-tenth or more but less than one-third,
. one-third or more but less than a majority, or
. a majority or more of all voting power.
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. A "control share acquisition" means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of conditions specified under Maryland corporate law, including an undertaking to pay expenses, may compel the board of trustees of the Trust to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. If no request for a meeting is made, the Trust may itself present the question at any shareholders meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as provided by the statute, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the trust may redeem any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved, for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of those shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares
as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (a) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the trust is a party to the transaction or (b) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws of the trust.
The bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any and all acquisitions by any person of the Trust's shares of beneficial interest. There can be no assurance that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.
Limitation of Trustees' and Officers' Liability
Title 8 permits a Maryland REIT to include in its Declaration of
Trust a provision limiting the liability of its trustees and officers to the
trust and its shareholders for money damages except for liability resulting from
(a) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or
services or (b) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment
as being material to the cause of action. The Declaration of Trust of the Trust
includes such a provision which eliminates such liability to the maximum extent
permitted by the Maryland REIT Law.
Limitation of Shareholder Liability; Indemnification of Shareholders
Under Maryland law applicable to Maryland REITs, a shareholder is not personally liable for the obligations of the Trust solely as a result of his or her status as a shareholder. The declaration of trust provides that no shareholder will be liable for any debt or obligation of the Trust by reason of being a shareholder nor will any shareholder face any personal liability in tort, contract or otherwise to any person in connection with the property or affairs of the Trust by reason of being a shareholder.
The bylaws further provide that the Trust will indemnify each present or former shareholder against any claim or liability to which the shareholder may become subject by reason of being or having been a shareholder and that the Trust will reimburse each shareholder for all reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in connection with any proceeding by reason of his or her status as a shareholder.
However, with respect to tort claims, contractual claims where shareholder liability is not so negated by the express terms of the contract, claims for taxes and certain statutory liability, the shareholders may, in some jurisdictions, be personally liable to the extent that such claims are not satisfied by the Trust.
Inasmuch as the Trust carries public liability insurance which it considers adequate, any risk of personal liability to shareholders is limited to situations in which the Trust's assets plus its insurance coverage would be insufficient to satisfy the claims against the Trust and its shareholders.
Indemnification of Trustees and Officers
The declaration of trust authorizes the Trust, to the maximum extent
permitted by Maryland law, to obligate itself to indemnify and to pay or
reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to
(a) any present or former trustee or officer or (b) any individual who, while a
trustee of the Trust and at the request of the Trust, serves or has served as a
trustee, director, officer or partner of another real estate investment trust,
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other
enterprise from and against any claim or liability to which such person may
become subject or which such person may incur by reason of such status. The
bylaws of the Trust obligate it, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland
law, to indemnify (a) any present or former trustee, officer or shareholder, and
any individual who, while a trustee, officer or shareholder, served as a
director, officer, partner, trustee or shareholder of another real estate
investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee
benefit plan or other enterprise, who has been successful, on the merits or
otherwise, in the defense of a proceeding to which he or she was made a party by
reason of service in that capacity, against reasonable expenses incurred in
connection with the proceeding and (b) any present or former trustee or officer
against any claim or liability to which he or she may be become subject by
reason of such status, subject to exceptions. In addition, the Trust shall,
without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to
indemnification, pay or reimburse, in advance of the final disposition of a
proceeding, reasonable expenses incurred by a present or former trustee, officer
or shareholder made party to a proceeding by reason of his or her status,
subject to specified conditions. The declaration of trust and bylaws also permit
the Trust to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a
predecessor of the Trust in any of the capacities described above and to any
employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust.
Title 8 permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted by the Maryland corporate law for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. Maryland corporate law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that (a) the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of
any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. However, under Maryland corporate law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland corporate law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation's receipt of (a) a written affirmation by the director or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation and (b) a written undertaking by him or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct was not met.
