Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws
NCR CORPORATION
BYLAWS
AS AMENDED AND RESTATED ON JANUARY 28, 2009
ARTICLE I.
Stockholders
Section 1. ANNUAL MEETING. The Corporation shall hold annually a regular meeting of its stockholders for the election of the directors and for the transaction of general business, at such place within the United States as the Board of Directors shall determine. The annual meeting shall be held on the date and at the time set by the Board of Directors. Such annual meetings shall be general meetings, that is to say, open for the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation without special notice unless otherwise required by statute, by the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”) or by these Bylaws. Failure to hold an annual meeting at the designated time shall not, however, invalidate the corporate existence or affect otherwise valid corporate acts.
Section 2. SPECIAL MEETINGS.
(a) General. The Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors may call a special meeting of the stockholders. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 2, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting.
(b) Stockholder Requested Special Meetings. (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the Secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which the Record Date Request Notice is received by the Secretary.
(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the Secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the Secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the Secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the Secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation or the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.
(3) The Secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 2(b), the Secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.
(4) Except as provided in the next sentence, any special meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or the Board of Directors. In the case of any special meeting called by the Secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within ten days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the Secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m. local time on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder Requested Meeting within ten days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for any special meeting, the Chairman of the Board, President, Chief Executive Officer or Board of Directors may consider such factors as he, she or it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 2(b).
(5) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the Secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting to the Secretary (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the Secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the Secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on a matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chairman of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the Secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chairman of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the Secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.
(6) The Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, Chief Executive Officer or the Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after receipt by the Secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that valid requests have been received by the Secretary, as of the Request Record Date, from stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Section 3. NOTICE. Written, printed or electronic notice of every annual or special meeting of the stockholders shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder entitled to notice of but not to vote at the meeting, by leaving the notice at his or her residence or usual place of business, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally or by any other means permitted by Maryland law, at least 10 days and not more than 90 days before such meeting. Notice of every meeting shall state the place, day and hour of such meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called. Subject to Section 8(a) of this Article I, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. A single notice to all stockholders who share an address shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address who consents to such notice or after having been notified of the Corporation’s intent to give a single notice fails to object in writing to such single notice within 60 days. Failure to give notice of any annual meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any annual meeting if held at the time and place fixed by Section 1 of this Article I, or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 8(c)(3)) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.
Section 4. QUORUM, VOTING AND ADJOURNMENT. At a meeting of stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting constitutes a quorum; but this sentence shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the Charter for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. The chairman of any special or annual meeting of stockholders may adjourn or postpone the meeting from time to time, whether or not a quorum is present. No notice of the time and place of adjourned or postponed meetings need be given except as required by law. The stockholders present at a duly called meeting at which a quorum is present may continue to transact business until adjournment or postponement, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum. At any such adjourned or postponed meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. Except as required by statute, or as provided in the Charter or in these Bylaws, a majority of all the votes cast at a duly called special or annual meeting of stockholders at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any matter which properly comes before the meeting, including the election of Directors.
Section 5. PROXIES. A stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the holder of the shares of stock owned of record by the stockholder in person or by proxy executed by the stockholder or by the stockholder’s duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the Corporation or its agent before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 6. ORGANIZATION AND CONDUCT. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chairman of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment, by the Chairman of the Board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Chairman of the Board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the Vice Chairman of the Board, if there is one, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Vice Presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, in the absence of such officers, a chairman of the meeting chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy. The Secretary, or, in the Secretary’s absence, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of both the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, a person appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, a person appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as Secretary. In the event that the Secretary presides at a meeting of the stockholders, an Assistant Secretary, or in the absence of Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chairman of the meeting. The chairman of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chairman and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and other such individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) determining when the polls should be opened and closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chairman of the meeting; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chairman of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.
Section 7. ADVANCE NOTICE OF STOCKHOLDER NOMINEES FOR DIRECTOR AND OTHER STOCKHOLDER PROPOSALS.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders. (1) Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 7(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied in all respects with this Section 7(a). Compliance with the provisions of clause (iii) of the preceding sentence of this Section 7 shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations before an annual meeting of stockholders or to submit other business (other than matters properly brought under Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation’s notice of meeting) before an annual meeting of stockholders.
(2) Without qualification or limitation, in addition to any other applicable requirements, for nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section 7, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder’s notice shall set forth all information required under this Section 7 and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(3) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth
(i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director, (each, a “Proposed Nominee”), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder (including the Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);
(ii) as to any business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a description of such business, the stockholder’s reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom;
(iii) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person,
(A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,
(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,
(C) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities or (y) any security of any entity that was listed in the Peer Group in the Stock Performance Graph in the most recent annual report to security holders of the Corporation (a “Peer Group Company”) for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities, and
(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;
(iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (3) of this Section 7(a) and any Proposed Nominee,
(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee and
(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person; and
(v) to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other stockholder supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder’s notice.
