EX-3.(II) 13 ex35.htm EXHIBIT 3.5, BY-LAWS

EXHIBIT 3.5

 

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

PREMIER INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 


 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

 

Page

 

ARTICLE ONE: OFFICES

4

1.01 Offices

4

 

ARTICLE TWO: SHAREHOLDERS

4

2.01 Annual Meetings

4

2.02 Special Meetings

4

2.03 Place of Meetings

4

2.04 Notice

5

2.05 Voting List

5

2.06 Voting of Shares

5

2.07 Quorum: Withdrawal of Quorum

5

2.08 Majority Vote

6

2.09 Method of Voting: Proxies

6

2.10 Closing of Transfer Records: Record Date

6

2.11 Officers' Duties at Meetings

7

2.12 Action Without Meeting

7

 

ARTICLE THREE: DIRECTORS

7

 

3.01 Management

7

 

3.02 Number: Election: Term: Qualification

7

 

3.03 Changes in Number

8

 

3.04 Removal

8

 

3.05 Vacancies

8

 

3.06 Place of Meetings

8

 

3.07 First Meeting

9

 

3.08 Annual Meeting

9

 

3.09 Special Meetings: Notice

9

 

3.10 Quorum: Majority Vote

9

 

3.11 Procedure: Minutes

9

 

3.12 Presumption of Assent

9

 

3.13 Compensation

9

 

3.14. Action Without Meeting

10

 

ARTICLE FOUR: COMMITTEES

10

4.01 Designation

10

4.02 Number: Qualification: Term

10

4.03 Authority

10

4.04 Committee Changes

11

4.05 Regular Meetings

11

4.06 Special Meetings

11

4.07 Quorum: Majority Vote

12

4.08 Minutes

12

 

 

2

 


 

 

4.09 Compensation

12

4.10 Responsibility

12

 

ARTICLE FIVE: GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO MEETINGS

12

5.01 Notice

12

5.02 Waiver of Notice

12

5.03 Telephone and Similar Meetings

13

 

ARTICLE SIX: OFFICERS AND OTHER AGENTS

13

6.01 Number: Titles: Election: Term: Qualification

13

6.02 Removal

13

6.03 Vacancies

13

6.04 Authority

13

6.05 Compensation

13

6.06 Chairman of the Board

13

6.07 President

14

6.08 Vice Presidents

14

6.09 Treasurer

14

6.10 Assistant Treasurers

14

6.11 Secretary

15

6.12 Assistant Secretaries

15

 

ARTICLE SEVEN: CERTIFICATES AND SHAREHOLDERS

15

7.01 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares

15

7.02 Certificates for Certificated Shares

15

7.03 Issuance

16

7.04 Consideration for Shares

16

7.05 Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates

16

7.06 Transfer of Shares

17

7.07 Registered Shareholders

17

7.08 Legends

17

7.09 Regulations

17

 

ARTICLE EIGHT: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

18

8.01 Dividends

18

8.02 Books and Records

18

8.03 Fiscal Year

18

8.04 Seal

18

8.05 Attestation by the Secretary

18

8.06 Resignation

18

8.07 Securities of Other Corporations

19

8.08 Amendment of Bylaws

19

8.09 Invalid Provisions

19

8.10 Headings: Table of Contents

19

 

 

 

3

 


 

 

BYLAWS

 

OF

 

PREMIER INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY

 

A Florida Corporation

 

PREAMBLE

 

These bylaws are subject to the articles of incorporation of PREMIER INDEMNITY INSURANCE COMPANY, (the "Corporation"). In the event of a direct conflict between the provisions of these bylaws and the articles of incorporation of the Corporation, such provisions of the articles of incorporation of the Corporation, as the case may be, will be controlling.