Inspection of Books and Records
Title 8 provides a right to inspect and copy a Maryland REIT's books of account and stock ledger to persons who have been shareholders for more than six months and own at least 5% of any class of a Maryland REIT's outstanding shares. In addition, any shareholder of a Maryland REIT has a right to inspect the bylaws, minutes of the shareholder's meetings, annual statements of affairs and voting trust agreements and to request that the REIT provide a sworn statement showing all stock and securities issued and all consideration received by the Maryland REIT within the preceding twelve months.
Interested Trustee Transactions
Title 8 does not address interested trustee transactions. Pursuant to the declaration of trust, the Trust may enter into any contract or transaction of any kind with any person including any trustee, officer, employee or agent of the trust or any person affiliated with a trustee, officer, employee or agent of the trust, whether or not any of them has a financial interest in such transaction.
Additional Anti-takeover Provisions of Maryland Law
Title 8 contains a number of anti-takeover provisions that apply to all Maryland REITs, including provisions that:
. Clarify that the duty of the trustees of a REIT does not require them to accept, recommend or respond to an acquisition proposal, or take or fail to take any other action solely because of (a) the effect such action or inaction may have on the acquisition proposal or (b) the amount of type of consideration that may be offered or paid to shareholders in an acquisition;
. Contain a presumption that a trustee acts in good faith, in a manner he believes to be in the best interests of the REIT and with the care an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use in similar circumstances;
. Clarify that actions by trustees relating to or affecting an acquisition or potential acquisition of control of a REIT may not be subject to a higher duty or greater scrutiny than is applied to other acts of a trustee;
. Validate a board's authority to set the terms and conditions of a shareholder rights plan, including any plan containing any provision that:
. precludes the exercise, transfer or receipt of the rights, options or warrants by designated persons in specified circumstances; or
. limits for up to 180 days the power of a future board to redeem modify or terminate the rights, options or warrants; and
. Validate bylaw provisions requiring advance notice of shareholder nominations or proposals
These provisions, as well as the provisions described above under "Limit on Share Ownership" and "Control Share Acquisitions", could have the effect of delaying or preventing a change of control of the Trust.
Item 2. Exhibits.
The following documents are being filed as exhibits to this registration statement.
Exhibit Number Description
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1 Declaration of Trust of Federal Realty
Investment Trust dated May 5, 1999
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.2
to the Registrant's Current Report on Form
8-K dated May 21, 1999)
2 Bylaws of Federal Realty Investment Trust,
as amended through the date hereof
3 Form of Common Share Certificate of Federal
Realty Investment Trust (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4 to the Registrant's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year
ended December 31, 1999)
4 Articles Supplementary relating to the
8 1/2% Series B Cumulative Redeemable
Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest,
Liquidation Preference $25.00 Per Share,
Par Value $.01 Per Share (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 4.2 to the
Registrant's Registration Statement on
Form 8-A, filed with the Commission on
November 26, 2001)
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.
FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
Date: June 6, 2002 By: /s/ Dawn M. Becker
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Name: Dawn M. Becker
Title: Vice President,
General Counsel and
Secretary
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EXHIBIT 2
FEDERAL REALTY INVESTMENT TRUST
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the Trust shall be located at such place or places as the Trustees may designate.
Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Trust may have additional offices at such places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine or the business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. PLACE. All meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Trust or at such other place within the United States as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of Trustees and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Trust shall be held during the month of May of each year, after the delivery of the annual report, referred to in Section 12 of this Article II, at a convenient location and on proper notice, on a date and at the time set by the Trustees, beginning with the year 1999. Failure to hold an annual meeting does not invalidate the Trust's existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Trust.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The president or one-third of the Trustees may call special meetings of the shareholders. Special meetings of shareholders shall also be called by the secretary upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than a twenty-five percent of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such request shall state the purpose of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at such meeting. The secretary shall inform such shareholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing notice of the meeting and, upon payment by such shareholders to the Trust of such costs, the secretary shall give notice to each shareholder entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless requested by shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, a special meeting need not be called to consider any matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any meeting of the shareholders held during the preceding twelve months.
