Wisconsin
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001-07626
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39-0561070
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(IRS Employer Identification No.)
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☐ |
Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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☐ |
Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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☐ |
Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Title of each class
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Trading Symbol(s)
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Name of each exchange on which registered
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Common stock, par value $0.10 per share
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SXT
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Item 5.03 |
Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
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• |
Sections 2.9 and 3.9 of the Amended By-Laws to address matters relating to the Securities and Exchange Commission’s requirements regarding universal proxies pursuant to Rule
14a-19 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Universal Proxy Rules”), including, among other things, addressing the color of proxy cards reserved for use by the Company, requiring that a shareholder’s
nomination notice contain a representation that it intends to solicit proxies from shareholders representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors, and requiring the shareholder to
provide reasonable evidence of satisfaction of the Universal Proxy Rules; and
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• |
Section 3.16 of the Amended By-Laws to reflect powers previously delegated by the Board to the Finance Committee regarding the Company’s hedging strategy and swap activities.
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Item 9.01
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Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(d)
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Exhibits. The following exhibits are filed with this Current Report on
Form 8-K:
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Exhibit
Number
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Description
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Amended and Restated By-Laws of Sensient Technologies Corporation, dated February 9, 2023.
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104
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).
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SENSIENT TECHNOLOGIES CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ John J. Manning
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Name:
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John J. Manning
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Title:
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Senior Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
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Date:
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February 14, 2023
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(i) |
“Affiliate” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”).
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(ii) |
“Participant” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 14a-12 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
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(iii) |
“Person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust, unincorporated organization or other entity.
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(iv) |
“Proxy” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 14a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
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(v) |
“Solicitation” shall have the meaning assigned to such term in Rule 14a-1 promulgated under the Exchange Act.
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(vi) |
“Soliciting Shareholder” shall mean, with respect to any Special Meeting demanded by a shareholder or shareholders, any of the following Persons:
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(A) |
if the number of shareholders signing the demand or demands of meeting delivered to the corporation pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.3 is ten (10) or fewer, each shareholder signing any
such demand;
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(B) |
if the number of shareholders signing the demand or demands of meeting delivered to the corporation pursuant to paragraph (c) of this Section 2.3 is more than ten (10), each Person who either (I)
was a Participant in any Solicitation of such demand or demands or (II) at the time of the delivery to the corporation of the documents described in paragraph (c) of this Section 2.3, had engaged or intended to engage in any Solicitation of
Proxies for use at such Special Meeting (other than a Solicitation of Proxies on behalf of the corporation); or
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(C) |
any Affiliate of a Soliciting Shareholder, if a majority of the directors of the corporation then in office determine, reasonably and in good faith, that such Affiliate should be required to sign
the written notice described in paragraph (c) of this Section 2.3 and/or the written agreement described in this paragraph (d) in order to prevent the purposes of this Section 2.3 from being evaded.
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1. |
The Committee shall have at least three (3) members. Each member of the Committee shall satisfy the independence requirements relating to directors and audit committee members (a) of the New York
Stock Exchange and (b) under Section 10A(m) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) and any related rules and exemptions promulgated thereunder by the Securities and Exchange Commission.
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2. |
The members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors on the recommendation of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, which shall recommend for Committee
membership such directors as it believes
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are qualified. Members of the Committee shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors and for such term or terms as the Board of Directors may determine.
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3. |
No director may serve as a member of the Committee if such director serves on the audit committee of more than two other public companies, unless the Board of Directors determines that such
simultaneous service would not impair the ability of such director to effectively serve on the Committee.
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4. |
Each member of the Committee shall be financially literate, as such qualification is interpreted by the Board of Directors in its business judgment, or must become financially literate within a
reasonable period of time after appointment to the Committee. At least one member of the Committee shall qualify as a financial expert, as such term is defined by the Securities and Exchange Commission in Item 401 of Regulation S-K.
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5. |
One of the members of the Committee will be designated by the Board of Directors to serve as the Committee chairperson. The affirmative vote of a majority of the members of the Committee is
necessary for the adoption of any resolution. The Committee may create one or more subcommittees and may delegate, in its discretion, all or a portion of its duties and responsibilities to such subcommittees. The Committee may delegate to
one or more designated members of the Committee the authority to grant pre-approvals of audit and non-audit services pursuant to Section 10A(i)(3) of the Exchange Act and any related rules promulgated thereunder by the Securities and
Exchange Commission, which pre-approvals shall be presented to the full Committee at the next scheduled meeting.
