UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, DC 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): May 12, 2016

 

Eagle Bancorp, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Maryland

 

0-25923

 

52-2061461

(State or other jurisdiction

 

(Commission file number)

 

(IRS Employer

of incorporation)

 

 

 

Number)

 

7830 Old Georgetown Road, Third Floor, Bethesda, MD 20814

(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code:  301.986.1800

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K 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 May 16, 2016, Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) filed Articles of Amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation.  The amendment, which was approved by the shareholders of the Company at the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on May 12, 2016, requires that in uncontested elections, directors must be approved by a majority of the votes cast, or submit a resignation, subject to acceptance or declination by the Board of Directors. The amendment, effective immediately, amends and restates Article IX of the Articles of Incorporation to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“ARTICLE IX.  Directors.   (a) The number of directors constituting the entire board shall be not less than three (3) nor more than twenty-five (25), the exact number of which as may be fixed from time to time in accordance with the bylaws, provided that the number of directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director then in office.

 

(b) Directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors, for which purpose unvoted shares and abstentions shall not be counted, provided, however, that if there is an Uncontested Election (hereinafter defined), and a nominee (including a currently serving director nominated for reelection) does not receive a Majority Vote for Election (hereinafter defined) then such nominee shall immediately after the certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election, submit his or her resignation, subject to acceptance or declination by the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall be effective upon the first to occur of: (i) acceptance by the Board of Directors or (ii) 120 days after the date of certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election. An Uncontested Election is defined as any election of directors in which the number of nominees is equal to or less than the number of directors to be elected. A Majority Vote for Election is defined as more votes being cast for such nominee’s election than against such nominee’s election, counting votes against such nominee’s election or for which voting authority for such nominee’s election is expressly withheld, but not including unvoted shares or abstentions. No resignation shall be required to be submitted in the event a nominee does not receive a Majority Vote For Election in an election which is not an Uncontested Election.  The bylaws shall establish procedures relating to the submission, and the acceptance or declination, of such resignations.”

 

A copy of the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended through May 16, 2016, is included as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

As a result of the effectiveness of the Articles of Amendment, the bylaws of the Company are also amended, effective as of May 16, 2016, as follows:

 

Article II, Section 2, is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

“SECTION 2. Number, Term and Election

 

(a)          The maximum number of directors is fixed by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and may be altered only by amendment thereto.  The minimum number of directors shall be three (3). Directors shall be elected to serve a term of office of one (1) year, until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held after their election, until their respective successors shall be elected and qualified, or until their prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

(b)          The Board of Directors may, by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, between Annual Meetings of Shareholders, increase or decrease the membership of the Board of Directors within such limits, provided that no decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Where any vacancy on the Board of Directors is filled by the action of the Board of Directors, the director so elected or appointed shall serve a term of office extending until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held after their election or appointment, until their respective successors shall be elected and qualified, or until their prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

(c)           If, in any election of directors in which the number of nominees is equal to or less than the number of directors to be elected (an “Uncontested Election”), a nominee (including a currently serving

 

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director nominated for reelection) does not receive more votes cast for such nominee’s election than against such nominee’s election, counting votes against such nominee’s election or for which voting authority for such nominee’s election is expressly withheld, but not including unvoted shares or abstentions (a “Majority Vote For Election”), then such nominee shall immediately after the certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election, submit his or her resignation, subject to acceptance or declination by the Board of Directors, as described in Article II, Section 10 of these bylaws, to be effective upon the first to occur of (i)  acceptance by the Board of Directors or (ii) 120 days after the date of such notice. No resignation shall be required to be submitted in the event a nominee does not receive a Majority Vote For Election in an election which is not an Uncontested Election.”

 

Article II, Section 10 of the Bylaws is amended and restated to read in its entirety as follows:

 

SECTION 10.  Resignation

 

(a)                                  Any director may resign at any time by sending a written notice of such resignation to the principal office of the Corporation addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, or the Secretary.  Unless otherwise specified therein or herein, such resignation shall take effect upon acceptance thereof by the Board of Directors.

 

(b)                                  If a nominee for election or reelection as a director in an Uncontested Election does not receive a Majority Vote For Election but has received a plurality of the votes cast in the election for director, then such nominee shall immediately after the certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election submit to the Corporation, such nominee’s irrevocable written resignation from the Board of Directors of the Corporation and all committees of which such nominee is then a member, which shall state that it shall be effective upon the first to occur of (i)  acceptance by the Board of Directors or (ii) 120 days after the date on which a Majority Vote for Election was not received (“Conditional Resignation”). The Board of Directors may require prospective nominees for election or reelection as director to deliver a Conditional Resignation as a requirement for nomination.  If a Conditional Resignation has been delivered as a requirement for nomination, then such Conditional Resignation shall be deemed to have been submitted immediately following the certification by the inspector of elections that such nominee did not receive a Majority Vote For Election, and no additional submission shall be required.

