EX-3.2 2 dex32.htm BYLAWS BYLAWS

Exhibit 3.2

SUNTRUST BANKS, INC.

BYLAWS

(as Amended and Restated August 8, 2011)

ARTICLE I

SHAREHOLDERS

SECTION 1.        Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders for the election of Directors and for the transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting shall be held at such place, on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors may by resolution provide. If the Board of Directors fails to provide such date and time, then such meeting shall be held at the corporate headquarters at 9:30 A.M. local time on the third Tuesday in April of each year, or, if such date is a legal holiday, on the next succeeding business day. The Board of Directors may specify by resolution prior to any special meeting of shareholders held within the year that such meeting shall be in lieu of the annual meeting.

SECTION 2.        Special Meeting; Call of Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President. In addition, subject to the provisions of this Section 2, special meetings of the shareholders shall be called by the Board of Directors if the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation sign, date and deliver to the Corporation one (1) or more written demands for the meeting describing the purpose or purposes for which it is to be held. A special meeting shall be held at such time and place, either within or without the State of Georgia, as is designated in the call of the meeting by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or the President; provided that in the case of a special meeting of the shareholders that is called at the demand of the shareholders pursuant to the second sentence of this Section 2, the time of such meeting shall not be less than ninety (90) nor more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the receipt and determination of the validity of such demand. The Board of Directors shall fix the record date (which shall be a future date) for a special meeting.

If a special meeting is to be called by the Board of Directors pursuant to demands delivered by the holders of more than fifty percent (50%) of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation, then, within twenty (20) days after the date on which demands are received representing more than 50% of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall fix the record date for such special meeting. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within twenty (20) days of the date on which demands are received representing more than 50% of the outstanding common stock of the Corporation, the record date for the special meeting shall be the thirtieth (30th) day after the date on which such demands were received.

Any shareholder of record seeking to join with other shareholders in demanding a special meeting shall, by written notice to the Corporation, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within fifteen (15) days after the date on which such request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record date to determine the shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting, which record date shall not exceed thirty (30) days from the date on which the request was received. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within fifteen (15) days of the date on which such a request is received, the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to demand a special meeting shall be the thirtieth (30th) day after the date on which such request was received.


SECTION 3.        Notice of Meetings. Written notice of each meeting of shareholders, stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called if a special meeting, shall be mailed to each shareholder entitled to vote at or to notice of such meeting at his address shown on the books of the Corporation not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to such meeting unless such shareholder waives notice of the meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the shareholder at his address as it appears on the records of shareholders of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. Any shareholder may execute a waiver of notice, in person or by proxy, either before or after any meeting, and shall be deemed to have waived notice if he is present at such meeting in person or by proxy. Neither the business transacted at, nor the purpose of, any meeting need be stated in a waiver of notice of such meeting. Notice of any meeting may be given by the Chairman of the Board, President, the Corporate Secretary or any Assistant Secretary. No notice need be given of the time and place of reconvening of any adjourned meeting, if the time and place to which the meeting is adjourned are announced at the adjourned meeting.

SECTION 4.        Quorum; Required Shareholder Vote. Each outstanding share of common stock of the Corporation is entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote. A majority of the shares entitled to vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the shareholders. If a quorum is present, action on a matter is approved if the votes cast favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless a different vote is required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws (including Article II, Section 2 of these Bylaws). When a quorum is once present to organize a meeting, the shareholders present may continue to do business at the meeting or at any adjournment thereof (unless a new record date is or must be set for the adjourned meeting) notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum, and the holders of a majority of the voting shares present at such meeting shall be the act of the shareholders unless a different vote is required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. The Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the holders of a majority of the voting shares represented at a meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, may adjourn such meeting from time to time.

SECTION 5.        Proxies. A shareholder may vote either in person or by proxy. A shareholder may appoint a proxy: (i) by executing a written document, which may be accomplished by any reasonable means, including facsimile transmission; (ii) orally, which may be by telephone; or (iii) by any other form of electronic communication. No proxy shall be valid for more than eleven (11) months after the date of such appointment, unless, in the case of a written proxy, a longer period is expressly provided for in the written document. An electronic transmission must contain or be accompanied by information from which it can be determined that the shareholder, the shareholder’s agent or the shareholder’s attorney in fact authorized the electronic transmission.

SECTION 6.        Inspectors of Election; Opening and Closing the Polls. The Board of Directors by resolution shall have the sole authority, except as provided in this Section 6, to appoint one or more inspectors of election, which inspector or inspectors may include individuals who serve the Corporation in other capacities, including, without limitation, as officers, employees, agents or representatives, to act at the meetings of shareholders and make a written report thereof. One or more persons may be designated as alternate inspectors to replace any inspector who fails to act. If no inspector or alternate has been appointed to act or is able to act at a meeting of shareholders, the chairman of the meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors to act at the meeting. Each inspector, before discharging his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the duties of inspector with strict impartiality and according to the best of his or her ability. The inspectors shall have the duties prescribed by law. The chairman of the meeting shall fix and announce at the meeting the date and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the shareholders will vote at a meeting.

Section 7.           Order of Business. At any annual or special meeting of the shareholders, only such nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors shall be made, and only such other business shall be conducted or considered, as shall have been properly brought before the meeting. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with these

 

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Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that no action shall be taken on such nomination or other proposal and such nomination or other proposal shall be disregarded.

SECTION 8.        Notice of Shareholder Proposals.

(A) To be properly brought before an annual meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation, proposals of other business must be: (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; (ii) otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii) otherwise properly requested to be brought before the annual meeting by a shareholder of the Corporation in accordance with these Bylaws. For proposals of other business to be properly requested by a shareholder to be made at an annual meeting, a shareholder must (i) be a shareholder of record at the time the shareholder gives notice of such business or proposal, (ii) be entitled to vote at such annual meeting, and (iii) comply with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws. The immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to bring other business proposals before an annual meeting of shareholders. To be properly brought before a special meeting of the shareholders of the Corporation, proposals of business must be (i) specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) otherwise properly brought before the special meeting, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors.

