0000712770 false --12-31 0000712770 2020-06-30 2020-06-30 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

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): June 30, 2020

 

ONE LIBERTY PROPERTIES, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in charter)

 

Maryland   001-09279   13-3147497
(State or other jurisdiction   (Commission file No.)   (IRS Employer
of incorporation)       I.D. No.)

 

60 Cutter Mill Road, Suite 303, Great Neck, New York   11021
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip code)

 

  (516) 466-3100  
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code

 

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   OLP   New York Stock Exchange

 

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 (§240.12b2 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 standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

 

 

 

 

 

  

Section 3 – Securities and Trading Markets

 

Item 3.03 Material/Modifications to Rights of Security Holders

 

The information called for by this item is incorporated by reference to the disclosure set forth under Item 5.03.

 

Section 5 – Corporate Governance and Management

 

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

 

Charter Amendments.

 

As disclosed in Item 5.07 of this Form 8-K, our stockholders have approved amendments (the “Amendments”) to our charter. We intend to submit the Articles of Amendment and Restatement (the “Charter”), reflecting the Amendments, for filing with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) and will file an amendment to this report promptly disclosing the SDAT’s acceptance of the filing.

 

As described below and as more fully disclosed in our proxy statement dated April 22, 2020 (the “Proxy Statement”), the Amendments (i) increase the number of authorized shares of our common stock, $0.01 par value per share, from 25,000,000 to 50,000,000, (ii) increase the total number of authorized shares of our stock from 37,500,000 to 62,500,000, (iii) revise the requirement to indemnify and advance the expenses of our officers, directors and employees with respect to liabilities arising in connection with their services to us, and (iv) change the vote required for our stockholders to approve certain actions.

 

1. Changes in Authorized Capital

 

As a result of the Amendments, our Charter provides that we may issue up to 62,500,000 shares of stock, consisting of 50,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, and 12,500,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share.

 

1

 

 

2. Changes with Respect to Indemnification and Advance of Expenses

 

As a result of the Amendments, our Charter requires us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to:

 

any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in such capacity; and

 

any individual who, while a director or officer of ours and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, trustee, member, manager, or partner of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise, and only if he or she is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in such capacity.

 

Our Charter also permits us, with the approval of our board of directors, to indemnify our employees, as well as directors and officers of our predecessors, subject to the limitations set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph.

 

Under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and our Charter, we may advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon receipt of:

 

a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation (the “Standard of Conduct”); and

 

a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the director or officer did not meet the Standard of Conduct.

 

3. Changes to the Vote Required for our Stockholders to Approve Certain Actions

 

As a result of the Amendments, our Charter and the MGCL provide that approval of routine matters required by the MGCL to be approved by our stockholders requires approval of a majority of the votes cast on the matter, and approval of our dissolution, merger, consolidation, share exchange or conversion, or amendments to our charter that require approval by our stockholders, require the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

2

 

 

Bylaw Amendments

 

As disclosed in Item 5.07 of this Form 8-K, our stockholders approved amendments to our bylaws (the “Stockholder Approved Bylaw Amendments”) which, as more fully described in our Proxy Statement, eliminated certain (i) restrictions on our ability to engage in certain investment, financing, re-leasing and other transactions and (ii) requirements relating to management arrangements. The Stockholder Approved Bylaw Amendments became effective on June 30, 2020 upon the approval of such amendments by our stockholders.

 

In addition, our board of directors (the “Board”) approved amendments to our bylaws (the “Board Approved Bylaw Amendments”; and together with the Stockholder Approved Bylaw Amendments, the “Bylaw Amendments”) and the Board restated (as so amended and restated, the “Restated Bylaws”) our bylaws to give effect to the Bylaw Amendments. (The Board Approved Bylaw Amendments and the restatement of our bylaws to reflect the Bylaw Amendments become effective upon the filing of the Charter with the SDAT). Among other things, the Board Approved Bylaw Amendments:

 

Implement procedures with respect to stockholders seeking to call a special meeting of stockholders.

 

Implement advance notice requirements and procedures to be followed by stockholders desiring to nominate individuals to serve on the Board or submit proposals to be voted upon by the stockholders, which require that we be provided advance written notice of nominations for election to our Board at annual meetings of our stockholders or special meetings of our stockholders called for the purpose of electing directors, or of other matters which stockholders wish to present for action at an annual of stockholders. These advance notice requirements generally require that such notice and certain other information and materials required by our Restated Bylaws be delivered not earlier than the 150th day and not later than 5:00 p.m., eastern time, on the 120th day before the anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting or, for a special meeting of stockholders, not earlier than the 120th day and not later than 5:00 p.m. eastern time, on the later of the 90th day before the date of the meeting or the tenth day after the date on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting.

 

In furtherance of Proposal 4.C described in Item 5.07 below pertaining to the election of directors, provide that in,

 

(i) an uncontested election, a nominee for director is elected if the nominee receives the affirmative vote of the majority of the total votes cast “for” or “against” or withheld as to such nominee, and

 

(ii) contested elections (as defined in the Restated Bylaws), nominees are elected by a plurality of votes.

 

Eliminate provisions regulating the manner in which related party transactions are approved.

 

Eliminate provisions limiting the ability of affiliate directors to nominate individuals to serve on the board.

 

Adopt revised notice and quorum requirements with respect to Board meetings to be implemented in the event of an Emergency (as defined in the Restated Bylaws).

 

3

 

 

Permit officers to engage in business activities that could be competitive to those engaged in by us.

 

Designate Maryland and New York (and specified courts within such states) as the exclusive forums for certain litigation in which we may become involved.

 

Update the provisions governing the organization and conduct of stockholder meetings.

 

Generally clarify procedures, conform to Maryland law, and delete outdated sections, requirements and references, including procedures governing meetings and actions of the Board and committees of the Board.

 

Under the Amended Charter and the Restated Bylaws, our stockholders generally continue to have the power to alter, modify or repeal any bylaws of the Corporation and to make new bylaws by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.

 

The foregoing description of the Amendments, the Bylaw Amendments, the Charter and the Restated Bylaws (i) assumes the Charter is filed with the SDAT, (ii) is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Charter and Restated Bylaws, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 3.1 and 3.2 hereto, respectively, and (iii) as so qualified, amends the “Description of Securities Registered Pursuant to Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934” filed as Exhibit 4.5 to our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (the “Annual Report”).

 

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

 

At our annual meeting of stockholders held on June 30, 2020, proposals 1, 2, 3, 4.A, 4.B, 4.C, 5.A and 5.B presented to stockholders were approved. The proposals are described in detail in our Proxy Statement. Set forth below is a summary of the proposals and the voting results with respect thereto.

