FIFTH THIRD BANCORP Share of 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I false 0000035527 0000035527 2019-08-26 2019-08-26 0000035527 us-gaap:CommonStockMember 2019-08-26 2019-08-26 0000035527 fitb:SeriesIPreferredStockMember 2019-08-26 2019-08-26

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D)

OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): August 26, 2019

 

IMAGE

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Ohio

 

001-33653

 

31-0854434

(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)

 

(Commission
File Number)

 

(IRS Employer
Identification No.)

     

Fifth Third Center

38 Fountain Square Plaza,
Cincinnati, Ohio

 

45263

(Address of Principal Executive Offices)

 

(Zip Code)

(800) 972-3030

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

Not Applicable

(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))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

 

Common Stock, Without Par Value

 

FITB

 

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Depositary Shares Representing a 1/1000th Ownership Interest in a Share of 6.625% Fixed-to-Floating Rate Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series I

 

FITBI

 

The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  

 

 


Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.

On August 26, 2019, Fifth Third Bancorp (“Fifth Third”) filed with the Secretary of State of Ohio a Certificate of Amendment to its Amended Articles of Incorporation for the purpose of determining the express terms of a new series of Fifth Third’s Class B Preferred Stock, designated as the 6.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class B Preferred Stock, Series A, with no par value (the “Class B Preferred Stock”), before the issuance of shares of such series (the “Certificate of Amendment”). The Certificate of Amendment became effective upon filing. The Class B Preferred Stock will be issued to the holders of MB Financial, Inc.’s 6.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C in the Merger (as defined below). The preceding description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Fifth Third, which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

On June 18, 2019, the Board of Directors of Fifth Third amended Fifth Third’s Code of Regulations (as so amended, the “Amended Regulations”), contingent upon and effective immediately after the filing of a certificate of merger (the “Certificate of Merger”) with the Secretary of State of Ohio to effect the merger of MB Financial, Inc., a subsidiary of Fifth Third, with and into Fifth Third (the “Merger”). The Certificate of Merger was filed with the Secretary of State of Ohio on, and the Amended Regulations become effective on, August 26, 2019. The Amended Regulations incorporated changes that give the holders of at least 25% of the shares of Fifth Third outstanding and entitled to vote at a meeting the right to call a special meeting of the shareholders of Fifth Third entitled to vote. They also clarified that shareholders quorum requirements are based on voting power and not the number of shares held, that the voting rights of shares are based on the express terms of the shares and not merely the number of shares held, that shareholder approval of matters is generally based on voting power rather than number of shares and that the number of Members on the Board of Directors may be changed by the holders of shares entitled to exercise a majority of the voting power of Fifth Third that is represented at a meeting and entitled to vote. The preceding description is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Amended Regulations, which are filed as Exhibit 3.2 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.

The Merger will become effective at 11:59 pm EDT on August 26, 2019.

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

         
 

3.1

   

Amendment to the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Fifth Third

         
 

3.2

   

Code of Regulations of Fifth Third Bancorp, as amended

         
 

104

   

Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURE

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.

Date: August 26, 2019

 

 

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP
(Registrant)

             

 

 

By:

 

/s/ Susan B. Zaunbrecher

 

 

Name:

 

Susan B. Zaunbrecher

 

 

Title:

 

Executive Vice President,

Corporate Secretary and Chief Legal Officer

Exhibit 3.1

AMENDMENT TO THE AMENDED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION

OF

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

Paragraph (A)(3)(a) of Article Fourth of the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Fifth Third Bancorp is renumbered and redesignated as paragraph (A)(3)(b), and a new Paragraph (A)(3)(a) of Article Fourth of the Amended Articles of Incorporation of Fifth Third Bancorp is added to read as follows:

(a)

Section 1.    Designation and Number of Shares. There is hereby created out of the authorized and unissued shares of Class B Preferred Stock a series of Class B Preferred Stock designated as the “6.00% Non-Cumulative Perpetual Class B Preferred Stock, Series A ” (the “Series A Class B Preferred Stock”). The authorized number of shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall be 200,000 shares, with no par value, having a liquidation preference of $1,000 per share. The number of shares constituting Series A Class B Preferred Stock may be increased from time to time in accordance with Ohio law up to the maximum number of shares of Class B Preferred Stock authorized to be issued under these Articles of Incorporation, as amended or supplemented, less all shares at the time authorized of any other series of Class B Preferred Stock, and any such additional shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock would form a single series with the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock already then issued. Shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will be dated the date of issue. Shares of outstanding Series A Class B Preferred Stock that are redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired by the corporation, or converted into another series of Class B Preferred Stock, shall be cancelled and shall revert to authorized but unissued shares of Class B Preferred Stock undesignated as to series.

Section 2.    Definitions. The following terms are used in this Amendment as defined below:

(a)    “Business Day” means any weekday that is not a legal holiday in New York, New York and that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York or Cincinnati, Ohio are closed.

(b)    “Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date” has the meaning set forth in Section 4(b).

(c)    “Common Stock” means the common stock, with no par value, of the Corporation.

(d)    “DTC” means The Depository Trust Company.

(e)    “Nonpayment Event” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).


(f)    “Original Issue Date” means the date of issue of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock.

(g)    “Preferred Stock Directors” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).

(h) “Regulatory Capital Treatment Event” means the good faith determination by the corporation that, as a result of (i) any amendment to, or change in, the laws or regulations of the United States or any political subdivision of or in the United States that is enacted or becomes effective after the initial issuance of any share of Series A Class B Preferred Stock; (ii) any proposed change in those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of Series A Class B Preferred Stock; or (iii) any official administrative decision or judicial decision or administrative action or other official pronouncement interpreting or applying those laws or regulations that is announced after the initial issuance of any share of Series A Class B Preferred Stock, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat the full liquidation value of the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock then outstanding as “Tier 1 Capital” (or its equivalent) for purposes of the capital adequacy regulations and guidelines of Regulation Q of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (or, as and if applicable, the capital adequacy guidelines or regulations of any successor appropriate federal banking agency), as then in effect and applicable, for as long as any share of Series A Class B Preferred Stock is outstanding.

(i)    “Series A Dividend Period” means the period from and including a Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date to but excluding the next Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date, except that the initial Series A Dividend Period will commence on and include August 25, 2019 and will end on and include September 29, 2019.

(j)    “Series A Class B Junior Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(a).

(k)    “Series A Class B Parity Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(b).

(l)    “Series A Class B Senior Securities” has the meaning set forth in Section 3(c).

(m)    “Voting Parity Stock” has the meaning set forth in Section 7(d).

Section 3.    Ranking. The shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall rank:

(a) senior, as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, in the distribution of assets, to the Common Stock, and to any other class or series of capital stock of the corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, does not expressly provide that it ranks pari passu with or senior to the Series A Class B Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up of the Corporation, in the distribution of assets, as the case may be (collectively, the “Series A Class B Junior Securities”);

 

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(b)    on a parity, as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, in the distribution of assets, with the corporation’s outstanding Series H Preferred Stock, Series I Preferred Stock and Series J Preferred Stock and any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, expressly provides that it ranks pari passu with the Series A Class B Preferred Stock as to dividends and, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, in the distribution of assets, as the case may be (collectively, the “Series A Class B Parity Securities”); and

(c)    junior, to each other class or series of capital stock of the corporation, now or hereafter authorized, issued or outstanding that, by its terms, expressly provides that it ranks senior to the Series A Class B Preferred Stock as to dividends or, upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, in the distribution of assets (collectively, the “Series A Class B Senior Securities”).

