EX-3 2 exh3-1.htm EXH. 3.1

 

ANTHRACITE CAPITAL, INC.

AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

 

ARTICLE I

 

OFFICES

Section 1.          PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICE. The principal executive office of the Corporation shall be located at such place or places as the Board of Directors may designate.

Section 2.          ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Corporation may have additional offices 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 within the United States as shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.

Section 2.          ANNUAL MEETING. The Corporation shall hold an annual meeting of its stockholders to elect directors and transact any other business within its powers, at such other time on such other day as shall be set by the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or statute, any business may be considered at an annual meeting without the purpose of the meeting having been specified in the notice. Failure to hold an annual meeting does not invalidate the Corporation’s existence or affect any otherwise valid corporate acts.

Section 3.          SPECIAL MEETINGS. The president, chief executive officer, Board of Directors or a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors may call special meetings of the stockholders. Special meetings of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation upon the written request of the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such request shall state the purpose of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at such meeting. The secretary shall inform such stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing notice of the meeting and, upon payment to the Corporation by such stockholders of such costs, the secretary shall give notice to each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting.

 

 



 

 

Section 4.          NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting written or printed notice stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, either by mail or by presenting it to such stockholder personally or by leaving it at his residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at his post office address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.

Section 5.          SCOPE OF NOTICE. 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.

Section 6.          ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the board of directors, if there be one, shall conduct the meeting or, in the case of vacancy in office or absence of the chairman of the board of directors, one of the following officers present shall conduct the meeting in the order stated: the chief executive officer, if there be one, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or a chairman chosen by the stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all stockholders present in person or by proxy are entitled to cast, shall act as chairman, and the secretary, or, in his absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of both the secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the chairman shall act as secretary.

Section 7.          QUORUM. Unless the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation provides otherwise, at a 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 the meeting shall constitute a quorum. Whether or not a quorum is present, a meeting of stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time to time without further notice by a majority vote of the stockholders present in person or by proxy to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified may be deferred and transacted at any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present.

Section 8.          VOTING; PROXIES. Unless the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation provides otherwise, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders and majority of all the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to approve any matter which properly comes before the meeting, except that a plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director. In all elections for directors, each share of stock may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A stockholder may vote the stock the stockholder owns of record either in person or by proxy. A stockholder may sign a writing authorizing another person to act as proxy. Signing may be accomplished by the stockholder or the stockholder’s authorized agent signing the writing or causing the stockholder’s signature to be affixed to the

 

 



 

writing by any reasonable means, including facsimile signature. A stockholder may authorize another person to act as proxy by transmitting, or authorizing the transmission of, a telegram, cablegram, datagram, or other means of electronic transmission to the person authorized to act as proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service organization, or other person authorized by the person who will act as proxy to receive the transmission. Unless a proxy provides otherwise, it is not valid more than 11 months after its date. A proxy is revocable by a stockholder at any time without condition or qualification unless the proxy states that it is irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest. A proxy may be made irrevocable for so long as it is coupled with an interest. The interest with which a proxy may be coupled includes an interest in the stock to be voted under the proxy or another general interest in the Corporation or its assets or liabilities.

Section 9.          VOTING OF STOCK BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the stockholder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

Section 10.       INSPECTORS. At any meeting of stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting. Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares represented at the meeting based upon their determination of the validity and effect of proxies, count all votes, report the results and perform such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all the stockholders. Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

Section 11.       NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY STOCKHOLDERS. (a) ANNUAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS. (1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of 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 both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11(a).

(2)              For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii)

 

 



 

of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more than 60 days from such anniversary date or if the Corporation has not previously held an annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above. Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth (i) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (x) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, and of such beneficial owner and (y) the number of shares of each class of stock of the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such stockholder and such beneficial owner.

(3)              Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(2) 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 by the Corporation naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary of 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 offices of the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.

 

 

 



 

 

(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. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11(b) and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11(b). In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such position as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice containing the information required by paragraph (a)(2) of this Section 11 shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th 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. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.

(c)          GENERAL. (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 shall be eligible to serve 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 the procedures set forth in this Section 11. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 11 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 11, to declare that such nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.

(2)              For purposes of this Section 11, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(3)              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 and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.

 

 

 



 

 

Section 12.       VOTING BY BALLOT. Voting on any question or in any election may be viva voce unless the presiding officer shall order or any stockholder shall demand that voting be by ballot.