 

(c)                                   In the event that a Conditional Resignation is submitted by a director who does not receive a Majority Vote For Election, the Board of Directors will accept or reject the Conditional Resignation no later than 120 days following certification of the shareholder vote at the meeting at which the election occurred (the “Meeting Date.). Any director who submits his or her Conditional Resignation pursuant to this provision will not participate in the consideration of the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors, regarding whether to accept or reject the Conditional Resignation. If one or more Conditional Resignations are accepted by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors will consider whether to fill such vacancy or vacancies or to reduce the size of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors shall act on the resignation after having received the oral or written report and recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee (or successor committee). The Board of Directors and Governance and Nominating Committee may consider any factor they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept the Conditional Resignation.

 

Promptly, and in any event not more than four (4) business days, after having made a determination to accept or decline a Conditional Resignation, the Board of Directors shall disclose its decision to accept a Conditional Resignation, or the reasons for declining the Conditional Resignation, in a Current Report on Form 8-K (or successor report) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.”

 

A copy of the Bylaws of the Company, as amended through May16, 2016, is included as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

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Item 5.07.                                         Submission of Matters to Vote of Security Holders.

 

(a)                                  On May 12, 2016, the annual meeting of shareholders of Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (the “Company”) was held for the purposes of:

 

1.               electing eight (8) directors to serve until the 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders and until their successors are duly elected and qualified;

2.               approving of an amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation to require that directors of the Company be approved by majority vote in uncontested elections;

3.               approving the Company’s 2016 Stock Plan;

4.               ratifying the appointment of Stegman & Company as the Company’s independent registered public accountants for the year ended December 31, 2016; and

5.               voting on a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our named executive officers.

 

(b)                                  (1)                                  The name of each director elected at the meeting, and the votes cast for such persons, votes withheld and broker non-votes are set forth below:

 

Name

 

For

 

Withheld

 

Broker Non-votes

 

Leslie M. Alperstein

 

27,141,554

 

1,144,764

 

3,213,966

 

Dudley C. Dworken

 

27,153,291

 

1,133,027

 

3,213,966

 

Harvey M. Goodman

 

26,905,110

 

1,381,208

 

3,213,966

 

Ronald D. Paul

 

26,479,260

 

1,807,058

 

3,213,966

 

Robert P. Pincus

 

27,797,893

 

488,425

 

3,213,966

 

Norman R. Pozez

 

25,436,353

 

2,849,965

 

3,213,966

 

Donald R. Rogers

 

26,892,015

 

1,394,303

 

3,213,966

 

Leland M. Weinstein

 

26,913,006

 

1,373,312

 

3,213,966

 

 

(2)                                  The number of votes cast for or against, and the number of abstentions and broker non-votes cast on the approval of the amendment to the Company’s Articles of Incorporation is as set forth below:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-votes

 

28,123,301

 

109,365

 

53,652

 

3,213,966

 

 

(3)                                  The number of votes cast for or against, and the number of abstentions and broker non-votes cast on the approval of the Company’s 2016 Stock Plan is as set forth below:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-votes

 

27,183,575

 

979,556

 

123,187

 

3,213,966

 

 

(4)                                  The number of votes cast for or against, and the number of abstentions and broker non-votes cast on the ratification of the appointment of Stegman & Company as the Company’s independent registered public accounting firm is as set forth below:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-votes

 

31,252,033

 

167,545

 

80,706

 

0

 

 

(5)                                  The number of votes cast for or against, and the number of abstentions and broker non-votes cast on the nonbinding advisory resolution approving the compensation of our executive officers is as set forth below:

 

For

 

Against

 

Abstain

 

Broker Non-votes

 

19,891,936

 

8,118,255

 

276,127

 

3,213,966

 

 

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(c)                                   There have been no settlements between the Company and any other person with respect to terminating any solicitation.

 

Item 9.01                                            Financial Statement and Exhibits.

 

(d)                                                                                  Exhibits

 

3.1                                Articles of Incorporation of Eagle Bancorp, Inc., as amended through May 16, 2016.

 

3.2                                Bylaws of Eagle Bancorp, Inc., as amended through May 16, 2016.

 

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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.