 

ARTICLE ONE: OFFICES

 

1.01 Offices. The Corporation may have offices at such places, both within and without the State of Florida, as the board of directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

 

ARTICLE TWO: SHAREHOLDERS

 

2.01 Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of shareholders of the Corporation shall be held during each calendar year on such date prior to ________ of each year and at such time as shall be designated by the board of directors and stated in the notice of the meeting, if not a legal holiday in the place where the meeting is to be held, and, if a legal holiday in such place, then on the next business day following, at the time specified in the notice of the meeting. At such meeting, the shareholders shall elect directors and transact such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.

 

2.02 Special Meetings. A special meeting of the shareholders may be called at any time by the chairman of the board, the president, the board of directors, or the holders of not less than ten percent of all shares entitled to vote at such meeting. Only business within the purpose or purposes described in the notice of special meeting may be conducted at such special meeting.

 

2.03 Place of Meetings. The annual meeting of shareholders may be held at any place within or without the State of Florida designated by the board of directors. Special meetings of shareholders may be held at any place within or without the State of Florida designated by the person or persons calling such special meeting as provided in Section 2.02 above. Meetings of shareholders shall be held at the principal office of the

 

4

 


 

Corporation unless another place is designated for meetings in the manner provided herein.

 

2.04 Notice. Except as otherwise provided by law, written or printed notice stating the place, day, and hour of each meeting of the shareholders and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less than ten nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting by or at the direction of the president, the secretary, or the person calling the meeting, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting.

 

2.05 Voting List. At least ten days before each meeting of shareholders, the secretary shall prepare a complete list of shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, including the address of each shareholder and the number of voting shares held by each shareholder. For a period often days prior to such meeting, such list shall be kept on file at the registered office or principal place of business of the Corporation and shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder during usual business hours. Such list shall be produced at such meeting, and at all times during such meeting shall be subject to inspection by any shareholder. The original share transfer records shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such list.

 

2.06 Voting of Shares. Treasury shares, shares of the Corporation's own stock owned by another corporation the majority of the voting stock of which is owned or controlled by the Corporation, and shares of the Corporation's own stock held by the Corporation in a fiduciary capacity shall not be shares entitled to vote or to be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares. Shares standing in the name of another domestic or foreign corporation of any type or kind may be voted by such officer, agent, or proxy as the bylaws of such corporation may authorize or, in the absence of such authorization, as the board of directors of such corporation may determine, Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian, or conservator may be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into his name so long as such shares form a part of the estate served by him and are in the possession of such estate. Shares held by a trustee may be voted by him, either in person or in proxy, only after the shares have been transferred into his name as trustee. Shares standing in the name of a receiver maybe voted by such receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by such receiver without transfer of such shares into his name if authority to do so is contained in the court order by which such receiver was appointed. A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such shares until they have been transferred into the name of the pledgee, and thereafter, the pledgee shall be entitled to vote such shares.

 

2.07 Quorum: Withdrawal of Quorum. A quorum shall be present at a meeting of shareholders if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote are represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, except as otherwise provided by law or the articles of incorporation. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of shareholders, the shareholders represented in person or by proxy at such meeting may adjourn the

 

5

 


 

meeting until such time and to such place as may be determined by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares represented in person or by proxy at that meeting. Once a quorum is present at a meeting of shareholders, the shareholders represented in person or by proxy at the meeting may conduct such business as may be properly brought before the meeting until it is adjourned, and the subsequent withdrawal from the meeting of any shareholder or the refusal of any shareholder represented in person or by proxy to vote shall not affect the presence of a quorum at the meeting.

 

2.08 Majority Vote. Directors of the Corporation shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of the Corporation at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present. Except as otherwise provided by law, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws, with respect to any matter, the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the Corporation's shares entitled to 'vote on that matter and represented in person or by proxy at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the shareholders.

 

2.09 Method of Voting: Proxies. Every shareholder of record shall be entitled at every meeting of shareholders to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote, for every share standing in his name on the original share transfer records of the Corporation except to the extent that the voting rights of the shares of any class or classes are increased, limited, or denied by the articles of incorporation. Such share transfer records shall be prima facie evidence as to the identity of shareholders entitled to vote. At any meeting of shareholders, every shareholder having the right to vote may vote either in person or by a proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Each such proxy shall be filed with the secretary of the Corporation before, or at the time of, the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after eleven months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. If no date is stated on a proxy, such proxy shall be presumed to have been executed on the date of the meeting at which it is to be voted. Each proxy shall be revocable unless the proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and the proxy is coupled with an interest.