ARTICLE III

 

DIRECTORS

Section 1.          GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors, which may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation, except such as are by law or by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or by these Bylaws conferred upon or reserved to the stockholders.

Section 2.          UNAFFILIATED MAJORITY. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors, or any committee of the Board of Directors, shall at all times after the first annual meeting of stockholders be Unaffiliated Directors.

Section 3.         TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of stock separately entitled to elect one or more directors, at each annual meeting the stockholders shall elect directors to hold office until the next annual meeting and until their successors are elected and qualified. At any regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that the purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than three, but never less than the minimum number required by the General Laws of the State of Maryland, nor more than nine, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.

The directors shall be divided into three classes as follows: (1) the term of office of Class I shall be until the 1998 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified and thereafter shall be for three years and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified; (2) the term of office of Class II shall be until the 1999 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified and thereafter shall be for three years and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified; and (3) the term of office of Class III shall be until the 2000 annual meeting of stockholders and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified and thereafter shall be for three years and until their successors shall be elected and have qualified. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible. A director elected by stockholders shall hold office until the annual meeting for the year in which his or her term expires and until his or her successor shall be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office.

Section 4.          REGULAR MEETINGS. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held not less frequently than once per calendar quarter, with one such regular meeting of the Board of Directors being held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of

 

 



 

Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

Section 5.          SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board of directors, president or by a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them.

Section 6.          CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS. The chairman of the board of directors shall preside, if present, at all meetings of the Board of Directors (if the chairman of the board of directors is not present at a meeting, then the chief executive officer of the Corporation shall preside at such meeting). The chairman of the board of directors shall see that all orders and resolutions of the Board of Directors are carried into effect and shall from time to time report to the Board of Directors all matters within his or her knowledge which the interests of the Corporation may require to be brought to their notice. The chairman of the board of directors shall also perform such other duties and he or she may exercise such other powers as from time to time may be delegated to him or her by the Board of Directors.

Section 7.          NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, facsimile transmission, United States mail or courier to each director at his business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, by telephone or a facsimile transmission shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Notice by mail shall be given at least five days prior to the meeting and shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which he is a party. 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. 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 8.          QUORUM. A majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the directors present by majority vote and without notice other than by announcement may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum shall attend. At any such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.

Section 9.          VOTING. Unless applicable law, the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws requires a greater proportion, the action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present is the action of the Board of Directors.

Section 10.       TELEPHONE MEETINGS. 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 shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

Section 11.       ACTION BY DIRECTORS WITHOUT A MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if an unanimous written consent which sets forth the action is signed by each member of the Board and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

Section 12.       VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder (even if fewer than three directors remain). Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of stock separately entitled to elect one or more directors, the stockholders may elect a successor to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results from the removal of a director. A director elected by the stockholders to fill a vacancy which results from the removal of a director serves for the balance of the term of the removed director. Subject to the rights of the holders of any class of stock separately entitled to elect one or more directors, a majority of the remaining directors, whether or not sufficient to constitute quorum, may fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results from any cause except an increase in the number of directors; provided, however, that Unaffiliated Directors shall nominate replacements for vacancies among the Unaffiliated Directors, which must be elected by a majority of the directors, including a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors. A majority of the entire Board of Directors may fill a vacancy which results from an increase in the number of directors. A director elected by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy serves until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualifies. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors shall affect the tenure of office of any director.

Section 13.       COMPENSATION. The Corporation will pay annual, meeting and other fees for service as a director and/or chairperson or member of a committee of the Board of Directors as determined from time to time by resolution of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, provided, however, that such payments will be made to Affiliated Directors only if approved by a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors. All Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee thereof or of each annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Nothing herein contained shall preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

Section 14.       COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may from time to time, by resolution adopted by a majority of the Board, designate one or more committees of the Board, each such committee to consist of three or more directors, the majority of which shall be Unaffiliated Directors, and to have such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may, by resolution, prescribe. Notwithstanding anything contained within this Section 14 to the contrary, the Board of Directors may at any time designate a pricing committee to approve pricing terms with respect to the Company’s securities (a “Pricing Committee”) and any such Pricing Committee may consist of one or more directors without regard for whether such director or directors are Unaffiliated Directors.