 

 

 

EAGLE BANCORP, INC.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Ronald D. Paul

 

 

Ronald D. Paul, President, Chief Executive Officer

 

Dated: May 17, 2016

 

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Exhibit 3.1

 

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

EAGLE BANCORP, INC.

(As amended through May 16, 2016)

 

ARTICLE I.  Name.  The name of the corporation is:

 

Eagle Bancorp, Inc.

 

ARTICLE II.  Purpose.  The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or business for which corporations may be formed under the Maryland General Corporation Law.

 

ARTICLE III.  Capital Stock.  The number of shares of stock of all classes which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is one hundred and one million (101,000,000), one hundred million (100,000,000) of which shall be Common Stock, par value $.01 per share and one million (1,000,000) of which shall be preferred stock, par value $.01 per share, and the aggregate par value of all shares of all classes of stock is $1,010,000.  The Board of  Directors, by action of a majority of the full Board of Directors, shall have the authority to issue the shares of preferred stock from time to time on such terms as it may determine, and to divide the preferred stock into one or more classes or series, and, in connection with the creation of such classes or series to fix by resolution or resolutions the designations, voting powers, preferences, participation, redemption, sinking fund, conversion, dividend, and other optional or special rights of such classes or series, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof.

 

ARTICLE IV.  Preemptive Rights.  The holders of the capital stock of the Corporation shall not have any preemptive or preferential rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of any class of capital stock of the corporation, whether now or hereafter authorized, except as the Board of Directors may specifically provide.

 

ARTICLE V.  Cumulative Voting.  The holders of the capital stock of the Corporation shall not have the right to cumulate votes in the election of directors.

 

ARTICLE VI.  Limitation of Liability and Indemnification.

 

(1)  To the full extent permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law and the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article, a director or officer of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages.

 

(2)  To the full extent permitted and in the manner prescribed by the Maryland General Corporation Law and any other applicable law, the Corporation shall indemnify a director or officer of the Corporation who is or was a party to any proceeding (whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, threatened, pending or completed, herein a “proceeding”) by reason of the fact that he is or was such a director or officer or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise.  The Board of Directors is hereby empowered, by majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors, to contract in advance to indemnify any director or officer.

 

(3)  The Board of Directors is hereby empowered, by majority vote of a quorum of disinterested directors, to cause the Corporation to indemnify or contract in advance to indemnify any director or officer, and to cause the Corporation to indemnify or contract in advance to indemnify any person not specified in Section 2 of this Article who was or is a party to any proceeding, by reason of the fact that he is or was an employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, to the same extent as if such person were specified as one to whom indemnification is granted in Section 2.

 

(4)  Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Article VI, the Corporation shall indemnify a director who entirely prevails in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director of the Corporation against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding.

 

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(5)  The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance to indemnify it against the whole or any portion of the liability assumed by it in accordance with this Article and may also procure insurance, in such amounts as the Board of Directors may determine, on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any liability asserted against or incurred by any such person in any such capacity or arising from his status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions of this Article.

 

(6)  In the event there has been a change in the composition of a majority of the Board of Directors after the date of the alleged act or omission with respect to which indemnification is claimed, any determination as to indemnification and advancement of expenses with respect to any claim for indemnification made pursuant to Section 2 of this Article VI shall be made by special legal counsel agreed upon by the Board of Directors and the proposed indemnitee.  If the Board of Directors and the proposed indemnitee are unable to agree upon such special legal counsel, the Board of Directors and the proposed indemnitee each shall select a nominee, and the nominees shall select such special legal counsel.

 

(7)  The provisions of this Article VI shall be applicable to all actions, claims, suits or proceedings commenced after the adoption hereof, whether arising from any action taken or failure to act before or after such adoption.  No amendment, modification or repeal of this Article shall diminish the rights provided hereby or diminish the right to indemnification with respect to any claim, issue or matter in any then pending or subsequent proceeding that is based in any material respect on any alleged action or failure to act prior to such amendment, modification or repeal.

 

(8)  The provisions of this Article VI shall not be exclusive of any other indemnification to which such persons may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement, statute, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors, or otherwise.

 

(9)  Reference herein to directors, officers, employees or agents shall include former directors, officers, employees and agents and their respective heirs, executors and administrators.

 

ARTICLE VII.  Registered Office.  The Corporation’s initial registered office shall be located at 8101 Glenbrook Road, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.  The Corporation’s initial registered agent shall be Ronald D. Paul, a citizen and resident of Maryland.

 

ARTICLE VIII.  Principal Office.   The current address of the principal office of the Corporation is7815 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814.