 

Proposal 1 – to elect the directors named below for a three-year term (with the votes as indicated):

 

                      Broker  
    For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
Charles Biederman     14,391,834       1,415,536       45,977       2,884,087  
Patrick J. Callan, Jr.     15,479,767       329,128       44,452       2,884,087  
Karen A. Till     15,561,194       250,180       41,973       2,884,087  

 

Proposal 2 – approve, by non-binding vote, the compensation of our executive officers (with the votes as indicated):

 

                  Broker  
For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  11,889,435       3,850,319       113,593       2,884,087  

 

4

 

 

Proposal 3 – ratification of the selection of Ernst & Young LLP as our independent registered public accounting firm for the year ending December 31, 2020 (with the vote as indicated):

 

For     Against     Abstain  
  18,531,397       162,406       43,631  

 

Proposal 4A – to increase our authorized capital stock and its common stock (with the votes as indicated):

 

                  Broker  
For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  18,097,601       548,147       91,682        

 

Proposal 4.B – revising requirements to indemnify and advance expenses of our officers, directors and employees (with the votes as indicated):

 

                  Broker  
For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  15,383,650       355,595       114,101       2,884,088  

 

Proposal 4.C – approving changes to the vote required for our stockholders to approve certain actions (with the votes as indicated):

 

                  Broker  
For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  15,328,574       439,403       85,369       2,884,088  

 

Proposal 5.A – eliminating Article III, Section 17 of our bylaws with respect to investment policies and restrictions (with the votes as indicated):

 

                  Broker  
For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  15,537,186       251,351       64,809       2,884,088  

 

Proposal 5.B – eliminating Article III, Section 18 of our bylaws with respect to provisions regarding management arrangements (with the votes as indicated):

 

                  Broker  
For     Against     Abstain     Non-Votes  
  15,392,356       365,448       95,542       2,884,088  

 

Section 8 – Other Events

 

Item 8.01 Other Events

 

Sale of Property

 

On July 1, 2020, we sold (the “CarMax Sale”) a 35,300 square foot building located in Knoxville, Tennessee and leased to a subsidiary of CarMax, Inc., for a sales price of $18.0 million, of which $8.5 million was used to repay the mortgage debt associated with the property, $8.7 million was used to pay-down our credit facility debt and $829,000 was used to pay the expense associated with the termination of the related interest rate swap.

 

5

 

 

We estimate that in the third quarter of 2020, we will recognize an approximate $10.3 million gain from this sale, before giving effect to the swap termination fee, of which $774,000 and $55,000 will be recognized in the second quarter and third quarter of 2020, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2020, we recognized $573,000 of rental income from, and incurred $111,000 of depreciation expense and $164,000 of mortgage interest expense at this property.

 

Liquidity and Capital Resources

 

Our available liquidity at July 2, 2020, was approximately $79.1 million, including $18.2 million of cash and cash equivalents (including the credit facility’s required $3.0 million average deposit maintenance balance) and $60.9 million available under our credit facility.

 

We anticipate that on or about July 31, 2020, we will pay a dividend of approximately $9.0 million, of which approximately $4.5 million will be paid in each of cash and shares of our common stock. The number of shares of our common stock to be issued will depend on the value of such shares at such time. For the purposes of determining such value, we will use the volume weighted average price of our common stock for the five trading days ending July 21, 2021.

 

Round Rock Guaranty Litigation

 

As reported in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019 (see “Item 7. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations Other 2019 Developments-Round Rock Property”), we sued the guarantor of the lease at our former property in Round Rock, Texas, at which the tenant obtained bankruptcy protection and terminated its lease. (The lawsuit is captioned: OLP Wyoming Springs, LLC, Plaintiff, v. Harden Healthcare, LLC, Defendant, v Benjamin Hanson, Intervenor, District Court of Williamson County, Texas, Cause No. 18-1511-C368).  The trial court (i) granted our motion for summary judgment determining that the lease guarantor is liable under its guaranty and (ii) granted the lease guarantor’s request for leave to appeal the trial court’s grant of our motion for summary judgment with respect to  the lease guarantor’s liability. Our damage assessment served on the lease guarantor asserts mitigated damages in excess of $14 million.  We are in the process of seeking a court-ordered discovery schedule in the damages portion of the case.  We will continue to incur significant legal expense in connection with this lawsuit and cannot provide any assurance that we will realize any recovery therefrom.

 

Section 9 – Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit No.   Description of Exhibit
3.1   Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company.
     
3.2   Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company.
     
101   Cover Page Interactive Data File - the instance document does not appear in the Interactive Data File because its XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.
     
104   Cover Page Interactive Data File - the cover page XBRL tags are embedded within the Inline XBRL document.

 

6

 

 

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.

 

  ONE LIBERTY PROPERTIES, INC.
   
Date: July 7, 2020 By: /s/ David W. Kalish
    David W. Kalish
    Chief Financial Officer

 

 

7

 

Exhibit 3.1

 

ONE LIBERTY PROPERTIES, INC.

 

ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT AND RESTATEMENT

 

This is to certify that:

 

FIRST: One Liberty Properties, Inc., a Maryland Corporation (the “Corporation”), desires to amend and restate its Articles of Incorporation as currently in effect and as hereafter amended.

 

SECOND: The following provisions are all the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation currently in effect and as hereinafter amended:

 

ARTICLE I

 

NAME

 

The name of the Corporation is:

 

ONE LIBERTY PROPERTIES, INC.

 

ARTICLE II

 

PURPOSES

 

The purpose for which the Corporation is formed is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Laws of the State of Maryland as now or hereafter in force.

 

ARTICLE III

 

PRINCIPAL OFFICE AND RESIDENT AGENT

 

The post-office address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is c/o The Corporation Trust Incorporated, 2405 York Road, Suite 201, Timonium, Maryland 21093. The name of the resident agent of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is The Corporation Trust Incorporated, a corporation of the State of Maryland, and the post-office address of the resident agent is 2405 York Road, Suite 201, Timonium, Maryland 21093.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

CAPITAL STOCK

 

(1) The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Sixty two million five hundred thousand (62,500,000) shares, (a) Fifty million (50,000,000) shares of which shall be designated common stock, One Dollar ($1.00) par value per share (the “Common Stock”), and (b) twelve million five hundred thousand (12,500,000) shares of which shall be designated preferred stock, One Dollar ($1.00) par value (the “Preferred Stock,” and together with the Common Stock, the “Shares”).

 

 

 

 

(2) Subject to Article X, each share of Common Stock shall entitle the owner thereof to vote at the rate of one (1) vote for each share held.

 

(3) Any fractional shares shall carry proportionately all the rights of a whole share, excepting any right to receive a certificate evidencing such fractional share, but including, without limitation, the right to vote and the right to receive dividends.

 

(4) All persons who shall acquire stock in the Corporation shall acquire the same subject to the provisions of these Articles of Incorporation and the by-laws of the Corporation.

 

(5) Subject to Article X, the Board of Directors is hereby expressly granted authority to authorize from time to time, in accordance with applicable law, the issue of one or more series of Preferred Stock and with respect to any such series, to fix by resolution or resolutions the numbers, powers, designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of such series and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, including but without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:

 

(a) entitling the holders thereof to cumulative, non-cumulative or partially cumulative dividends, or to no dividends;

 

(b) entitling the holders thereof to receive dividends payable on a parity with, junior to, or in preference to, the dividends payable on any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

 

(c) entitling the holders thereof to rights upon the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of, or upon any other distribution of the assets of, the Corporation, on a parity with, junior to or in preference to, the rights of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation;

 

(d) providing for the conversion, at the option of the holder or of the Corporation or both, of the shares of Preferred Stock into shares of any other class or classes of capital stock of the Corporation or of any series of the same or any other class or classes or into property of the Corporation or into the securities or properties of any other corporation or person, including provision for adjustment of the conversion rate in such events as the Board of Directors shall determine, or providing for no conversion;

 

(e) providing for the redemption, in whole or in part, of the shares of Preferred Stock at the option of the Corporation or the holder thereof, in cash, bonds or other property, at such price or prices (which amount may vary under different conditions and at different redemption dates), within such period or periods, and under such conditions as the Board of Directors shall so provide, including provisions for the creation of a sinking fund for the redemption thereof, or providing for no redemption;

 

(f) lacking voting rights or having limited voting rights or enjoying general, special or multiple voting rights;

 

(g) specifying the number of shares constituting that series and the distinctive designation of that series and the stated value of that series;

 

2

 

 

(h) specifying the limitations and restrictions, if any, to be effective while any shares of such series are outstanding upon (i) the payment of dividends, (ii) the making of other distributions, (iii) the purchase, (iv) the redemption or (v) an acquisition, by the Corporation of any other class or classes of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the shares of such series either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up;

 

(i) specifying the conditions or restrictions, if any, upon the creation of indebtedness of the Corporation or upon the issuance of any additional stock (including additional shares of such series or of any other series or of any other class) ranking on a parity with or prior to the shares of such series as to dividends or distributions of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up; and

 

(j) providing for any other power, preference and relative, participating, optional or other rights or terms, and the qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall not be inconsistent with applicable law, this Section IV(5) or any resolution of the Board of Directors pursuant hereto.