 

 

 



 

 

One-third, but not less than two, of the members of any committee (other than a Pricing Committee) shall be present in person at any meeting of such committee and a majority of the members present shall be Unaffiliated Directors in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the act of a majority present at such meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board may designate a chairman of any committee and such chairman or any two members of any committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall otherwise provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member, provided a majority of the present directors are Unaffiliated Directors. The Board shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill all vacancies, to designate alternate members to replace any absent or disqualified member, or to dissolve any such committee. Nothing herein shall be deemed to prevent the Board from appointing one or more committees consisting in whole or in part of persons who are not directors of the Corporation; provided, however, that no such committee shall have or may exercise any authority or power of the Board in the management of the business or affairs of the corporation.

Section 15.       LOSS OF DEPOSITS. No director shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or other institution with whom moneys or stock have been deposited.

Section 16.       SURETY BONDS. Unless required by law, no director shall be obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of his duties.

Section 17.       RELIANCE. Each director, officer, employee and agent of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his duties with respect to the Corporation, be fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Corporation, upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Corporation by any of its officers or employees or by the adviser, accountants, appraisers or other experts or consultants selected by the Board of Directors or officers of the Corporation, regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a director.

Section 18.       INVESTMENT POLICIES AND RESTRICTIONS. The investment policies of the Corporation and the restrictions thereon shall be established from time to time by the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors; provided, however, that the investment policies of the Corporation and the limitations thereon shall be at all times in compliance with the restrictions applicable to real estate investment trusts pursuant to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as it be amended from time to time. The Unaffiliated Directors shall review the investment policies of the Corporation at least quarterly to determine that the policies then being followed by the Corporation are in the best interests of its stockholders. Each such determination and the basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the Board of Directors.

Section 19.       MANAGEMENT AGREEMENTS. The Board of Directors may engage a Manager to advise the Board of Directors and be responsible for directing the day-to-day business affairs of the Corporation under the supervision of the Board of Directors pursuant

 

 



 

to a written agreement or agreements. The approval of any such management agreement and the renewal or termination thereof shall require the affirmative vote of a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors.

The Board of Directors shall evaluate the performance of the Manager before entering into or renewing any management agreement. The minutes of the meetings with respect to such evaluation shall reflect the criteria used by the Board of Directors in making such evaluation. Upon any termination of the management agreement described in the initial registration statement of this Corporation’s initial public offering of securities, the Board of Directors shall determine that any successor Manager possesses sufficient qualifications (a) to perform the management function for the Corporation and (b) to justify the compensation provided for in its contract with the Corporation. Each extension of the contract for the services of a Manager entered into by the Board of Directors shall have a term of no more than two years.

In determining whether to enter into or renew any management agreement, the Unaffiliated Directors shall consider the following factors and all other factors that they may deem relevant and their findings on each of such factors shall be recorded in the minutes of the Board of Directors:

(a)          The size of management fee in relation to the size and profitability of the investment portfolio of the Corporation;

(b)          The success of the Manager in generating opportunities that meet the investment objectives of the Corporation;

(c)          The quality and extent of service and advice furnished by the Manager to the Corporation;

(d)          The rates charged to other corporations similar to the Corporation and to other investors by advisers performing similar services; and

(e)          Additional revenues realized by the Manager and its Affiliates through their relationship with the Corporation, including loan administration, underwriting or broker commissions, servicing, engineering, inspection and other fees, whether paid by the Corporation or by others with whom the Corporation does business.

Section 20.       RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. A majority of the Unaffiliated Directors shall approve general guidelines (“Guidelines”) for the Corporation’s investments, borrowings and operations, and the Unaffiliated Directors shall conduct a quarterly review of all transactions engaged in by the Corporation, including transactions with the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager, to insure compliance with the Guidelines. Except as provided in the Guidelines, the Unaffiliated Directors shall not be required to approve transactions between the Corporation and the Manager or any Affiliate of the Manager.

Section 21.       MANAGEMENT BY DIRECTORS. Should the Board of Directors elect to delegate the duty of management of the Corporation’s assets and administration of the Corporation’s day-to-day operations to a Manager the directors of the Corporation will not be required to devote their full time to the affairs of the Corporation;

 

 



 

provided that the directors devote so much of their time to the Corporation’s affairs as is necessary or required for the effective conduct and operation of the Corporation’s business.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

OFFICERS

Section 1.          GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a president and 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 senior vice presidents or 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 appoint such other officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after each annual meeting of stockholders, except that the chief executive officer or president may appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers. If the election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be convenient. Each officer shall hold office until his successor is elected and qualifies or until his death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. In its discretion, the Board of Directors may leave unfilled any office except that of president, treasurer and secretary. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.