 

ARTICLE IX.  Directors.  (a) The number of directors constituting the entire board shall be not less than three (3) nor more than twenty-five (25), the exact number of which as may be fixed from time to time in accordance with the bylaws, provided that the number of directors shall not be reduced so as to shorten the term of any director then in office.

 

(b) Directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors, for which purpose unvoted shares and abstentions shall not be counted, provided, however, that if there is an Uncontested Election (hereinafter defined), and a nominee (including a currently serving director nominated for reelection) does not receive a Majority Vote for Election (hereinafter defined) then such nominee shall immediately after the certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election, submit his or her resignation, subject to acceptance or declination by the Board of Directors. Such resignation shall be effective upon the first to occur of: (i) acceptance by the Board of Directors or (ii) 120 days after the date of certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election. An Uncontested Election is defined as any election of directors in which the number of nominees is equal to or less than the number of directors to be elected. A Majority Vote for Election is defined as more votes being cast for such nominee’s election than against such nominee’s election, counting votes against such nominee’s election or for which voting authority for such nominee’s election is expressly withheld, but not including unvoted shares or abstentions. No resignation shall be required to be submitted in the event a nominee does not receive a Majority Vote For Election in an election which is

 

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not an Uncontested Election.  The bylaws shall establish procedures relating to the submission, and the acceptance or declination, of such resignations.

 

ARTICLE X.  Factors to be Considered in Certain Transactions.  In the event the board of directors shall evaluate a business combination or other offer of another party to make a tender or exchange offer for any equity security of the Corporation; merge or consolidate the Corporation with another corporation; purchase or otherwise acquire all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Corporation; engage in any transaction similar to, or having similar effects as, any of the foregoing (a “business combination”), the directors shall consider, among other things, the following factors:  the effect of the business combination on the corporation and its subsidiaries, and their respective shareholders, employees, customers and the communities which they serve; the timing of the proposed business combination; the risk that the proposed business combination will not be consummated; the reputation, management capability and performance history of the person proposing the business combination; the current market price of the corporation’s capital stock; the relation of the price offered to the current value of the corporation in a freely negotiated transaction and in relation to the directors’ estimate of the future value of the corporation and its subsidiaries as an independent entity or entities; tax consequences of the business combination to the corporation and its shareholders; and such other factors deemed by the directors to be relevant.  In such considerations, the board of directors may consider all or certain of such factors as a whole and may or may not assign relative weights to any of them.  The foregoing is not intended as a definitive list of factors to be considered by the board of directors in the discharge of their fiduciary responsibility to the corporation and its shareholders, but rather to guide such consideration and to provide specific authority for the consideration by the board of directors of factors which are not purely economic in nature in light of the circumstances of the corporation and its subsidiaries at the time of such proposed business combination.

 

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Exhibit 3.2

 

BYLAWS

OF

EAGLE BANCORP, INC.

(As amended through May 16, 2016)

 

ARTICLE I

 

Principal Office

 

The principal office of Eagle Bancorp, Inc. (herein the “Corporation”) shall be at 7815 Woodmont Avenue, Bethesda, Maryland 20814 or such other place as the Board of Directors from time to time shall determine.  .

 

ARTICLE II

 

Meeting of Shareholders

 

SECTION 1.  Place of Meetings .  All annual and special meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation or at such other place within or without the State of Maryland as the Board of Directors may determine and as designated in the notice of such meeting.

 

SECTION 2.  Annual Meeting .  A meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation for the election of directors and for the transaction of any other business of the Corporation shall be held annually at such date and time as the Board of Directors may determine.

 

SECTION 3.  Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the majority of the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, or a special meeting may be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the holders of not less than fifty percent (50%) of all votes entitled to be cast at the meeting.  Such written request shall state the purpose or purposes of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at the meeting and shall be delivered at the principal office of the Corporation addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President or the Secretary.  The Secretary shall inform the shareholders who make the request of the reasonably estimated costs of preparing and mailing a notice of the meeting and, upon payment of these costs to the Corporation, the Secretary shall then notify each shareholder entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

SECTION 4.  Conduct of Meetings .  Annual and special meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the rules and procedures established by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall designate, when present, either the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President to preside at such meetings.

 

SECTION 5.  Notice of Meeting .  Written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called shall be given either personally or by mail by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, not less than ten (10) days nor more than sixty (60) days before the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting and to each other shareholder entitled to notice of the meeting.  If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears on the stock transfer books of the Corporation as of the record date prescribed in Section 6 of this Article II, with postage thereon prepaid.  If a shareholder be present at a meeting, or in writing waives notice thereof before or after the meeting and such waiver is filed with the records of the meeting of shareholders, notice of the meeting to such shareholder shall be unnecessary.  When any shareholders’ meeting, either annual or special, is adjourned for more than thirty (30) days, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given as in the case of an original meeting.  It shall not be necessary to give any notice of the time and place of any meeting adjourned for thirty (30) or fewer days or of the business to be transacted at such adjourned meeting, other than an announcement at the meeting at which such adjournment is taken.

