SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
Current Report
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): February 27, 2007
CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
(Exact Name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
Maryland |
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1-14788 |
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94-6181186 |
(State or other jurisdiction
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(Commission File
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(IRS Employer
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410 Park Avenue, 14th Floor, New York, NY 10022
(Address of Principal Executive Offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (212) 655-0220
N/A
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
¨ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
¨ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
¨ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Item 3.03 |
Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
On February 27, 2007, the Board of Directors (the Board ) of Capital Trust, Inc. (the Company ) approved the increase in its charter of (i) the aggregate stock ownership limit contained in Article VII of the charter to 9.9% in value or number of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of capital stock and (ii) the common stock ownership limit contained in Article VII of the charter to 9.9% in value or number of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of common stock, and with respect thereto, the Company filed a certificate of notice with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland on February 27, 2007, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K (this Current Report ) and is incorporated by reference herein.
Item 5.03 |
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
On and effective February 27, 2007, the Board adopted second amended and restated bylaws for the Company (the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws ). The Second Amended and Restated Bylaws add or revise bylaws, among other things, that (i) authorize the holding of stockholder meetings by remote communication and at any location without jurisidictional limitation; (ii) increase to a majority the minimum percentage of stockholders required to call special meetings of stockholders (previously 33%); (iii) set forth procedures relating to the calling of a special meeting upon the request of stockholders, including without limitation those relating to the content and timing of notices of requests to call a meeting, payment of the costs of preparing and mailing the notice of meeting, designating the place of the meeting and the administration and conduct of the meeting; (iv) permit the use of electronic notices, consents, proxy authorizations and uncertificated shares; (v) revise the procedures relating to the advance notice of stockholder submitted director nominations and other proposals, including (a) requiring such notices be submitted earlier, during the period no earlier than the 150th day prior to and no later than the 120th day prior to the anniversary of the mailing of the notice of meeting for the prior annual meeting of stockholders (previously no earlier than 90 days and no later than 60 days prior to the anniversary of the prior years meeting) and (b) specifying additional information required with respect to such director nominations and/or proposals; (vi) specify rules with respect to the conduct of stockholder meetings and authorize the chairman of the meeting to adjourn and otherwise conduct stockholder meetings; and (vii) specify the authority of the executive committee or another committee of the Board to authorize an officer or agent of the Company to enter into, execute and deliver any instrument on behalf of the Company.
The foregoing is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report.
Item 8.01 |
Other Events. |
On February 27, 2007, the Board approved an increase in the annual retainer paid to non-employee directors to $75,000 from $30,000 to be paid at the election of the directors in cash or in deferred stock units pursuant to elections made under the Companys incentive stock plans.
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Item 9.01 |
Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
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(d) |
Exhibits . |
Exhibit No. |
Description |
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3.1 |
Certificate of Notice, dated February 27, 2007 |
3.2 |
Second Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated February 27, 2007 |
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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.
CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
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By: |
/s/ Geoffrey G. Jervis |
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Name: |
Geoffrey G. Jervis |
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Title: |
Chief Financial Officer |
Date: February 27, 2007
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Exhibit 3.1
CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
CERTIFICATE OF NOTICE
THIS IS TO CERTIFY THAT:
FIRST : The Board of Directors of Capital Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the Corporation), pursuant to Sections 7.1 and 7.2.9 of the charter of the Corporation (the Charter), has (i) increased the Aggregate Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Charter) to 9.9% in value or number of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Capital Stock (as defined in the Charter) and (b) increased the Common Stock Ownership Limit (as defined in the Charter) to 9.9% in value or number of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (as defined in the Charter).
SECOND : The undersigned officer acknowledges this Certificate of Notice to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned officer acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this Certificate of Notice to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on this 27th day of February, 2007.