 

ARTICLE V

 

PROVISIONS FOR DEFINING, LIMITING AND REGULATING CERTAIN POWERS
OF THE CORPORATION AND OF THE DIRECTORS AND STOCKHOLDERS

 

(1) The number of directors of the Corporation is currently ten, which number may be increased pursuant to the by-laws of the Corporation but shall never be less than three. Commencing with the annual meeting of stockholders held on May 22, 1984, the directors of the Corporation shall be classified with respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, each class to be as nearly equal in number as possible, which classes shall be designated as Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Subject to the provisions hereof, the number of directors in each class shall from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to the by-laws. The Class 1 director shall be elected initially for a term of one year; the Class 2 directors shall be elected initially for a term of two years; and the Class 3 directors shall be elected initially for a term of three years. At each annual meeting, the successors to the class of directors whose terms shall expire that year shall be elected to hold office for a term of three years so that each term of office of one class of directors shall expire in each year.

 

(2) The Board of Directors of the Corporation is hereby empowered to authorize the issuance from time to time of shares of capital stock, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as the Board of Directors may deem advisable, subject to such limitations as may be set forth in these Articles of Incorporation or in the by-laws of the Corporation or in the General Laws of the State of Maryland.

 

(3) No holder of shares of stock of the Corporation shall, as such holder, have any right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of the capital stock of the Corporation or any other security of the Corporation which it may issue or sell (whether out of the number of shares authorized by these Articles of Incorporation, or out of any shares of the capital stock of the Corporation acquired by it after the issue thereof, or otherwise) other than such right, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its discretion, may determine.

 

3

 

 

(4) Each holder of stock of the Corporation shall upon demand disclose to the Board of Directors in writing such information with respect to direct and indirect ownership of securities of the Corporation as the Board of Directors deems necessary to comply with provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as from time to time amended, applicable to the Corporation, or to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority.

 

(5) The Corporation, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, trustee, member, manager or partner of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or her service in such capacity, in either case, from and against any claim or liability to which such individual may become subject by reason of his or her service in such capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by this Charter shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer. The Corporation may, with the approval of the Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses to any individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation (including, without limitation, its direct or indirect subsidiaries), in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation. The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in this Charter shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement or otherwise.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Section 5, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or the Bylaws inconsistent with this Section 5, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption. For the avoidance of doubt, the rights of indemnification provided by this Charter shall protect acts performed by such indemnitees (including by reason of being named a person who is about to become a director) prior to the date of this Charter, including acts performed, or omissions taking place, prior to the formation of the Corporation.

 

(6) The Board of Directors of the Corporation may make, alter or repeal from time to time any of the by-laws of the Corporation except any particular by-law which is specified as not subject to alteration or repeal by the Board of Directors.

 

4

 

 

(7) The Board of Directors may authorize, subject to such approval of stockholders and other conditions, if any, as may be required by any applicable statute, rule or regulation, the execution and performance by the Corporation of one or more agreements with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general) or other organization whereby, subject to the supervision and control of the Board of Directors, any such other person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general), or other organization shall render or make available to the Corporation managerial, investment advisory and/or related services, office space and other services and facilities (including, if deemed advisable by the Board of Directors, the management or supervision of the investments of the Corporation) upon such terms and conditions as may be provided in such agreement or agreements (including, if deemed fair and equitable by the Board of Directors, the compensation payable thereunder by the Corporation).

 

(8) The Board of Directors may authorize any agreement of the character described in paragraph (7) of this Article V or other transaction with any person, corporation, association, company, trust, partnership (limited or general), or other organization, although one or more of the members of the Board of Directors or officers of the Corporation may be the other party to any such agreement or an officer, director, stockholder, or member of such other party, and no such agreement or transaction shall be invalidated or rendered voidable solely by reason of the existence of any such relationship if (i) the existence is disclosed or known to: (a) the Board of Directors, and the Board authorizes, approves, or ratifies the agreement or transaction by the affirmative vote of a majority of disinterested directors, even if the disinterested directors constitute less than a quorum; or (b) the stockholders entitled to vote, and the agreement or transaction is authorized, approved, or ratified by a majority of votes cast by the stockholders entitled to vote other than the votes of shares owned of record or beneficially by the interested director or such other entity or officer, director, stockholder or member thereof; or (ii) the contract is fair and reasonable to the Corporation. Any member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation who is also a director or officer of such other entity or who is so interested or associated with such other entity may be counted in determining the existence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board of Directors which shall authorize any such agreement or transaction, and may vote thereat to authorize any such agreement or transaction, with like force and effect as if he were not such director or officer of such other entity or not so interested or associated.

 

(9) The determination as to any of the following matters made in good faith by or pursuant to the direction of the Board of Directors consistent with the charter of the Corporation and in the absence of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of duties, shall be final and conclusive and shall be binding upon the Corporation and every holder of shares of its capital stock, namely: the amount of the net income of the Corporation for any period and the amount of assets at any time legally available for the payment of dividends; the amount of paid-in surplus, other surplus, annual or other net profit, or net assets in excess of capital, undivided profits, or excess of profits over losses on sales of assets; the amount, purpose, time of creation, increase or decrease, alteration or cancellation of any reserves or charges and the propriety thereof (whether or not any obligation or liability for which such reserves or charges shall have been created shall have been paid or discharged); the fair values, or any sale, bid or asked price to be applied in determining the fair value, of any asset owned or held by the Corporation; and any matter relating to the acquisition, holding and disposition of any assets by the Corporation.

 

5

 

 

(10) Notwithstanding any provision of the General Laws of the State of Maryland requiring any action to be taken or authorized by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a greater number of votes, such action shall be effective and valid if declared advisable by the Board of Directors and taken or approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on the matter.

 

(11) Only the stockholders may, at any meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of all of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, remove any director or directors from office, and only for cause, and may elect a successor or successors to fill any resulting vacancies for the unexpired terms of removed directors.

 

(12) To the maximum extent that Maryland law in effect from time to time permits limitation of the liability of directors and officers, no director or officer of the Corporation shall be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages.