(B) For proposals of other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, a shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Corporate Secretary.

(i) To be timely, a shareholder’s notice for the annual meeting must actually be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than 150 days prior and not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders (the “Anniversary”), regardless of any postponements, deferrals or adjournments of that annual meeting to a later date; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the Anniversary, then to be timely notice by the shareholder must be so delivered or received (a) no earlier than 150 days prior and not less than 120 days prior to the date of such annual meeting or (b) if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 130 days prior to the date of such annual meeting, no later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is first made by the Corporation.

(ii) In addition, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the annual meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the annual meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the annual meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the annual meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

(C) A shareholder’s notice to the Corporate Secretary shall set forth as to each matter such shareholder proposes to bring before the annual meeting:

(i) a brief description of the business or proposal desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business or considering such proposal at the meeting;

(ii) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such

 

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beneficial owner, if any, and of their respective affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(iii) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration),

(iv) a complete description of the economic interests of the shareholder giving the notice, any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made, and any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, which description shall include with respect to each of them:

(a) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(b) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard of whether the shareholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(c) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith has a right to vote any class or series of shares of the Corporation;

(d) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, “Short Interests”);

(e) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;

 

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(f) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership;

(g) any performance related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such shareholder’s immediate family sharing the same household;

(h) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(i) any direct or indirect interest of such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); and

(j) any other information relating to such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(D) Miscellaneous. For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national 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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the provisions of these Bylaws, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any shareholder, or give any shareholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Corporation’s proxy statement any nomination of director or directors or any other business proposal.

 

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ARTICLE II

DIRECTORS

SECTION 1.        Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall manage the business and affairs of the Corporation and may exercise all of the powers of the Corporation subject to any restrictions imposed by law.

SECTION 2.        Composition of the Board. The exact number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time solely by the Board of Directors by resolution. No decrease in the number of directors shall shorten the term of an incumbent Director. In the absence of the Board of Directors setting the number of Directors, the number shall be fifteen (15). Directors shall be elected for terms expiring at the next annual meeting of shareholders and shall hold office for the term for which elected and until his successor has been elected and qualified, or until his earlier retirement, resignation, removal from office, or death. In any uncontested election of Directors, a nominee for Director shall be elected to the Board of Directors if the votes cast for such nominee’s election at a meeting exceed the votes cast against such nominee’s election; provided, however, that directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at any meeting of shareholders not involving an uncontested election of directors. If directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast, shareholders shall not be permitted to vote against a nominee. For purposes of this Article II, Section 2, (a) the term “uncontested election of Directors” means an election in which the only nominees for election to the Board of Directors are persons nominated by the Board of Directors, and (b) the term “votes cast” includes votes to withhold authority in each case but excludes abstentions with respect to that Director’s election.

SECTION 3.        Nomination of Directors.

(A) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made at an annual meeting of the shareholders by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or by any shareholder of the Corporation who (i) is a shareholder of record at the time the shareholder gives notice to the Corporation of such nomination, (ii) is entitled to vote at the annual meeting, and (iii) complies with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such nomination. The immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations before an annual meeting of shareholders.

(B) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting) by any shareholder of the Corporation who (i) is a shareholder of record at the time the shareholder gives notice to the Corporation of such nomination, (ii) is entitled to vote at the special meeting, and (iii) complies with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws as to such nomination. The immediately preceding sentence shall be the exclusive means for a shareholder to make nominations or other business proposals before a special meeting of shareholders.

(C) For a nomination (other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of Directors) to be properly brought before a meeting by a shareholder, a shareholder must give timely notice of the nomination in writing to the Corporate Secretary. To be timely, a shareholder’s notice for:

(i) the annual meeting must actually be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier than 150 days prior and not less than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the date on which the Corporation first mailed its proxy materials for the preceding year’s annual meeting of shareholders (the “Anniversary”), regardless of any postponements, deferrals or adjournments of that meeting to a later date; provided, however, that if the date of the annual meeting is advanced more than 30 days prior to or delayed by more than 30 days after the Anniversary, then to be timely notice by the shareholder must be so delivered or received (i) no earlier than 150 days prior and not less than 120 days prior to the date of such annual meeting or (ii) if the first public announcement of the date of such annual meeting is less than 130 days prior to the

 

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date of such annual meeting, no later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Corporation; and

(ii) a special meeting must actually be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation (i) not earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to the date of such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day prior to the date of such special meeting or (ii) if the first public announcement of the date of such special meeting is less than 100 days prior to the date of such special meeting, no later than the 10th day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall any adjournment or postponement of a special meeting, or the public announcement thereof, commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholder’s notice as described above.

In addition, to be timely, a shareholder’s notice shall further be updated and supplemented, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than five (5) business days after the record date for the meeting in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date, and not later than eight (8) business days prior to the date for the meeting, any adjournment or postponement thereof in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of ten (10) business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof.

(D) A shareholder’s notice of a nomination provided to the Corporate Secretary shall provide the following information:

(i) as to each person which such shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director:

(a) the name, age, business address and residence address of the person;

(b) the principal occupation or employment of the person;

(c) the total number of shares that, to the knowledge of the notifying or nominating shareholder, will be voted for such person;

(d) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by the person;

(e) a signed written statement of the nominee attesting that, to their knowledge, they believe that they are qualified to serve as a director of the Corporation and of SunTrust Bank, and such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Corporation and of SunTrust Bank; and

(f) all other information relating to such person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (including such person’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving, if elected, as a director of the Corporation and of SunTrust Bank).

