UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): May 11, 2011
ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
Virginia | 001-12658 | 54-1692118 | ||
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification Number) |
451 Florida Street, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70801
(Address of Principal Executive Offices, including Zip Code)
Registrants Telephone Number, including Area Code: (225) 388-8011
Not Applicable
(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
¨ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
¨ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
¨ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
Effective as of May 11, 2011, the Board of Directors of Albemarle Corporation (the Company) amended Section 2 of Article II of the Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws to decrease the size of the Board of Directors to ten directors. The Companys Amended and Restated Bylaws are attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and are incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.07 | Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders. |
On May 11, 2011, the Company held its Annual Meeting. During this meeting, stockholders of the Company were asked to consider and vote upon four proposals: (1) election of the ten nominees set forth in the 2011 Proxy Statement to the Board of Directors, (2) approval of a non-binding advisory resolution approving the compensation of the Companys named executive officers, (3) ratification of the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm, and (4) designation of frequency of periodic advisory votes on executive compensation.
As of the record date for the Annual Meeting, March 2, 2011, there were 91,651,359 shares of common stock outstanding and entitled to vote, of which the holders of 82,985,158 shares of common stock were represented in person or by proxy at the Annual Meeting. For each proposal, the results of the shareholder voting were as follows:
1. Election of directors. All of the nominees for directors were elected to serve for a term which expires at the annual meeting of stockholders in 2012, by the votes set forth in the table below.
Nominee | Voted For | Withheld | ||
J. Alfred Broaddus, Jr. |
75,511,198 | 137,894 | ||
William H. Hernandez |
75,529,623 | 119,469 | ||
R. William Ide III |
74,360,842 | 1,288,250 | ||
Richard L. Morrill |
74,517,062 | 1,132,030 | ||
Jim W. Nokes |
74,549,559 | 1,099,533 | ||
Barry W. Perry |
75,332,753 | 316,339 | ||
Mark C. Rohr |
74,234,624 | 1,414,468 | ||
John Sherman, Jr. |
74,544,516 | 1,104,576 | ||
Harriett Tee Taggart |
75,347,709 | 301,383 | ||
Anne Marie Whittemore |
74,208,059 | 1,441,035 |
There were 7,336,066 Broker Non-Votes received for each nominee.
2. Advisory vote on executive compensation. The stockholders approved on a non-binding advisory basis the compensation of the Companys named executive officers by the votes set forth in the table below.
Voted For | Voted Against | Abstain | Broker Non-Votes | |||
71,526,316 | 3,412,551 | 710,225 | 7,336,066 |
3. Ratification of appointment of independent registered public accounting firm. The appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC as the Companys independent registered public accounting firm for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2011 was ratified by the stockholders by the votes set forth in the table below.
Voted For | Voted Against | Abstain | ||
82,401,969 | 549,032 | 34,157 |
The proposal to ratify the appointment of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLC was a routine matter and, therefore, there were no broker non-votes relating to this matter.
4. Frequency of periodic advisory votes on executive compensation. The stockholders voted upon a non-binding advisory proposal as to the frequency with which the non-binding shareholder vote to approve the compensation of the Companys named executive officers should be conducted as set forth in the table below.
1 Year | 2 Year | 3 Year | Abstain | |||
54,810,379 | 1,102,312 | 19,028,397 | 708,004 |
Based on these results, the Companys Board of Directors has determined to hold its advisory vote on the compensation of named executive officers annually until the next frequency vote. A frequency vote is required to be held at least once every six years.
Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
(d) | Exhibits. |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws dated May 11, 2011 |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.
ALBEMARLE CORPORATION | ||||||
Date: May 16, 2011 | By: | /s/ Karen G. Narwold | ||||
Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit |
Description | |
3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws dated May 11, 2011 |
Exhibit 3.2
ALBEMARLE CORPORATION
AMENDED & RESTATED BYLAWS
ARTICLE I
Meeting of Shareholders
Section 1. Places of Meetings. All meetings of the shareholders shall be held at such place, either within or without the Commonwealth of Virginia, as may, from time to time, be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the shareholders, for the election of directors and transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting, shall be held each year at 11:00 a.m. EST on the fourth Wednesday in March or at such other date and time as the Board of Directors of the Company may designate from time to time.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of shareholders for any purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or by a majority of the Board of Directors. At a special meeting, no business shall be transacted and no corporate action shall be taken other than that stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise required by law or these Bylaws, written or printed notice stating the place, day and hour of every meeting of the shareholders and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be mailed not less than ten (10) nor more than sixty (60) days
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before the date of the meeting to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at such meeting, at his or her address which appears in the share transfer books of the Company.