ATTEST: |
CAPITAL TRUST, INC. |
/s/ Geoffrey G. Jervis |
By: /s/ John. R. Klopp (SEAL) |
Name: Geoffrey G. Jervis |
Name: John R. Klopp |
Title: |
Secretary |
Title: |
Chief Executive Officer |
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ARTICLE I |
OFFICES |
5 |
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Section 1. |
PRINCIPAL OFFICE |
5 |
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Section 2. |
ADDITIONAL OFFICES |
5 |
ARTICLE II |
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS |
5 |
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Section 1. |
PLACE |
5 |
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Section 2. |
ANNUAL MEETING |
5 |
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Section 3. |
SPECIAL MEETINGS |
5 |
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Section 4. |
NOTICE |
8 |
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Section 5. |
SCOPE OF NOTICE |
8 |
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Section 6. |
ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT |
8 |
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Section 7. |
QUORUM |
9 |
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Section 8. |
VOTING |
9 |
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Section 9. |
PROXIES |
10 |
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Section 10. |
VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS |
10 |
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Section 11. |
INSPECTORS |
11 |
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Section 12. |
NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY STOCKHOLDERS |
11 |
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Section 13. |
VOTING BY BALLOT |
14 |
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Section 14. |
TELEPHONE MEETINGS |
14 |
ARTICLE III |
DIRECTORS |
15 |
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Section 1. |
GENERAL POWERS |
15 |
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Section 2. |
NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS |
15 |
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Section 3. |
ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS |
15 |
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Section 4. |
SPECIAL MEETINGS |
15 |
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Section 5. |
NOTICE |
15 |
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Section 6. |
QUORUM |
16 |
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Section 7. |
VOTING |
16 |
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Section 8. |
TELEPHONE MEETINGS |
16 |
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Section 9. |
INFORMAL ACTION BY DIRECTORS |
16 |
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Section 10. |
VACANCIES |
16 |
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Section 11. |
COMPENSATION |
17 |
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Section 12. |
LOSS OF DEPOSITS |
17 |
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Section 13. |
SURETY BONDS |
17 |
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Section 14. |
RELIANCE |
17 |
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Section 15. |
CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS |
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ARTICLE IV |
COMMITTEES |
18 |
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Section 1. |
NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS |
18 |
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Section 2. |
POWERS |
18 |
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Section 3. |
MEETINGS |
18 |
2
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Section 4. |
TELEPHONE MEETINGS |
18 |
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Section 5. |
INFORMAL ACTION BY COMMITTEES |
18 |
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Section 6. |
VACANCIES |
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ARTICLE V |
OFFICERS |
19 |
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Section 1. |
GENERAL PROVISIONS |
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Section 2. |
REMOVAL. AND RESIGNATION |
19 |
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Section 3. |
VACANCIES |
19 |
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Section 4. |
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD |
19 |
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Section 5. |
VICE CHAIRMEN |
19 |
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Section 6. |
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER |
20 |
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Section 7. |
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER |
20 |
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Section 8. |
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER |
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Section 9. |
CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER |
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Section 10. |
PRESIDENT |
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Section 11. |
MANAGING DIRECTORS |
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Section 12. |
DIRECTORS |
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Section 13. |
VICE PRESIDENTS |
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Section 14. |
SECRETARY |
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Section 15. |
TREASURER |
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Section 16. |
ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS |
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Section 17. |
SALARIES |
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ARTICLE VI |
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS |
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Section 1. |
CONTRACTS |
22 |
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Section 2. |
CHECKS AND DRAFTS |
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Section 3. |
DEPOSITS |
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ARTICLE VII |
STOCK |
22 |
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Section 1. |
CERTIFICATES |
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Section 2. |
TRANSFERS |
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Section 3. |
REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE |
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Section 4. |
CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE |
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Section 5. |
STOCK LEDGER |
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Section 6. |
FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS |
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ARTICLE VIII |
ACCOUNTING YEAR |
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ARTICLE IX |
DISTRIBUTIONS |
25 |
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Section 1. |
AUTHORIZATION |
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Section 2. |
CONTINGENCIES |
25 |
ARTICLE X |
INVESTMENT POLICY |
25 |
ARTICLE XI |
SEAL |
25 |
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Section 1. |
SEAL |
25 |
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Section 2. |
AFFIXING SEAL |
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ARTICLE XII |
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES |
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ARTICLE XIII |
WAIVER OF NOTICE |
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ARTICLE XIV |
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS |
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CAPITAL TRUST, INC.
BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE . The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place or places as the Board of Directors may designate.
Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES . The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. PLACE . All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Board of Directors may provide that any or all meetings of the stockholders shall not be held at a place, but instead shall be held solely by means of remote communication; provided, however, that the Board of Directors shall provide a place for a meeting of the stockholders if a stockholder makes a written request for the same.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING . An annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on a date and at the time set by the Board of Directors.
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Section 3. |
SPECIAL MEETINGS . |
(a) General . The chairman of the board, president, chief executive officer or Board of Directors may call special meetings of the stockholders. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.
(b) Stockholder Requested Special Meetings . (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the secretary (the Record Date Request Notice) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the
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stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the Request Record Date). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder that must be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which the Record Date Request Notice is received by the secretary.
(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting, one or more written requests for a special meeting signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority (the Special Meeting Percentage) of all of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting (the Special Meeting Request) shall be delivered to the secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request (a) shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the secretary), (b) shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) shall set forth the name and address, as they appear in the Corporations books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned by each such stockholder, and the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned by such stockholder beneficially but not of record, (d) shall be sent to the secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) shall be received by the secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation or the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the secretary.
(3) The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing the notice of meeting (including the Corporations proxy materials). The secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the mailing of any notice of the meeting.
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(4) Except as provided in the next sentence, any special meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. In the case of any special meeting called by the secretary upon the request of stockholders (a Stockholder Requested Meeting), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided , however, that the date of any Stockholder Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the Meeting Record Date); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the secretary (the Delivery Date), a date and time for a Stockholder Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m. local time on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for any special meeting, the chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may consider such factors as he, she or it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of business judgment, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b).
(5) If written revocations of requests for the special meeting have been delivered to the secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting to the secretary, the secretary shall: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been mailed, refrain from mailing the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been mailed and if the secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the secretarys intention to revoke the notice of the meeting, revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.
(6) The chairman of the board, chief executive officer, president or Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of
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elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported request shall be deemed to have been delivered to the secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the secretary represent at least a majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock that would be entitled to vote at such meeting. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, Business Day shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Section 4. NOTICE . Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder 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 stockholder personally or by leaving it at his residence or usual place of business or by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his post office address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
Section 5. SCOPE OF NOTICE . Subject to Section 12(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders 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 stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. A Board members attendance at a meeting constitutes waiver of notice.
Section 6. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT . Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting: the vice chairman of the board, if there be one, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The secretary of the meeting shall be an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to
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act as secretary of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment, a person appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary or, in the absence of such appointment, the secretary of the Corporation or, in the secretarys absence, an assistant secretary of the Corporation, shall act as secretary of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) determining when the polls should be opened and closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; and (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 7. QUORUM . At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however, such quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting 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.
The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and convened, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
Section 8. VOTING . A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders 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 by statute or by the charter of the Corporation. Unless otherwise provided in the charter, each outstanding share, regardless
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of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.
Section 9. PROXIES . A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholders duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 10. VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS . Stock of the Corporation 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 stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or other fiduciary may vote stock registered in his name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.
Shares of stock of the Corporation 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 Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders 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 stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers 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 stockholder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the chapter of the Corporation 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 Veqtor Finance Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (Veqtor), or any affiliates thereof, or a Permitted Transferee of Veqtor (as defined herein) of shares of
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stock of the Corporation. For purposes of this section, the term Permitted Transferee of Veqtor includes each of the following entities to the extent any such entity acquires shares of stock of the Corporation, directly or indirectly, from Veqtor: Capital Trust Investors Limited Partnership, an Illinois limited partnership, V2 Holdings LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, BankAmerica Investment Corporation, an Illinois corporation, First Chicago Capital Corporation, a Delaware corporation, and Wells Fargo & Company, a Delaware corporation. Notwithstanding any other provision of the charter of the Corporation 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 of shares of class A common stock, $0.01 par value, of the Corporation by W. R. Berkley Corporation, a Delaware corporation, or any of its controlled affiliates (collectively, Berkley). 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; provided, however, that this section may not be repealed, in whole or in part, with respect to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition of (i) Veqtor, or any affiliates thereof, without its prior written consent, (ii) any Permitted Transferee of Veqtor, without its prior written consent, or (iii) Berkley, without its prior written consent.