Section 4. NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of shareholders, the secretary shall give to each shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each shareholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting written or printed notice stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as
otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, either by mail or by presenting it to such shareholder personally or by leaving it at his residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the shareholder at his post office address as it appears on the records of the Trust, with postage thereon prepaid.
Section 5. SCOPE OF NOTICE. Any business of the Trust may be transacted at an annual meeting of shareholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of shareholders except as specifically designated in the notice.
Section 6. ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of the shareholders, the Chief Executive Officer, if there be one, shall conduct the meeting or, in the case of vacancy in office or absence of the Chief Executive Officer, one of the following officers present shall conduct the meeting in the order stated: the President, the Executive Officers (as defined in Article V, Section 6) in their order of rank and seniority, or a Chairman chosen by the shareholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all shareholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast, shall act as Chairman, and the Secretary, or, in his absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of both the Secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the Chief Executive Officer shall act as Secretary.
Section 7. QUORUM. At any meeting of shareholders, the presence in person or by proxy of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the Declaration of Trust for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. The shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
Section 8. VOTING. A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a Trustee. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are Trustees to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required herein or by statute or by the Declaration of Trust. Unless otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of shareholders.
Section 9. PROXIES. A shareholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares owned of record by him either in person or by proxy executed by the shareholder or by his duly authorized agent in any manner allowed by law. Such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Trust before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 10. VOTING OF SHARES BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. Shares of the Trust registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, a general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to vote such shares pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing board of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of the partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such shares. Any trustee or other fiduciary may vote shares registered in his name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.
Shares of the Trust directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.
The Trustees may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a shareholder may certify in writing to the Trust that any shares registered in the name of the shareholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the shareholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of shareholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the share transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the share transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Trust; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Trustees consider necessary or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the shareholder of record of the specified shares in place of the shareholder who makes the certification.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein or in the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (or any successor statute) shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
Section 11. INSPECTORS. At any meeting of shareholders, the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting. Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares represented at the meeting based upon their determination of the validity and effect of proxies, count all votes, report the results and perform such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all the shareholders.
Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
Section 12. REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) The Trustees shall submit to the shareholders at or before the annual meeting of shareholders a report of the business and operations of the Trust during such fiscal year, containing a balance sheet and a statement of income and surplus of the Trust, accompanied by the certification of an independent certified public accountant, and such further information as the Trustees may determine is required pursuant to any law or regulation to which the Trust is subject. Within the earlier of 20 days after the annual meeting of shareholders or 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Trust, the Trustees shall place the annual report on file at the principal office of the Trust and with any governmental agencies as may be required by law and as the Trustees may deem appropriate.
(b) Not later than 45 days after the end of each of the first three quarterly periods of each fiscal year, the Trustees shall deliver or cause to be delivered an interim report to the shareholders containing unaudited financial statements for such quarter and for the period from the beginning of the fiscal year to the end of such quarter, and such further information as the Trustees may determine is required pursuant to any law or regulation to which the Trust is subject.
Section 13. NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) Annual Meetings of Shareholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Trustees and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (i) pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Trustees or (iii) by any shareholder of the Trust who was a shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 13(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13(a).
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an
annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph
(a) (1) of this Section 13, the shareholder must have given timely
notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Trust and such other
business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by shareholders.