 

2.10 Closing of Transfer Records: Record Date. For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive a distribution (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose (other than determining shareholders entitled to consent to action by shareholders proposed to be taken without a meeting of shareholders), the board of directors may provide that the share transfer records of the Corporation shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed in any event sixty days. If the share transfer records are closed for the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of shareholders, such records shall be closed for at least ten days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu of closing the share transfer records, the board of directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than sixty days and, in case of a

 

6

 


 

meeting of shareholders, not less than ten days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken. If the share transfer records are not closed and if no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, a meeting of shareholders or entitled to receive a distribution (other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, the date on which the notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the board of directors declaring such distribution or share dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this Section 2.10, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof except where the determination has been made through the closing of the share transfer records and the stated period of closing has expired.

 

2.11 Officers' Duties at Meetings. The president shall preside at, and the secretary shall prepare minutes of, each meeting of shareholders, and in the absence of either such officer, his duties shall be performed by some person or persons elected by the vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, present in person or represented by proxy.

 

2.12 Action Without Meeting. Any action which may be taken, or which is required by law or the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Corporation to be taken, at any annual or special meeting of shareholders, may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall have been signed by the holder or holders of shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to take such action at a meeting at which the holders of all shares entitled to vote on the action were present and voted. The signed consent or consents of shareholders shall be placed in the minute books of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE THREE: DIRECTORS

 

3.01 Management. The powers of the Corporation shall be exercised by or under the authority of, and the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of, the board of directors.

 

3.02 Number: Election: Term: Qualification. The number of directors which shall constitute the board of directors shall be no fewer than one. The number of directors which shall constitute the entire board of directors shall be determined by resolution of the board of directors at any meeting thereof or by the shareholders at any meeting thereof, but shall never be fewer than one. At each annual meeting of shareholders, directors shall be elected to hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until their successors are elected and qualified. No director need be a shareholder or a resident of the State of Florida.

 

 

7

 


 

 

3.03 Changes in Number. No decrease in the number of directors constituting the entire board of directors shall have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent director. Any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors may be filled by (i) the shareholders at any annual or special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose or (ii) the board of directors for a term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors by the shareholders; provided that the board of directors may not fill more than three such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings of shareholders. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any class or series of shares are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the articles of incorporation, any newly created directorship(s) of such class or series to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of such directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors elected by such class or series then in office or by a sole remaining director so elected or by the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of such class or series, and such directorship(s) shall not in any case be filled by the vote of the remaining directors or by the holders of the outstanding shares of the Corporation as a whole unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.

 

3.04 Removal. At any meeting of shareholders called expressly for that purpose, any director or the entire board of directors may be removed, with or without cause, by a vote of the holders of a majority of the shares then entitled to vote on the election of directors. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any class or series of shares are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the articles of incorporation, only the holders of shares of that class or series shall be entitled to vote for or against the removal of any director elected by the holders of shares of that class or series.

 

3.05 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors may be filled by (i) the shareholders at any annual or special meeting of shareholders called for that purpose or (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors though less than a quorum of the board of directors. A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected to serve for the unexpired term of his predecessor in office. Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any class or series of shares are entitled to elect one or more directors by the provisions of the articles of incorporation, any vacancies in such directorship(s) may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors elected by such class or series then in office or by a sole remaining director so elected or by the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of such class or series, and such directorship(s) shall not in any case be filled by the vote of the remaining directors or the holders of the outstanding shares of the Corporation as a whole unless otherwise provided in the articles of incorporation.

 

3.06 Place of Meetings. The board of directors may hold its meetings in such place or places within or without the State of Florida as the board of directors may from time to time determine.