 

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Paragraph, nor the adoption or amendment of any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws inconsistent with this Paragraph, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding sentence with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

REDEMPTION

 

If at any time the Board of Directors shall in good faith be of the opinion that direct or indirect ownership of shares of stock of the Corporation has or may become concentrated to an extent which would cause the Corporation to fail to qualify or be disqualified as a real estate investment trust by virtue of Sections 856(a)(5) or (6) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or similar provisions of successor statutes, pertaining to the qualification of the Corporation as a real estate investment trust, the Board of Directors shall have the power (i) by lot or other means deemed equitable by them to call for purchase from any stockholder of the Corporation a number of shares sufficient in the opinion of the Board of Directors to maintain or bring the direct or indirect ownership of shares of stock of the Corporation into conformity with the requirements of said Sections 856(a)(5) and (6) pertaining to the Corporation, and (ii) to refuse to transfer or issue shares of the Corporation to any person whose acquisition of such shares would, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, result in the Corporation being unable to conform to the requirements of said Sections 856(a)(5) and (6). The purchase price for any shares of stock purchased pursuant hereto (i) shall be equal to the fair market value of the shares as reflected in the closing sale price for the shares, if then listed on a national securities exchange, or the average of the closing sales prices for the shares if then listed on more than one national securities exchange, (ii) if the shares are not at the time listed or admitted for trading on any such exchange, then such price as shall be equal to the last reported sale price, or if there is no such sale price, the average of the last reported bid and asked prices, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System (“Nasdaq”), (iii) if the shares are not at the time quoted on the Nasdaq, then such price shall be equal to the last reported bid and asked prices as reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or any similar reputable quotation and reporting service, if such quotation is not reported by the OTC Bulletin Board, or (iv) if no such closing sales prices or quotations are available, then the purchase price shall be equal to the net asset value of such stock as determined by the Board of Directors in accordance with the provisions of applicable law. Payment of the purchase price shall be made in cash by the Corporation at such time and in such manner as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation. From and after the date fixed for purchase by the Board of Directors, the holder of any shares of stock so called for purchase shall cease to be entitled to distributions, voting rights and other benefits with respect to such shares, excepting only the right to payment of the purchase price fixed as aforesaid. Any transfer of shares that would prevent the corporation from continuing to be qualified as a real estate investment trust by virtue of the application of said Sections 856(a)(5) and (6) shall be deemed void ab initio and the intended transferees shall be deemed never to have had an interest therein. If the foregoing provision is determined to be void or invalid by virtue of any legal decision, statute, rule or regulation, then the transferee of such shares shall be deemed, at the option of the Corporation, to have acted as agent on behalf of the Corporation in acquiring such shares and to hold such shares on behalf of the Corporation.

 

6

 

 

ARTICLE VII

 

AMENDMENTS

 

The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any amendments to its charter which may be now or hereafter authorized by law, including any amendments changing the terms or contract rights of any of its outstanding stock by classification, re-classification, or otherwise. Any amendment to the corporation’s charter shall be valid if such amendment shall have been authorized by not less than a majority of the aggregate number of votes entitled to be cast thereon by a vote at a meeting or in writing with or without a meeting. All rights and powers conferred by the charter of the Corporation on stockholders, directors and officers are granted subject to this reservation.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

PERPETUAL EXISTENCE

 

The Corporation is to have perpetual existence.

 

ARTICLE IX

 

INAPPLICABILITY OF SUBTITLE 6 OF TITLE 3

OF THE MARYLAND GENERAL CORPORATION LAW

 

The Corporation expressly elects not to be subject to or governed by the provisions of Subtitle 6 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law, or any substantially similar successor law.

 

7

 

 

ARTICLE X

 

OWNERSHIP LIMITATIONS

 

(1) DEFINITIONS. For the purposes of this Article X, the following terms shall have the following meanings:

 

Beneficial Ownership” shall mean ownership of Shares by a Person who (i) would be treated as an owner of such Shares under section 542(a) (2) of the Code either directly or constructively through the application of Section 544 of the Code, as modified by Section 856(h)(1)(B) of the Code or (ii) would be treated as an owner of such Shares under Section 318(a) of the Code, as modified by Section 856(d)(5) of the Code. The terms “Beneficial Owner,” “Beneficially Owns,” “Beneficially Own” and “Beneficially Owned” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

Charitable Beneficiary” shall mean an organization or organizations described in Sections 170(b)(1)(A) and 170(c) of the Code and identified by the Board of Directors as the beneficiary or beneficiaries of the Excess Share Trust.

 

Code” shall mean the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

 

Excess Shares” shall mean Shares resulting from an event described in Article X(3).

 

Excess Share Trust” shall mean the trust created pursuant to Article X(3) and (14).

 

Excess Share Trustee” shall mean a person who shall be unaffiliated with the Corporation, any Purported Beneficial Transferee and any Purported Record Transferee, identified by the Board of Directors as the trustee of the Excess Share Trust.

 

Existing Holder” shall mean any Person who Beneficially Owns a total amount or value in excess of 9.9% of our Shares on June 14, 2005.

 

Existing Holder Amount” shall mean an amount equal to an amount which would not result (i) in five Persons Beneficially Owning more than 49% of the Shares, (ii) the Shares being beneficially owned (as provided in Section 856(a) of the Code) by less than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution), and (iii) in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code.

 

Existing Holder Limit” shall mean, with respect to each Existing Holder, a total amount or value of Shares such Person may Beneficially Own, which amount shall equal the lesser of (i) an amount determined by the Board of Directors from time to time with respect to such Person and (ii) the Existing Holder Amount.

 

Fair Market Value” shall mean the last reported sales price reported on the New York Stock Exchange for Shares on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date, or if not then traded on the New York Stock Exchange, the last reported sales price for Shares on the trading day immediately preceding the relevant date as reported on any exchange or quotation system over or through which such Shares may be traded, or if not then traded over or through any exchange or quotation system, then the market price of such Shares on the relevant date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

 

8

 

 

Ownership Limit” shall mean, with respect to (i) an Existing Holder, the Existing Holder Limit, and (ii) with respect to all other Persons, 9.9% or more, in total number of Shares or value, of the outstanding shares of any class or series of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of the Corporation. The number and value of the outstanding Shares of any class or series of Common Stock and Preferred Stock of the Corporation shall be determined by the Board of Directors in good faith, which determination shall be conclusive for all purposes hereof.

 

Person” shall mean an individual, corporation, partnership, estate, corporation (including a corporation qualified under Section 401(a) or 501(c)(17) of the Code), portion of a corporation permanently set aside for or to be used exclusively for the purposes described in Section 642(c) of the Code, association, private foundation within the meaning of Section 509(a) of the Code, joint stock company or other entity and also includes a group as that term is used for purposes of Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Purported Beneficial Transferee” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer which results in Excess Shares, as defined below in Article X(3), the Person who would have been the beneficial holder of the Shares, if such Transfer had been valid under Article X(2).

 

Purported Record Transferee” shall mean, with respect to any purported Transfer which results in Excess Shares, as defined below in Article X(3), the Person who would have been the record holder of the Shares, if such Transfer had been valid under Article X(2).

 

REIT” shall mean a real estate investment trust under Section 856 of the Code.

 

REIT Provisions of the Code” means Sections 856 through 860 of the Code and any successor or other provisions of the Code relating to real estate investment trusts (including provisions as to the attribution of ownership of beneficial interests therein) and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Restriction Termination Date” shall mean the first day on which the Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Corporation to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT.

 

Shares” shall mean the shares of the Corporation as may be authorized and issued from time to time pursuant to Article IV.

 

Transfer” shall mean any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of Shares (including (a) the granting of any option or entering into any agreement for the sale, transfer or other disposition of Shares, (b) the sale, transfer, assignment or other disposition of any securities or rights convertible into or exchangeable for Shares and (c) any transfer or other disposition of any interest in Shares as a result of a change in the marital status of the holder thereof), whether voluntary or involuntary, whether of record, constructively or beneficially and whether by operation of law or otherwise. The terms “Transfers” and “Transferred” shall have the correlative meanings.

 

(2) OWNERSHIP LIMITATION.

 

(A) Except as provided in Article X(11) and (19), and subject to clause (B) below, until the Restriction Termination Date:

 

9

 

 

(i) no Person shall Beneficially Own Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to such Person;

 

(ii) any Transfer that, if effective, would result in any Person Beneficially Owning Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit with respect to such Person shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Shares which would be otherwise Beneficially Owned by such Person in excess of the Ownership Limit; and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares;

 

(iii) any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Shares being beneficially owned (as provided in Section 856(a) of the Code) by less than 100 Persons (determined without reference to any rules of attribution) shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of such Shares which would be otherwise beneficially owned (as provided in Section 856(a) of the Code) by the transferee; and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

 

(iv) any Transfer that, if effective, would result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code shall be void ab initio as to the Transfer of the Shares which would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code; and the intended transferee shall acquire no rights in such Shares.