(ii) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s books, of such beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and of their respective affiliates or associates or

 

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others acting in concert therewith;

(iii) a complete description of the economic interests of the shareholder giving the notice, any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, and any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, which description shall include with respect to each of them:

(a) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(b) any option, warrant, convertible security, stock appreciation right, or similar right with an exercise or conversion privilege or a settlement payment or mechanism at a price related to any class or series of shares of the Corporation or with a value derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any derivative or synthetic arrangement having the characteristics of a long position in any class or series of shares of the Corporation, or any contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions designed to produce economic benefits and risks that correspond substantially to the ownership of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such contract, derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions is determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any class or series of shares of the Corporation, whether or not such instrument, contract or right shall be subject to settlement in the underlying class or series of shares of the Corporation, through the delivery of cash or other property, or otherwise, and without regard of whether the shareholder of record, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, may have entered into transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such instrument, contract or right or any other direct or indirect opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Derivative Instrument”) directly or indirectly owned beneficially by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(c) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding, or relationship pursuant to which such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith has a right to vote any class or series of shares of the Corporation;

(d) any agreement, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, including any repurchase or similar so-called “stock borrowing” agreement or arrangement, engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith, the purpose or effect of which is to mitigate loss to, reduce the economic risk (of ownership or otherwise) of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation by, manage the risk of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of, such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith with respect to any class or series of the shares of the Corporation, or which provides, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the price or value of any class or series of the shares of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, “Short Interests”) engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(e) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation;

 

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(f) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner of such general or limited partnership;

(g) any performance related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or Derivative Instruments, if any, including without limitation any such interests held by members of such shareholder’s immediate family sharing the same household;

(h) any significant equity interests or any Derivative Instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith;

(i) any direct or indirect interest of such shareholder, the beneficial owner, if any, or any affiliates or associates or others acting in concert therewith in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); and

(j) any other information relating to such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement and form of proxy or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14 of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

(iv) As to each person, if any, whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth in paragraph (a) above, also set forth a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee, and his or her respective affiliates and associates, or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including, without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K if the shareholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, if any, or any affiliate or associate thereof or person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and

(v) With respect to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection to the Board of Directors, a shareholder’s notice must, in addition to the matters set forth above, also include a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request), and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that such person (a) is not and will not become a party to (1) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (2) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such person’s ability to comply, if

 

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elected as a director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law; (b) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed therein, (c) in such person’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a director of the Corporation, and will comply with all applicable corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Corporation publicly disclosed from time to time; and (d) will abide by the requirements of any resignation policy in connection with majority voting, if applicable. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that could be material to a reasonable shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.

(E) No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless such person has been nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. If the facts warrant, the chairman of the meeting shall determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination does not satisfy the requirements set forth in the preceding sentence and the defective nomination shall be disregarded.

(F) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public announcement” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by a national 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 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Notwithstanding the provisions of these Bylaws, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in these Bylaws; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations or proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant to these Bylaws. Nothing in these Bylaws shall be deemed to affect any rights (i) of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act, or (ii) of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock if and to the extent provided for under law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws. Subject to Rule 14a-8 and Rule 14a-11 under the Exchange Act, nothing in these Bylaws shall be construed to permit any shareholder, or give any shareholder the right, to include or have disseminated or described in the Corporation’s proxy statement any nomination of director or directors or any other business proposal.

SECTION 4.        Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding to fill director vacancies, vacancies resulting from retirement, resignation, removal from office (with or without cause), death or a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of Directors comprising the Board, shall be filled by the Board of Directors. Any Director so elected shall hold office until the next annual meeting of shareholders. No decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any incumbent Director.

SECTION 5.        Retirement. Each Director serving as an officer or employee of the Corporation or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries shall cease to be a Director on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders coinciding with or first following the date of the first to occur while serving as a Director of (a) such Director’s 65th birthday, (b) the date of his termination of employment, (c) the date of his resignation from employment, or (d) the date of his retirement from employment. Each Director who is not an officer or employee of the Corporation or any of its direct or indirect subsidiaries shall cease to be a Director on the date of the annual meeting of shareholders coinciding with or first following such Director’s 72nd birthday.

SECTION 6.        Removal. Subject to the rights of the holders of any series of Preferred Stock then outstanding, any Director, or all Directors, may be removed from office at any time with or without cause, but only by the same

 

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affirmative vote of the shareholders required to amend this Article II as provided in the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation.

SECTION 7.        Resignations. Any Director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Chairman of the Board, the President, or the Corporate Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect when delivered unless the notice specifies a later effective date; and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.

ARTICLE III

ACTION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS; COMMITTEES

SECTION 1.        Quorum; Vote Requirement. A majority of the Directors holding office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; if a quorum is present, a vote of a majority of the Directors present at such time shall be the act of the Board of Directors, unless a greater vote is required by law, the Articles of Incorporation, or by these Bylaws.

SECTION 2.        Executive Committee. There is hereby established an Executive Committee which shall consist of not less than four (4) Directors. The Board of Directors shall at the Board of Directors’ meeting immediately following the Corporation’s annual shareholders’ meeting, and may at such other time as the Board of Directors determines, elect the Directors who shall be members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise all the authority of the Board of Directors as permitted by law. The Board of Directors shall elect the Chairman of the Executive Committee who shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee and shall perform such other duties as may be designated by the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors may also elect one member of the Executive Committee as Vice Chairman of the Executive Committee who shall preside at Executive Committee meetings in the absence of the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

SECTION 3.        Audit Committee. There is hereby established an Audit Committee which shall consist of not less than four (4) Directors. No Director who is an officer of the Corporation or any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Corporation shall be a member of the Audit Committee. The Board of Directors shall at the Board of Directors’ meeting immediately following the Corporation’s annual shareholders’ meeting, and may at such other time as the Board of Directors determine, elect the members of the Audit Committee. The Audit Committee shall require that an audit of the books and affairs of the Corporation be made at such time or times as the members of the Audit Committee shall choose. The Board of Directors shall elect the Chairman of the Audit Committee who shall preside at all meetings of the Audit Committee and shall perform such other duties as may be designated by the Audit Committee.

