REDWOOD
TRUST, INC.
AMENDED
AND RESTATED BYLAWS
(As
adopted March 5, 2008)
ARTICLE
I
OFFICES
SECTION
1. Principal
Office.
The
principal office of the Corporation in the State of Maryland shall be located
at
such place as the Board of Directors may designate.
SECTION
2. Additional
Offices.
The
Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office,
at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or
the
business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE
II
MEETINGS
OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION
1. Place.
All
meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of
the
Corporation or at such other place as shall be set by the Board of Directors
and
stated in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION
2. Annual
Meeting.
An
annual meeting of the stockholders for the election of directors and the
transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held
on a date and at the time set by the Board of Directors during the month of
May
in each year.
SECTION
3. Special
Meetings.
(a)
General.
The
Chairman of the Board, the President, a majority of the Board of Directors
or a
majority of the Independent Directors (as defined in Section 2 of Article III
hereof) may call a special meeting of the stockholders. Subject to subsection
(b) of this Section 3, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called
by
the Secretary of the Corporation 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 that must be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election
of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not
involved), or is otherwise required, 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, one or more written
requests for a special meeting 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 (the "Special Meeting
Percentage") of all of the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting (the
"Special Meeting Request") shall be delivered to the Secretary. In addition,
the
Special Meeting Request (a) shall 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) shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent)
signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) shall set forth 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), the class,
series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned
by
each such stockholder, and the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned
by such stockholder beneficially but not of record, (d) shall be sent to the
Secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) shall 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 mailing the notice of 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 3(b), the Secretary
receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation
and
mailing of any 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,
the
President, the Board of Directors or the Independent Directors, whoever has
called the meeting. 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, the President,
the Board of Directors or the Independent Directors may consider such factors
as
he, she or it deems relevant within the good faith exercise of business
judgment, 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 3(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, the Secretary shall: (i) if the notice
of meeting has not already been mailed, refrain from mailing 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 mailed and if the Secretary first
sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special
meeting written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting
and written notice of the Secretary's intention to revoke the notice of the
meeting, revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before
the
commencement of the meeting. 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, the President, the Board of Directors or the Independent
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 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 the valid requests
received by the Secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders
of record entitled to cast not less than a majority of the votes that would
be
entitled to be cast at such meeting. 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
California are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
SECTION
4. Notice.
Not
less than ten nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the
Secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and
to
each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting
notice stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special
meeting or as otherwise may be required by applicable law, the purpose for
which
the meeting is called, either by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder
personally, by leaving it at the stockholder's residence or usual place of
business, by electronic transmission (except to any stockholder who has
requested notice not be sent by electronic transmission) or by any other means
permitted by Maryland law. 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. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more
stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity
of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II, or the validity of
any
proceedings at any such meeting. A single notice shall be effective as to all
stockholders who share an address, except to the extent that a stockholder
at
such address objects to such single notice.
Subject
to Section 11(a) of this Article II, 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 applicable
law
to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special
meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice. The
Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a “public
announcement” (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such
postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting.
SECTION
5. 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: the President, the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief
Investment Officer, the Managing Directors in their order of rank and seniority,
the Vice Presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or, in the absence
of
such officers, a chairman 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 such 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 (whether or not a quorum is present) 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
6. Quorum.
At any
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 such meeting
on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect
any
requirement under applicable law or the charter of the Corporation (the
"Charter") for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however,
such quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the stockholders, as provided
in Section 5 of this Article II, the chairman of the meeting shall have the
power to adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120
days
after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the
meeting. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any
business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting
as
originally notified.
The
stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been
duly called and convened, may continue to transact business until adjournment,
notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a
quorum.
SECTION
7. Voting.
A
plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and
at
which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director. Each share
may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and
for whose election the share is entitled to be voted. A majority of the votes
cast at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present
shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which may properly come before
the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by
applicable law or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by applicable law
or
by the Charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled
to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders.
There shall be no cumulative voting. Voting on any question or in any election
may be viva
voce
unless
the chairman of the meeting shall order that voting be by ballot.
SECTION
8. 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 Secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy
shall be valid more than eleven months after its date unless otherwise provided
in the proxy.
SECTION
9. Voting
of Stock by Certain Holders.
Stock
of the Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust
or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or
a
vice president, a general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or
a
proxy appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person
who has been appointed to vote such stock pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution
of
the governing body of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the
partners of a partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution
or
agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or other
fiduciary may vote stock registered in his or her name in his or her capacity
as
such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.
Shares
of
stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted
at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of
outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are
held
by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be
counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given
time.
The
Board
of Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder may
certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in
the
name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other
than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders
who may make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may
be
made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it;
if
the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock
transfer books, the time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer
books within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and
any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors
considers necessary or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person
specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth
in the certification, the stockholder of record of the specified stock in place
of the stockholder who makes the certification.
SECTION
10. Inspectors.
The
Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting may appoint, before or at the
meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor thereto.
The
inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock
represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy and the validity and effect
of
proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report
such tabulation to the chair of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all
challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, and
(v)
do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to
all
stockholders. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by him or her
or
by a majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such
meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall
be
the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on
the
number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall
be prima facie
evidence
thereof.
SECTION
11. 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 11(a)
and
at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote on the election
of
the nominees or the proposal of the other business at the meeting and who has
complied with this Section 11(a).