 

SECTION 6.  Fixing of Record Date .  For the purpose of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders, or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of any

 

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dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors shall fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders.  Such date in any case shall be not more than sixty (60) days and, in case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken.  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.

 

SECTION 7.  Quorum .  Unless otherwise provided in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, a majority of the outstanding shares of the Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting of shareholders.  If less than a majority of the outstanding shares are represented at a meeting, a majority of the shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice.  At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.  The shareholders present at a duly organized meeting may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum.

 

SECTION 8.  Proxies.  At all meetings of shareholders, a shareholder may vote by proxy executed or transmitted in any manner permitted by the general corporation laws of the State of Maryland, including but not limited to internet or telephonic voting through a proxy solicitation firm or proxy support service organization authorized or engaged by the Company.  All proxies, or evidence or reports thereof, shall be filed with the Secretary of the meeting before being voted.  Proxies solicited on behalf of the management shall be voted as directed by the shareholder or, in the absence of such direction, as determined by a majority of the Board of Directors.  No proxy shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

SECTION 9.  Voting .  At each election for directors, every shareholder entitled to vote at such election shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by him.  Unless otherwise provided by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the General Laws of the State of Maryland, a majority of those votes cast by shareholders at a lawful meeting shall be sufficient to pass on any transaction or matter.

 

SECTION 10.  Informal Action by Shareholders .  Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous written consent to the action is signed by each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and a written waiver of any rights to dissent is signed by each shareholder entitled to notice but not entitled to vote at the meeting.  The unanimous written consent and the written waiver, if any, shall be filed with the records of the shareholders’ meetings.

 

SECTION 11.  Voting of Shares in the Name of Two or More Persons .  When ownership of stock stands in the name of two or more persons, in the absence of written directions to the Corporation to the contrary, at any meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation any one or more of such shareholders may cast, in person or by proxy, all votes to which such ownership is entitled.  In the event an attempt is made to cast conflicting votes, in person or by proxy, by the several persons in whose name shares of stock stand, the vote or votes to which these persons are entitled shall be cast as directed by a majority of those holding such stock and present in person or by proxy at such meeting, but no votes shall be cast for such stock if a majority cannot agree.

 

SECTION 12.  Voting of Shares by Certain Holders .  Shares standing in the name of another corporation may be voted by any officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may provide, or, in the absence of such provision, as the Board of Directors of such corporation may determine.  Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian or conservator may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares into his name.  Shares standing in the name of a trustee may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, but no trustee shall be entitled to vote shares held by him without a transfer of such shares into his name.  Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without the transfer thereof into his name if authority to do so is contained in an appropriate order of the court or other public authority by which such receiver was appointed.

 

A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee and thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.

 

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Treasury shares of its own stock held by the Corporation shall not be voted at any meeting or counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time for purposes of any meeting.

 

SECTION 13.  Inspectors of Election .  In advance of any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons, other than nominees for office, as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any adjournment thereof.  The number of inspectors shall be either one or three.  If the Board of Directors so appoints either one or three inspectors, that appointment shall not be altered at the meeting.  If inspectors of election are not so appointed, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President may make such appointment at the meeting.  In case any person appointed as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be filled by appointment by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at the meeting by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President.

 

Unless otherwise prescribed by applicable law, the duties of such inspectors shall include:  determining the number of shares of stock and the voting power of each share, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity and effect of proxies; receiving votes, ballots or consents; hearing and determining all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting and tabulating all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.

 

SECTION 14.  Nomination Procedures .  The Board of Directors, or a committee thereof appointed in accordance with Article IV hereof shall act as a nominating committee for selecting the management nominees for election as directors.  Except in the case of a nominee substituted as a result of the death or other incapacity of a management nominee, the nominating committee shall deliver written nominations to the Secretary at least twenty (20) days prior to the date of the annual meeting.