To be timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered to the
secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later
than the close of business on the 120th calendar day before the first
anniversary of the date of the Trust's proxy statement released to
shareholders in connection with the preceding year's annual meeting;
provided, however, that in the event that the date of the current
year's annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 days from the
date of the preceding year's meeting or if the Trust did not hold an
annual meeting the preceding year, notice by the shareholder to be
timely must be so delivered within a reasonable time before the Trust
begins to print and mail its proxy materials. In no event shall the
public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual
meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the
giving of a shareholder's notice as described above. Such shareholder's
notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the shareholder
proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Trustee all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of Trustees in an election
contest, or is otherwise
required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") (including such
person's written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a
nominee and to serving as a Trustee if elected); (ii) as to any other
business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the
meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and
any material interest in such business of such shareholder and of the
beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and
(iii) as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner,
if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (x) the
name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Trust's
books, and of such beneficial owner and (y) the number of each class of
shares of the Trust which are owned beneficially and of record by such
shareholder and such beneficial owner.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)
(2) of this Section 13 to the contrary, in the event that the number of
Trustees to be elected to the Board of Trustees is increased and there
is no public announcement by the Trust naming all of the nominees for
Trustee or specifying the size of the increased Board of Trustees at
least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year's
annual meeting, a shareholder's notice required by this Section 13(a)
shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for
any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to
the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust not later
than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which
such public announcement is first made by the Trust.
(b) Special Meetings of Shareholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a
special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting
pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election
to the Board of Trustees may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at
which Trustees are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting,
(ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (iii) provided that the
Board of Trustees has determined that Trustees shall be elected at such special
meeting, by any shareholder of the Trust who was a shareholder of record both at
the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 13(b) and at the time
of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied
with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13(b). In the event the
Trust calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or
more Trustees to the Board of Trustees, any such shareholder may nominate a
person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position as
specified in the Trust's notice of meeting, if the shareholder's notice
containing the information required by paragraph (a) (2) of this Section 13
shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the
Trust not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such
special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the
90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on
which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and
of the nominees proposed by the Trustees to be elected at such meeting. In no
event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a
special meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the
giving of a shareholder's notice as described above.
(c) General.
(1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section 13 shall be eligible to serve as Trustees and only such
business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have
been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set
forth in this Section 13. The chairman of the meeting shall have the
power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business
proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the
case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section 13 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in
compliance with this Section 13, to declare that such nomination or
proposal shall be disregarded.
(2) For purposes of this Section 13, "public announcement" shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Trust with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13. Nothing in this Section 13 shall be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in, nor the right of the Trust to omit a proposal from, the Trust's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 14. INFORMAL ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) Any action by Shareholders may be taken without a meeting, if a majority of Shares entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion of Shares as shall be required to take such action) consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed with the records of the meetings of Shareholders.
(b) In order that the Trust may determine the shareholders entitled to consent to action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Trustees 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 Trustees, and which date shall not be more than 10 days after the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Trustees. Any shareholder of record seeking to have the shareholders authorize or take action by written consent shall, by written notice to the Secretary of the Trust, request the Board of Trustees to fix a record date. The Board of Trustees shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Trustees within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received and no prior action by the Board of Trustees is required by applicable law, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to action in writing without a meeting shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Trust by delivery to its registered office in the State of Maryland, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of the Trust having custody of the book in which proceedings of shareholders meetings are recorded, in each case to the attention of the Secretary of Trust. Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Trustees within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received and prior action by the Board of Trustees is required by applicable law, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to action in writing without a
meeting shall be at the close of business on the date on which the Board of Trustees adopts the resolution taking such prior action.
Section 15. VOTING BY BALLOT. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the presiding officer shall order or any shareholder shall demand that voting be by ballot.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
Section 1. GENERAL POWERS; QUALIFICATIONS; TRUSTEES HOLDING OVER. The business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Trustees. A Trustee shall be an individual at least 21 years of age who is not under legal disability. In case of failure to elect Trustees at an annual meeting of the shareholders, the Trustees holding over shall continue to direct the management of the business and affairs of the Trust until their successors are elected and qualify.
Section 2. NUMBER. At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Trustees may establish, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; provided, however, that the total number of Trustees shall not be less than three (3) or more than fifteen (15).
Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Trustees shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of shareholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. The Trustees may provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of the Trustees without other notice than such resolution.
Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Trustees may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board or the president or by a majority of the Trustees then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Trustees may fix any place, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Trustees called by them.