 

 

8

 


 

 

3.07 First Meeting. Each newly elected board of directors may hold a meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction of business, if a quorum is present, immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of shareholders, and notice of such meeting shall not be necessary.

 

3.08 Annual Meeting. The board of directors shall hold an annual meeting at a time and place designated by resolution of the board of directors and communicated to all directors.

 

3.09 Special Meetings: Notice. Special meetings of the board of directors shall be held whenever called by the president or by any director. The person calling any special meeting shall cause notice of such special meeting, including therein the time and place of such special meeting, to be given to each director at least two days before such special meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of the board of directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of any special meeting.

 

3.10 Quorum: Majority Vote. At all meetings of the board of directors, a majority of the number of directors fixed in the manner provided in these bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at a meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. The act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is in attendance shall be the act of the board of directors, unless the act of a greater number is required by law, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws.

 

3.11 Procedure: Minutes. At meetings of the board of directors, business shall be transacted in such order as the board of directors may determine from time to time. The board of directors shall appoint at each meeting a person to preside at the meeting and a person to act as secretary of the meeting. The secretary of the meeting shall prepare minutes of the meeting which shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation for placement in the minute books of the Corporation.

 

3.12 Presumption of Assent. A director of the Corporation who is present at any meeting of the board of directors at which action on any matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action unless his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as secretary of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward any dissent by certified or registered mail to the secretary of the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.

 

3.13 Compensation. Directors, in their capacity as directors, may receive, by resolution of the board of directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attending meetings of the board of directors or a stated salary. No director shall be

 

9

 


 

precluded from serving the Corporation in any other capacity or receiving compensation therefor.

 

3.14. Action Without Meeting. Any action without a meeting of the board of directors shall be limited to those situations where time is of the essence and not in lieu of a regularly-scheduled meeting. Any such action which may be taken, or which is required by law, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws to be taken, at a meeting of the board of directors or any committee may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall have been signed by all of the members of the board of directors or committee, as the case may be, and such consent shall have the same force and effect, as of the date stated therein, as a unanimous vote of such members of the board of directors or committee, as the case may be, and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the Secretary of State of Florida or in any certificate or other document delivered to any person. The consent may be in one or more counterparts so long as each director or committee member signs one of the counterparts. The signed consent shall be placed in the minutes of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE FOUR: COMMITTEES

 

4.01 Designation. The board of directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors, designate one or more committees.

 

4.02 Number: Qualification: Term. The board of directors, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors, shall designate at least three of its members as members of any committee and may designate one or more of its members as alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any limitations imposed by the board of directors, replace absent or disqualified members at any meeting of that committee. The number of committee members may be increased or decreased from time to time by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire board of directors provided that at no time will there be less than the minimum number of three members. Each committee member shall serve as such until the earliest of (i) the expiration of his term as director, (ii) his resignation as a committee member or as a director, or (iii) his removal, as a committee member or as a director.

 

4.03 Authority. Each committee, to the extent expressly provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all of the authority of the board of directors, including, without limitation, the authority to authorize a distribution and to authorize the issuance of shares of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, however, no committee shall have the authority of the board of directors in reference to:

 

 

(a)

amending the articles of incorporation;

 

 

10

 


 

 

 

(b)

proposing a reduction of the stated capital of the Corporation;

 

 

(c)

approving a plan of merger or share exchange of the Corporation;

 

 

 

(d)

recommending to the shareholders the sale, lease, or exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the Corporation otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its business;

 

 

 

 

(e)

recommending to the shareholders a voluntary dissolution of the corporation or a revocation thereof;

 

 

 

 

(f)

amending, altering, or repealing these bylaws or adopting new bylaws of the Corporation;

 

 

 

 

(g)

filling vacancies in the board of directors;

 

 

 

 

(h)

filling vacancies in, or designating alternate members of any committee;

 

 

 

 

(i)

filling any directorship to be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors;

 

 

 

 

(j)

electing or removing officers of the Corporation or members or alternate members of any committee;

 

 

 

 

(k)

fixing the compensation of any member or alternate member of any committee; or

 

 

 

 

(l)

altering or repealing any resolution of the board of directors that by its terms provides that it shall not be amendable or repealable.