Section 5. Quorum. Except as otherwise required by the Articles of Incorporation, any number of shareholders together holding at least a majority of the outstanding shares of capital stock entitled to vote with respect to the business to be transacted, who shall be present in person, or represented by proxy at any meeting duly called, shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. If less than a quorum shall be in attendance at the time for which a meeting shall have been called, the meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of the shareholders present or represented by proxy without notice other than by announcement at the meeting.
Section 6. Voting. At any meeting of the shareholders each shareholder of a class entitled to vote on the matters coming before the meeting shall have one vote, in person or by proxy, for each such share standing in his or her name on the books of the Company at the record date for such meeting, provided that the record date shall not be more than seventy (70) days prior to the meeting.
Section 7. Voting List. The officer or agent having charge of the stock transfer books for shares of the Company shall make, at least ten (10) days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, with the address of and the number of shares held by each. Such list, for a period of ten (10) days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the registered office of the Company or at its principal place of business or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar and shall be subject to inspection by any
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shareholder at any time during usual business hours. Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original stock transfer books shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such list or transfer books or to vote at any meeting of shareholders. If the requirements of this section have not been substantially complied with, the meeting shall, on the demand of any shareholder in person or by proxy, be adjourned until the requirements are complied with.
Section 8. Shareholder Proposals.
(a) Annual Meetings of Shareholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Company and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders only (A) pursuant to the Companys notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (B) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (C) by any shareholder of the Company who was a shareholder of record of the Company who is entitled to vote at the meeting at the time the notice provided for in this section is delivered to the Secretary of the Company and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this section.
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a)(i) of this section, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Company and any such proposed business other than the nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors must constitute a proper matter for
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shareholder action. To be timely, a shareholders notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the ninetieth day nor earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting (provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is more than thirty days before or more than seventy days after such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder must be so delivered not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such annual meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company). In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of an annual meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for the giving of a shareholders notice as described above. Such shareholders notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election as a director all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest, or is otherwise, required in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) (and such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as such a director if elected); (B) as to any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration and in the event that such
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business includes a proposal to amend the Bylaws of the Company, the language of the proposed amendment), the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and for the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C) as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (1) the name and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Companys books, and of such beneficial owner, (2) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner, (3) a representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business or nomination, and (4) a representation whether the shareholder or the beneficial owner, if any, intends or is part of a group that intends (a) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Companys outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal or elect the nominee and/or (b) otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of such proposal or nomination. The foregoing notice requirements shall be deemed satisfied by a shareholder if the shareholder has notified the Company of his intention to present a proposal at an annual meeting in compliance with Rule 14a-8 (or any successor thereof) promulgated under the Exchange Act and such shareholders proposal has been included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Company to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as a director of the Company.
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(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)(ii) of this section to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Company at an annual meeting is increased and there is no public announcement by the Company naming the nominees for the additional directorships at least one hundred days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a shareholders notice required by this section shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for the additional directorships, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company.
(b) Special Meetings of Shareholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Companys notice of meeting. 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 Companys notice of meeting (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any shareholder of the Company who is a shareholder of record at the time the notice provided for in this section is delivered to the Secretary of the Company, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and upon such election and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this section. In the event the Company calls a special meeting of shareholders for the
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purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board of Directors, any such shareholder entitled to vote in such election of directors may nominate a person or persons, as the case may be, for election to such position(s) as specified in the Companys notice of meeting, if the shareholders notice required by paragraph (a)(ii) of this section is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not earlier than the close of business on the one hundred twentieth day prior to such special meeting, and not later than the close of business on the later of the ninetieth day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment or postponement of a special meeting commence a new time period (or extend any time period) for giving of a shareholders notice as described above.
(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section shall be eligible at an annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company to serve as directors and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Chairman of the meeting shall have the power and duty (A) to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section (including whether the shareholder or beneficial
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owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made solicited (or is part of a group which solicited) or did not so solicit, as the case may be, proxies in support of such shareholders nominee or proposal in compliance with such shareholders representation as required by clause (a)(ii)(C) of this section) and (B) to declare that such nomination shall be disregarded or that such proposed business shall not be transacted. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, if the shareholder (or a designated representative of the shareholder) does not appear at the annual or special meeting of shareholders of the Company to present a nomination or business, such nomination shall be disregarded and such proposed business shall not be transacted, notwithstanding that proxies in respect of such vote may have been received by the Company.