Section 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting shall be given by written notice delivered personally, telegraphed, facsimile-transmitted or mailed to each Trustee at his business or residence address. Personally delivered or telegraphed notices shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Notice by mail shall be given at least five days prior to the meeting. Telephone or facsimile-transmission notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If given by telegram, such notice shall be deemed to be given when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company. Telephone notice shall be deemed given when the Trustee is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which he is a party. Facsimile-transmission notice shall be deemed given upon completion of the
transmission of the message to the number given to the Trust by the Trustee and receipt of a completed transmission report confirming delivery. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Trustees need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
Section 6. QUORUM. A majority of the Trustees shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Trustees, provided that, if less than a majority of such Trustees are present at said meeting, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of a particular group of Trustees is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority of such group.
The Trustees present at a meeting which has been duly called and convened may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Trustees to leave less than a quorum.
Section 7. VOTING. The action of the majority of the Trustees present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Trustees, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable statute.
Section 8. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 9. INFORMAL ACTION BY TRUSTEES. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing to such action is signed by each Trustee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Trustees.
Section 10. VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all the Trustees cease to be Trustees, such event shall not terminate the Trust or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining Trustees hereunder (even if fewer than 3 Trustees remain). Subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred shares then outstanding, any vacancy on the Board of Trustees (including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of Trustees) may be filled by a majority of the remaining Trustees or, if the remaining Trustees fail to act or there is no remaining Trustee, by the vote of holders of at least a majority of the Shares entitled to vote thereon and present in person or by proxy at any meeting of the shareholders called for that purpose. Any individual so elected as Trustee shall serve for the unexpired term of the Trustee he is replacing.
Section 11. COMPENSATION; FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) Compensation. Trustees shall not receive any stated salary for their services as Trustees but, by resolution of the Trustees, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property owned or to be acquired by the Trust and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as Trustees. Trustees may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Trustees or of any committee thereof; and
for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity performed or engaged in as Trustees; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Trustees from serving the Trust in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
(b) Financial Assistance to Trustees. The Trust may lend money to, guarantee an obligation of or otherwise assist a Trustee or a trustee of its direct or indirect subsidiary. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may be with or without interest, unsecured, or secured in any manner that the Board of Trustees approves, including a pledge of Shares.
Section 12. REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES. The shareholders may, at any time, remove any Trustee in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust.
Section 13. LOSS OF DEPOSITS. No Trustee shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or other institution with whom moneys or shares have been deposited.
Section 14. SURETY BONDS. Unless required by law, no Trustee shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his duties.
Section 15. RELIANCE. Each Trustee, officer, employee and agent of the Trust shall, in the performance of his duties with respect to the Trust, be fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its officers or employees or by the adviser, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Trustees or officers of the Trust, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
Section 16. INTERESTED TRUSTEE TRANSACTIONS. Section 2-419 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") shall be available for and apply to any contract or other transaction between the Trust and any of its Trustees or between the Trust and any other trust, corporation, firm or other entity in which any of its Trustees is a trustee or director or has a material financial interest.
Section 17. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. The Trustees shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs of the Trust. Any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust (other than a full-time officer, employee or agent of the Trust), in his personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar or in addition to those of or relating to the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Trustees may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and other committees, composed of two or more Trustees, to serve at the pleasure of the Trustees.
Section 2. POWERS. The Trustees may delegate to committees appointed under
Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Trustees, except as
prohibited by law.
Section 3. MEETINGS. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another Trustee to act in the place of such absent member. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Trustees.
One-third, but not less than two, of the members of any committee shall be present in person at any meeting of such committee in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the act of a majority present shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Trustees may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or any two members of any committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another Trustee to act at the meeting in the place of such absent or disqualified members.
Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report the same to the Board of Trustees at the next succeeding meeting, and any action by the committee shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of Trustees, provided that no vested or contractual rights of third persons shall be affected by any such revision or alteration.
Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of a committee of the Trustees may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 5. INFORMAL ACTION BY COMMITTEES. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing to such action is signed by each member of the committee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.