The corporation may authorize and issue additional shares of Series A Class B Junior Securities and Series A Class B Parity Securities without the consent of the holders of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock.

Section 4.    Dividends.

(a)    Holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends under Ohio law, non-cumulative cash dividends based on the liquidation preference of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock at a rate equal to 6.00% per annum for each Series A Dividend Period from the Original Issue Date of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock to, but excluding, the redemption date of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock, if any.

(b)    If declared by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, dividends will be payable on the Series A Class B Preferred Stock (each such date, a “Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date”) quarterly, in arrears, on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year, beginning on September 30, 2019. If any Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date is not a Business Day, then the payment will be made on the next Business Day without any adjustment to the amount of dividends paid.

(c)    Dividends will be payable to holders of record of Series A Class B Preferred Stock as they appear on the corporation’s books on the applicable record date, which shall be the 15th calendar day before the applicable Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date, or such other record date, no earlier than 30 calendar days before the applicable Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

(d)    Dividends payable on Series A Class B Preferred Stock will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months. Dollar amounts resulting from that calculation will be rounded to the nearest cent, with one-half cent being rounded upwards.

 

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Dividends on the Series A Class B Preferred Stock will cease to accrue on the redemption date, if any, unless the Corporation defaults in the payment of the redemption price of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock called for redemption.

(e)    Dividends on the Series A Class B Preferred Stock will not be cumulative. If the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors does not declare a dividend on the Series A Class B Preferred Stock in respect of a Series A Dividend Period, then no dividend shall be deemed to have accrued for such Series A Dividend Period, be payable on the applicable Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date or be cumulative, and the corporation will have no obligation to pay any dividend for that Series A Dividend Period, whether or not the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors declares a dividend for any future Series A Dividend Period with respect to the Series A Class B Preferred Stock or any other class or series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock.

(f)    So long as any share of Series A Class B Preferred Stock remains outstanding, unless the full dividends for the most recently completed Series A Dividend Period have been declared and paid (or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof has been set aside) on all outstanding shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock, during a Series A Dividend Period:

(i)    no dividend shall be declared or paid or set aside for payment and no distribution shall be declared or made or set aside for payment on any Series A Class B Junior Securities (other than (A) a dividend payable solely in Series A Class B Junior Securities or (B) any dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders’ rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase of any rights under any such plan);

(ii)    no shares of Series A Class B Junior Securities shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the corporation, directly or indirectly (other than (A) as a result of a reclassification of Series A Class B Junior Securities for or into other Series A Class B Junior Securities, (B) the exchange or conversion of one share of Series A Class B Junior Securities for or into another share of Series A Class B Junior Securities, (C) through the use of the proceeds of a substantially contemporaneous sale of other shares of Series A Class B Junior Securities, (D) purchases, redemptions or other acquisitions of shares of Series A Class B Junior Securities in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or other similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants, (E) purchases of shares of Series A Class B Junior Securities pursuant to a contractually binding requirement to buy Series A Class B Junior Securities existing prior to the most recently completed Series A Dividend Period, including under a contractually binding stock repurchase plan or (F) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of Series A Class B Junior Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such stock or the security being converted or exchanged), nor shall any monies be paid to or made available for a sinking fund for the redemption of any such securities by the Corporation; and

 

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(iii)    no shares of Series A Class B Parity Securities shall be repurchased, redeemed or otherwise acquired for consideration by the corporation, other than pursuant to pro rata offers to purchase all, or a pro rata portion, of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock and such Series A Class B Parity Securities, except by conversion into or exchange for Series A Class B Junior Securities, it being understood that the shares of any class or series of Series A Class B Parity Securities may be redeemed in whole or in part so long as an offer is made to purchase the same portion of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock and all other classes or series of Series A Class B Parity Securities as the portion of the class or series of Series A Class B Parity Securities being so redeemed.

(g)    When dividends are not paid in full upon the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and Series A Class B Parity Securities, if any, all dividends declared upon shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and Series A Class B Parity Securities, if any, will be declared on a proportional basis so that the amount of dividends declared per share will bear to each other the same ratio that accrued dividends for the Series A Class B Preferred Stock, and accrued dividends, including any accumulations, on Series A Class B Parity Securities, if any, bear to each other for the then current Class B Series A Dividend Period. Subject to the foregoing, and not otherwise, dividends (payable in cash, stock or otherwise), as may be determined by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors, may be declared and paid on the Common Stock and any other Series A Class B Junior Securities or any Series A Class B Parity Securities from time to time out of any assets legally available for such payment, and the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to participate in any such dividend.

(h)    Dividends on the Series A Class B Preferred Stock will not be declared, paid or set aside for payment to the extent such act would cause the corporation to fail to comply with applicable laws and regulations, including applicable capital adequacy guidelines.

Section 5.    Liquidation.

(a)    Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation, holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock are entitled to receive out of assets of the corporation available for distribution to stockholders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors and subject to the rights of holders of any Series A Class B Senior Securities, before any distribution of assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any other Series A Class B Junior Securities, a liquidating distribution in the amount of the liquidation preference of $1,000 per share plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to, or accumulation of, any undeclared dividends. Holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will not be entitled to any other amounts from the corporation after they have received their full liquidating distribution.

(b)    In any such distribution, if the assets of the corporation are not sufficient to pay the liquidation preferences plus declared and unpaid dividends in full to all holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and all holders of Series A Class B Parity Securities, if any, as to such distribution with the Series A Class B Preferred Stock, the amounts paid to the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and to the holders of all Series A Class B Parity Securities, if any, will be paid pro rata in accordance with the respective aggregate liquidating distribution owed to those holders.

 

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If the liquidation preference plus declared and unpaid dividends has been paid in full to all holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and Series A Class B Parity Securities, if any, the holders of the corporation’s Series A Class B Junior Securities shall be entitled to receive all remaining assets of the corporation according to their respective rights and preferences.

(c)    For purposes of this section, the merger or consolidation of the corporation with any other entity, including a merger or consolidation in which the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock receive cash, securities or property for their shares, or the sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets of the Corporation for cash, securities or other property, shall not constitute a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation.

Section 6.    Redemption.

(a)    Series A Class B Preferred Stock is perpetual and has no maturity date. Series A Class B Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or other similar provisions. On and after November 25, 2022, Series A Class B Preferred Stock will be redeemable at the option of the corporation, in whole or in part, from time to time, on any Class B Series A Dividend Payment Date, at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to, or accumulation of, any undeclared dividends, on the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock called for redemption, to but excluding the redemption date, upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below. Holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will have no right to require the redemption or repurchase of Series A Class B Preferred Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, within 90 days following the occurrence of a Regulatory Capital Treatment Event, the Corporation, at its option, may redeem, at any time, all (but not less than all) of the shares of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, at a redemption price equal to $1,000 per share, plus any declared and unpaid dividends, without regard to, or accumulation of, any undeclared dividends, on the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock called for redemption, to but excluding the redemption date, upon notice given as provided in Subsection (b) below.