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6. |
The Committee shall have a regularly scheduled meeting at least once every fiscal quarter, at such times and places as shall be determined by the Committee chairperson, and may have such
additional meetings as the Committee chairperson or any two (2) of the Committee’s members deem necessary or desirable. The Committee may request (a) any officer or employee of the corporation, (b) the corporation’s outside counsel or (c)
the corporation’s independent auditor to attend any meeting (or portions thereof) of the Committee, or to meet with any members of or consultants to the Committee, and to provide such information as the Committee deems necessary or
desirable.
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7. |
The Committee shall meet separately, periodically, with management, with the corporation’s internal auditors (or other personnel responsible for the corporation’s internal audit function) and
with the independent auditor.
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8. |
The Committee shall report regularly to the Board of Directors and review with the Board of Directors any issues that arise with respect to: (i) the quality or integrity of the corporation’s
financial statements; (ii) the performance and independence of the corporation’s independent auditor; (iii) the performance of the corporation’s internal audit function; (iv) the corporation’s risk assessment and risk management processes
and programs; and (v) the corporation’s compliance with legal and regulatory requirements and with its Code of Conduct.
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9. |
The Committee shall undertake and review with the Board of Directors an annual performance evaluation of the Committee, which shall compare the performance of the Committee with the requirements
of this Charter and set forth the goals and objectives of the Committee for the upcoming year. The performance evaluation by the Committee shall be conducted in such manner as the Committee deems appropriate. The report to the Board of
Directors may take the form of an oral report by the chairperson of the Committee or any other member of the Committee designated by the Committee to make this report.
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10. |
The Committee shall review and reassess the adequacy of this charter at least annually and recommend any proposed changes to the Board of Directors for approval.
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11. |
The Committee shall have the sole and direct responsibility and authority for the appointment, compensation, retention, and oversight of the work of each independent auditor engaged by the
corporation for the purpose of preparing or issuing an audit report or related work or performing other audit, review or attest services for the corporation, and each such independent auditor shall report directly to the Committee. The
Committee shall be responsible for resolving disagreements between management and each such independent auditor regarding financial reporting.
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12. |
The Committee shall have the responsibility and authority to approve, in advance of the provision thereof, all audit services and, subject to the de minimus exception of Section 10A(i) of the
Exchange Act and the Securities and Exchange Commission rules promulgated thereunder, all permitted non-audit services to be provided to the corporation by any such independent auditor. The Committee shall have the sole authority to
approve any compensation payable by the corporation for any approved audit or non-audit services to any such independent auditor, including the fees, terms and conditions for the performance of such services.
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13. |
The Committee shall review the independent auditors’ audit plan, including its scope, staffing, locations, reliance upon management, and internal audit and general audit approach.
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14. |
The Committee shall, at least annually: (i) obtain a written report by the independent auditor describing, to the extent permitted under applicable auditing standards: (a) the independent
auditor’s internal quality-control procedures; (b) any material issues raised by the most recent quality-control review, or peer review, of the independent auditor, or by any inquiry or investigation by governmental or professional
authorities, within the preceding five years, respecting one or more independent audits carried out by the independent auditor, and any steps taken to deal with any such issues; and (c) all relationships between the independent auditor
and the corporation; and (ii) review the foregoing report and the independent auditor’s work throughout the year and evaluate the independent auditor’s qualifications, performance and independence, including a review and evaluation of the
lead partner on the independent auditor’s engagement with the corporation, and present its conclusions to the Board of Directors and, if so determined by the Committee, recommend that the Board of Directors take additional action to
satisfy itself of the qualifications, performance and independence of the independent auditor.
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15. |
The Committee shall, at least annually, discuss with the independent auditor, out of the presence of management if deemed appropriate: (i) the matters required by Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board standards; (ii) the audit process, including, without limitation, any problems or difficulties encountered in the course of the performance of the audit, including any restrictions on the independent auditor’s activities
or access to requested information imposed by management, and management’s response thereto, and any significant disagreements with management; and (iii) the corporation’s internal controls and the responsibilities, budget and staffing of
the corporation’s internal audit function, including any “management” or “internal control” letter issued or proposed to be issued by such auditor to the corporation.