 

 

4.04 Committee Changes. The board of directors shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, and to discharge any committee.

 

4.05 Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of any committee may be held without notice at such time and place as may be designated from time to time by the committee and communicated to all members thereof.

 

4.06 Special Meetings. Special meetings of any committee may be held whenever called by any committee member. The committee member calling any special meeting shall cause notice of such special meeting, including therein the time and place of such special meeting, to be given to each committee member at least two days before such special meeting. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any special meeting of any committee need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of any special meeting.

 

11

 


 

 

4.07 Quorum: Majority Vote. At meetings of any committee, a majority of the number of members designated by the board of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If a quorum is not present at a meeting of any committee, a majority of the members present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than an announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present. The act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum is in attendance shall be the act of a committee, unless the act of a greater number is required by law, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws.

 

4.08 Minutes. Each committee shall cause minutes of its proceedings to be prepared and shall report the same to the board of directors upon the request of the board of directors. The minutes of the proceeding of each committee shall be delivered to the secretary of the Corporation for placement in the minute books of the Corporation.

 

4.09 Compensation. Committee members may, by resolution of the board of directors, be allowed a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, for attending any committee meetings or a stated salary.

 

4.10 Responsibility. The designation of any committee and the delegation of authority to it shall not operate to relieve the board of directors or any director of any responsibility imposed upon it or such director by law.

 

ARTICLE FIVE: GENERAL PROVISIONS RELATING TO MEETINGS

 

5.01 Notice. Whenever by law, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws, notice is required to be given to any committee member, director, or shareholder and no provision is made as to how such notice shall be given, it shall be construed to mean that any such notice may be given (a) in person, (b) in writing, by mail, postage prepaid, addressed to such committee member, director, or shareholder at his address as it appears on the books of the Corporation or, in the case of a shareholder, the share transfer records of the Corporation, or (c) by any other method permitted by law. Any notice required or permitted to be given by mail shall be deemed to be delivered and given at the time when the same is deposited in the United States mail, postage prepaid, and addressed as aforesaid.                         .

 

5.02 Waiver of Notice. Whenever by law, the articles of incorporation, or these bylaws, any notice is required to be given to any committee member, shareholder, or director of the Corporation, a waiver thereof in writing signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time notice should have been given, shall be equivalent to the giving of such notice. Attendance of a committee member, shareholder, or director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting, except where such person attends for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

 

 

12

 


 

 

5.03 Telephone and Similar Meetings. Shareholders, directors, or committee members may participate in and hold a meeting by means of a telephone conference or similar communications equipment the means by which persons participating in the meeting can hear each other. Participation in such a meeting shall constitute presence in person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the 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 SIX: OFFICERS AND OTHER AGENTS

 

6.01 Number: Titles: Election: Term: Qualification. The officers of the Corporation shall be a president, a secretary, a treasurer, and such other officers as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, elect or appoint. The Corporation may also have a chairman of the board, one or more assistant treasurers, one or more assistant secretaries, and such other officers and agents as the board of directors may from time to time elect or appoint. The board of directors shall elect a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary at its first meeting at which a quorum shall be present after the annual meeting of shareholders or whenever a vacancy exists. The board of directors then, or from time to time, may also elect or appoint one or more other officers or agents as it shall deem advisable. Each officer and agent shall hold office for the term for which he is elected or appointed and until his successor has been elected or appointed and qualified. Any person may hold any number of offices. No officer or agent need be a shareholder, a director, a resident of the State of Florida, or a citizen of the United States.

 

6.02 Removal. Any officer or agent elected or appointed by the board of directors may be removed by the board of directors whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Election or appointment of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights.

 

6.03 Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation may be filled by the board of directors.

 

6.04 Authority. Officers shall have such authority and perform such duties in the management of the Corporation as are provided in these bylaws or as may be determined by resolution of the board of directors not inconsistent with these bylaws.