The Corporation may require such stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person 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 stockholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee.
(4) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 7 to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors is increased, and there is no public announcement of such action at least 130 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 7(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(5) For purposes of this Section 7, “Stockholder Associated Person” of any stockholder means (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 2 of this Article I for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 7 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied in all respects with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 7. Compliance with the provisions of clause (ii) of the preceding sentence of this Section 7 and with the sentence immediately following this sentence shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations before a special meeting of stockholders. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any such stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice required by paragraph (2) of this Section 7(a) shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General. (1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 7 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 7. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 7 and (B) a written update of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 7 as of an earlier date. If a stockholder fails to provide such written verification or written update within such period, the information as to which written verification or written update was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 7.
(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 7 shall be eligible for election by stockholders as directors, and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of stockholders as shall have been properly brought before the meeting in accordance with this Section 7. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with this Section 7.
(3) “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (i) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (ii) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 7, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 7. Nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act; provided, however, that any references in these Bylaws to the Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not limit the requirements applicable to nominations to be considered pursuant to clause (iii) of this Section 7(a)(1) or clause (ii) of the second sentence of the first paragraph of this Section 7(b). Nothing in this Section 7 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.
Section 8. Reserved.
Section 9. Reserved.
Section 10. CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT. The acquisition of shares of common stock of the Corporation by any existing or future stockholders or their affiliates or associates shall be exempt from all of the provisions of Subtitle 7 (entitled “Voting Rights of Certain Control Shares”) of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), as amended. This Section 10 may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and such repeal may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
ARTICLE II.
Board of Directors
Section 1. GENERAL POWERS. Subject to the restrictions contained in the Charter and these Bylaws, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall have the power to fix the compensation of its members and to provide for the payment of the expenses of directors in attending meetings of the Board of Directors and of any committee of the Board of Directors.
Section 2. TENURE. Subject to removal, death, resignation or retirement of a director, a director shall hold office until the annual meeting of the stockholders for the year in which such director’s term expires and until a successor shall be elected and qualify, or a successor appointed as provided in Section 7.1(d) of the Charter.
Section 3. NUMBER. From time to time, the number of directors may be increased to not more than 20, or decreased to not less than the minimum number required by the MGCL, upon resolution approved by a majority of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies (the "Whole Board").
Section 4. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. In the event such meeting is not so held, the meeting may be held at such time and place as shall be specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or by a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 6. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, United States mail or courier to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
Section 7. QUORUM AND VOTING. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, but if, at any meeting of the Board of Directors, there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority of the directors present at the meeting, without further notice, may adjourn the same from time to time, until a quorum shall attend. Except as required by applicable law, or as provided in the Charter or these Bylaws, a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall decide any questions that may come before the meeting, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the charter or these bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave less than a quorum but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.
Section 8. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
Section 9. WRITTEN CONSENT BY DIRECTORS. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
Section 10. RELIANCE. Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented, by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person’s professional or expert competence, or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.
Section 11. RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
ARTICLE III.
Committees of the Board of Directors
Section 1. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. (a) The Board of Directors may elect an Executive Committee consisting of three or more directors. If such a Committee is established, the Board of Directors shall appoint one of the members of the Executive Committee to the office of Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Chairman and other members of the Executive Committee shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding their respective elections or, if earlier, until removed by the Board of Directors or until they shall cease to be directors. Vacancies in the Executive Committee or in the office of Chairman of the Executive Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
(b) If such a Committee is established, all the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, except as otherwise provided by the MGCL, the Charter and these Bylaws, shall vest in the Executive Committee, when the Board of Directors is not in session.
Section 2. AUDIT COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors shall elect an Audit Committee consisting of three or more directors. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of the members of the Audit Committee to the office of Chairman of the Audit Committee. The Chairman and other members of the Audit Committee shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding their respective elections or, if earlier, until removed by the Board of Directors or until they shall cease to be directors. Vacancies in the Audit Committee or in the office of Chairman of the Audit Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. COMPENSATION AND HUMAN RESOURCE COMMITTEE. The Board of Directors shall elect a Compensation and Human Resource Committee consisting of two or more directors. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of the members of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee to the office of Chairman of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee. The Chairman and other members of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding their respective elections or, if earlier, until removed by the Board of Directors or until they shall cease to be directors. Vacancies in the Compensation and Human Resource Committee or in the office of Chairman of the Compensation and Human Resource Committee shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. COMMITTEE ON DIRECTORS AND GOVERNANCE. The Board of Directors shall elect a Committee on Directors and Governance consisting of two or more directors. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of the members of the Committee on Directors and Governance to the office of Chairman of the Committee on Directors and Governance. The Chairman and other members of the Committee on Directors and Governance shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding their respective elections or, if earlier, until removed by the Board of Directors or until they shall cease to be directors. Vacancies in the Committee on Directors and Governance or in the office of Chairman of the Committee on Directors and Governance shall be filled by the Board of Directors.