(b)    If shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the notice of redemption shall be given by first class mail to the holders of record of Series A Class B Preferred Stock to be redeemed, mailed not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption thereof (provided that, if the depositary shares representing Series A Class B Preferred Stock are held in book-entry form through DTC, the corporation may give such notice in any manner permitted by DTC). Each notice of redemption will include a statement setting forth: (i) the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock to be redeemed and, if less than all the shares held by such holder are to be redeemed, the number of such shares to be redeemed from such holder; (iii) the redemption price; (iv) the place or places where the certificates evidencing shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on the redemption date.

 

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If notice of redemption of any shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock has been duly given and if the funds necessary for such redemption have been set aside by the corporation for the benefit of the holders of any shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock so called for redemption, then, on and after the redemption date, dividends will cease to accrue on such shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock, and such shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all rights of the holders of such shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will terminate, except the right to receive the redemption price plus any declared and unpaid dividends, to but excluding the redemption date.

(c)    In case of any redemption of only part of the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, the shares to be redeemed shall be selected either pro rata or by lot. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have full power and authority to prescribe the terms and conditions upon which shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time.

(d)    Any redemption of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock is subject to receipt by the Corporation of any required prior approval by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (including any successor appropriate federal banking agency) and to the satisfaction of any conditions set forth in the capital regulations or guidelines of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (including any successor appropriate federal banking agency) applicable to redemption of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock.

Section 7.    Voting Rights.

(a)    Except as provided below or elsewhere in these Articles of Incorporation or as expressly required by applicable law, the holders of shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall have no voting power, and no right to vote on any matter at any time, either as a separate series or class or together with any other series or class of shares of capital stock.

(b)    For as long as the Series A Class B Preferred Stock is outstanding, the Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall vote together with the Common Stock as a single class on all matters on which the holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote pursuant to these Articles of Incorporation, the holders of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock being entitled to twenty-four votes for each share of such Series A Class B Preferred Stock standing in the holder’s name of the books of the corporation and the holders of Common Stock being entitled to one vote per share of Common Stock.

(c)    So long as any shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock remain outstanding, the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of all of the shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, voting separately as a class, shall be required to: (i) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation, or the corporation’s code of regulations, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to adversely affect the powers, preferences, privileges or special rights of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock; provided, that any of the following

 

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will not be deemed to adversely affect such powers, preferences, privileges or special rights: (A) increases in the amount of the authorized Common Stock or, except as provided in subclause (ii), preferred stock or Class B Preferred Stock; (B) increases or decreases in the number of shares of any series of preferred stock or Class B Preferred Stock, which series is of Series A Class B Parity Securities or Series A Class B Junior Securities; or (C) the authorization, creation and issuance of other classes or series of capital stock (or securities convertible or exchangeable into such capital stock), which series or class is of Series A Class B Parity Securities or Series A Class B Junior Securities; (ii) amend or alter these Articles of Incorporation to authorize or increase the authorized amount of or issue shares of any class or series of stock, or reclassify any of the corporation’s authorized capital stock into any shares of capital stock, ranking senior to the Series A Class B Preferred Stock with respect to payment of dividends or the distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the corporation or issue any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such shares of senior stock; or (iii) consummate a binding share exchange, a reclassification involving the Series A Class B Preferred Stock or a merger or consolidation of the corporation with or into another entity, provided, however, that the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will have no right to vote under this clause (iii) if in each case: (A) the Series A Class B Preferred Stock remains outstanding or, in the case of any such merger or consolidation with respect to which the corporation is not the surviving or resulting entity, is converted into or exchanged for preferred securities of the surviving or resulting entity (or its ultimate parent); and (B) the Series A Class B Preferred Stock remaining outstanding or the new preferred securities, as the case may be, have such powers, preferences and special rights as are not materially less favorable to the holders thereof than the powers, preferences and special rights of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock, taken as a whole. The foregoing voting provisions will not apply if, at or prior to the time when the act with respect to which such vote would otherwise be required shall be effected, all outstanding shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall have been redeemed or called for redemption upon proper notice and sufficient funds shall have been set aside by the corporation for the benefit of the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock to effect such redemption.

(d)    If and whenever dividends payable on Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall have not been paid in an aggregate amount equal to full dividends for six or more Series A Dividend Periods (whether or not consecutive) (a “Nonpayment Event”), the authorized number of directors then constituting the Board of Directors shall be automatically increased by two and the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock, together with the holders of any other class or series of outstanding preferred stock or Class B Preferred Stock upon which similar voting rights as described in this subsection have been conferred and are exercisable with respect to such matter (any such other class or series being herein referred to as “Voting Parity Stock”), voting together as a single class in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences, shall be entitled to elect by a plurality of the votes cast the two additional directors (the “Preferred Stock Directors”); provided that it shall be a qualification for election for any Preferred Stock Director that the election of such director shall not cause the corporation to violate the corporate governance requirements of any securities exchange or other trading facility on which securities of the corporation may then be listed or traded that listed or traded

 

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companies must have a majority of independent directors; provided, further, that the Board of Directors shall at no time include more than two such Preferred Stock Directors, including all directors that the holders of any series of Voting Parity Stock are entitled to elect pursuant to their voting rights.

In the event that the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and the holders of such Voting Parity Stock shall be entitled to vote for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors following a Nonpayment Event, such directors shall be initially elected following such Nonpayment Event only at a special meeting called at the request of the holders of record of shares representing at least 20% of the combined liquidation preference of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock and each series of Voting Parity Stock then outstanding, voting together as a single class in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences (unless such request for a special meeting is received less than 90 days before the date fixed for the next annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the corporation, in which event such election shall be held only at such next annual or special meeting of stockholders), and at each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders of the corporation. Such request to call a special meeting for the initial election of the Preferred Stock Directors after a Nonpayment Event shall be made by written notice, signed by the requisite holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock or Voting Parity Stock, and delivered to the Corporate Secretary of the corporation in such manner as provided for in Section 13 below, or as may otherwise be required by applicable law. If the Corporate Secretary of the corporation fails to call a special meeting for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors within 20 days of receiving proper notice, any holder of Series A Class B Preferred Stock may call such a meeting at the corporation’s expense solely for the election of the Preferred Stock Directors, and for this purpose only such Series A Class B Preferred Stock holder shall have access to the corporation’s stock ledger. The Preferred Stock Directors elected at any such special meeting shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders if such office shall not have previously terminated as provided below.

Any Preferred Stock Director may be removed at any time without cause by the holders of record of shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock representing at least a majority of the combined liquidation preference of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock and each series of Voting Parity Stock then outstanding, when they have the voting rights described above (voting together as a single class in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences). In case any vacancy shall occur among the Preferred Stock Directors, a successor shall be elected by the then remaining Preferred Stock Director or, if no Preferred Stock Director remains in office, by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and such Voting Parity Stock, voting as a single class in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. The Preferred Stock Directors shall each be entitled to one vote per director on any matter that shall come before the Board of Directors for a vote.