Section 2.          REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the president or the secretary. Any resignation shall take effect at any time subsequent to the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective is not specified therein, immediately upon its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the officer, agent or Corporation.

Section 3.          VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification, or any other cause, may be filled by the Board of Directors or by the officer to which the power to fill such office has been delegated for the balance of the term.

Section 4.          CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. 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. If the

 

 



 

chairman of the board of directors is not present at a meeting of the Board of Directors then the chief executive officer of the Corporation shall act as the chairman of the board of directors at such meeting and shall preside over such meeting.

Section 5.          CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 6.          CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Board of Directors may designate a chief financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.

Section 7.          PRESIDENT. The president or chief executive officer, as the case may be, subject to the control of the directors, shall in general 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 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 8.          VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the president, in the event of a vacancy in such office or in event of his death, inability or refusal to act, 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 appointment or election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order of their appointment or 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 him by the president or by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one or more vice presidents as executive vice president or as vice president for particular areas of responsibility.

Section 9.          SECRETARY. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the share transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the chief executive officer, the president or by the Board of Directors.

Section 10.       TREASURER. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be

 

 



 

designated by the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer of the Corporation.

The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

If required by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall give the Corporation a bond in such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other property of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Corporation.

Section 11.      ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the president or the Board of Directors. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.

Section 12.       SALARIES. The salaries and other compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director.

 

ARTICLE V

 

CONTRACTS, LOANS, 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 executed by one or more of the directors or by an authorized person shall be valid and binding upon the Board of Directors and upon the Corporation when authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors.

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

Section 3.          DEPOSITS. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of Directors may designate.

 

 

 



 

 

ARTICLE VI

 

STOCK

Section 1.          CERTIFICATES. Each stockholder is entitled to certificates which represent and certify the shares of stock he or she holds in the Corporation. Each stock certificate shall include on its face the name of the Corporation, the name of the stockholder or other person to whom it is issued, and the class of stock and number of shares it represents. It shall also include on its face or back (a) a statement of any restrictions on transferability and (b) a statement which provides in substance that the Corporation will furnish to any stockholder on request and without charge a full statement of the designations and any preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption of the stock of each class which the Corporation is authorized to issue, of the difference in the relative rights and preferences between the shares of each series of a preferred or special class in series which the Corporation is authorized to issue, to the extent they have been set, and of the authority of the Board of Directors to set the relative rights and preferences of subsequent series of a preferred or special class of stock and any restrictions on transferability. Such request may be made to the secretary or to its transfer agent. It shall be in such form, not inconsistent with law or with the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, as shall be approved by the Board of Directors or any officer or officers designated for such purpose by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each stock certificate shall be signed by the chairman of the board, the president, or a senior vice-president, and countersigned by the secretary, an assistant secretary, the treasurer, or an assistant treasurer. Each certificate may be sealed with the actual corporate seal or a facsimile of it or in any other form and the signatures may be either manual or facsimile signatures. A certificate is valid and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an officer when it is issued. A certificate may not be issued until the stock represented by it is fully paid.

Section 2.         TRANSFERS. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a stock certificate duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

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

Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class of stock will be subject in all respects to the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

Section 3.          REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer designated by the Board of Directors may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate previously

 

 



 

issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing the issuance of a new certificate, an officer designated by the Board of Directors may, in his discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner’s legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he shall require and/or to give bond, with sufficient surety, to the Corporation to indemnify it against any loss or claim which may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.

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

In lieu of fixing a record date, the Board of Directors may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days. If the stock transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten days before the date of such meeting.

If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination of stockholders, (a) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting; and (b) the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of business on the day on which the resolution of the directors, declaring the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted.

When a determination of stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders has been made as provided in this Section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date shall be determined as set forth herein.

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

 

 

 



 

 

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

Section 7.         EXEMPTION FROM CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION STATUTE. To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law, the capital stock of the Corporation shall be exempt from the provisions of Sections 3-701 to 3-709 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (as the same may be amended) and any successor statutes.