SECTION 4.        Other Committees. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members one or more other committees, each consisting of one (1) or more Directors, and each of which, to the extent provided in the resolution establishing such committee, shall have and may exercise all authority of the Board of Directors to the extent permitted by law.

SECTION 5.        Committee Meetings. Regular meetings of committees, of which no notice shall be necessary, shall be held at such times and at such places as shall be fixed, from time to time, by resolution adopted by such committees. Special meetings of any committee may be called by the Chairman of the Board or the President, or by the Chairman of such committee or by any other two members of the committee, at any time. Notice of any special meeting of any committee may be given in the manner provided in the Bylaws for giving notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors, but notice of any such meeting need not be given to any member of the committee if waived by him before or after the meeting, in writing (including telegram, cablegram, facsimile, or radiogram) or if he shall be present at the meeting; and any meeting of any committee shall be a legal meeting, without any notice thereof having been given, if all the members shall be present thereat. A majority of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the act of a majority of those present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the committee.

 

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SECTION 6.        Committee Records. Each committee shall keep a record of its acts and proceedings and shall report the same, from time to time, to the Board of Directors.

SECTION 7.        Alternate Members; Vacancies. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Directors as alternate members of any committee, and such alternate members may act in the place and stead of any absent member or members at any meeting of such committee. The Board of Directors may fill any vacancy or vacancies occurring in any committee.

SECTION 8.        Place, Time, Notice and Call of Directors’ Meetings. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors for the purpose of electing officers and transacting such other business as may be brought before the meeting shall be held each year immediately following the annual meeting of shareholders or at such other time and place as the Chairman of the Board may designate. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such times as the Board of Directors may determine from time to time. Regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held upon notice of the date, time and place of such special meetings as shall be given to each Director orally, either by telephone or in person, or in writing, either by personal delivery or by mail, telegram, facsimile, or cablegram no later than the day before such meeting. Notice of a meeting of the Board of Directors need not be given to any Director who signs and delivers to the Corporation a waiver of notice either before or after the meeting. Attendance of a Director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting and waiver of any and all objections to the place of the meeting, the time of the meeting, or the manner in which it has been called or convened, except when a Director states, at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival), any such objection or objections to the transaction of business and thereafter does not vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.

Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting unless required by law or these Bylaws.

A majority of the Directors present, whether or not a quorum exists, may adjourn any meeting of the Board of Directors to another time and place. No notice of any adjourned meeting need be given.

Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President or any two Directors.

SECTION 9.        Action by Directors Without a Meeting; Participation in Meeting by Telephone. Except as limited by law, any action to be taken at a meeting of the Board, or by any committee of the Board, may be taken without a meeting if written consent, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all the members of the Board or such Committee and shall be filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or such committee. Such written consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board or such committee and any document executed on behalf of the Corporation may recite that the action was duly taken at a meeting of the Board or such committee.

Members of the Board or any committee of the Board may participate in a meeting of the Board or such committee by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which means all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting of the Board or such committee by such means shall constitute personal presence at such meeting.

SECTION 10.      Directors’ Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have authority to determine from time to time the amount of compensation which shall be paid to its members for attendance at meetings of, or services on, the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board. The Board of Directors shall also have the power to reimburse Directors for reasonable expenses of attendance at Directors’ meetings and committee meetings.

 

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ARTICLE IV

OFFICERS

SECTION 1.        Executive Structure. The Board of Directors shall elect the following officers: Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Financial Officer, Corporate Secretary, and Treasurer, and may elect one or more Vice Chairmen and Executive Vice Presidents, as the Board of Directors may deem necessary. The Board of Directors shall designate from among such elected officers a Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer may appoint such assistant officers, whose duties shall consist of assisting one or more of the Officers in the discharge of the duties of any such Officer, as may be specified from time to time by the Chief Executive Officer, whose titles may include such designations as the Chief Executive Officer shall deem appropriate. All Officers (including assistant officers) shall be elected for a term of office running until the meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of shareholders. All assistant officers shall be appointed for a term specified by the Chief Executive Officer but not later than the meeting of the Board of Directors following the next annual meeting of shareholders. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. The title of any officer may include any additional designation descriptive of such duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe.

SECTION 2.        Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be the most senior officer of the Corporation, and all other officers and agents of the Corporation shall be subject to his direction. He shall be accountable to the Board of Directors for the fulfillment of his duties and responsibilities and, in the performance and exercise of all his duties, responsibilities and powers, he shall be subject to the supervision and direction of, and any limitations imposed by, the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for interpretation and required implementation of the policies of the Corporation as determined and specified from time to time by the Board of Directors and he shall be responsible for the general management and direction of the business and affairs of the Corporation. For the purpose of fulfilling his duties and responsibilities, the Chief Executive Officer shall have, subject to these Bylaws and the Board of Directors, plenary authorities and powers, including general executive powers, the authority to delegate and assign duties, responsibilities and authorities, and, in the name of the Corporation and on its behalf, to negotiate and make any agreements, waivers or commitments which do not require the express approval of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of shareholders.

SECTION 3.        Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall be a member of the Board of Directors and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.