Section 6. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Trustees shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill all vacancies, to designate alternate members to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Trust shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Trustees may from time to time appoint such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Trust shall be elected at such intervals as the Trustees may determine. Each officer shall hold
office until his successor is elected and qualifies or until his death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. In their discretion, the Trustees may leave unfilled any office except that of president and secretary. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Trust and such officer or agent.
Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Trust may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the full Board of Trustees taken at any regular or special meeting of the Trustees if in their judgment the best interests of the Trust would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Trust may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Trustees, the chairman of the board, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect at any time subsequent to the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective is not specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Trust.
Section 3. VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Trustees for the balance of the term.
Section 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Trustees may designate a chief executive officer from among the elected officers. The chief executive officer shall have responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Trust, as determined by the Trustees, and for the administration of the business affairs of the Trust. The chief executive officer shall preside over the meetings of the Trustees and of the shareholders at which he shall be present.
Section 5. PRESIDENT. In the absence of the chief executive officer, the president shall preside over the meetings of the Trustees and of the shareholders at which he shall be present. In the absence of a designation of a chief executive officer by the Trustees, the president shall be the chief executive officer and shall be ex officio a member of all committees that may, from time to time, be constituted by the Trustees. The president may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Trustees or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Trustees from time to time.
Section 6. EXECUTIVE OFFICERS. In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the executive officer (or in the event there be more than one executive officer, the executive officers in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform 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; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the president or by the Trustees. The Trustees may designate one or more executive officers for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 7. SECRETARY. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the
proceedings of the shareholders, the Trustees and committees of the Trustees in
one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly
given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the trust records and of the seal of the Trust; (d) keep a
register of the post office address of each shareholder which shall be furnished
to the secretary by such shareholder; (e) have general charge of the share
transfer books of the Trust; and (f) in general perform such other duties as
from time to time may be assigned to him by the chief executive officer, the
president or by the Trustees.
Section 8. TREASURER. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Trust and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Trust in such depositories as may be designated by the Trustees.
He shall disburse the funds of the Trust in accordance with the authority granted by the Trustees, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and Trustees, whenever they may require it, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Trust.
If required by the Trustees, he shall give the Trust a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Trust, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Trust.
Section 9. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the president or the Trustees. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Trustees, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees.
Section 10. SALARIES. The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section 1. CONTRACTS. The Trustees may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Trust and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document executed by one or more of the Trustees or by an authorized person shall be valid and binding upon the Trustees and upon the Trust when authorized or ratified by action of the Trustees.
Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Trust shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Trust in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Trustees.
Section 3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Trust not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Trust in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Trustees may designate. If the Trustees fail to designate a depository, the Chief executive Officer may do so.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 1. CERTIFICATES. Each shareholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates which shall represent and certify the number of shares of each class of beneficial interests held by him in the Trust. Each certificate shall be signed by the chief executive officer, the president or an executive officer and countersigned by the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or an assistant treasurer and may be sealed with the seal, if any, of the Trust. The signatures may be either manual or facsimile. Certificates shall be consecutively numbered; and if the Trust shall, from time to time, issue several classes of shares, each class may have its own number series. A certificate is valid and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an officer when it is issued. Each certificate representing shares which are restricted as to their transferability or voting powers, which are preferred or limited as to their dividends or as to their allocable portion of the assets upon liquidation or which are redeemable at the option of the Trust, shall have a statement of such restriction, limitation, preference or redemption provision, or a summary thereof, plainly stated on the certificate. In lieu of such statement or summary, the Trust may set forth upon the face or back of the certificate a statement that the Trust will furnish to any shareholder, upon request and without charge, a full statement of such information.