 

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When dividends have been paid in full on the Series A Class B Preferred Stock for at least four consecutive Series A Dividend Periods, then the right of the holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall terminate (but subject always to revesting of such voting rights in the case of any future Nonpayment Event), and, if and when any rights of holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock and Voting Parity Stock to elect the Preferred Stock Directors shall have ceased, the terms of office of all the Preferred Stock Directors shall forthwith terminate and the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall automatically be reduced accordingly.

(e)    Except as expressly provided in this Section 7, each holder of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall have one vote per share on any matter on which holders of Series A Class B Preferred Stock are entitled to vote under this Section 7. The holders of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall have exclusive voting rights on any amendment to these Articles of Incorporation that would alter only the contract rights, as expressly set forth in these Articles of Incorporation, of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock.

Section 8.    Conversion Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall not have any rights to convert such shares into shares of any other class or series of securities of the corporation.

Section 9.    Preemptive Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights with respect to any shares of the corporation’s capital stock or any of its other securities convertible into or carrying rights or options to purchase any such capital stock.

Section 10.    Certificates. The corporation may at its option issue shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock without certificates.

Section 11.    Transfer Agent. The duly appointed transfer agent for the Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the transfer agent in accordance with the agreement between the corporation and the transfer agent; provided that the corporation shall appoint a successor transfer agent who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock.

Section 12.    Registrar. The duly appointed registrar for the Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall be American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC. The corporation may, in its sole discretion, remove the registrar in accordance with the agreement between the corporation and the registrar; provided that the corporation shall appoint a successor registrar who shall accept such appointment prior to the effectiveness of such removal. Upon any such removal or appointment, the corporation shall send notice thereof by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the holders of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock.

 

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Section 13.    Notices. All notices or communications in respect of the Series A Class B Preferred Stock shall be sufficiently given if given in writing and delivered in person or by first class mail, postage prepaid, or if given in such other manner as may be permitted herein, in the articles of incorporation or code of regulations of the Corporation or by applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock or depositary shares representing an interest in shares of Series A Class B Preferred Stock are issued or held in book-entry form through DTC or any other similar facility, notice of redemption may be given to the holders thereof at such time and in any manner permitted by such facility.

 

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Exhibit 3.2

CODE OF REGULATIONS

OF

FIFTH THIRD BANCORP

AS AMENDED

ARTICLE I.

OFFICES

The principal office of Fifth Third Bancorp (hereinafter referred to as the “Corporation”) shall be located in the City of Cincinnati, County of Hamilton, State of Ohio and the Corporation may establish or discontinue, from time to time, such other offices and places of business within or without the State of Ohio as may be deemed proper for the conduct of the Corporation’s business.

ARTICLE II.

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be held at such hour and at such place as may be fixed in the notice of such meeting on: (1) the third Tuesday in April of each year, if not a legal holiday under the laws of the place where the meeting is to be held, and, if a legal holiday, then on the next succeeding day not a legal holiday under the laws of such place, or (2) such other date as may from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors and communicated in writing to the stockholders not later than 20 days prior to such meeting.

Section 2. Special Meetings. In addition to such special meetings as are provided for by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, special meetings of the holders of any class or series or of all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock may be called at any time by the Board of Directors; special meetings of all stockholders of the Corporation entitled to vote shall be called by the Secretary upon written request, stating the purpose or purposes of any such meeting, of the holders of shares who hold of record collectively at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the shares of the Corporation outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting; and special meetings of the holders of the Common Stock (hereinafter called “Common Stock”) shall be called by the Secretary upon written request, stating the purpose or purposes of any such meeting, of the holders of Common Stock who hold of record collectively at least twenty-five percent (25%) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Corporation. Unless limited by law, the Articles of Incorporation, this Code of Regulations, or by the terms of the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted by any special meeting of stockholders.

Section 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be held at such place within or without the State of Ohio as shall be designated by the Board of Directors.

 

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Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise provided by law, notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be given either by delivering a notice personally or mailing a notice to each stockholder of record entitled thereto. If mailed, the notice shall be directed to the stockholder in a postage-paid envelope at his address as it appears on the stock books of the Corporation, unless prior to the time of mailing, the Secretary shall have received from any such stockholder a written request that notices intended for him be mailed to some other address, in which case notices intended for such stockholder shall be mailed to the address designated in such request. Notice of each meeting of stockholders shall be in such form as is approved by the Board of Directors and shall state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, the time when and the place where it is to be held, and shall be delivered personally or mailed not less than seven (7) nor more than sixty (60) days before the day of the meeting.

Section 5. Waiver of Notice. Anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, notice of any meeting of stockholders shall not be required as to any stockholder who shall attend and participate in the business transacted at such meeting in person or by proxy, and who shall have protested the lack of proper notice prior to or at the commencement of such meeting, or who shall, or whose proxy or attorney duly authorized shall, sign a written waiver thereof, whether before or after the time stated therein.

Section 6. Organization. The Chairman of the Board, if one be elected, the Vice Chairman, if one be elected in the absence of the Chairman, or the President, in the absence of the Chairman and the Vice Chairman, shall act as chairman at all meetings of stockholders at which he is present, and as such chairman shall call such meetings of stockholders to order and preside thereat. If the Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, and the President shall be absent from any meeting of stockholders, the duties otherwise provided in this Section 6 of Article II to be performed by him at such meeting shall be performed at such meeting by the officer prescribed in Article VI hereof. If no such officer is present at such meeting, any stockholder or the proxy of any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting may call the meeting to order and a chairman shall be elected who shall preside thereat. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as the secretary at all meetings of the stockholders, but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.

Section 7. Inspectors. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, all votes by ballot at any meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by three inspectors who shall be appointed for the purpose by the chairman of the meeting. The inspectors shall decide upon the qualifications of voters, count the votes and declare the result.

Section 8. Stockholders Entitled to Vote. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to enlarge the voting rights of any stockholder of the Corporation as provided by the Articles of Incorporation or by the laws of the State of Ohio. The Board of Directors may close the stock transfer books of the Corporation for a period not exceeding sixty (60) days preceding the date of any meeting of stockholders or preceding the last day on which the consent or dissent of stockholders may effectively be expressed for any purpose without a meeting. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books of the Corporation as aforesaid, the Board of Directors may fix a date not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of any meeting of stockholders, or prior to the last day on which the consent or dissent of stockholders may be effectively expressed for any

 

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purpose without a meeting, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to give such consent or express such dissent and in such case such stockholders and only such stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed, shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting and any adjournment thereof, or to give such consent or express such dissent, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of the Corporation after any such record date fixed as aforesaid. The Secretary shall prepare and make or cause to be prepared and made, at least ten (10) days before every election of directors, a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such election, arranged in alphabetical order and showing the address of each such stockholder and the number of shares registered in the name of each such stockholder. Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten (10) days prior to the election, either at a place, specified in the notice of the meeting, within the city where the election is to be held, or at the place where the election is to be held. Such list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of election during the whole time thereof, and subject to the inspection of any stockholder who may be present.