SECTION 4.        President. The President shall have such powers and perform such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 5.        Vice Chairman. Any Vice Chairman elected shall have such duties and authority as may be conferred upon him by the Board of Directors or delegated to him by the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 6.        Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the care, custody, control and handling of the funds and assets of the Corporation, and shall render a statement of the assets, liabilities and operations of the Corporation to the Board of Directors at its regular meetings.

SECTION 7.        Treasurer. The Treasurer shall perform such duties as may be assigned to the Treasurer and shall report to the Chief Financial Officer or, in the absence of the Chief Financial Officer, to the President.

SECTION 8.        Corporate Secretary. Due notice of all meetings of the shareholders and directors shall be given by the Corporate Secretary or the person or persons calling such meeting. The Corporate Secretary shall report the proceedings of all meetings in a book of minutes and shall perform all the duties pertaining to his office including

 

13


authentication of corporate documents and shall have custody of the Seal of the Corporation. Each assistant Corporate Secretary appointed by the Chief Executive Officer may perform all duties of the Corporate Secretary.

SECTION 9.        Other Duties and Authority. Each officer, employee and agent of the Corporation shall have such other duties and authority as may be conferred upon him by the Board of Directors or delegated to him by the Chief Executive Officer.

SECTION 10.      Removal of Officers. Any officer may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause whenever in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation will be served thereby. In addition, an officer of the Corporation shall cease to be an officer upon ceasing to be an employee of the Corporation or any of its subsidiaries. Any officer appointed by another officer may also be removed, with or without cause, by the appointing officer or any officer senior to the appointing officer.

SECTION 11.      Voting of Stock. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors or Executive Committee, the Chairman of the Board, any Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or any Executive Vice President of the Corporation shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Corporation to attend and to act and to vote at any meetings of shareholders of any corporation in which the Corporation may hold stock, and at such meetings may possess and shall exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such stock which such owner thereof (the Corporation) might have possessed and exercised if present. The Board of Directors or Executive Committee, by resolution from time to time, may confer like powers upon any other person or persons.

ARTICLE V

STOCK

SECTION 1.        Stock Certificates. The shares of stock of the Corporation shall be represented by certificates, or shall be uncertificated shares that may be evidenced by a book-entry system maintained by the registrar of such stock, or a combination of both. To the extent that shares are represented by certificates, such certificates whenever authorized by the Board, shall be in such form as shall be approved by the Board. The certificates representing shares of stock of each class shall be signed by, or in the name of, the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, or the President, together with the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, and sealed with the seal of the Corporation, which may be a facsimile thereof. Any or all such signatures may be facsimiles if countersigned by a transfer agent or registrar. Although any officer, transfer agent or registrar whose manual or facsimile signature is affixed to such a certificate ceases to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate has been issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if such officer, transfer agent or registrar were still such at the date of its issue. The stock ledger and blank share certificates shall be kept by the Secretary or by a transfer agent or by a registrar or by any other officer or agent designated by the Board.

SECTION 2.        Transfer of Stock. Transfers of shares of stock of each class of the Corporation shall be made only on the books of the Corporation upon authorization by the registered holder thereof, or by such holder’s attorney thereunto authorized by a power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or a transfer agent for such stock, if any, and if such shares are represented by a certificate, upon surrender of the certificate or certificates for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power (or by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer) and the payment of any taxes thereon; provided, however, that the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize and enforce any lawful restriction on transfer. The Corporation may refuse any requested transfer until furnished evidence satisfactory to it that such transfer is proper. Upon the surrender of a certificate for transfer of stock, such certificate shall be marked on its face “Canceled”. The Board of Directors may make such additional rules concerning the issuance, transfer and registration of stock and requirements regarding the establishment of lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken stock certificates (including any requirement of an indemnity bond prior to issuance of any replacement certificate and

 

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provision for appointment of a transfer agent and a registrar) as it deems appropriate. The person in whose name shares are registered on the books of the Corporation shall be deemed the owner thereof for all purposes as regards the Corporation.

SECTION 3.        Registered Shareholders. The Corporation may deem and treat the holder of record of any stock as the absolute owner thereof for all purposes and shall not be required to take any notice of any right or claim of right of any other person.

SECTION 4.        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 payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other purpose, the Board of Directors of the Corporation 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 seventy (70) days and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to be taken.

ARTICLE VI

DEPOSITORIES, SIGNATURES AND SEAL

SECTION 1.        Depositories. All funds of the Corporation shall be deposited in the name of the Corporation in such bank, banks, or other financial institutions as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate and shall be drawn out on checks, drafts or other orders signed on behalf of the Corporation by such person or persons as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

SECTION 2.        Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be as follows:

[SEAL]

If the seal is affixed to a document, the signature of the Corporate Secretary or an Assistant Secretary shall attest the seal. The seal and its attestation may be lithographed or otherwise printed on any document and shall have, to the extent permitted by law, the same force and effect as if it has been affixed and attested manually.

SECTION 3.        Execution of Instruments. All bills, notes, checks, and other instruments for the payment of money, all agreements, indentures, mortgages, deeds, conveyances, transfers, certificates, declarations, receipts, discharges, releases, satisfactions, settlements, petitions, schedules, accounts, affidavits, bonds, undertakings, proxies and other instruments or documents may be signed, executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered, or accepted on behalf of the Corporation by the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice Chairman, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or Vice President, the Secretary or the Treasurer. Any such instruments may also be signed, executed, acknowledged, verified, delivered or accepted on behalf of the Corporation in such manner and by such other officers, employees or agents of the Corporation as the Board of Directors or Executive Committee may from time to time direct.

 

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ARTICLE VII

INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, AND EMPLOYEES

SECTION 1.        Definitions. As used in this Article, the term:

(A)        “Corporation” includes any domestic or foreign predecessor entity of this Corporation in a merger or other transaction in which the predecessor’s existence ceased upon consummation of the transaction.