 

(B) Nothing contained in this Article X shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange. The fact that the settlement of any transaction occurs or takes place shall not negate the effect of any other provision of this Article X and any transferee in such a transaction shall be subject to all of the provisions and limitations set forth in this Article X.

 

(3) EXCESS SHARES.

 

(A) In the event that, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article X, at any time until the Restriction Termination Date, there is a purported Transfer such that any Person would Beneficially Own Shares in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit, then, except as otherwise provided in Article X(11), Shares directly owned by such Person in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit shall be automatically designated as Excess Shares (without reclassification) until such Person does not own Shares in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit. The designation of such Shares as Excess Shares shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer. If, after designation of such Shares owned directly by a Person as Excess Shares, such Person still owns Shares in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit, Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person constructively in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit shall be designated as Excess Shares until such Person does not own Shares in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit. Where such Person owns Shares constructively through one or more Persons and the Shares held by such other Persons must be designated as Excess Shares, the designation of Shares as Excess Shares held by such other Persons shall be pro rata.

 

10

 

 

(B) If, notwithstanding the other provisions contained in this Article X, at any time until the Restriction Termination Date, there is a purported Transfer of Shares or any sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of shares or other interests of a direct or indirect stockholder of the Corporation which, if effective, would cause the Corporation to become “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, then any Shares being Transferred which would cause the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (rounded up to the nearest whole Share) shall be automatically designated as Excess Shares and be treated as provided in this Article X. Such designation and treatment shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the purported Transfer. If, after the designation of any such Shares as Excess Shares, the Corporation is still “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, an amount of Shares owned directly by any Person whose Beneficial Ownership of Shares in the Corporation increased as a result of the sale, transfer, gift, assignment, devise or other disposition of shares or other interests of a direct or indirect stockholder of the Corporation and is one of the five Persons who caused the Corporation to be “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, shall be automatically designated as Excess Shares until the Corporation is not “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code. Where several similarly situated Persons exist, the designation of Shares as Excess Shares shall be pro rata. If, after applying the foregoing provisions the Corporation is still “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, any Shares constructively owned by such Persons shall be designated as Excess Shares, on a pro rata basis among similarly situated Persons, until the Corporation is not “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code.

 

(C) If, at any time until the Restriction Termination Date, an event other than a purported Transfer (an “Event”) occurs which would cause any Person to Beneficially Own Shares in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit, then, except as otherwise provided in Article X(11), Shares Beneficially Owned by such Person in excess of such Person’s Ownership Limit shall be automatically designated as Excess Shares to the extent necessary to eliminate such excess ownership. The designation of Shares as Excess Shares shall be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the Event. In determining which Shares are designated as Excess Shares, Shares Beneficially Owned by any Person who caused the Event to occur shall be designated as Excess Shares before any Shares not so held are designated. Where several similarly situated Persons exist, the designation of Shares as Excess Shares shall be pro rata. If any Person is required to designate Shares as Excess Shares pursuant to this subsection (C), such Person shall first designate Shares directly held by such Person before designating Shares Beneficially Owned constructively. Where such Person owns Shares constructively through one or more Persons and the Shares held by such other Persons must be designated as Excess Shares, the designation of Shares by such other Persons shall be pro rata.

 

(4) PREVENTION OF TRANSFER. If the Board of Directors or its designee shall at any time determine in good faith that a Transfer has taken place in violation of Article X(2) or that a Person intends to acquire or has attempted to acquire Beneficial Ownership (determined with or without reference to any rules of attribution) of any Shares in violation of Article X(2), the Board of Directors or its designee shall take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such Transfer, including, but not limited to, refusing to give effect to such Transfer on the books of the Corporation or instituting proceedings to enjoin such Transfer; provided, however, that any Transfers or attempted Transfers in violation of Article X(2) shall automatically result in the designation and treatment described in Article X(3), irrespective of any action (or non-action) by the Board of Directors.

 

11

 

 

(5) NOTICE TO CORPORATION. Any Person who acquires or attempts to acquire Shares in violation of Article X(2), or any Person who is a transferee such that Excess Shares result under Article X(3), shall immediately give written notice or, in the event of a proposed or attempted Transfer, give at least 15 days prior written notice to the Corporation of such event. Such person shall also provide to the Corporation such other information as the Corporation may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Transfer or attempted Transfer on the Corporation’s status as a REIT and shall execute and deliver such instruments and provide such further cooperation and assistance as the Board of Directors deems advisable to preserve the status of the Corporation as a REIT.

 

(6) INFORMATION FOR CORPORATION. Until the Restriction Termination Date:

 

(A) every Beneficial Owner of more than 1% (or such other lower percentages as required pursuant to regulations under the Code) of the number or value of any class or series of Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Corporation shall, within 30 days after January 1 of each year, give written notice to the Corporation stating the name and address of such Beneficial Owner, the number of Shares of such class or series of Common Stock or Preferred Stock Beneficially Owned, and a description of how such Shares are held. Each such Beneficial Owner shall provide to the Corporation such additional information as the Corporation may reasonably request in order to determine the effect, if any, of such Beneficial Ownership on the Corporation’s status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with such Person’s Ownership Limit.

 

(B) each Person who is a Beneficial Owner of Shares and each Person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding Shares for a Beneficial Owner shall provide to the Corporation in writing such information with respect to direct, indirect and constructive ownership of Shares as the Board of Directors deems reasonably necessary to comply with the provisions of the Code applicable to a REIT, to determine the Corporation’s status as a REIT, to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental agency or to determine any such compliance.

 

(7) OTHER ACTION BY BOARD. Subject to Article X(2), nothing contained in this Article X shall limit the authority of the Board of Directors to take such other action as it deems necessary or advisable to protect the Corporation and the interests of its stockholders by preservation of the Corporation’s status as a REIT; provided, however, that no provision of this subsection 7 shall preclude the settlement of any transaction entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange.

 

(8) AMBIGUITIES. In the case of an ambiguity in the application of any of the provisions of this Article X, including any definition contained in Article X(1), the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the application of the provisions of this Article X with respect to any situation based on the facts known to it. In the event this Article X requires or permits an action by the Board of Directors and the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, fails to provide specific guidance with respect to such action, the Board of Directors shall have the power to determine the action to be taken so long as such action is not contrary to the provisions of Article X.

 

12

 

 

(9) INCREASE OR DECREASE IN OWNERSHIP LIMIT. Subject to the limitations provided in Article X(10), the Board of Directors may from time to time increase or decrease such Person’s Ownership Limit; provided, however, that any decrease may only be made prospectively as to subsequent holders (other than a decrease as a result of a retroactive change in existing law that would require a decrease to retain REIT status, in which case such decrease shall be effective immediately).

 

(10) LIMITATIONS ON CHANGES IN OWNERSHIP LIMITS.

 

(A) The Ownership Limit may not be increased if, after giving effect to such increase, five or fewer individual Beneficial Owners of Shares could Beneficially Own, in the aggregate, more than 49% in number or value of the outstanding Shares.

 

(B) Prior to the modification of any Ownership Limit pursuant to Article X(9), the Board of Directors may require such opinions of counsel, affidavits, undertakings or agreements as it may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure the Corporation’s status as a REIT.