 

Nominations for the election of directors may also be made by any shareholder of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.  Such nominations by a shareholder must be made in writing and delivered to the Secretary not later than ninety (90) days prior to the month and day one year subsequent to the date that the proxy materials regarding the last election of directors to the Board of Directors were mailed to shareholders.  Each such notice of nomination by a shareholder must set forth (a) the full name, age and date of birth of each nominee proposed in the notice, (b) the business and residence addresses and telephone numbers of each such nominee, (c) the educational background and business experience of each such nominee, including a list of positions held for at least the preceding five years, and (d) a signed representation by each such nominee that the nominee will timely provide any other information reasonably requested by the Corporation for the purpose of preparing its disclosures in regard to the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors.  The name of each such candidate for director must be placed in nomination at the annual meeting by a shareholder present in person and the nominee must be present in person at the meeting for the election of directors.  Any vote cast for a person who has not been duly nominated pursuant to this Article II, Section 14, shall be void.

 

Section 15.  New Business at Annual Meeting .  At an annual meeting of the shareholders, only such business shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before the meeting.  To be properly brought before an annual meeting, proposals for new business must be (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder.

 

For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than thirty (30) nor more than ninety (90) days before the date of any such annual meeting of shareholders; provided, however, that if less than forty-five (45) days’ notice of the date of the meeting is given to shareholders, such notice by a shareholder must be received by the Secretary not later than the close of business on the fifteenth (15th) day following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed to shareholders or two (2) days before the date of the meeting, whichever is earlier.  Each such notice given by a shareholder to the Secretary with respect to business proposals to be brought before a meeting shall set forth (a) a brief description of the business and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, (b) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of the shareholder proposing such

 

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business, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by the shareholder, and (d) any material interest of the shareholder in such business.  Shareholder proposals that do not satisfy the requirements of this Article II, Section 15, may, but need not, be considered and discussed but not acted upon at an annual meeting.

 

ARTICLE III

 

Board of Directors

 

SECTION 1.  General Powers .  The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be under the direction of its Board of Directors.  In addition to other powers specifically set out in these Bylaws or that apply under the General Laws of the State of Maryland, the Board of Directors and any committees thereof shall have the power to manage and administer the affairs of the Corporation and to do and perform all lawful acts with respect to the affairs of the Corporation except those that may be specifically reserved to the shareholders under the General Laws of the State of Maryland. The Board of Directors shall annually elect a Chairman of the Board of Directors from among its members and shall designate, when present, either the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President to preside at its meetings.

 

SECTION 2.  Number, Term and Election .  (a)  The maximum number of directors is fixed by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and may be altered only by amendment thereto.  The minimum number of directors shall be three (3). Directors shall be elected to serve a term of office of one (1) year, until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held after their election, until their respective successors shall be elected and qualified, or until their prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

(b)  The Board of Directors may, by a vote of a majority of the directors then in office, between Annual Meetings of Shareholders, increase or decrease the membership of the Board of Directors within such limits, provided that no decrease in the number of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Where any vacancy on the Board of Directors is filled by the action of the Board of Directors, the director so elected or appointed shall serve a term of office extending until the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders to be held after their election or appointment, until their respective successors shall be elected and qualified, or until their prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

 

(c)  If, in any election of directors in which the number of nominees is equal to or less than the number of directors to be elected (an “Uncontested Election”), a nominee (including a currently serving director nominated for reelection) does not receive more votes cast for such nominee’s election than against such nominee’s election, counting votes against such nominee’s election or for which voting authority for such nominee’s election is expressly withheld, but not including unvoted shares or abstentions (a “Majority Vote For Election”), then such nominee shall immediately after the certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election, submit his or her resignation, subject to acceptance or declination by the Board of Directors, as described in Article II, Section 10 of these bylaws, to be effective upon the first to occur of (i)  acceptance by the Board of Directors or (ii) 120 days after the date of such notice. No resignation shall be required to be submitted in the event a nominee does not receive a Majority Vote For Election in an election which is not an Uncontested Election.

 

SECTION 3.  Regular Meetings .  The annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held without other notice than this Bylaw within two weeks after the annual meeting of shareholders.  The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution.

 

SECTION 4.  Special Meetings .  Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, or by a majority of the directors.  The persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by such persons.

 

SECTION 5.  Conference Telephone Meetings .  Members of the Board of Directors may participate in any meetings by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.  Such participation shall constitute presence in person.

 

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SECTION 6.  Notice of Special Meetings .  Notice of any special meeting shall be given to each director at least one hour previous thereto.  Notice of a special meeting need not be in writing.  Any director may waive notice of any meeting by a writing filed with the Secretary.  The attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.  Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.

 

SECTION 7.  Quorum .  A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.  If less than such majority is present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time.  Notice of an adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are fixed at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken.

 

SECTION 8.  Voting .  The act of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless the vote of a greater number is required by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws, or the General Laws of the State of Maryland.