(B)        “Director” means an individual who is or was a director of the Corporation or an individual who, while a director of the Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity. A “director” is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the Corporation’s request if his duties to the Corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, him to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. “Director” includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of a director.

(C)        “Disinterested director” means a director who at the time of a vote referred to in Section 3(C) or a vote or selection referred to in Section 4(B), 4(C) or 7(A) is not: (i) a party to the proceeding; or (ii) an individual who is a party to a proceeding having a familial, financial, professional, or employment relationship with the director whose indemnification or advance for expenses is the subject of the decision being made with respect to the proceeding, which relationship would, in the circumstances, reasonably be expected to exert an influence on the director’s judgment when voting on the decision being made.

(D)        “Employee” means an individual who is or was an employee of the Corporation or an individual who, while an employee of the Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise. An “Employee” is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the Corporation’s request if his duties to the Corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, him to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. “Employee” includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of an employee.

(E)        “Expenses” includes counsel fees.

(F)        “Liability” means the obligation to pay a judgment, settlement, penalty, fine (including an excise tax assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), or reasonable expenses incurred with respect to a proceeding.

(G)        “Officer” means an individual who is or was an officer of the Corporation which for purposes of this Article VII shall include an assistant officer, or an individual who, while an Officer of the Corporation, is or was serving at the Corporation’s request as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity. An “Officer” is considered to be serving an employee benefit plan at the Corporation’s request if his duties to the Corporation also impose duties on, or otherwise involve services by, him to the plan or to participants in or beneficiaries of the plan. “Officer” includes, unless the context requires otherwise, the estate or personal representative of an Officer.

(H)        “Official capacity” means: (i) when used with respect to a director, the office of a director in a corporation; and (ii) when used with respect to an Officer, the office in a corporation held by the Officer. Official capacity does not include service for any other domestic or foreign corporation or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity.

 

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(I)        “Party” means an individual who was, is, or is threatened to be made a named defendant or respondent in a proceeding.

(J)        “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative, arbitrative or investigative and whether formal or informal.

SECTION 2.        Basic Indemnification Arrangement.

(A)        Except as provided in subsection (D) below and, if required by Section 4 below, upon a determination pursuant to Section 4 in the specific case that such indemnification is permissible in the circumstances under this subsection because the individual has met the standard of conduct set forth in this subsection (A), the Corporation shall indemnify an individual who is made a party to a proceeding because he is or was a director or Officer against liability incurred by him in the proceeding if he conducted himself in good faith and, in the case of conduct in his official capacity, he reasonably believed such conduct was in the best interest of the Corporation, or in all other cases, he reasonably believed such conduct was at least not opposed to the best interests of the Corporation and, in the case of any criminal proceeding, he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.

(B)        A person’s conduct with respect to an employee benefit plan for a purpose he believes in good faith to be in the interests of the participants in and beneficiaries of the plan is conduct that satisfies the requirement of subsection 2(A) above.

(C)        The termination of a proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, or conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent is not, of itself, determinative that the proposed indemnitee did not meet the standard of conduct set forth in subsection 2(A) above.

(D)        The Corporation shall not indemnify a person under this Article in connection with (i) a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation, except for reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding if it is determined that such person has met the relevant standard of conduct under this section, or (ii) with respect to conduct for which such person was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received by him, whether or not involving action in his official capacity.

SECTION 3.        Advances for Expenses.

(A)        The Corporation may advance funds to pay for or reimburse the reasonable expenses incurred by a director or Officer who is a party to a proceeding because he is a director or Officer in advance of final disposition of the proceeding if: (i) such person furnishes the Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that he has met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsection 2(A) above or that the proceeding involves conduct for which liability has been eliminated under the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation; and (ii) such person furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking meeting the qualifications set forth below in subsection 3(B), executed personally or on his behalf, to repay any funds advanced if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to any indemnification under this Article or otherwise.

(B)        The undertaking required by subsection 3(A)(ii) above must be an unlimited general obligation of the director or Officer but need not be secured and shall be accepted without reference to financial ability to make repayment.

(C)        Authorizations under this Section shall be made: (i) By the Board of Directors: (a) when there are two or more disinterested directors, by a majority vote of all disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote; or (b) when there are fewer than two disinterested directors, by a majority of the directors present, in which authorization directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate; or (ii) by the shareholders, but shares

 

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owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director with respect to the proceeding may not be voted on the authorization.

SECTION 4.        Authorization of and Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.

(A)        The Corporation shall not indemnify a director or Officer under Section 2 above unless authorized thereunder and a determination has been made for a specific proceeding that indemnification of such person is permissible in the circumstances because he has met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsection 2(A) above; provided, however, that regardless of the result or absence of any such determination, to the extent that a director or Officer has been wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he was a party because he is or was a director or Officer, the Corporation shall indemnify such person against reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection therewith.

(B)        The determination referred to in subsection 4(A) above shall be made:

 

   (i)

If there are two or more disinterested directors, by the board of directors by a majority vote of all the disinterested directors (a majority of whom shall for such purpose constitute a quorum) or by a majority of the members of a committee of two or more disinterested directors appointed by such a vote;

 

   (ii)

by special legal counsel:

 

  (1)

selected by the Board of Directors or its committee in the manner prescribed in subdivision (i); or

 

  (2)

If there are fewer than two disinterested directors, selected by the Board of Directors (in which selection directors who do not qualify as disinterested directors may participate); or

 

   (iii)

by the shareholders; but shares owned by or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director may not be voted on the determination.

(C)        Authorization of indemnification or an obligation to indemnify and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses of a director or Officer in the specific case shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, as described in subsection 4(B) above, except that if there are fewer than two disinterested directors or if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled under subsection 4(B)(ii)(2) above to select counsel.