(ii) For purposes of this section, public announcement shall include disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this section, 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 this section. Nothing in this section shall be deemed to affect any rights (A) of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Companys proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (B) of the holders of any series of preferred stock to elect directors pursuant to any applicable provisions of the articles of incorporation.
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Section 9. Inspectors. An appropriate number of inspectors for any meeting of shareholders shall be appointed by the Chairman of such meeting. Inspectors so appointed will open and close the polls, will receive and take charge of proxies and ballots, and will decide all questions as to the qualifications of voters, validity of proxies and ballots, and the number of votes properly cast.
ARTICLE II
Directors
Section 1. General Powers. The property, affairs and business of the Company shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors, and except as otherwise expressly provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, all of the powers of the Company shall be vested in such Board.
Section 2. Number of Directors. The Board of Directors shall be ten (10) in number. By amendment of these Bylaws the Board of Directors or the shareholders may increase or decrease the number of directors; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may not increase or decrease the number of directors by more than thirty percent of the number of directors last elected by the shareholders.
Section 3. Election of Directors.
(a) Directors shall be elected each year at the annual meeting of shareholders.
(b) Directors shall hold their offices until the next annual meeting of the shareholders and until their successors are elected. Any director may be removed from office as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation.
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(c) Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of the majority of the remaining directors though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors.
(d) A majority of the number of directors fixed by these Bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The act of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Meetings of Directors.
(a) Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at places within or without the Commonwealth of Virginia and at times fixed by resolution of the Board or upon call of the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board, and the Secretary or officer performing the Secretarys duties shall give not less than twenty-four (24) hours notice by letter, telegraph, telephone, in person, or other form of electronic transmission as provided by Virginia Code 13.1-686(c) as amended from time to time, of all meetings of the Directors, provided that notice need not be given of regular meetings held at times and places fixed by resolution of the Board. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held as soon as practicable after the adjournment of the annual meeting of shareholders. Meetings may be held at any time without notice if all of the Directors are present, or if those not present waive notice in writing either before or after the meeting. Directors may be allowed, by resolution of the Board, a reasonable fee and expenses for attendance at meetings.
(b) The Board of Directors may permit any or all Directors to participate in a regular or special meeting by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any
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means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present at the meeting.
(c) Action required to be taken at a Board of Directors meeting may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all Directors. The action shall be evidenced by one or more consents stating the action taken, signed by each Director either before or after the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records reflecting the action taken. Any written consent and the signing thereof may be accomplished by one or more electronic transmissions, as provided by Virginia Code Section 13.1-603 as amended from time to time.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee.
(a) On recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee, the Board of Directors shall, by vote of a majority of the number of Directors fixed by these Bylaws, designate an Executive Committee. The members of the Executive Committee shall serve until their successors are designated by the Board of Directors, until removed or until the Executive Committee is dissolved by the Board of Directors. All vacancies on the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
(b) When the Board of Directors is not in session, the Executive Committee shall have all power vested in the Board of Directors by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, except as otherwise provided in the Virginia Stock Corporation Act. The Executive Committee shall report at the next regular or special
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meeting of the Board of Directors all action which the Executive Committee may have taken on behalf of the Board since the last regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Executive Compensation Committee.
(a) On recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee, the Board of Directors, at its regular annual meeting, shall designate an Executive Compensation Committee, which shall consist of three or more Directors who shall not be eligible for bonus, stock option or stock appreciation rights and each of whom shall satisfy the independence requirements of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), as amended from time to time. The responsibilities of the Executive Compensation Committee shall be set forth in its charter as approved by the Board of Directors.
(b) The Executive Compensation Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings, and all action taken shall be reported to the Board of Directors. Vacancies on the Executive Compensation Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors, and members shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time.
Section 3. Audit Committee.
(a) On recommendation of the Corporate Governance and Social Responsibility Committee, the Board of Directors, at its regular annual meeting, shall designate an Audit Committee, which shall consist of three or more Directors whose membership on the Committee shall meet the requirements set forth in the rules of the NYSE, as amended from time to time. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall be set forth in its charter as approved by the Board of Directors.
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(b) The Audit Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure. The Committee shall keep minutes of all of its meetings, and all action taken shall be reported to the Board of Directors. Vacancies on the Audit Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors, and members shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time.
Section 4. Nominating and Governance Committee.
(a) On recommendation of the Nominating and Governance Committee, the Board of Directors shall, at its regular annual meeting, designate a Nominating and Governance Committee, which shall consist of three or more Directors each of whom shall satisfy the independence requirements of the NYSE, as amended from time to time. The responsibilities of the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be set forth in its charter as approved by the Board of Directors.