Section 2. TRANSFERS. Certificates shall be treated as negotiable and title thereto and to the shares they represent shall be transferred by delivery thereof to the same extent as those of a Maryland stock corporation. Upon surrender to the Trust or the transfer agent of the Trust of a share certificate duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Trust shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
The Trust shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust will be subject in all respects to the Declaration of Trust and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer designated by the Trustees may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously issued by the Trust alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing the issuance of a new certificate, an officer designated by the Trustees may, in his discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner's legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he shall require and/or to give bond, with sufficient surety, to the Trust to indemnify it against any loss or claim which may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.
Section 4. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE. The Trustees may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of shareholders of record is to be held or taken.
In lieu of fixing a record date, the Trustees may provide that the share transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the share transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten days before the date of such meeting.
If no record date is fixed and the share transfer books are not closed for the determination of shareholders, (a) 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 on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (b) the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the Trustees, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted.
When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.
Section 5. STOCK LEDGER. The Trust shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate share ledger containing the name and address of each shareholder and the number of shares of each class held by such shareholder.
Section 6. FRACTIONAL SHARES; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Trustees may issue fractional shares or provide for the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as they may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the Trustees may issue units consisting of different securities of the Trust. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Trust, except
that the Trustees may provide that for a specified period securities of the Trust issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Trust only in such unit.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The Trustees shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Trust by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1. AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may be authorized and declared by the Trustees, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or shares of the Trust, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.
Section 2. CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Trust available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Trustees may from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust or for such other purpose as the Trustees shall determine to be in the best interest of the Trust, and the Trustees may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE X
INVESTMENT POLICY
Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the Board of Trustees may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Trust as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 1. SEAL. The Trustees may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Trust. The seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Trust and the year of its formation. The Trustees may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.
Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Trust is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word "(SEAL)" adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Trust shall indemnify (a) any Trustee, officer or shareholder or any former Trustee, officer or shareholder (including among the foregoing, for all purposes of this Article XII and without limitation, any individual who, while a Trustee, officer or shareholder and at the express request of the Trust, serves or has served another real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, shareholder, partner or trustee of such real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a proceeding to which he was made a party by reason of service in such capacity, against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding, (b) any Trustee or officer or any former Trustee or officer against any claim or liability to which he may become subject by reason of such status unless it is established that (i) his act or omission was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) he actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his act or omission was unlawful and (c) each shareholder or former shareholder against any claim or liability to which he may become subject by reason of such status. In addition, the Trust shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse, in advance of final disposition of a proceeding, reasonable expenses incurred by a Trustee, officer or shareholder or former Trustee, officer or shareholder made a party to a proceeding by reason such status, provided that, in the case of a Trustee or officer, the Trust shall have received (i) a written affirmation by the Trustee or officer of his good faith belief that he has met the applicable standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Trust as authorized by these Bylaws and (ii) a written undertaking by or on his behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Trust if it shall ultimately be determined that the applicable standard of conduct was not met. The Trust may, with the approval of its Trustees, provide such indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses to any Trustee, officer or shareholder or any former Trustee, officer or shareholder who served a predecessor of the Trust and to any employee or agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust. Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Article with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
Any indemnification or payment or reimbursement of the expenses permitted by these Bylaws shall be furnished in accordance with the procedures provided for indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, under Section 2-418 of the MGCL for directors of Maryland corporations. The Trust may provide to Trustees, officers and shareholders such other and further indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, to the fullest extent permitted by the MGCL, as in effect from time to time, for directors of Maryland corporations.
ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given pursuant to the Declaration of Trust or Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
Section 1. AMENDMENT BY SHAREHOLDERS. Any provision of these Bylaws may be adopted, altered or repealed by the shareholders at any meeting of shareholders called for that purpose, by the affirmative vote of holders of not less than eighty percent of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote.
Section 2. AMENDMENT BY TRUSTEES. Except as otherwise provided in any Bylaw adopted pursuant to Section 1 of this Article XIV, any provision of these Bylaws may be adopted, altered or repealed by the Trustees, provided that the Trustees may not repeal Section 1 of this Article XIV or increase the shareholder vote required thereunder.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include any amendments thereto.
Amended on March 9, 2001