(D)        The Board of Directors, a committee thereof, or special legal counsel acting pursuant to subsection (B) above or Section 5 below, shall act expeditiously upon an application for indemnification or advances, and cooperate in the procedural steps required to obtain a judicial determination under Section 5 below.

(E)        The Corporation may, by a provision in its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or in a resolution adopted or a contract approved by its Board of Directors or shareholders, obligate itself in advance of the act or omission giving rise to a proceeding to provide indemnification or advance funds to pay for or reimburse expenses consistent with this part. Any such obligatory provision shall be deemed to satisfy the requirements for authorization referred to in Section 3(C) or Section 4(C).

SECTION 5.        Court-Ordered Indemnification and Advances for Expenses. A director or Officer who is a party to a proceeding because he is a director or Officer may apply for indemnification or advances for expenses to the court

 

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conducting the proceeding or to another court of competent jurisdiction. After receipt of an application and after giving any notice it considers necessary, the court shall order indemnification or advances for expenses if it determines that:

 

   (i)

The director is entitled to indemnification or advances of expenses under this part; or

 

   (ii)

In view of all the relevant circumstances, it is fair and reasonable to indemnify the director or Officer or to advance expenses to the director or Officer, even if the director or Officer has not met the relevant standard of conduct set forth in subsection 2(A) above, failed to comply with Section 3, or was adjudged liable in a proceeding referred to in subsections (i) or (ii) of Section 2(D), but if the director or Officer was adjudged so liable, the indemnification shall be limited to reasonable expenses incurred in connection with the proceeding, unless the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation or a Bylaw, contract or resolution approved or ratified by shareholders pursuant to Section 7 below provides otherwise.

If the court determines that the director or Officer is entitled to indemnification or advance for expenses, it may also order the Corporation to pay the director’s or Officer’s reasonable expenses to obtain court-ordered indemnification or advance for expenses. The court may summarily determine, without a jury, the Corporation’s obligation to advance expense.

SECTION 6.         Indemnification of Officers and Employees.

(A)        Unless the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the Corporation shall indemnify and advance expenses under this Article to an employee of the Corporation who is not a director or Officer to the same extent, consistent with public policy, as to a director or Officer.

(B)        The Corporation may indemnify and advance expenses under this Article to an Officer of the Corporation who is a party to a proceeding because he is an Officer of the Corporation: (i) to the same extent as a director; and (ii) if he is not a director, to such further extent as may be provided by the Articles of Incorporation, the Bylaws, a resolution of the Board of Directors, or contract except for liability arising out of conduct that is enumerated in subsections (A)(i) through (A)(iv) of Section 7.

The provisions of this Section shall also apply to an Officer who is also a director if the sole basis on which he is made a party to the proceeding is an act or omission solely as an Officer.

SECTION 7.         Shareholder Approved Indemnification.

(A)        If authorized by the Articles of Incorporation or a Bylaw, contract or resolution approved or ratified by shareholders of the Corporation by a majority of the votes entitled to be cast, the Corporation may indemnify or obligate itself to indemnify a person made a party to a proceeding, including a proceeding brought by or in the right of the Corporation, without regard to the limitations in other sections of this Article, but shares owned or voted under the control of a director who at the time does not qualify as a disinterested director with respect to any existing or threatened proceeding that would be covered by the authorization may not be voted on the authorization. The Corporation shall not indemnify a person under this Section 7 for any liability incurred in a proceeding in which the person is adjudged liable to the Corporation or is subjected to injunctive relief in favor of the Corporation:

 

   (i)

for any appropriation, in violation of his duties, of any business opportunity of the Corporation;

 

   (ii)

for acts or omissions which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law;

 

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   (iii)

for the types of liability set forth in Section 14-2-832 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code; or

 

   (iv)

for any transaction from which he received an improper personal benefit.

(B)        Where approved or authorized in the manner described in subsection 7(A) above, the Corporation may advance or reimburse expenses incurred in advance of final disposition of the proceeding only if:

 

   (i)

the proposed indemnitee furnishes the Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that his conduct does not constitute behavior of the kind described in subsection 7(A)(i)-(iv) above; and

 

   (ii)

the proposed indemnitee furnishes the Corporation a written undertaking, executed personally, or on his behalf, to repay any advances if it is ultimately determined that he is not entitled to indemnification.

SECTION 8.        Liability Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of an individual who is a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation or who, while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other entity against liability asserted against or incurred by him in that capacity or arising from his status as a director, officer, employee, or agent, whether or not the Corporation would have power to indemnify him against the same liability under Section 2 or Section 3 above.

SECTION 9.        Witness Fees. Nothing in this Article shall limit the Corporation’s power to pay or reimburse expenses incurred by a person in connection with his appearance as a witness in a proceeding at a time when he is not a party.

SECTION 10.      Report to Shareholders. If the Corporation indemnifies or advances expenses to a director in connection with a proceeding by or in the right of the Corporation, the Corporation shall report the indemnification or advance, in writing, to shareholders with or before the notice of the next shareholders’ meeting.

SECTION 11.      Severability. In the event that any of the provisions of this Article (including any provision within a single section, subsection, division or sentence) is held by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, void or otherwise unenforceable, the remaining provisions of this Article shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law.

SECTION 12.      Indemnification Not Exclusive. The rights of indemnification provided in this Article VII shall be in addition to any rights which any such director, Officer, employee or other person may otherwise be entitled by contract or as a matter of law.

SECTION 13.      Amendments to Georgia Business Corporation Code. In the event that, following the date of these Bylaws, the Georgia Business Corporation Code is amended to expand the indemnification protections that a Georgia corporation is permitted to provide to its directors, Officers and/or Employees, as applicable, the indemnification protections set forth in this Article VII shall be automatically amended, without any further action by the Board of Directors, the shareholders of the Corporation or the Corporation, to provide the same indemnification protections to the fullest extent provided by such amendments to the Georgia Business Corporation Code.