Section 11. INSPECTORS . At any meeting of stockholders, 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 stockholders.
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.
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Section 12. |
NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY STOCKHOLDERS . |
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders . (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 12(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who has complied with this Section 12(a).
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this
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Section 12, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholders notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 12 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding years annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above. Such stockholders notice shall set forth (i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such individual, (B) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Corporation that are beneficially owned by such individual, (C) the date such shares were acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (D) all other information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (including such individuals written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder and the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom; (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person, the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned by such stockholder and by such Stockholder Associated Person, if any, and the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder and by any such Stockholder Associated Person; (iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder Associated Person covered by clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (2) of this Section 12(a), the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporations stock ledger and current name and address, if different, and of such Stockholder Associated Person; and (v) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholders notice.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 12 to the contrary, in the event the Board of Directors increases or decreases the maximum or minimum number of directors in accordance with Article III, Section 2 of these
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Bylaws, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice of the preceding years annual meeting, a stockholders notice required by this Section 12(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 office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(4) For purposes of this Section 12, Stockholder Associated Person of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or acting in concert with, such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder and (iii) any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with such Stockholder Associated Person.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders . Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 12 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 12. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if the stockholders notice required by paragraph (2) of this Section 12(a) shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time 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 Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholders notice as described above.
(c) General . (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 12 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate to a material extent, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12. Upon written request by the secretary or the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request),
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written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 12. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification within such period, the information as to which written verification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 12.
(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 12 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 12. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 12.
(3) For purposes of this Section 12, (a) the date of mailing of the notice shall mean the date of the proxy statement for the solicitation of proxies for election of directors and (b) public announcement shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or comparable news service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 12, a stockholder 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 12. Nothing in this Section 12 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporations proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.
Section 13. VOTING BY BALLOT . Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the presiding officer shall order or any stockholder shall demand that voting be by ballot.
Section 14. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . The Board of Directors or chairman of the meeting may permit stockholders to participate in meetings of the stockholders by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment by which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
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ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. GENERAL POWERS . The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors.
Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, nor more than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.
Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS . An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors 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, president or by a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.
Section 5. NOTICE . Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, United States mail or courier to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least five days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be
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deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
Section 6. QUORUM . A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a majority of such directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to the charter of the Corporation or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority of such group.
The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and convened may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors to leave less than a quorum.
Section 7. VOTING . The action of the majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave less than a quorum but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the charter or these Bylaws.
Section 8. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other 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 DIRECTORS . Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors..
Section 10. VACANCIES . If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder (even if fewer than three directors remain). Any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. Any individual so elected as director shall hold
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office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his successor is elected and qualifies.
Section 11. COMPENSATION . Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 12. LOSS OF DEPOSITS . No director 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 stock of the Corporation have been deposited.
Section 13. SURETY BONDS . Unless required by law, no director shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his duties.
Section 14. RELIANCE . Each director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties with respect to the Corporation, 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 Corporation, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees or by the advisers, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Board of Directors or officers of the Corporation, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a director.
Section 15. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS . The directors shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, 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 to or in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.
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ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS . The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Corporate Governance Committee and an Investment Committee and other committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. POWERS . The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law.
Section 3. MEETINGS . Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or any two members (if there are more than two members) of any committee may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall otherwise provide. 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 director to act in the place of such absent member. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.
Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS . Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other 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 Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.
Section 6. VACANCIES . Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors 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.