Section 9. Quorum and Adjournment. The holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to vote at the meeting on each matter that is to be voted on shall constitute a quorum at all meetings of the stockholders. In the absence of a quorum, the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power present in person or by proxy may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, until a quorum shall attend. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum may be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called. No notice of any adjourned meeting need be given other than by announcement at the meeting that is being adjourned.

Section 10. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting or as is otherwise determined by the vote of the holders of a majority of the shares of stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to vote on every matter that is to be voted on.

Section 11. Notice of Shareholder Business and Nominations to be Brought Before a Meeting of Shareholders.

(A) Business Properly Brought Before an Annual Meeting of Shareholders.

Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors, or the proposal of other business to be considered by the shareholders, may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders only if properly brought before a meeting. To be properly brought before an annual meeting of shareholders, any director nominations or other business must be (I) specified in the notice of meeting given in accordance with Article I, Section 4 hereof, (II) brought before the meeting by the Chair or by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (III) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder who (a) was a shareholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section and at the time of the annual meeting, (b) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and (c) has complied with this Section as to such business.

 

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Except for proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”), and included in the notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, the foregoing clause (III) shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations or propose other business to be brought before an annual meeting of shareholders.

(B) Business Properly Brought Before a Special Meeting of Shareholders. At a special meeting of shareholders, only such business will be conducted or considered as is properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before a special meeting, business must be (I) specified in the notice of the meeting given in accordance with Section 4 hereof or (II) otherwise brought before the meeting by the Chair or at the direction of the Board of Directors. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may not be made at a special meeting of shareholders unless directors are to be elected pursuant to the Company’s notice of meeting. In such case, any shareholder of the company who (I) was a shareholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Company) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in this Section and at the time of the meeting, (II) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (III) has complied with this Section as to such nomination, may nominate a person or persons for election to such position(s) as specified in the Company’s notice of meeting.

(C) Requirement of Timely Notice of Shareholder Business and Nominations for Director for the Annual or Special Meeting of Shareholders.

I.     To properly bring business before an annual or special meeting of shareholders, a shareholder must provide (a) Timely Notice (as defined herein) thereof in writing and in proper form to the Secretary of the Company and (b) any updates or supplements to such notice at the times and in the forms required by this Section.

II.     With respect to any nominations for persons for election to the Board of Directors or any other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Company not less than sixty (60) nor more than ninety (90) days prior to the anniversary of the previous year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty (30) days before or more than sixty (60) days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not earlier than the ninetieth (90th) day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the sixtieth (60th) day prior to such annual meeting or, if the first Public Announcement (as defined herein) of such annual meeting is less than one hundred (100) days prior to the date of such annual meeting, the tenth (10th) day following the day on which such Public Announcement is first made by the Company. Under no circumstances shall any adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described herein.

 

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III. With respect to any nominations for persons for election to the Board of Directors or any other business to be properly brought before a special meeting by a shareholder, a shareholder’s notice must be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Company not less than sixty (60) days nor more than ninety (90) days prior to such special meeting or the tenth (10th) 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. Under no circumstances shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of Timely Notice as described herein.

(D) Requirements for Proper Form of Shareholder Notice. To be in proper form for purposes of this Section, a shareholder’s notice to the Secretary of the Company must:

I.     set forth, as to the shareholder giving notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (a) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Company’s books, and the name and address of such beneficial owner, and, if different, the current name and address of the shareholder and any beneficial owner; (b) the class or series and number of shares of the Company which are held of record by such shareholder or beneficially owned (within the meaning of Section 13(d)) of the Exchange Act as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the shareholder will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of the class or series and number of shares of the Company held of record or beneficially owned on such record date; (c) any other information relating to such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act; and (d) such shareholder’s and beneficial owner’s written consent to the public disclosure of information provided to the Company pursuant to his Section;

II.     set forth, as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (a) any agreements, arrangements or understandings entered into by the shareholder or beneficial owner and its affiliates with respect to equity securities of the Company, including any put or call arrangements, derivative securities, short positions, borrowed shares or swap or similar arrangements, specifying in each case the effect of such agreements, arrangements or understandings on any voting or economic rights of equity securities of the Company, in each case as of the date of the notice and in each case describing any changes in voting or economic rights which may arise pursuant to the terms of such agreements, arrangements or understandings; (b) to the extent not covered in clause (a) hereof, any disclosures that would be required pursuant to Item 5 or Item 6 of Schedule 13D (regardless of whether the requirement to file a Schedule 13D is applicable to the shareholder or beneficial owner); and (c) a representation that the shareholder will notify the Company in writing within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting of the information set forth in clauses (a) and (b) herein as of such record date;

 

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III.     if the notice relates to any business other than a nomination of a director or directors that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, set forth (a) a description in reasonable detail of the business to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting, and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, in such business; (b) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and, if the business includes a proposal to amend these Regulations or the Articles, the language of the proposed amendment); and (c) a description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or persons (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such shareholder;

IV.     set forth, as to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election to the Board of Directors (a) all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected) and (b) a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three (3) years, and any material relationships, between or among such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in consent therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or other acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the shareholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate therewith or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant;

V.     set forth a representation that such shareholder intends to appear at the annual or special meeting to bring such nomination or other business before the annual or special meeting;

VI.     set forth such other information as may reasonably be required by the Board of Directors as described in the Company proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting; and

VII.     be followed, within five (5) business days after the record date for such meeting, by the written notice providing the information described in clauses (I) and (II) hereof.

The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Company to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

(E) Determination of Business Not Properly Brought Before a Meeting. Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section shall be eligible to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section.

 

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Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles or these Regulations, the determination of whether any business sought to be brought before any annual or special meeting of the shareholders is properly brought before such meeting in accordance with this Section shall be made by the Chair of such meeting. If the Chair determines that any business is not properly brought before such meeting, he/she will so declare to the meeting and any such business will not be conducted or considered.

(F) Rule 14a-8; Exchange Act Compliance. This Section is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed to be brought before an annual or special meeting of shareholders other than any shareholder proposal made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a shareholder must also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Company’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

(G) Definition of Public Announcement. For purposes of this Section, Public Announcement shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14, or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

Section 12. Vote of Stockholder. Except as otherwise permitted by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, all action by stockholders shall be taken at a stockholders’ meeting. Every stockholder of record as determined pursuant to Section 8 of this Article II and who is entitled to vote, shall be entitled at every meeting of the stockholders to the number of votes for every share of stock standing in his name on the books of the Corporation specified in the express terms of such shares. Every stockholder entitled to vote shall have the right to vote in person or by proxy duly appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed by such stockholder or a verifiable communication authorized by such stockholder and executed or authorized not more than eleven (11) months prior to the meeting, unless the instrument or verifiable communication provides for a longer period. Any transmission that creates a record capable of authentication, including, but not limited to, a telegram, a cablegram, electronic mail, or an electronic, telephonic, or other transmission, that appears to have been transmitted by a stockholder entitled to vote, and that appoints a proxy is a sufficient verifiable communication to appoint a proxy. A photographic, photostatic, facsimile transmission, or equivalent reproduction of a writing that is signed by a stockholder entitled to vote and that appoints a proxy is a sufficient writing to appoint a proxy. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, no vote on any question upon which a vote of the stockholders may be taken need be by ballot unless the chairman of the meeting shall determine that it shall be by ballot or the holders of a majority of the voting power of the Corporation present in person or by proxy and entitled to participate in such vote shall so demand. In a vote by ballot each ballot shall state the number of shares of each class or series voted and name of the stockholder or proxy voting. All elections of directors shall be by vote of the stockholders entitled to vote thereon as specified in Article Eighth of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time, except as otherwise provided by law, or by Section 14 of Article III hereof.