 

(11) WAIVERS BY THE BOARD. The Board of Directors with a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, an opinion of counsel to the effect that such exemption will not result in the Corporation being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code, or such other evidence as the Board of Directors deems necessary in its sole discretion may exempt, on such conditions and terms as the Board of Directors deems necessary in its sole discretion, a Person from such Person’s Ownership Limit if the Board of Directors obtains such representations and undertakings from such Person as the Board of Directors may deem appropriate and such Person agrees that any violation of the terms of such exemption or attempted violation of the same will result in, to the extent necessary, the designation of Shares held by such Person as Excess Shares in accordance with Article X(3).

 

(12) LEGEND. Each certificate for Shares:

 

(a) shall state that the Corporation will furnish a full statement about certain restrictions on transferability to a stockholder on request and without charge; or

 

(B) shall bear substantially the following legend:

 

“The securities represented by this certificate are subject to restrictions on ownership and transfer for the purpose of the Corporation’s maintenance of its status as a real estate investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. Except as otherwise provided pursuant to the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, no Person may Beneficially Own Shares in excess of the Ownership Limit (as defined in the Restated Articles of Incorporation, as amended) or such greater percentage as may be determined by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, of the number or value of the outstanding Shares of any class or series of the Common Stock or Preferred Stock of the Corporation. Any Person who attempts or proposes to Beneficially Own Shares in excess of the above limitations must notify the Corporation in writing at least 15 days prior to such proposed or attempted Transfer. All capitalized terms in this legend have the meanings defined in the Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, as amended, a copy of which, including the restrictions on transfer, will be furnished to each stockholder on request and without charge. If the restrictions on transfer are violated, the securities represented hereby which are in excess of the above limitations will be designated and treated as Excess Shares which will be held in trust by the Excess Share Trustee for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.”

 

13

 

 

(13) SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Article X or any application of any such provision is determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable by any court having jurisdiction over the issue, the validity and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall be affected only to the extent necessary to comply with the determination of such court.

 

(14) TRANSFER OF EXCESS SHARES. Upon any purported Transfer that results in Excess Shares pursuant to Article X(3), such Excess Shares shall be deemed to have been transferred on the day prior to the date of the purported Transfer that results in such Excess Shares to the Excess Share Trustee, as trustee of a special trust for the exclusive benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. The Corporation shall name a Charitable Beneficiary, if one does not already exist, within five days of the discovery of any designation of any Excess Shares; however, the failure to so name a Charitable Beneficiary shall not affect the designation of Shares as Excess Shares or the transfer thereof to the Excess Share Trustee. Excess Shares so held in trust shall be issued and outstanding Shares of the Corporation. The Purported Record Transferee or Purported Record Holder shall have no rights in such Excess Shares except as provided in Article X(17).

 

(15) DISTRIBUTIONS ON EXCESS SHARES. Any dividends (whether taxable as a dividend, return of capital or otherwise) on Excess Shares shall be paid to the Excess Share Trust for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary. Upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, the Purported Record Transferee shall receive, for each Excess Share, the lesser of (A) the amount per share of any distribution made upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up or (B) the price paid by the Purported Record Transferee for the Excess Shares, or if the Purported Record Transferee did not give value for the Excess Shares, the Fair Market Value of the Excess Shares on the day of the event causing the Excess Shares to be held in trust. Any such dividend paid or distribution paid to the Purported Record Transferee in excess of the amount provided in the preceding sentence prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the Shares with respect to which the dividend or distribution was made had been designated as Excess Shares shall be repaid, upon demand, to the Excess Share Trust for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.

 

(16) VOTING OF EXCESS SHARES. The Excess Share Trustee shall be entitled to vote the Excess Shares on behalf of the Charitable Beneficiary on any matter. Subject to Maryland law, any vote cast by a Purported Record Transferee with respect to the Excess Shares prior to the discovery by the Corporation that the Excess Shares were held in trust will be rescinded ab initio; provided, however, that if the Corporation has already taken irreversible action with respect to a merger, reorganization, sale of all or substantially all the assets, dissolution of the Corporation or other action by the Corporation, then the vote cast by the Purported Record Transferee shall not be rescinded. The owner of the Excess Shares will be deemed to have given an irrevocable proxy to the Excess Share Trustee to vote the Excess Shares for the benefit of the Charitable Beneficiary.

 

Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article X, until the Corporation has received notification that Excess Shares have been transferred into an Excess Share Trust, the Corporation shall be entitled to rely on its share transfer and other stockholder records for purposes of preparing lists of stockholders entitled to vote at meetings, determining the validity and authority of proxies and otherwise conducting votes of stockholders.

 

14

 

 

(17) NON-TRANSFERABILITY OF EXCESS SHARES. Excess Shares shall be transferable only as provided in this Section 17. The Excess Share Trustee may, in the event that the Corporation waives its purchase rights under Section 18, transfer the Shares held in the Excess Share Trust to a Person or Persons whose ownership of such Shares will not violate such Person’s Ownership Limit. If such a transfer is made to such a Person or Persons, the interest of the Charitable Beneficiary shall terminate and proceeds of the sale shall be payable to the Purported Record Transferee and to the Charitable Beneficiary. The Purported Record Transferee shall receive the lesser of (A) the price paid by the Purported Record Transferee for the Shares or, if the Purported Record Transferee did not give value for the Shares, the Fair Market Value of the Shares on the day of the event causing the Shares to be held in trust, or (B) the price received by the Excess Share Trust from the sale or other disposition of the Shares. Any proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Purported Record Transferee will be paid to the Charitable Beneficiary. The Excess Share Trustee shall be under no obligation to obtain the highest possible price for the Excess Shares. Prior to any transfer of any Excess Shares by the Excess Share Trustee, the Corporation must have waived in writing its purchase rights under Section 18. It is expressly understood that the Purported Record Transferee may enforce the provisions of this Section against the Charitable Beneficiary.

 

If any of the foregoing restrictions on transfer of Excess Shares is determined to be void, invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, then the Purported Record Transferee may be deemed, at the option of the Corporation, to have acted as an agent of the Corporation in acquiring such Excess Shares in Corporation and to hold such Excess Shares on behalf of the Corporation.

 

(18) CALL BY CORPORATION ON EXCESS SHARES. Excess Shares shall be deemed to have been offered for sale to the Corporation, or its designee, at a price per Share equal to the lesser of (A) the price per Share in the transaction that created such Excess Shares (or, in the case of a devise, gift or other transaction in which no value was given for such Excess Shares, the Fair Market Value at the time of such devise, gift or other transaction) and (B) the Fair Market Value of the Excess Shares on the date the Corporation, or its designee, accepts such offer (the “Redemption Price”). The Corporation shall have the right to accept such offer for a period of ninety days after the later of (x) the date of the purported Transfer which resulted in such Excess Shares and (y) the date the Board of Directors determines in good faith that a Transfer resulting in Excess Shares has occurred, if the Corporation does not receive a notice of such Transfer pursuant to Article X(5) but in no event later than a permitted Transfer pursuant to and in compliance with the terms of Article X(17). Unless the Board of Directors determines that it is in the interests of the Corporation to make earlier payments of all of the amount determined as the Redemption Price per Share in accordance with the preceding sentence, the Redemption Price may be payable at the option of the Board of Directors at any time up to but not later than the five years after the date the Corporation accepts the offer to purchase the Excess Shares. In no event shall the Corporation have an obligation to pay interest to the Purported Record Transferee.

 

15

 

 

(19) UNDERWRITTEN OFFERINGS. The Ownership Limit shall not apply to the acquisition of Shares or rights, options or warrants for, or securities convertible into, Shares by an underwriter in a public offering; provided that the underwriter makes a timely distribution of such Shares or rights, options or warrants for, or securities convertible into, Shares.