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ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS . The officers of the Corporation shall be a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, two vice chairmen, a chief executive officer, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, a chief credit officer, one or more managing directors, one or more employee directors, one or more vice presidents, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors 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 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 stockholders, except that the chief executive officer may appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. 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 its discretion, the Board of Directors may leave unfilled any office except that of president, treasurer and secretary. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION . Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation 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 Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors, 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 Corporation.
Section 3. VACANCIES . A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.
Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD . The Board of Directors shall designate a chairman of the board. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he shall be present. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or them by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. VICE CHAIRMEN . The Vice Chairmen shall have the general responsibility for the implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as
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determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation.
Section 6. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. Subject to the direction of the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall exercise chief executive powers and such specific powers and shall perform such duties as from time to time may be conferred upon or assigned to him by the Board of Directors or any committee thereof designated by it to so act. He may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed.
Section 7. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer. In the absence of a president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the chief operating officer shall perform the duties of president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions placed upon the president.
Section 8. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 9. CHIEF CREDIT OFFICER . The Board of Directors may designate a chief credit officer. The chief credit officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 10. PRESIDENT . The president shall have general executive powers and shall have such specific powers and shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time. In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer.
Section 11. MANAGING DIRECTORS . The Board of Directors may designate one or more managing directors. A managing director shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or chief executive officer.
Section 12. DIRECTORS . The Board of Directors may designate one or more employee directors. An employee director shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or chief executive officer.
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Section 13. VICE PRESIDENTS . The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents. A vice president shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or chief executive officer. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president or as vice president for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 14. SECRETARY . The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors 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 corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep, or direct that a transfer agent and registrar appointed pursuant to Article VII Section 5 keep, a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the share transfer books of the Corporation; 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 Board of Directors.
Section 15. TREASURER . The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.
The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, 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 Corporation.
Section 16. 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 Board of Directors. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.
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Section 17. SALARIES . The salaries and other compensation 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 or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section 1. CONTRACTS . The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee or another committee of the Board of Directors within the scope of its delegated authority 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 Corporation 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 directors or by an authorized person shall be valid and binding upon the Board of Directors and upon the Corporation when authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or such other committee and executed by an authorized person.
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 Corporation shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. DEPOSITS . All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may designate.
ARTICLE VII
STOCK
Section 1. CERTIFICATES . The Corporation may issue some or all of the shares of any or all of the Corporation's classes or series of stock without certificates if authorized by the Board of Directors. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors and contain the statements and information and be executed in the manner required by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, for so long as the same is required by the MGCL, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates. If a class or series of stock is authorized by the Board of Directors to be issued without certificates, no stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates representing any shares of such class or series of stock held by such stockholder unless otherwise determined by the Board of
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Directors and then only upon written request by such stockholder to the secretary of the Corporation.
Section 2. TRANSFERS . All transfers of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class of stock will be subject in all respects to the charter of the Corporation and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock 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 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 any class of stock will be subject in all respects to the charter of the Corporation and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE . Any officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.
Section 4. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE . The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders 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 stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.
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In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten days before the date of such meeting.
If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders, (a) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders 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 stockholders 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 directors, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted.
When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders 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 Board of Directors shall have power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issuance and registration of shares of stock, and certificates representing the same, if any, including the appointment from time to time of transfer agents and registrars. The Corporation 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 stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.
Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS . The Board of Directors may issue fractional stock 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 charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may issue units consisting of different securities of the Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a specified period securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.
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ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1. AUTHORIZATION . Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the charter of the Corporation. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the charter.
Section 2. CONTINGENCIES . Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine to be in the best interest of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
ARTICLE X
INVESTMENT POLICY
Subject to the provisions of the charter of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 1. SEAL . The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words Incorporated Maryland. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.
Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL . Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements
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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 Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or trustee of such corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to the proceeding by reason of his service in that capacity. The Corporation may, with the approval of its Board of Directors or any duly authorized committee thereof, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment of expenses provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, regulation, insurance, agreement or otherwise.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Bylaws or charter of the Corporation inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given pursuant to the charter of the Corporation or these 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
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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
The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
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