 

6.05 Compensation. The compensation, if any, of officers and agents shall be fixed from time to time by the board of directors; provided, that the board of directors may by resolution delegate to anyone or more officers of the Corporation the authority to fix such compensation.

 

6.06 Chairman of the Board. The chairman of the board shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors.

 

13

 


 

 

6.07 President. Unless and to the extent that such powers and duties are expressly delegated to a chairman of the board by the board of directors, the president shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and, subject to the supervision of the board of directors, shall have general management and control of the business and property of the Corporation in the ordinary course of its business with all such powers with respect to such general management and control as may be reasonably incident to such responsibilities, including, but not limited to, the power to employ, discharge, or suspend employees and agents of the Corporation, to fix the compensation of employees and agents, and to suspend, with or without cause, any officer of the Corporation pending final action by the board of directors with respect to continued suspension, removal, or reinstatement of such officer. The president may, without limitation, agree upon and execute all division and transfer orders, bonds, contracts, and other obligations in the name of the Corporation.

 

6.08 Vice Presidents. Any vice president shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be delegated from time to time by the president and (in the order as designated by the board of directors, or in the absence of such designation, as determined by the length of time each has held the office of vice president continuously) shall exercise the powers of the president during that officer's absence or inability to act. As between the Corporation and third parties, any action taken by a vice president in the performance of the duties of the president shall be conclusive evidence of the absence or inability to act of the president at the time such action was taken.

 

6.09 Treasurer. The treasurer shall have custody of the Corporation's funds and securities, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements, and shall deposit all moneys and valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depository or depositories as may be designated by the board of directors. The treasurer shall audit all payrolls and vouchers of the Corporation, receive, audit, and consolidate all operating and financial statements of the Corporation and its various departments, shall supervise the accounting and auditing practices of the Corporation, and shall have charge of matters relating to taxation. Additionally, the treasurer shall have the power to endorse for deposit, collection, or otherwise all checks, drafts, notes, bills of exchange, and other commercial paper payable to the Corporation and to give proper receipts and discharges for all payments to the Corporation. The treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be delegated from time to time by the president.

 

6.10 Assistant Treasurers. Any assistant treasurer shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be delegated from time to time by the president. The assistant treasurers (in the order as designated by the board of directors or, in the absence of such designation, as determined by the length of time each has held the office of assistant treasurer continuously) shall exercise the powers of the treasurer during that officer's absence or inability to act. As between the Corporation and third parties, any action taken by an assistant treasurer in the

 

14

 


 

performance of the duties of the treasurer shall be conclusive evidence of the absence or inability to act of the treasurer at the time such action was taken.

 

6.11 Secretary. The secretary shall maintain minutes of all meetings of the board of directors, of any committee, and of the shareholders or consents in lieu of such minutes in the Corporation's minute books, and shall cause notice of such meetings to be given when requested by any person authorized to call such meetings. The secretary may sign with the president, in the name of the Corporation, all contracts of the Corporation and affix the seal of the Corporation thereto. The secretary shall have charge of the certificate books, share transfer records, stock ledgers, and such other stock books and papers as the board of directors may direct, all of which shall at all reasonable time be open to inspection by any director at the office of the Corporation during business hours. The secretary shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be delegated from time to time by the president.

 

6.12 Assistant Secretaries. Any assistant secretary shall have such powers and duties as may be prescribed by the board of directors or as may be delegated from time to time by the president. The assistant secretaries (in the order designated by the board of directors or, in the absence of such designation, as determined by the length of time each has held the office of assistant secretary continuously) shall exercise the powers of the secretary during that officer's absence or inability to act. As between the Corporation and third parties, any action taken by an assistant secretary in the performance of the duties of the secretary shall be conclusive evidence of the absence or inability to act of the secretary at the time such action was taken.