 

(20) ENFORCEMENT. The Corporation is authorized specifically to seek equitable relief, including injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this Article X.

 

(21) NON-WAIVER No delay or failure on the part of the Corporation or the Board of Directors in exercising any right hereunder shall operate as a waiver of any right of the Corporation or the Board of Directors, as the case may be, except to the extent specifically waived in writing.

 

THIRD: The amendment and restatement of the Articles of Incorporation as hereinafter set forth herein has been duly considered and approved by the Board of Directors and approved by the stockholders of the Corporation as required by law.

 

FOURTH: The current address of the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland is as set forth in Article III of the preceding amendment and restatement of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

FIFTH: The name and address of the Corporation’s resident agent is as set forth in Article III of the preceding amendment and restatement of the Articles of Incorporation.

 

SIXTH: The number of directors of the Corporation is ten, and the names of those currently serving as directors are Charles L. Biederman, Patrick J. Callan, Jr. and Karen A. Till, as Class 1 directors; Joseph A. DeLuca, Fredric H. Gould, Leor Siri and Eugene I. Zuriff, as Class 2 directors; and Jeffrey A. Gould, Matthew J. Gould and J. Robert Lovejoy, as Class 3 directors.

 

SEVENTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation had authority to issue immediately prior to this amendment and restatement was 37,500,000, consisting of 25,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share and 12,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share. The aggregate par value of the all shares of stock having par value was $37,500,000.

 

EIGHTH: The total number of shares of stock which the Corporation has authority to issue pursuant to the foregoing amendment and restatement of the charter is 62,500,000, consisting of 50,000,000 shares of Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, and 12,500,000 shares of Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per share. The aggregate par value of all authorized shares of stock having par value is $62,500,000.

 

NINTH: The undersigned acknowledges the Articles of Amendment and Restatement to be the corporate act of the Corporation and as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties of perjury.

 

16

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused these Articles to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its President and Chief Executive Officer and attested to by its Secretary on the 30th day of June, 2020.

 

  ONE LIBERTY PROPERTIES, INC.
     
  By:  
    Name: Patrick J. Callan, Jr.
    Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

 

ATTEST:  
     
By:    
  Name: Seth Asher Gaffney  
  Title: Secretary  

 

 

17

 

 

Exhibit 3.2

 

ONE LIBERTY PROPERTIES, INC.

 

AMENDED AND RESTATED BY LAWS

 

ARTICLE I

OFFICES

 

Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.

 

Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE II

MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS

 

Section 1. PLACE. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.

 

Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.

 

Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS.

 

(a) General. Each of the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast at least 25 percent of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.

 

(b) Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings.

 

(1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the Secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request Notice is received by the Secretary.

 

1

 

 

(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast at least 25 percent of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the Secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (A) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the Secretary), (B) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (C) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially and of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (D) be sent to the Secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (E) be received by the Secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.

 

(3) The Secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 3(b), the Secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

 

(4) In the case of any special meeting called by the Secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further, that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the Secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 9:00 a.m., Eastern Time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further, that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 3(b).

 

2

 

 

(5) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the Secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the Secretary: (A) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the Secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (B) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the Secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (i) the Secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (ii) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the Secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

 

(6) The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the Secretary until the earlier of (A) five Business Days after actual receipt by the Secretary of such purported request and (B) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the Secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

 

(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

 

Section 4. NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the Secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by Maryland law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless such stockholder objects in writing or by electronic transmission to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

 

3

 

 

Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this Section.

 

Section 5. QUORUM. At any meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this Section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may conclude the meeting or adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting.

 

The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.

 

Section 6. VOTING; PROXIES.1

 

(a) Except in a contested election, a nominee for director shall be elected as a director only if such nominee receives the affirmative vote of a majority of the total votes cast “for” or “against,” or withheld as to, such nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. In a contested election, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of directors at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present. An election shall be considered contested if, as of the date of the proxy statement for the meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected, there are more nominees for election than the number of directors to be elected. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share entitles the holder thereof to vote for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the holder is entitled to vote. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by statute, by the Charter or by these Bylaws, each outstanding share, regardless of class, entitles the holder thereof to cast one vote on each matter properly submitted to a vote at a duly-called meeting of stockholders. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot or otherwise.

 

 

1 This provision will only be adopted if proposal 4.C. is approved by the stockholders at the annual meeting. If such proposal is adopted, then the bylaws differentiate between voting for director nominees in contested v. uncontested elections. And in an uncontested election, if the nominee does not receive a majority of the votes cast, the nominee (if then a director), pursuant to revisions to be adopted to OLP’s corporate governance guidelines, is required to tender his or her resignation. If proposal 4.C. is not adopted, Section 6 shall be amended as indicated herein but the first three sentences of Section 6(a) will be deleted ( i.e., Section 6(a) will begin with: “Unless otherwise provided by statue or by the Charter…”)

 

4

 

 

(b) A stockholder of record may vote in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the record of the proceedings of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

 

Section 7. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may permit one or more stockholders to participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment in any manner permitted by Maryland law. In addition, the Board of Directors may determine that a meeting not be held at any place, but instead may be held solely by means of remote communications in any matter permitted by Maryland law. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 8. ORGANIZATION AND ORDER OF BUSINESS. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the vice chairman of the board, if there is one, the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and, within each rank, in their order of seniority, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman chosen by the Board of Directors. The secretary or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the secretary, an assistant secretary, or, in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as secretary. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting.

 

The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance or participation at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) recognizing speakers at the meeting and determining when and for how long speakers and any individual speaker may address the meeting; (d) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed and when announcement of the results should be made; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (g) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (h) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with any rules of parliamentary procedure.

 

5

 

 

Section 9. INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chairman of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and (v) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

 

Section 10. CONSENT OF STOCKHOLDERS IN LIEU OF MEETING. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the Charter, any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a unanimous consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders.

 

Section 11. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.

 

(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record as of the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 11(a).

 

(2) For any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

6

 

 

(3) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:

 

(i)   as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act;

 

(ii)   as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom;

 

(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,

 

(A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,

 

(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,

 

(C) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities, and

 

(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;

 

7

 

 

(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee,

 

(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and

 

(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;

 

(v)   the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal prior to the date of such stockholder’s notice; and

 

(vi) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.

 

(4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a written undertaking executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) that such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (b) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request by the stockholder providing the notice, and shall include all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act, or would be required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the Corporation are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Corporation are traded).

 

(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

8

 

 

(6) For purposes of this Section 11, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record, beneficially or both by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

 

(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting and, except as contemplated by and in accordance with the next two sentences of this Section 11(b), no stockholder may nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors or make a proposal of other business to be considered at a special meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) by a stockholder that has requested that a special meeting be called for the purpose of electing directors in compliance with Section 3 of this Article II and that has supplied the information required by Section 3 of this Article II about each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election of directors or (iii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record as of the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 11, is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

 

(c)   General. (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or a written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11.

 

9

 

 

(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 11.

 

(3) For purposes of this Section 11, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.

 

(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, any proxy statement filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 11 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

 

Section 12. CERTAIN SHARE ACQUISITIONS. The tender offer commenced by Gould Investors L.P. (“Gould”) on December 27, 1988, as such tender offer was amended on January 17, 1989, and as such tender offer may be further amended from time to time and any other acquisition by Gould of equity securities of the Corporation following the adoption of this Section 12 shall be exempt from any and all provisions of proposed Subtitle 7 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law entitled “Corporations and Associations -- Special Voting Requirements and Control Share Acquisitions” (as such act or any act of similar import is now proposed or as it may be later introduced in, adopted, or later amended by the Maryland General Assembly) as, if and when such act becomes effective. Notwithstanding any other provision of these By-Laws, this Section 12 may not be amended, altered or repealed without either the written consent of Gould or the approval of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock.