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16. |
The Committee shall establish policies for the corporation’s hiring of employees or former employees of the independent auditor.
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17. |
The Committee shall review, and discuss as appropriate with management, the internal auditors and the independent auditor, the report of the independent auditor required by Section 10A(k) of the
Exchange Act.
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18. |
The Committee shall review and discuss with management and the independent auditor:
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(i) |
prior to the annual audit, the scope, planning and staffing of the annual
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audit;
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(ii) |
the corporation’s annual audited financial statements and quarterly financial statements, including the corporation’s disclosures under “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations” and the results of the independent auditor’s reviews of the quarterly financial statements;
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(iii) |
significant issues regarding accounting and auditing principles and practices and financial statement presentations, including all critical accounting policies and estimates, any significant
changes in the corporation’s selection or application of accounting principles and any significant issues as to the adequacy of the corporation’s internal controls and any special audit steps adopted in light of material control
deficiencies;
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(iv) |
analyses prepared by management and/or the independent auditor setting forth significant financial reporting issues and judgments made in connection with the preparation of the financial
statements, including analyses of the effects of alternative GAAP methods on the financial statements;
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(v) |
the effect of regulatory and accounting initiatives, as well as off-balance sheet structures, on the financial statements;
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(vi) |
any significant changes to the corporation’s auditing and accounting principles and practices suggested by the independent auditor, internal audit personnel or management; and
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(vii) |
management’s internal control report prepared in accordance with rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 404 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
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19. |
The Committee shall recommend to the Board of Directors whether the annual audited financial statements should be included in the corporation’s Annual Report and Form 10-K.
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20. |
The Committee shall review and discuss with management the corporation’s practices regarding earnings press releases and the provision of financial information and earnings guidance by management
to analysts and ratings agencies.
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21. |
The Committee shall periodically review and discuss with management the corporation’s guidelines and policies with respect to the process by which the corporation undertakes risk assessment and
risk management, including discussion of the corporation’s major financial risk exposures and the steps
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management has taken to monitor and control such exposures in light of the corporation’s risk tolerances. The Committee shall have primary responsibility for overseeing the executives’ risk
assessments and implementation of appropriate risk management policies and guidelines generally, including those related to financial reporting and regulatory compliance. The Committee shall undertake these reviews and discussions in a
general manner, but it is not required to undertake more specific actions to the extent they are performed by the Compensation and Development Committee (which has primary oversight responsibility to insure that compensation programs and
practices do not encourage unreasonable or excessive risk-taking and that any risks are subject to appropriate controls) or by the Finance Committee (which has primary oversight responsibility with respect to types and amounts of
insurance and with respect to foreign currency management).
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22. |
The Committee shall review and discuss with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer the procedures undertaken in connection with the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial
Officer certifications for Forms 10-K, Forms 10-Q and other reports including their evaluation of the corporation’s disclosure controls and procedures and internal controls.
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23. |
The Committee shall annually obtain from the independent auditor assurance that the audit was conducted in a manner consistent with Section 10A of the Exchange Act and any other applicable rules
or regulations.
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24. |
The Committee shall review the budget, activities, organizational structure, qualifications and performance of the internal audit department, as needed.
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25. |
The Committee shall review any reports to management covering issues which are material to the company's financial statements prepared by internal audit personnel, and management’s responses.
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26. |
The Committee shall establish and maintain procedures for: (i) the receipt, retention, and treatment of complaints or concerns received by the corporation regarding accounting, internal
accounting controls, auditing or other compliance matters; and (ii) the confidential, anonymous submission by employees of the corporation of concerns regarding questionable compliance matters.
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27. |
The Committee shall review with management and the independent auditor any correspondence with regulators or governmental agencies and any employee complaints or concerns or published reports
that raise material issues regarding the corporation’s financial statements or accounting policies.
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28. |
On at least an annual basis, the Committee shall review with the corporation’s counsel, any legal matters that could have a significant impact on the
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corporation’s financial statements, the corporation’s compliance with applicable laws and regulations and with its Code of Conduct and inquiries received from regulators or governmental agencies.
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29. |
The Committee shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and responsibilities as are required or recommended under New York Stock Exchange rules.
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30. |
The Committee shall exercise such other powers and perform such other duties and responsibilities as are incidental to the purposes, duties and responsibilities specified herein and as may from
time to time be delegated to the Committee by the Board of Directors.