Section 5. OTHER COMMITTEES. The Board of Directors may, by resolution adopted by a majority of the entire Board, designate one or more additional committees, each of which shall consist of one or more directors of the Corporation, and if it elects such a committee consisting of more than one director, shall appoint one of the members of the committee to be Chairman thereof.
Section 6. MEETINGS. The Executive Committee and each other committee shall meet from time to time on call of its Chairman or on call of any one or more of its members or the Chairman of the Board for the transaction of any business.
Section 7. QUORUM AND VOTING. At any meeting, however called, of the Executive Committee and each other committee, a majority of its members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority of such quorum shall decide any matter that may come before the meeting.
Section 8. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of any committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
Section 9. WRITTEN CONSENT BY COMMITTEES. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of any committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.
Section 10. MINUTES. The Executive Committee and each other committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.
ARTICLE IV.
Chairman of the Board / Officers
Section 1. GENERAL. The Board of Directors shall appoint one of their number as Chairman of the Board and may appoint one of their number as Honorary Chairman of the Board, either of whom may or may not also serve as an officer of the Company. In addition, in the event of the absence of the Chairman or in the event that the Chairman ceases, for any reason, to be a member of the Board and the Board has not yet elected a successor, the Board of Directors may appoint one of their number as Acting Chairman of the Board. All of the duties and powers of the Chairman of the Board shall be vested in the Acting Chairman of the Board (in the event the Board has appointed an Acting Chairman). The Board of Directors shall appoint a Chief Executive Officer who may also be a director. The Board of Directors shall also appoint the President and may appoint one or more Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, who need not be directors, and such other officers and agents with such powers and duties as the Board of Directors may prescribe. The Chief Executive Officer shall appoint a Treasurer and a Secretary, neither of whom need be a director, and may appoint a controller and one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, Assistant Controllers, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, none of whom need be a director. All said officers shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors following the annual meeting of the stockholders next succeeding their respective elections, and until their successors are appointed and qualify. Any two of said offices, except those of President and Senior Vice President or Vice President, may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
Section 2. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. Subject to any supervisory duties that may be given to the Chairman of the Board by the Board of Directors and the direction of the Board of Directors generally, the Chief Executive Officer shall have direct supervision and authority over the business and affairs of the Corporation. If the Chief Executive Officer is also a director, and in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or the Acting Chairman of the Board, if any, the Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she shall be present. He or she shall make a report of the operation of the Corporation for the preceding fiscal year to the stockholders at their annual meeting and shall perform such other duties as are incident to his or her office, or as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, or by these Bylaws.
Section 3. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Chairman of the Board (or, in his or her absence, the Acting Chairman of the Board, if there be one, or, in the absence of an Acting Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, if a director) shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she shall be present and shall have such other powers and duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee or by these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may select a presiding director who, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board and the Chief Executive Officer, if the Chief Executive Officer is also a director, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which he or she shall be present.
Section 4. CHAIRMAN OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. The Chairman of the Executive Committee shall preside at all meetings of the Executive Committee at which he or she shall be present.
Section 5. PRESIDENT. Except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, the President shall perform the duties and exercise all the functions of the Chief Executive Officer in his or her absence or during his or her inability to act, in such manner as from time to time may be determined by the Board of Directors or by the Executive Committee. The President, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents shall have such other powers, and perform such other duties, as may be assigned to him/her or them by the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, or these Bylaws.
Section 6. SECRETARY. The Secretary shall issue notices for all meetings, shall keep the minutes of all meetings, shall have charge of the records of the Corporation, and shall make such reports and perform such other duties as are incident to his or her office or are required of him or her by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer, or these Bylaws.
Section 7. TREASURER. The Treasurer shall have charge of all monies and securities of the Corporation and shall cause regular books of account to be kept. The Treasurer shall perform all duties incident to his or her office or required of him or her by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the Executive Committee, the Chief Executive Officer or these Bylaws, and may be required to give bond for the faithful performance of his or her duties in such sum and with such surety as may be required by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
Section 8. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or Treasurer, respectively, or by the President or the Board of Directors.