 

10

 

 

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1. GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation, except such as are by law or by the Charter or by these By-Laws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders

 

Section 2. NUMBER OF DIRECTORS. The number of directors of the Corporation shall be three (3). By vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, the number of directors fixed by the Charter or by these By-Laws may be increased or decreased by resolution from time-to-time, but may not exceed twelve (12) nor be less than three (3). The tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors so made by the board.

 

Section 3. ELECTION AND TERM. The directors of the Corporation shall be classified with respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them into three classes, each class to be as nearly equal in number as possible, which classes shall be designated as Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Subject to the provisions hereof, the number of directors in each class shall from time to time be designated by the Board of Directors of the Corporation pursuant to these by-laws. At each annual meeting, the successors to the class of directors whose terms shall expire that year shall be elected to hold office for a term of three years so that each term of office of one class of directors shall expire in each year.

 

Section 4. VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all of the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, even if such majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. Any individual so elected as director shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies.

 

Section 5. REMOVAL OF DIRECTORS. Only the stockholders may, at any meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present, by the affirmative vote or consent of the holders of a majority of all of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, remove any director or directors from office, and only for cause, and may elect a successor or successors to fill any resulting vacancies for the unexpired terms of removed directors.

 

Section 6. PLACE OF ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. The annual and regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held in or out of the State of Maryland at such place as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in the notice of such meeting.

 

Section 7. ANNUAL MEETING. The first meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors may be held as soon as practicable after the annual meeting of the stockholders at which the directors were elected. The meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors, or as shall be specified in a written waiver signed by all of the directors, except that no notice shall be necessary if such meeting is held immediately after the adjournment, and at the site, of the meeting of stockholders.

 

Section 8. REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time and place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

 

11

 

 

Section 9. SPECIAL MEETINGS; NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by two or more directors of the Corporation, by the Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer or the President. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

 

Section 10. QUORUM AND VOTING. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the action of a majority of the directors present at any meeting, at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such act by statute, the Charter or these By-Laws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of directors, the directors present at the meeting may, by a majority vote adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present.

 

Section 11. ORGANIZATION. The Chairman of the Board shall preside at each meeting of the Board. In the absence or inability of the Chairman of the Board to preside at a meeting, the President, or, in his or her absence or inability to act, another director chosen by a majority of the Directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat. The Secretary (or, in his or her absence or inability to act, any person appointed by the Chairman shall act as Secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.

 

Section 12. MEETING BY CONFERENCE TELEPHONE. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.

 

Section 13. CONSENT IN LIEU OF 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 a written consent to such action is signed by all members of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.

 

Section 14. COMPENSATION. Directors may receive compensation for services to the Corporation in their capacities as directors in such manner and in such amounts as may be fixed from time to time by the Board, and expenses of attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof.

 

Section 15. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Any director or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.

 

12

 

 

Section 16. EMERGENCY PROVISIONS. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 16 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (a) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director by any means feasible under the circumstances; (b) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television, radio or electronic transmission; and (c) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.

 

ARTICLE IV

COMMITTEES OF DIRECTORS

 

Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members one or more committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member.

 

Section 2. POWERS. The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, any committee may delegate some or all of its power and authority to one or more subcommittees, composed of one or more directors, as the committee deems appropriate in its sole and absolute discretion.

 

Section 3. MEETINGS. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide.

 

Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

 

Section 5. CONSENT BY COMMITTEES WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

 

13

 

 

Section 6. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

 

ARTICLE V

OFFICERS AND AGENTS

 

Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board, a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents, a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the Board of Directors. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

 

Section 2. COMPENSATION. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.

 

Section 3. REMOVAL; VACANCIES; AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent may be removed by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed. If the office of any officer becomes vacant for any reason, the vacancy shall be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term of the office which shall be vacant. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.

 

Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may designate the chairman of the board as an executive or non-executive chairman. The chairman of the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 5. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

Section 6. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

 

14

 

 

Section 7. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

 

Section 8. PRESIDENT. The Board of Directors shall designate a president. In the absence of the designation of a chief executive officer, the president shall supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. In the absence of a designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief operating officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

 

Section 9. VICE PRESIDENTS. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents. In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, assistant vice president, vice president for particular areas of responsibility, and any one or more of the foregoing.

 

Section 10. SECRETARY. The Board of Directors shall designate a secretary. The secretary shall (a) keep, or cause to be kept, the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) serve as, or cause another person to serve as, custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 11. TREASURER. The Board of Directors shall designate a treasurer. The treasurer shall perform such duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer or the Board of Directors.

 

Section 12. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The Board of Directors shall designate one or more assistant secretaries or assistant treasurers. The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors.

 

15

 

 

ARTICLE VI

CERTIFICATES OF STOCK

 

Section 1. CERTIFICATES. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Corporation, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in any manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

 

Section 2. TRANSFERS. All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe and, if such shares are certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

 

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

 

Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. The Chief Executive Officer, President and Secretary of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation has determined that such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.

 

Section 4. FIXING OF A RECORD DATE. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

 

16

 

 

When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this Section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if postponed or adjourned, except if the meeting is postponed or adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting shall be determined as set forth herein.

 

Section 5. STOCK LEDGER. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

 

Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional shares of stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of units consisting of different securities of the Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a specified period securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.

 

ARTICLE VII

DIVIDENDS

 

Subject to the provisions of law and the Charter, dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors and may be paid in cash, property, or stock of the Corporation. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund to meet contingencies, or for equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.

 

ARTICLE VIII

ANNUAL STATEMENT

 

The Corporation shall prepare or cause to be prepared annually a statement of the affairs of the Corporation including a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year, which shall be distributed to stockholders prior to the annual meeting of stockholders.

 

ARTICLE IX

CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS

 

Section 1. CONTRACTS. The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by the chief executive officer, the president or any other person authorized by the Board of Directors.

 

17

 

 

Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or such other officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer or the treasurer.

 

Section 3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation as the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, the treasurer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.

 

ARTICLE XI

WAIVER OF NOTICE

 

Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been lawfully called or convened.

 

ARTICLE XII

SEAL

 

The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words “Corporate Seal, Maryland”. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or otherwise.

 

ARTICLE XIII

EXCLUSIVE FORUMS FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION

 

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, either the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or the Supreme Court of Nassau County, New York, or, if neither such court has jurisdiction, the United States District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, shall be the sole and exclusive forums for (a) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in Section 1-101(q) of the MGCL, or any successor provision thereof, (b) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation, other than actions arising under federal securities laws, (c) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the stockholders of the Corporation, (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Charter or these Bylaws, or (e) any other action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland, the Supreme Court of Nassau County, New York, or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York unless the Corporation consents in writing to such court.

 

18

 

 

ARTICLE XIV

AMENDMENTS

 

The Board of Directors shall have the power, at any regular meeting or at any special meeting, to alter, modify or repeal any By-Laws of the Corporation and to make new By-Laws except that the Board of Directors shall not alter, modify or repeal or any By-Laws made by the stockholders.

 

The stockholders shall have the power, at any annual meeting or at any special meeting if notice thereof be included in the notice of such special meeting, to alter, modify or repeal any By-Laws of the Corporation and to make new By-Laws by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total number of shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon.

 

 

 

 

19