ARTICLE VII

 

ACCOUNTING YEAR

The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31st of each year. The Board of Directors shall have the power from time to time to change the fiscal year provided that such change does not cause the Corporation to fail to qualify as a REIT.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 1.          AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized and declared by the Board of Directors and may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law, the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and the provisions of any marketing obligations or guarantees thereof, incurred by the Corporation, to insure that the Corporation satisfies the requirements for qualification as a REIT.

Section 2.          CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine to be in the best interest of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

 

 

 



 

 

ARTICLE IX

 

INVESTMENT POLICY

Subject to the provisions of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors, may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion; provided, however, that an affirmative vote of a super majority of the Unaffiliated Directors and of the Board of Directors, and an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote thereon will be required to change the Company’s status as a REIT.

ARTICLE X

 

SEAL

Section 1.          SEAL. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation and the year of its incorporation and the words “Incorporated in Maryland.” The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

Section 2.         AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word “(SEAL)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

ARTICLE XI

 

INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES

The Corporation shall indemnify and hold harmless and, without requiring a determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay reasonable expenses in advance of the final disposition of any proceeding to (A) its present and former directors and officers, whether serving the Corporation or at its request any other entity, to the full extent required or permitted by the General Laws of the State of Maryland now or hereafter in force, including the advance of expenses under the procedures and to the full extent permitted by law and (B) other employees and agents to such extent as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors or the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and be permitted by law. The foregoing rights of indemnification shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled. The Board of Directors may take such action as is necessary to carry out these indemnification provisions and is expressly empowered to adopt, approve and amend from time to time such resolutions or contracts implementing such provisions or such further indemnification arrangements as may be permitted by law.

Any indemnification, or payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition of any proceeding, shall be made promptly, and in any event within 60 days, upon the written request of the director or officer entitled to seek indemnification (the “Indemnified Party”). The

 

 



 

right to indemnification and advances hereunder shall be enforceable by the Indemnified Party in any court of competent jurisdiction, if (i) the Corporation denies such request, in whole or in part, or (ii) no disposition thereof is made within 60 days. The Indemnified Party’s costs and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be reimbursed by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any action for advance for expenses that (a) a determination has been made that the facts then known to those making the determination would preclude indemnification or (b) the Corporation has not received both (i) an undertaking as required by law to repay such advances in the event it shall ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met and (ii) a written affirmation by the Indemnified Party of such Indemnified Party’s good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met.

The indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and these By-Laws shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification or advance of expenses may be entitled under any law (common or statutory), or any agreement, vote of stockholders or Unaffiliated Directors or other provision that is consistent with law, both as to action in his or her official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office or while employed by or acting as agent for the Corporation, shall continue in respect of all events occurring while a person was a director or officer after such person has ceased to be a director or officer, and shall inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of such person. The Corporation shall not be liable for any payment under this Bylaw in connection with a claim made by a director or officer to the extent such director or officer has otherwise actually received payment under insurance policy, agreement, vote or otherwise, of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable hereunder. All rights to indemnification and advance of expenses under the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and hereunder shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while this Bylaw is in effect. Nothing herein shall prevent the amendment of this Bylaw, provided that no such amendment shall diminish the rights of any person hereunder with respect to events occurring or claims made before its adoption or as to claims made after its adoption in respect of events occurring before its adoption. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification or advance of expenses of such director or officer or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to events occurring, or claims made, while this Bylaw or any provision hereof is in force.

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article XI, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of these Bylaws or the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation inconsistent with this Article XI, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.

 

 

 



 

 

ARTICLE XII

 

WAIVER OF NOTICE

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

ARTICLE XIII

 

AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

In accordance with the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, these Bylaws may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded by the stockholders of the Corporation only by vote of not less than two-thirds of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors (considered for this purpose as one class) cast at a meeting of the stockholders called for that purpose (provided that notice of such proposed repeal, alteration, amendment or rescission is included in the notice of such meeting); provided, however, that without the approval of stockholders of the Corporation, the Board of Directors may amend these Bylaws to make any change necessary or, in the opinion of the Board of Directors, advisable to comply with changes in the Code imposing additional or different transfer restrictions on stockholders of any entity seeking to qualify as a REIT. In addition, except as otherwise provided in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation and in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may repeal, alter, amend or rescind these Bylaws by vote of a majority of the Board of Directors at a meeting held in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; provided, however, that Sections 19 and 20 of Article III hereof may be repealed, altered, amended or rescinded only by a majority of the Unaffiliated Directors.

 

Adopted March 20, 1998

Amended May 22, 2007