 

SECTION 9.  Action by Written Consent .  Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof, at a meeting may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the directors and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation for inclusion in the corporate minute book.

 

SECTION 10.  Resignation .  (a)  Any director may resign at any time by sending a written notice of such resignation to the principal office of the Corporation addressed to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, or the Secretary.  Unless otherwise specified therein or herein, such resignation shall take effect upon acceptance thereof by the Board of Directors.

 

(b)  If a nominee for election or reelection as a director in an Uncontested Election does not receive a Majority Vote For Election but has received a plurality of the votes cast in the election for director, then such nominee shall immediately after the certification of the shareholder vote relating to the election submit to the Corporation, such nominee’s irrevocable written resignation from the Board of Directors of the Corporation and all committees of which such nominee is then a member, which shall state that it shall be effective upon the first to occur of (i)  acceptance by the Board of Directors or (ii) 120 days after the date on which a Majority Vote for Election was not received (“Conditional Resignation”). The Board of Directors may require prospective nominees for election or reelection as director to deliver a Conditional Resignation as a requirement for nomination.  If a Conditional Resignation has been delivered as a requirement for nomination, then such Conditional Resignation shall be deemed to have been submitted immediately following the certification by the inspector of elections that such nominee did not receive a Majority Vote For Election, and no additional submission shall be required.

 

(c)  In the event that a Conditional Resignation is submitted by a director who does not receive a Majority Vote For Election, the Board of Directors will accept or reject the Conditional Resignation no later than 120 days following certification of the shareholder vote at the meeting at which the election occurred (the “Meeting Date.). Any director who submits his or her Conditional Resignation pursuant to this provision will not participate in the consideration of the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board of Directors, regarding whether to accept or reject the Conditional Resignation. If one or more Conditional Resignations are accepted by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors will consider whether to fill such vacancy or vacancies or to reduce the size of the Board of Directors.

 

The Board of Directors shall act on the resignation after having received the oral or written report and recommendation of the Governance and Nominating Committee (or successor committee). The Board of Directors and Governance and Nominating Committee may consider any factor they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept the Conditional Resignation.

 

Promptly, and in any event not more than four (4) business days, after having made a determination to accept or decline a Conditional Resignation, the Board of Directors shall disclose its decision to accept a Conditional Resignation, or the

 

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reasons for declining the Conditional Resignation, in a Current Report on Form 8-K (or successor report) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

SECTION 11.  Presumption of Assent .  A director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless his dissent or abstention shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as the Secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting.  Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who votes in favor of such action.

 

SECTION 12.  Advisory Directors and Directors Emeritus .  The Board of Directors may by resolution appoint persons to serve as advisory directors, who may also serve as directors emeritus, and shall have such authority and receive such compensation and reimbursement as the Board of Directors shall provide.  No advisory director or director emeritus shall have the authority to participate by vote in the transaction of business.

 

SECTION 13.  Contracts with Interested Directors .  No contract or other transaction between this Corporation and any other corporation shall be affected by the fact that any director of this Corporation is interested in, or is a director or officer of, such other corporation, and any director, individually or jointly, may be a party to, or may be interested in, any contract or transaction of this Corporation or in which this Corporation is interested; and no contract, or other transaction, of this Corporation with any person, firm, or corporation, shall be affected by the fact that any director of this Corporation is a party to, or is interested in, such contract, act or transaction, or is in any way connected with such person, firm, or corporation, and every person who may become a director of this Corporation is hereby relieved from any liability that might otherwise exist from contracting with the Corporation for the benefit of himself or any firm, association, or corporation in which he may be in any way interested.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

Committees of the Board of Directors

 

The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, as they may determine to be necessary or appropriate for the conduct of the business of the Corporation, and may prescribe the duties, constitution and procedures thereof.  The Board of Directors may delegate to an executive committee the power to exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors in the management of the affairs and property of the Corporation, except such authority as may be specifically reserved to the full Board of Directors by the General Laws of the State of Maryland.  Each committee shall consist of one or more directors of the Corporation.  In the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not a quorum exists, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of the disqualified or absent member.

 

The Board of Directors shall have power, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors, at any time to change the members of, to fill vacancies in, and to discharge any committee of the Board.  Any member of any committee of the Board of Directors may be removed at any time, either with or without cause, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the authorized number of directors at any meeting of the Board called for that purpose.

 

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ARTICLE V

 

Officers

 

SECTION 1.  Positions .  The officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Chief Executive Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors shall from time to time deem necessary for the conduct of the business of the Corporation.  Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.  The Board of Directors may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Executive Vice President or Senior Vice President.  The officers shall have such authority and perform such duties as the Board of Directors may from time to time authorize or determine by resolution.  In the absence of action by the Board of Directors, the officers shall have such powers and duties as are generally incident to their respective offices.