 

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All other questions shall be decided by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise at least a majority of the voting power of the Corporation present in person or by proxy at the meeting and entitled to vote on the question.

Section 13. Attendance at Stockholders’ Meeting. Any stockholder of the Corporation who is not entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of stockholders of the Corporation may nevertheless attend any such meeting upon receipt of a written invitation from the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

ARTICLE III.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Election and Term. Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of Incorporation, and subject to the provisions of Sections 12, 13 and 14 of this Article III, Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualify.

Section 2. Number. The Board of Directors shall be composed of fifteen (15) persons unless this number is changed by: (1) the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation that is represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on the proposal, or (2) the vote of a majority of the Directors in office. The Directors may increase the number to not more than thirty (30) persons and may decrease the number to not less than ten (10) persons. Any Director’s office created by the Directors by reason of an increase in their number may be filled by action of majority of the Directors in office.

Section 3. General Powers. The Board of Directors may exercise all the powers of the Corporation and do all lawful acts and things which are not reserved to the stockholders by law, by the Articles of Incorporation or by this Code of Regulations. Specifically, the business, properties and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board of Directors, which without limiting the generality of the foregoing, shall have power to elect and appoint the officers of the Corporation, to appoint and direct agents, to grant general or limited authority to officers, employees and agents of the Corporation to make, execute and deliver contracts and other instruments and documents in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, without specific authority in each case, and to appoint committees, the membership of which may consist of such persons as may be designated by the Board of Directors whether or not any of such persons is then a director of the Corporation, and which committees so appointed may advise the Board of Directors with respect to any matters relating to the conduct of the Corporation’s business.

Section 4. Place of Meeting. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place, within or without the State of Ohio, from time to time designated by the Board of Directors and meetings of the Directors may be held through any communications equipment in accordance with the provision of Ohio Revised Code 1701.61(B).

 

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Section 5. Organization Meeting. A newly elected Board of Directors shall meet and organize as soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, at the place at which such meeting of stockholders took place, without notice of such meeting, provided a majority of the whole of Board of Directors is present. If such a majority is not present, such organization meeting may be held at any other time or place which may be specified in a notice given in the manner provided in Section 7 of this Article III for special meetings of the Board of Directors, or in a waiver of notice thereof.

Section 6. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as may be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors and no notice shall be required for any regular meeting. Except as otherwise provide by law, any business may be transacted at any regular meeting of the Board of Directors.

Section 7. Special meetings; Notice and Waiver of Notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be called by the Secretary on the request of the Chairman of the Board, if one be elected, or of the Vice Chairman, if one be elected, or of the lead director of the Board of Directors (the “Lead Director”), if one be elected, or in their absence of the President, any Vice President, or of any five directors stating the purpose or purposes of such meeting. Notice of any special meeting shall be in form approved by the officer requesting, or if the meeting is called pursuant to the request of five directors, and there shall be a failure to approve the form of notice as aforesaid, then in form approved by such directors. Notices of special meetings shall be mailed to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, not later than seven (7) days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph or cablegram or delivered personally, not later than two (2) days before such day of meeting. Notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any director if he shall sign a written waiver thereof either before or after the time stated therein, or if he shall be present at the meeting and not prior to or at the commencement of the meeting protest the lack of proper notice; and any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be a legal meeting without any notice thereof having been given, if all the members shall be present thereat. Unless limited by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, by the Code of Regulations, or by the terms of the notice thereof, any and all business may be transacted at any special meeting.

Section 8. Organization. The Chairman of the Board, if he be elected, the Lead Director, in the absence of the Chairman, or the Vice Chairman, if he be elected, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or the Lead Director, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors. If the Chairman of the Board, the Lead Director, and the Vice Chairman shall all be absent from any meeting of the Board of Directors, the duties otherwise provided in this Section 8 of Article III to be performed by him at such meeting shall be performed at such meeting by the officer prescribed by Article VI hereof. If no such officer is present at such meeting, one of the directors present shall be chosen by the members of the Board of Directors present to preside at such meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation shall act as the secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may appoint any person present to act as secretary of the meeting.

 

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Section 9. Quorum and Manner of Acting. Except as otherwise provided, at every meeting of the Board of Directors one-third (1/3) of the total number of Directors shall constitute a quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, or by this Code of Regulations, the act of a majority of the directors present at any such meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, until a quorum is present. No notice of any adjourned meeting need be given other than by announcement at the meeting that is being adjourned.

Section 10. Voting. On any question on which the Board of Directors shall vote, the names of those voting and their votes shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting when any member of the Board of Directors so requests.

Section 11. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting, if prior to such action a written consent thereto is signed by all members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors or the committee.

Section 12. Resignations. Any director may resign at any time either by oral tender of resignation at any meeting of the Board of Directors or by such tender to the Chairman of the Board or the President or by giving written notice thereof to the Corporation. Any resignation shall be effective immediately, unless otherwise specified therein for it to take effect. Acceptance of any resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless such resignation is tendered expressly subject to acceptance.

Section 13. Removal of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation, no director shall be removed, without cause, during his term of office. Any director may be removed, for cause, at any time, by action of the holders of record of majority of the voting power of the Corporation entitled to elect directors in place of those removed at a meeting of the holders of such shares, and the vacancy in the Board of Directors caused by any such removal may be filled by action of such stockholders at such meeting or at any subsequent meeting.

Section 14. Filling of Vacancies Not Caused by Removal. Expect as otherwise provided by law or except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation, in case of any increase in the number of directors, or of any vacancy created by death, resignation or otherwise, the additional director or directors may be elected, or, as the case may be, the vacancy or vacancies may be filled either (a) by the Board of Directors at any meeting by affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors though the remaining directors be less than the quorum provided for by this Article III, or (b) by the vote of the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, either at an annual meeting of stockholders or at a special meeting of such holders called for the purpose, as specified in Article Eighth of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, as may be amended from time to time. The directors so chosen shall hold office until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors are elected and qualify.

 

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Section 15. Director’s Compensation. Each director shall be entitled to reimbursement for his expense incurred in attending meetings or otherwise incurred in connection with his attention to the business of the Corporation. Each director, for his services, as a director and as a member of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall also be entitled to receive such compensation as the Board shall from time to time fix. Such compensation may be a salary or a fee for attendance at a meeting of the Board or both.