 

ARTICLE SEVEN: CERTIFICATES AND SHAREHOLDERS

 

7.01 Certificated and Uncertificated Shares. The shares of the Corporation may be either certificated shares or uncertificated shares. As used herein, the term "certificated shares" means shares represented by instruments in bearer or registered form, and the term "uncertficated shares" means shares not represented by instruments and the transfers of which are registered upon books maintained for that purpose by or on behalf of the Corporation.

 

7.02 Certificates for Certificated Shares. The certificates representing certificated shares of stock of the Corporation shall be in such form as shall be approved by the board of directors in conformity with law. The certificates shall be consecutively numbered, shall be entered as they are issued in the books of the Corporation or in the records of the Corporation's designated transfer agent, if any, and shall state upon the face thereof: (a) that the Corporation is organized under the laws of the State of Florida; (b) the name of the person to whom issued; ( c) the number and class of shares and the designation of the series, if any, which such certificate represents; (d) the par value of each share represented by such certificate, or a statement that the shares are without par value; and (e) such other matters as may be required by law. The certificate shall be

 

15

 


 

signed by the president or any vice president and also by the secretary, an assistant secretary, or any other officer; however, the signatures of any of such officers may be facsimiles. The certificates may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof.

 

7.03 Issuance. Shares with or without par value may be issued for such consideration and to such persons as the board of directors may from time to time determine, except in the case of shares with par value the consideration must be at least equal to the par value of such shares. Shares may not be issued until the full amount of the consideration has been paid. After the issuance of uncertificated shares, the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation shall send to the registered owner of such uncertificated shares a written notice containing the information required to be stated on certificates representing shares of stock as set forth in Section 7.02 above and such additional information as may be required by Florida Statutes as currently in effect and as the same may be amended from time to time hereafter.

 

7.04 Consideration for Shares. The consideration for the issuance of shares shall consist of money paid, labor done (including services actually performed for the Corporation), or property (tangible or intangible) actually received. Neither promissory notes nor the promise of future services shall constitute payment or part payment for the issuance of shares. In the absence of fraud in the transaction, the judgment of the board of directors as to the value of consideration received shall be conclusive. When consideration, fixed as provided by law, has been paid, the shares shall be deemed to have been issued and shall be considered fully paid and nonassessable. The consideration received for shares shall be allocated by the board of directors, in accordance with law, between stated capital and surplus accounts.

 

7.05 Lost, Stolen, or Destroyed Certificates. The Corporation shall issue a new certificate or certificates in place of any certificate representing shares previously issued if the registered owner of the certificates:

 

 

 

(a)

Claim. Makes proof by affidavit, in form and substance, satisfactory to the board of directors or any proper officer, that a previously issued certificate representing shares has been lost, destroyed, or stolen;

 

 

 

 

(b)

Timely Request. Requests the issuance of a new certificate before the Corporation has notice that the certificate has been acquired by a purchaser for value in good faith and without notice of an adverse claim;

 

 

 

 

(c)

Bond. If required by the board of directors or any proper officer, in its or such officer's discretion, delivers to the Corporation a bond or indemnity agreement in such form, with such surety or sureties, and with such fixed or open penalty, as the board of directors or such officer may direct, in its or such officer's discretion, to indemnify the Corporation (and its transfer agent and registrar, if any) against any claim that may be made on account of the alleged loss, destruction, or theft of the certificate; and

 

 

16

 


 

 

 

 

(d)

Other Requirements. Satisfies any other reasonable requirements imposed by the board of directors.

 

 

7.06    Transfer of Shares. Shares of stock of the Corporation shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the shareholders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal representatives. With respect to certificated shares, upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation for transfer of a certificate representing shares dilly endorsed and accompanied by any reasonable assurances that such endorsements are genuine and effective as the Corporation may require and after compliance with any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes, the Corporation or its transfer agent shall, if it has no notice of an adverse claim or if it has discharged any duty with respect to any adverse claim, issue one or more new certificates to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate, and record the transaction upon its books. With respect to uncertificated shares, upon delivery to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of an instruction originated by an appropriate person and accompanied by any reasonable assurances that such instruction is genuine and effective as the Corporation may require and after compliance with any applicable law relating to the collection of taxes, the Corporation or its transfer agent shall, if it has no notice of any adverse claim or has discharged any duty with respect to any adverse claim, record the transaction upon its books, and shall send to the new registered owner of such uncertificated shares, and, if the shares have been transferred subject to a registered pledge, to the registered pledgee, a written notice containing the information required to be stated on certificates representing shares of stock set forth in Section 7.02 above.