(b) The Nominating and Governance Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure. The Committee shall keep minutes of its meetings, and all action taken shall be reported to the Board of Directors. Vacancies on the Nominating and Governance Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors, and members shall be subject to removal by the Board at any time.
Section 5. Other Committees of the Board. The Board of Directors, by resolution duly adopted, may establish such other committees of the Board as it may deem advisable and the members, terms and authority of such committees shall be as set forth in the resolutions establishing the same.
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Section 6. Notice of Committee Meetings; Quorum. Meetings of any Committee shall be held at such places and at such times fixed by resolution of the Committee, or upon call of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or the Chairman of the Committee. Not less than twelve (12) hours notice shall be given by letter, telegraph, telephone, in person, or, in the manner provided in Section 4 of Article II, electronically, of all meetings of any Committee, provided that notice need not be given of regular meetings held at times and places fixed by resolution of the Committee and meetings may be held at any time without notice if all of the members of the Committee are present or if those not present waive notice in writing either before or after the meeting. A majority of the members of the Committee then serving shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Section 1. Election. The officers of the Company may consist of a Chief Executive Officer, a Chairman of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, a President, one or more Vice Presidents (any one or more of whom may be designated as Executive Vice Presidents or Senior Vice Presidents), a Secretary and a Treasurer. In addition, such other officers may from time to time be elected by the Board of Directors, including, without limitation, one or more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. All officers shall hold office until the next annual meeting of the Board of Directors or until their successors are elected. The Chairman of the Board and the Vice Chairman of the Board shall be chosen from among the Directors. Any two offices may be combined in the same person as the Board of Directors may determine.
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Section 2. Removal of Officers; Vacancies. Any officer of the Company may be removed summarily with or without cause, at any time by a resolution passed at any meeting by affirmative vote of a majority of the number of Directors fixed by these Bylaws. Vacancies may be filled at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Duties. The officers of the Company shall have such duties as generally pertain to their offices, respectively, as well as such powers and duties as are hereinafter provided and as from time to time shall be conferred by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any officer to give such bond for the faithful performance of his duties as the Board may see fit.
Section 4. Duties of the Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for the execution of the policies of the Board of Directors and shall have supervision over the business of the Company and its several officers, subject to the authority of the Board of Directors. Unless the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the Chief Executive Officer also shall be the President of the Company. The Chief Executive Officer may sign and execute in the name of the Company deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed. In addition, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
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Section 5. Chairman of the Board.
(a) The Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of shareholders, the Board of Directors and, unless there is a Chairman of the Executive Committee, the Executive Committee.
(b) The Chairman of the Board may sign and execute in the name of the Company deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed. In addition, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Chairman of the Board and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Duties of the Vice Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board shall perform all duties incident to the office of the Vice Chairman of the Board and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman of the Board may sign and execute in the name of the Company deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts and other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed.
Section 7. Duties of the President. The President shall have direct supervision over the business of the Company subject to the authority of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer (if the President is not also Chief Executive Officer) and the Chairman of the Board. The President may sign and execute in the
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name of the Company deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments, except in cases where the signing and the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed. In addition, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of the President and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him.
Section 8. Duties of the Vice Presidents. Each Vice President of the Company (including any Executive Vice President and Senior Vice President) shall have powers and duties that are customary for that office and such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him. Any Vice President of the Company may sign and execute in the name of the Company deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts and other instruments, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law otherwise to be signed or executed.
Section 9. Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Company, and shall cause all such funds and securities to be deposited in such banks and depositories as the Board of Directors from time to time may direct. He shall maintain adequate accounts and records of all assets, liabilities and transactions of the Company in accordance with generally accepted accounting practices; shall exhibit his accounts and records to any of the Directors of the Company at any time upon request at the office of the Company; shall render such statements of his accounts and records and such other
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statements to the Board of Directors and officers as often and in such manner as they shall require; and shall make and file (or supervise the making and filing of) all tax returns required by law. He shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him.
Section 10. Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall act as secretary of all meetings of the Board of Directors and the shareholders of the Company, and shall keep the minutes thereof in the proper book or books to be provided for that purpose. He shall see that all notices required to be given by the Company are duly given and served; shall have custody of the seal of the Company and shall affix the seal or cause it to be affixed to all certificates for stock of the Company and to all documents the execution of which on behalf of the Company under its corporate seal is duly authorized in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws; shall have custody of all deeds, leases, contracts and other important corporate documents; shall have charge of the books, records and papers of the Company relating to its organization and management as a Company; shall see that the reports, statements and other documents required by law (except tax returns) are properly filed; and shall, in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him.