Section 16. Transactions by Directors. A director shall not be disqualified from dealing or contracting with the Corporation as vendor, purchaser, employee, agent or otherwise; nor shall any transaction or contract or act of the Corporation be void or voidable or in any way affected or invalidated by the fact that any director or any firm of which any director is a member or any corporation of which any director is a shareholder, director, officer or employee is in any way interested in such transaction or contract or act, provided the fact that such director or such firm or such corporation is so interested shall be disclosed or shall be known to the Board of Directors or such members thereof as shall be present at any meeting of the Board of Directors at which action upon any such contract or transaction or act shall be taken; nor shall any such director be accountable or responsible to the Corporation for or in respect to any such transaction or contract or act of the Corporation or for any gains or profits realized by him by reason of the fact that he or any firm of which he is a member or any corporation of which he is a shareholder, director or officer is interested in such transaction or contract or act; and any such director may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation which shall authorize or take action in respect to any such contract, or transaction, or act, including the establishment of and payment of compensation to such director and may vote to authorize, ratify, or approve any such contract or transaction or act, including the establishment of and payment of compensation to such director, with like force and effect as if he or any firm of which he is a member, or any corporation of which he is a shareholder, director or officer were not interested in such transaction or contract or act or compensation.

Section 17. Indemnification. The Corporation shall indemnify each director and each officer of the Corporation, and each person employed by the Corporation who serves at the written request of the President of the Corporation as a director, trustee, officer, employee, or agent of another corporation, domestic or foreign, non-profit or for profit, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, to the full extent permitted by Ohio law, subject to the limits of applicable federal law and regulation. The term `officer’ as used in this Section shall include the Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chairman if such offices are filled, the President, each Vice President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Controller, the Auditor, the Counsel and any other person who is specifically designated as an `officer’ within the operation of this Section by action of the Board of Directors. The Corporation may indemnify assistant officers, employees and others by action of the Board of Directors to the extent permitted by Ohio law, subject to the limits of applicable federal law and regulation.

 

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ARTICLE IV

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Section 1. Constitution and Powers. The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee, which shall have and may exercise, during the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business, properties and affairs of the Corporation, including authority to take all action provided in this Code of Regulations to be taken by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the foregoing is subject to the applicable provisions of law and shall not be construed as authorizing action by the Executive Committee with respect to any action which pursuant to Section 14(a) of Article III, this Section 1, and Section 8 of this Article IV, Section 1 of Article V and Section 3 and Section 6 of Article VI, is required to be taken by vote of a specified proportion of the whole Board of Directors, or as authorizing the Executive Committee to declare any dividend. The Executive Committee shall consist of such number of directors as may from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors, but shall not be less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) directors. So far as practicable, the members and alternate members of the Executive Committee shall be appointed at the organization meeting of the Board of Directors in each year, and unless sooner discharged by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors, shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the stockholders and until their respective successors are appointed. All acts done and powers conferred by the Executive Committee shall be deemed to be and may be certified as being, done or conferred under authority of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Place of Meeting. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at any place, within or without the State of Ohio, from time to time designated by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, and meetings of the Executive Committee may also be held through any communications equipment in accordance with the provisions of Ohio Revised Code 1701.61(B). The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more directors or alternate member of such Committee.

Section 3. Meetings; Notice and Waiver of Notice. Regular meetings of the Executive Committee shall be held at such times as may be determined by resolution either of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee and no notice shall be required for any regular meeting. Special meetings of the Executive Committee shall be called by the Secretary upon the request of any member thereof. Notice of any special meeting of the Executive Committee shall be in form approved by the Chairman of the Executive Committee, or if the meeting is called pursuant to the request of some other member of the Executive Committee and there shall be a failure to approve the form of notice as aforesaid, then in the form approved by such member. Notice of special meetings shall be mailed to each member, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, not later than two (2) days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, or shall be sent to him at such place by telegraph, or be delivered personally or by telephone, not later than the day before such day of meeting. Notices of such meeting need not be to any member of the Executive Committee, however, if waived by him as provided in Section 7 of Article III, the provisions of such Section 7 with respect to waiver of notice of meetings of the Board of Directors applying to meetings of the Executive Committee as well.

 

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Section 4. Organization. The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee at which he is present. In the absence of the Chairman of the Executive Committee, one of the members present shall be chosen by the members of the Executive Committee present to preside at such meeting. The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall designate a member of said Committee to act as secretary at all meetings of the Executive Committee and in his absence a temporary secretary shall be appointed by the chairman of the meeting.

Section 5. Quorum and Manner of Acting. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present, shall be the act of the Executive Committee. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the members of the Executive Committee present may adjourn any meeting, from time to time, until a quorum is present. No notice of any adjourned meeting need be given other than by announcement at the meeting that is being adjourned. The provisions of Section 11 of Article III with respect to action taken by a committee of the Board of Directors without a meeting shall apply to action taken by the Executive Committee.

Section 6. Voting. On any question on which the Executive Committee shall vote, the names of those voting and their votes shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting when any member of the Executive Committee so requests.

Section 7. Records. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of its acts and proceedings which shall be submitted at the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors, and any action taken by the Board of Directors with respect thereto shall be entered in the minutes of the Board of Directors.

Section 8. Vacancies. Any vacancy among the appointed members of the Executive Committee may be filled by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.

ARTICLE V.

OTHER COMMITTEES

Section 1. Appointing Other Committees. The Board of Directors may from time to time by resolution adopted by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors, appoint other committees of the Board of Directors which shall have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may properly determine. No such other committee of the Board of Directors shall be composed of fewer than three (3) directors.

Section 2. Time and Place of Meetings; Manner of Acting; Notice and Waiver of Notice. Meetings of such committees of the Board of Directors may be held at any place, within or without the State of Ohio, from time to time designated by the Board of Directors, or the committee in question, and meetings of any such committee may also be held through any communications equipment in accordance with the provisions of Ohio Revised Code 1701.61(B). Regular meetings of any such committee shall be held at such times as may be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors, or the committee and no notice shall be required for any regular meeting.

 

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A special meeting of any such committee shall be called by resolution of the Board of Directors, or by its Secretary upon request of any member of the committee. The provisions of Section 3 of Article IV with respect to notice and waiver of notice of special meetings of the Executive Committee shall also apply to all special meetings of other committees of the Board of Directors. Any such committee may make rules for holding and conducting its meetings and shall keep minutes thereof. The provisions of Section 11 of Article III with respect to action taken by a committee of the Board of Directors without a meeting shall apply to action taken by any such committee.

ARTICLE VI.

THE OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers. The elected officers of the Corporation shall be a Chairman of the Board (if desired), a Vice Chairman (if desired), a President, one or more Vice Presidents, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The elected officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Chairman and the Vice Chairman (if desired) shall be selected from the Directors. The Board of Directors may also appoint one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and such other officers and agents as in their judgment the business of the Corporation may require.

Section 2. Terms of Office; Vacancies. So far as is practicable, all elected officers shall be elected at the organization meeting of the Board of Directors in each year, and, except as otherwise provided in this Article VI, shall hold office until the organization meeting of the Board of Directors in the next subsequent year and until their respective successors are elected and qualify, provided, however, that this Section 2 shall not be deemed to create any contract rights in such offices. All other officers hold office during the pleasure of the Board of Directors. If any vacancy shall occur in any office, the Board of Directors may elect or appoint a successor to fill such vacancy for the remainder of the term.

Section 3. Removal of Elected Officers. Any elected officer may be removed at any time, either for or without cause, by affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for the purpose.