 

7.07 Registered Shareholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the shareholder of record as the shareholder in fact of any shares and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such shares on the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have actual or other notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by law.

 

7.08 Legends. The board of directors shall cause an appropriate legend to be placed on certificates representing shares of stock as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the board of directors in order for the Corporation to comply with applicable federal or state securities or other laws. .

 

7.09 Regulations. The board of directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer, registration, or replacement of certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

 

 

17

 


 

 

ARTICLE EIGHT: MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

 

8.01 Dividends. Subject to provisions of applicable statutes and the articles of incorporation, dividends may be declared by and at the discretion of the board of directors at any meeting and may be paid in cash, in property, or in shares of stock of the Corporation.

 

8.02 Books and Records. The Corporation shall keep books and records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders, the board of directors, and each committee of the board of directors. The Corporation shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, a record of the original issuance of shares issued by the Corporation and a record of each transfer of those shares that have been presented to the Corporation for registration of transfer, giving the names and addresses of all past and current shareholders and the number and class of the shares held by each of such shareholders.

 

8.03 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the board of directors; provided, that if such fiscal year is not fixed by the board of directors and the board of directors does not defer its determination of the fiscal year, the fiscal year shall be the calendar year.

 

8.04 Seal. The seal, if any, of the Corporation shall be in such form as may be approved from time to time by the board of directors. If the board of directors approve a seal, the affixation of such seal shall not be required to create a valid and binding obligation against the Corporation.

 

8.05 Attestation by the Secretary. With respect to any deed, deed of trust, mortgage, or other instrument executed by the Corporation through its' duly authorized officer or officers, the attestation to such execution by the secretary of the Corporation shall not be necessary to constitute such deed, deed of trust, mortgage, or other instrument a valid and binding obligation against the Corporation unless the resolutions, if any, of the board of directors authorizing such execution expressly state that such attestation is necessary.

 

8.06 Resignation. Any director, committee member, officer, or agent may resign by so stating at any meeting of the board of directors or by giving written notice to the board of directors, the president, or the secretary. Such resignation shall take effect at the time specified in the statement made at the board of directors' meeting or in the written notice, but in no event may the effective time of such resignation be prior to the time such statement is made or such notice is given. If no effective time is specified in the resignation, the resignation shall be effective immediately. Unless a resignation specifies otherwise, it shall be effective without being accepted.

 

 

18

 


 

 

8.07 Securities of Other Corporations. The president or any vice president of the Corporation shall have the power and authority to transfer, endorse for transfer, vote, consent, or take any other action with respect to any securities of another issuer which may be held or owned by the Corporation and to make, execute, and deliver any waiver, proxy, or consent with respect to any such securities.

 

8.08 Amendment of Bylaws. The power to amend or repeal these bylaws or to adopt new bylaws is vested in the board of directors, but is subject to the right of the shareholders to amend or repeal these bylaws or to adopt new bylaws.

 

8.09 Invalid Provisions. If any part of these bylaws is held invalid or inoperative for any reason, the remaining parts, so far as is possible and reasonable, shall remain valid and operative.

 

8.10 Headings: Table of Contents. The headings and table of contents used in these bylaws are for convenience only and do not constitute matter to be construed in the interpretation of these bylaws.

 

The undersigned, as secretary of the Corporation, hereby certifies that the foregoing

bylaws were adopted by the board of directors of the Corporation as of the _______ day of

                                           , 200__.

 

_____________________

Secretary

 

 

 

19

 


 

 

S:\ACTIVE CLIENT FILES\01000 PNC\One Waterstreet.Premier\Bylaws - Premier Indemnity.doc

 

 

20