 

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ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS

The Board of Directors shall have the power to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws or adopt new Bylaws, but any Bylaws adopted by the Board of Directors may be altered, amended or repealed and new Bylaws adopted by the shareholders. Action by the Directors with respect to the Bylaws shall be taken by an affirmative vote of a majority of all of the Directors then elected and serving, unless a greater vote is required by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

EMERGENCY TRANSFER OF RESPONSIBILITY

SECTION 1.        Emergency Defined. In the event of a national emergency threatening national security or a major disaster declared by the President of the United States or the person performing his functions, which directly or severely affects the operations of the Corporation, the officers and employees of this Corporation will continue to conduct the affairs of the Corporation under such guidance from the Directors as may be available except as to matters which by law or regulation require specific approval of the Board of Directors and subject to conformance with any applicable laws, regulations, and governmental directives during the emergency.

SECTION 2.        Officers Pro Tempore. The Board of Directors shall have the power, in the absence or disability of any officer, or upon the refusal of any officer to act as a result of said national emergency directly and severely affecting the operations of the Corporation, to delegate and prescribe such officer’s powers and duties to any other officer, or to any Director.

In the event of a national emergency or state of disaster of sufficient severity to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of this Corporation by its Directors and officers as contemplated by the Bylaws, any two or more available members or alternate members of the then incumbent Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum of such Committee for the full conduct and management of the Corporation in accordance with the provisions of Articles II and III of the Bylaws. If two members or alternate members of the Executive Committee cannot be expeditiously located, then three available Directors shall constitute the Executive Committee for the full conduct and management of the affairs and business of the Corporation until the then remaining Board can be convened. These provisions shall be subject to implementation by resolutions of the Board of Directors passed from time to time, and any provisions of the Bylaws (other than this Section) and any resolutions which are contrary to the provisions of this Section or the provisions of any such implementary resolutions shall be suspended until it shall be determined by any such interim Executive Committee acting under this Section that it shall be to the advantage of this Corporation to resume the conduct and management of its affairs and business under all of the other provisions of these Bylaws.

SECTION 3.        Officer Succession. If, in the event of a national emergency or disaster which directly and severely affects the operations of the Corporation, the Chief Executive Officer cannot be located expeditiously or is unable to assume or to continue normal duties, then the authority and duties of the office shall be automatically assumed, without Board of Directors action, in order of title, and subject only to willingness and ability to serve, by the Chairman of the Board, President, Vice Chairman, Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, Vice President, Corporate Secretary or their successors in office at the time of the emergency or disaster. Where two or more officers hold equivalent titles and are willing and able to serve, seniority in title controls initial appointment. If, in the same manner, the Corporate Secretary or Treasurer cannot be located or is unable to assume or continue normal duties, the responsibilities attached thereto shall, in like manner as described immediately above, be assumed by any Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President, or Vice President. Any officer assuming authority and position hereunder shall continue to serve until the earlier of his resignation or the elected officer or a more senior officer shall become available to perform the duties of the position of Chief Executive Officer, Corporate Secretary, or Treasurer.

 

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SECTION 4.        Certification of Authority. In the event of a national emergency or disaster which directly and severely affects the operations of the Corporation, anyone dealing with this Corporation shall accept a certification by the Corporate Secretary or any three officers that a specified individual is acting as Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, Corporate Secretary, or Treasurer, in accordance with these Bylaws; and that anyone accepting such certification shall continue to consider it in force until notified in writing of a change, such notice of change to carry the signature of the Corporate Secretary or three officers of the Corporation.

SECTION 5.        Alternative Locations. In the event of a national emergency or disaster which destroys, demolishes, or renders the Corporation’s offices or facilities unserviceable, or which causes, or in the judgment of the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee probably will cause, the occupancy or use thereof to be a clear and imminent hazard to personal safety, the Corporation shall temporarily lease or acquire sufficient facilities to carry on its business as may be designated by the Board of Directors. Any temporarily relocated place of business of this Corporation shall be returned to its legally authorized location as soon as practicable and such temporary place of business shall then be discontinued.

SECTION 6.        Amendments to Article IX. At any meeting called in accordance with Section 2 of this Article IX, the Board of Directors or Executive Committee, as the case may be, may modify, amend or add to the provisions of this Article IX so as to make any provision that may be practical or necessary for the circumstances of the emergency.

ARTICLE X

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS WITH INTERESTED SHAREHOLDERS

All of the requirements of Article 11A of the Georgia Business Corporation Code (currently codified in Sections 14-2-1131 through 14-2-1133 thereof), as may be in effect from time to time (the “Business Combination Statute”), shall apply to all “business combinations” (as defined in Section 14-2-1131 of the Georgia Business Corporation Code) involving the Corporation. The requirements of the Business Combination Statute shall be in addition to the requirements of Article XI of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation. Nothing contained in the Business Combination Statute shall be deemed to limit the provisions contained in Article XI of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation, and nothing contained in Article XI of the Corporation’s Articles of Incorporation shall be deemed to limit the provisions contained in the Business Combination Statute.

ARTICLE XI

INSPECTION OF BOOKS AND RECORDS

The Board of Directors shall determine whether and to what extent the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, other than the share records, shall be open to the inspection of shareholders, and no shareholder shall have any right to inspect any account or books or document of the Corporation except as conferred by law or by resolution of the shareholders or the Board of Directors. Without prior approval of the Board of Directors in their discretion, the right of inspection set forth in Section 14-2-1602(c) of the Georgia Business Corporation Code shall not be available to any shareholder owning two (2%) percent or less of the shares outstanding.

 

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