 

SECTION 2.  Election and Term of Office .  The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of the shareholders.  If the election of officers is not held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as possible.  Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his death or until he shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.  Election or appointment of an officer, employee or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.  The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to enter into an employment contract with any officer in accordance with state law; but no such contract shall impair the right of the Board of Directors to remove any officer at any time in accordance with Section 4 of this Article V.

 

SECTION 3.  Resignation .  Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, the President, or the Secretary.  Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if no time is specified, upon its acceptance by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 4.  Removal .  Any officer may be removed by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors whenever, in its judgment, the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal, other than for cause, shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.

 

SECTION 5.  Remuneration .  The remuneration of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

Shares and Their Transfer

 

SECTION 1.  Uncertificated Shares; Certificates for Shares . The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of uncertificated shares by the Corporation, and may prescribe procedures for the issuance and registration of transfer thereof, and with respect such other matters relating to uncertificated shares as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate. No such authorization shall affect previously issued and outstanding shares represented by certificates until such certificates shall have been surrendered to the Corporation.  At the time of the issuance or transfer of any uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall issue or cause to be issued to the holder of such shares a written statement of the information set forth in Section 6.2 of these Bylaws, and such other information as may be required to be included on stock certificates under Maryland law. Notwithstanding the adoption of any resolution providing for uncertificated shares, each registered holder of stock represented by uncertificated shares shall be entitled, upon request to the custodian of the stock transfer books of the Company, or other person designated as the custodian of the records of uncertificated shares, to have physical certificates representing such shares registered in such holder’s name.

 

Certificates representing shares of the Corporation shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or by the Vice Chairman, the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or an assistant treasurer or by the Secretary or an assistant secretary of the Corporation, and may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof.  Any or all of the signatures upon a certificate may be facsimiles if the such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent, or registered by a registrar, other than the Corporation itself or an employee of the Corporation.  If any officer

 

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who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before the certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issue.

 

SECTION 2.  Form of Certificates .  All certificates representing shares issued by the Corporation shall set forth upon the face or back that the Corporation will furnish to any shareholder upon request and without charge a full statement of the designations, preferences, limitations, and relative rights of the shares of each class authorized to be issued, the variations in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each such series so far as the same have been fixed and determined, and the authority of the Board of Directors to fix and determine the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series.

 

Each certificate representing shares shall state upon the face thereof:  that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Maryland; the name of the person to whom issued; the number and class of shares; the date of issue; the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents; the par value of each share represented by such certificate, or a statement that the shares are without par value.  Other matters in regard to the form of the certificates shall be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

SECTION 3.  Payment for Shares .  No certificate representing shares of the Corporation or evidence of uncertificated shares of the Corporation shall be issued for any shares until such share is fully paid.  The consideration for the issuance of shares shall be paid in accordance with the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

 

SECTION 4.  Transfer of Shares .  Transfer of shares of capital stock of the Corporation shall be made only on its stock transfer books.  Authority for such transfer shall be given only by the holder of record thereof or by his legal representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of such authority, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Corporation.  Transfer of shares represented by certificates shall be made only on surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such shares. Transfer of uncertificated shares shall be made only upon the receipt of proper transfer instructions from the registered owner thereof. The person in whose name shares of capital stock stand on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed by the Corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes.

 

SECTION 5.  Stock Ledger .  The stock ledger of the Corporation shall be the only evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine the stock ledger or the books of the Corporation or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of shareholders.

 

SECTION 6.  Lost Certificates .  The Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen, or destroyed.  When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation with respect to the certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed.

 

SECTION 7.  Beneficial Owners .  The Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends, and to vote as such owner, and shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.

 

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ARTICLE VII

 

Fiscal Year; Annual Audit

 

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on the 31st day of December of each year.  The Corporation shall be subject to an annual audit as of the end of its fiscal year by independent public accountants appointed by and responsible to the Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

Dividends

 

Subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and applicable law, the Board of Directors may, at any regular or special meeting, declare dividends on the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock.  Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in the Corporation’s own stock.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

Corporate Seal

 

The corporate seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.

 

ARTICLE X

 

Amendments

 

The Board of Directors of the Corporation may repeal, alter, amend or rescind these Bylaws by a majority vote of the Board of Directors at a legal meeting held in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws.  These Bylaws may not be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded by the shareholders of the Corporation.

 

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