Section 4. Resignations. Any officer may resign at any time, either by oral tender or resignation to the Chairman of the Board or the President or by giving written notice thereof to the Corporation. Any resignation shall be effective immediately unless a date certain is specified for it to take effect and acceptance of any resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless such resignation is tendered subject to such acceptance.

Section 5. Officers Holding More than One Office. Any officer may hold two or more offices the duties of which can be consistently performed by the same person.

 

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Section 6. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall be so designated from time to time by vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors. Subject to the direction and control of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors he shall have general and active management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, and shall have the responsibility for having all orders of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors carried into effect. He shall have general authority to execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name and on behalf of the Corporation, and in general to exercise all the power generally appertaining to the chief executive officer of a corporation. In the absence of the Chief Executive Officer his duties shall be performed and his powers may be exercised by the persons so designated by vote of a majority of the whole Board of Directors.

Section 7. The Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President and Vice Presidents. The Chairman of the Board, the Vice Chairman, the President and Vice President (or Vice Presidents ) shall perform such duties and have such powers as may from time to time be assigned to them by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

Section 8. The Secretary. The Secretary shall attend to the giving of notice of all meetings of stockholders, shall keep minutes of all proceedings at meetings of the stockholders, and the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.

Section 9. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds of the Corporations and shall deposit the same in such banks or other depositories as the Board of Directors, or any officer or officers, or any officer and agent jointly, thereunto duly authorized by the Board of Directors shall, from time to time, direct or approve. He shall keep a full and accurate account of all moneys received and paid on account of the Corporation, and shall render a statement of accounts whenever the Board of Directors shall require. He shall perform all other necessary acts and duties in connection with administration of the financial affairs of the Corporation, and shall generally perform all the duties usually appertaining to the affairs of the treasurer of a corporation, including specifically the duty of supervising and causing the timely filing of all federal, state and municipal tax reports and returns and the timely payment of all taxes due to or withheld for such federal, state or local governments.    When required by the Board of Directors, he shall give bonds for the faithful discharge of his duties in such and with such sureties as the Board of Directors shall approve. In the absence of the Treasurer, such person as shall be designated by the Chief Executive Officer shall perform his duties.

Section 10. Additional Powers and Duties. In addition to the foregoing especially enumerated duties and powers, the several officers of the Corporation shall perform such other duties and exercise such further powers as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, determine, or as may be assigned to them by any superior officer.

Section 11. Compensation. The compensation of all officers and directors of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. The compensation of all other employees and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Chief Executive Officer or by such person or persons as shall be designated by him.

 

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ARTICLE VII.

STOCK AND TRANSFERS OF STOCK

Section 1. Uncertificated Shares of Stock; Stock Certificates. To the extent permitted by applicable law and unless otherwise provided by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors may provide by resolution that some or all of any or all classes and series of shares of capital stock in the Corporation shall be issued in uncertificated form pursuant to customary arrangements for issuing shares in such uncertificated form. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares then represented by a certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Corporation, nor shall such a resolution apply to a certificated share issued in exchange for an uncertificated share. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall send to the registered owner of the shares a written notice containing the information required to be set forth or stated on certificates pursuant to applicable law. Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon the written request of a holder of shares of the Corporation delivered to the Secretary of the Corporation, such holder is entitled to receive one or more certificates representing the shares of stock of the Corporation held by such holder. Any such certificate shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President and the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary, and sealed with the seal of the Corporation. Such signatures and/or seal may be a facsimile, engraved or printed. In case any such officer who has signed any such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is delivered by the Corporation, it may nevertheless be issued and delivered by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer had not ceased to be such at the date of its delivery. Any certificate representing the stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board of Directors and shall conform to the requirements of the laws of the State of Ohio.

Section 2. Transfer of Stock. Transfers of uncertificated shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the holder thereof in person or by attorney upon presentment of proper evidence of succession, assignation or authority to transfer in accordance with customary procedures for transferring shares in uncertificated form. Transfers of certificated shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation only by the person named in the certificate, or by an attorney lawfully constituted in writing, and upon surrender and cancellation of a certificate or certificates for a like number of shares of the same class or series of stock, with duly executed assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, and with such proof of the authenticity of the signatures as the Corporation or its agents may reasonably require. No transfer of stock shall be valid until such transfer shall have been made upon the books of the Corporation.

Section 3. Lost Certificates. In case any certificate of stock shall be lost, stolen or destroyed the Board of Directors, in its discretion, or any officer or officers thereunto duly authorized by the Board of Directors, may authorize the issue of a substitute certificate or substitute stock in uncertificated form in the place of the certificate so lost, stolen or destroyed; provided, however, that in each such case, the applicant for a substitute certificate or substitute stock in uncertificated form shall furnish to the Corporation evidence to the Corporation, which determines in its discretion is satisfactory, of the loss, theft, or destruction of such certificate and of the ownership thereof, and also such security or indemnity as may be required.

 

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Section 4. Determination of Stockholders of Record for Certain Purposes. The Board of Directors may fix a date, not exceeding thirty (30) days preceding the date for the payment of any dividend, or the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or to any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of its capital stock, and in such case only stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be entitled to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, notwithstanding any transfer books of the Corporation for a period not exceeding thirty (30) days prior to the date for the payment of any such dividend or the date for the allotment of any such rights or the date when any such change or conversion or exchange of capital stock shall go into effect.

ARTICLE VIII.

CORPORATE SEAL

Section 1. Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in the form of a circle, and shall bear the names of the Corporation and the state of “Ohio” and in the center of the circle the word “Seal.”

Section 2. Affixing and Attesting. The seal of the Corporation shall be in the custody of the Secretary, who shall have the power to affix it to the proper corporate instruments and documents, and who shall attest it. In his absence, it may be affixed and attested by an Assistant Secretary or by the Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer, or by any other person or persons as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IX.

MISCELLANEOUS

Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall end on the 31st day of December in each year and the succeeding fiscal year shall begin the 1st day of January next succeeding the last day of the preceding fiscal year.

Section 2. Signatures on Negotiable Instruments. All bills, notes, checks or other instruments for the payment of money shall be signed or countersigned by such officers or agents and in such manner as, from time to time, may be prescribed by resolution (whether general or special) of the Board of Directors.

Section 3. References to Article and Section Numbers and to the Code of Regulations and Articles of Incorporation. Whenever in this Code of Regulations reference is made to an Article or Section number, such reference is to the number of an Article or Section of this Code of Regulations. Whenever in this Code of Regulations reference is made to Code of Regulations such reference is to this Code of Regulations as the same may from time to time be amended, and whenever reference is made to the Articles of Incorporation, such reference is to the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation as the same may from time to time be amended.

 

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ARTICLE X.

AMENDMENTS

This Code of Regulation may be altered, amended or repealed, from time to time, at a meeting held for such purpose, by the affirmative vote of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise a majority of the voting power of the Corporation on such proposal, or may be adopted without a meeting by the written consent of the holders of shares entitling them to exercise two-thirds (2/3) of the voting power on such proposal. This Code of Regulations may also be altered and amended, from time to time, by the Directors to the extent permitted by the Ohio General Corporation Law.

 

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