Section 11. Other Duties of Officers. Any officer of the Company shall have, in addition to the duties prescribed herein or by law, such other duties as from time to time shall be prescribed.
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ARTICLE V
Capital Stock
Section 1. Certificates. The shares of capital stock of the Company may be certificated or uncertificated as provided under the Virginia Stock Corporation Act. All certificates representing shares of capital stock of the Company shall be in such forms as prescribed by the Board of Directors and executed by the Chief Executive Officer or the Chairman of the Board and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and stating thereon the information required by law. Transfer agents and/or registrars for one or more classes of the stock of the Company may be appointed by the Board of Directors and may be required to countersign certificates representing stock of such class or classes. In the event that any officer whose signature or facsimile thereof shall have been used on a stock certificate shall for any reason cease to be an officer of the Company and such certificate shall not then have been delivered by the Company, the Board of Directors may nevertheless adopt such certificate and it may then be issued and delivered as though such person had not ceased to be an officer of the Company. Within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of uncertificated shares of the Company, the Company shall send, or cause to be sent, to the holder a written statement that shall include the information required by law to be set forth on certificates for shares of capital stock.
Section 2. Lost, Destroyed and Mutilated Certificates. Holders of the stock of the Company in certificated form shall immediately notify the Company of any loss, destruction or mutilation of the certificate therefor, and the Board of Directors may, in its discretion, cause one or more new certificates or evidence of such holders ownership of such shares in uncertificated form for the same number of shares in the aggregate to
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be issued to such shareholder upon the surrender of the mutilated certificate or upon satisfactory proof of such loss or destruction, and the deposit of a bond in such form and amount and with such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
Section 3. Transfer of Stock. The stock of the Company shall be transferable or assignable only on the books of the Company by the holders in person or by attorney, and in the case of shares of stock of the Company represented by a certificate, on surrender of the certificate for such shares duly endorsed and, if sought to be transferred by attorney, accompanied by a written power of attorney to have the same transferred on the books of the Company. Uncertificated shares shall be transferable or assignable only on the books of the Company upon proper instruction from the holder of such shares. The Company will recognize the exclusive right of the person registered on its books as the owner of shares to receive dividends and to vote as such owner.
Section 4. Fixing Record Date. For the purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of the shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment for any dividend, or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other proper purpose, 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 seventy (70) days prior to the date on which the particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken. If no record date is fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of
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the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders. Except as otherwise required by law, when a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders has been made as provided in this section such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof.
ARTICLE VI
Miscellaneous Provisions
Section 1. Seal. The seal of the Company shall consist of a flat-face circular die, of which there may be any number of counterparts, on which there shall be engraved in the center the words Albemarle Corporation.
Section 2. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Company shall end on December 31st of each year.
Section 3. Books and Records. The Company shall keep correct and complete books and records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its shareholders and Board of Directors. The Company shall keep at its registered office or principal place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar a record of its shareholders, giving the names and addresses of all shareholders, and the number, class and series of the shares being held.
Section 4. Checks, Notes and Drafts. Checks, notes, drafts and other orders for the payment of money shall be signed by such persons as the Board of Directors from time to time may authorize. When the Board of Directors so authorizes, however, the signature of any such person may be a facsimile.
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Section 5. Amendment of Bylaws. These Bylaws may be amended or altered at any meeting of the Board of Directors. The shareholders entitled to vote in respect of the election of directors, however, shall have the power to rescind, alter, amend or repeal any Bylaws and to enact Bylaws which, if expressly so provided, may not be amended, altered or repealed by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Voting of Stock Held. The Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or such other officer or officers as may be designated by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee shall from time to time appoint an attorney or attorneys or agent or agents of this Company, in the name and on behalf of this Company, to cast the vote which this Company may be entitled to cast as a shareholder or otherwise in any other company any of whose stock or securities may be held in this Company, at meetings of the holders of the stock or other securities of such other company, or to consent in writing to any action by any of such other company, and shall instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting such votes or giving such consent and may execute or cause to be executed on behalf of this Company and under its corporate seal or otherwise, such written proxies, consents, waivers or other instruments as may be necessary or proper in the premises; or, in lieu of such appointment, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chairman of the Board or any such designated officer or officers may attend in person any meetings of the holders of stock or other securities of any such other company and there vote or exercise any or all power of this Company as the holder of such stock or other securities of such other company.
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Section 7. Control Share Acquisition Statute. Article 14.1 of the Virginia Stock Corporation Act (Control Share Acquisitions) shall not apply to acquisitions of shares of stock of the Company.
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