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(i) |
a willful failure to deal fairly with the corporation or its shareholders in connection with a matter in which the director or officer has a material conflict of interest;
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(ii) |
a violation of criminal law, unless the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful;
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(iii) |
a transaction from which the director or officer derived an improper personal profit; or
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(iv) |
willful misconduct.
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1. |
OFFICES
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1
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1.1
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Business Offices
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1
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1.2
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Registered Office
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1
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2. |
SHAREHOLDERS
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1
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2.1
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Annual Meeting
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1
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2.2
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Purposes of Annual Meeting
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1 | |
2.3
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Special Meetings
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2
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2.4
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Place of Meeting
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5
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2.5
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Notice of Meeting
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6
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2.6
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Fixing of Certain Record Dates
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6
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2.7
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Voting Lists
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7
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2.8
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Quorum; Votes
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7
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2.9
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Proxies
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7
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2.10
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Voting of Shares
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8
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2.11
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Subsidiary Shares
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8
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2.12
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Acceptance of Instruments Showing Shareholder Action
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8
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2.13
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Conduct of Meeting
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9
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2.14
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Postponement; Adjournment
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9
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2.15
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Remote Communication
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10
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3. |
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
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10
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3.1
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General Powers
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10
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3.2
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Number, Tenure and Qualifications
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10
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3.3
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Regular Meetings
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11
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3.4
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Special Meetings
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11
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3.5
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Notice of Meetings
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11
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3.6
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Quorum; Votes
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12
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3.7
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Removal and Resignation
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12
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3.8
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Vacancies
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12
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3.9
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Nominations
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12
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3.10
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Compensation
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15
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3.11
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Presumption of Assent
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16
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3.12
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Committees of the Board of Directors
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16
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3.13
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Executive Committee
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17
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3.14
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Audit Committee
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17
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3.15
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Compensation and Development Committee
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23
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3.16
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Finance Committee
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28
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3.17
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Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee
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28
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3.18
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Scientific Advisory Committee
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32
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3.19
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Meetings of Committees
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33
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3.20
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Informal Action Without Meeting
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33
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3.21
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Telephonic Meetings
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33
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4. |
OFFICERS
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34
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4.1
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Number
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34 | |
4.2
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Appointment and Term of Office
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34
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4.3
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Removal
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35
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4.4
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Resignation
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35
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4.5
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The Chief Executive Officer
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35
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4.6
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The President
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35
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4.7
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Vice Presidents
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35
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4.8
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The Secretary
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36
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4.9
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The Treasurer
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36
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4.10
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The Controller
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36
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4.11
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Compensation
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36
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5. |
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
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37
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5.1
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Contracts
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37
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5.2
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Borrowings
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37
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5.3
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Checks, Drafts, etc.
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37
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5.4
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Deposits
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37
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6. |
CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER
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37
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6.1
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Certificates for Shares
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37
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6.2
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Signature by Former Officer, Transfer Agent or Registrar
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37
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6.3
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Uncertificated Shares
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38
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6.4
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Transfer of Shares
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38
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6.5
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Restrictions on Transfer
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38
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6.6
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Lost, Destroyed or Stolen Certificates
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38
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6.7
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Consideration for Shares
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38
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6.8
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Stock Regulations
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38
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7. |
WAIVER OF NOTICE
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38
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7.1
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Shareholder Written Waiver
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38
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7.2
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Shareholder Waiver by Attendance
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39
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7.3
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Director Written Waiver
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39
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7.4
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Director Waiver by Attendance
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39
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8. |
LIABILITY AND INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
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39
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8.1
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Limited Liability of Directors to Corporation and Shareholders
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39
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8.2
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Indemnification
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40
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8.3
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Advance of Expenses
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40
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8.4
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Reliance by Directors and Officers
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41
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8.5
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Consideration of Interests in Addition to Shareholders’ Interests
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41
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8.6
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Insurance
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41
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8.7
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General
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42
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9.
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GENERAL
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42
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9.1
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Fiscal Year
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42
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9.2
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Seal
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42
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9.3
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Notices
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42
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9.4
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No Nominee Procedures
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43
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10. |
AMENDMENTS
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43
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10.1
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Power to Amend and Repeal
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43
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10.2
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Restrictions on Amendment and Repeal
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43
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