(2)
For
nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting
by
a stockholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a)(1) of this Section
11,
the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the
Secretary of the Corporation and such other business must otherwise be a proper
matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder's notice
shall set forth all information required under this Section 11 and shall be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation
not earlier than the 150th
day
prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement for the
preceding year's annual meeting nor later than 5:00 p.m., Pacific 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., Pacific
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. 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,
(A) the name, age, business address and residence address of such individual,
(B) the class, series and number of any shares of stock of the Corporation
that
are beneficially owned by such individual, (C) the date such shares were
acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition and (D) all other
information relating to such individual that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors in an election contest (even
if an election contest is not involved), or is otherwise required, in each
case
pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange
Act
and the rules thereunder (including such individual's written consent to being
named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if
elected); (ii) as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring
before the meeting, a description of such business, the reasons for proposing
such business at the meeting and any material
interest
in such business of such stockholder and 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 and any Stockholder Associated Person,
(A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation
which
are owned by such stockholder and by such Stockholder Associated Person, if
any,
(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares owned beneficially but not
of
record by such stockholder and by any such Stockholder Associated Person; (C)
whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series
of
transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement,
arrangement or understanding (including any short position or any borrowing
or
lending of shares) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate
loss to or manage risk of share price changes for, or to increase the voting
power of, such stockholder or any such Stockholder Associated Person with
respect to any share of stock of the Corporation (collectively, “Hedging
Activities”); and (D) a general description of whether and the extent to which
such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person has engaged in Hedging
Activities with respect to shares of stock or other equity interest of any
other
company; (iv) as to the stockholder giving the notice and any Stockholder
Associated Person covered by clauses (ii) or (iii) of this paragraph (2) of
this
Section 11(a), (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear
on
the Corporation's stock ledger and current name and address, if different,
and
of such Stockholder Associated Person and (B) the investment strategy, if any,
of such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person and a copy of the
prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to
investors or potential investors in such stockholder or 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.
(3)
Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 11 to the
contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board
of Directors is increased and there is no public announcement 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 11(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees
for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to
the
Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not later than
5:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public
announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(4)
For
purposes of this Section 11, "Stockholder Associated Person" of any stockholder
shall mean (i) any person controlling, directly or indirectly, or 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 and (iii)
any person controlling, controlled by or under common control with 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 (i) pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting,
(ii)
by
or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) provided that the Board
of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such special
meeting, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record
both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at
the
time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who
has
complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. 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 11(a) shall
be
delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation
not earlier than the 150th
day
prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Pacific Time, on
the
later of the 120th
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 11 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 to a material extent, such
information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this
Section 11. Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors,
any
stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal
for
other business at a meeting of stockholders 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 11, and (B) a written update of any information submitted by the
stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 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 a written update was
requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this
Section 11.
(2)
Only
such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 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 brought before
the
meeting in accordance with this Section 11. 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 11.
(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 11, a stockholder
shall
also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set
forth in this Section 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect
any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, nor 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.
ARTICLE
III
DIRECTORS
SECTION
1. General
Powers.
The
business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction
of
the Board of Directors. All the powers of the Corporation are vested in and
shall be exercised by or under the authority of the Board of Directors except
as
otherwise prescribed by applicable law, by the Charter or by these
Bylaws.
SECTION
2. Number,
Classification, Election and Term.
At any
regular meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, a majority
of
the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number
of
directors, provided that the number thereof shall never be less than the minimum
number required by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL"), nor more
than 15, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall
not
be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. The directors shall
be
divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as
provided in the Charter. If the number of directors is changed, any increase
or
decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number
of
directors in each class as nearly equal as possible. At each annual meeting
of
stockholders, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that
annual meeting shall be elected to serve for a three-year term and until their
successors are duly elected and qualify.
At
all
times, except in the case of a vacancy, a majority of the Board of Directors
shall be Independent Directors (as hereinafter defined). For the purposes of
these Bylaws, "Independent Director" shall mean a director of the Corporation
who is not an officer or employee of the Corporation or any subsidiary of the
Corporation. Directors need not be stockholders in the Corporation.
Whenever
the holders of one or more classes or series of stock of the Corporation shall
have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one or more directors
of
the Corporation, the Board of Directors shall consist of said directors so
elected in addition to the number of directors fixed as provided above in the
first paragraph of this Section 2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and except
as
otherwise may be required by law or by the terms of any class or series of
stock, whenever the holders of one or more classes or series of stock of the
Corporation shall have the right, voting separately as a class, to elect one
or
more directors of the Corporation, the terms of the director or directors
elected by such holders shall expire at the next succeeding annual meeting
of
stockholders.
SECTION
3. Vacancies.
If for
any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall
not
terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining
directors hereunder. Pursuant to the Corporation's election to be subject to
Section 3-804(c) of the MGCL, except as may be provided by the Board of
Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any
vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the
remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum;
provided, however, that Independent Directors shall nominate replacements for
vacancies among the Independent Directors, which replacements must be elected
by
a majority of the directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors.
Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the
full
term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected
and qualifies.
SECTION
4. Resignations.
Any
director or member of a committee may resign at any time. Such resignation
shall
be made in writing and shall take effect at the time of receipt by the Chairman
of the Board, the President or the Secretary or at such later time specified
therein. Acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective
unless otherwise stated in the resignation.
SECTION
5. Committees
of the Board of Directors.
The
Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Executive Committee,
an
Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee and other committees composed of
one
or more directors and delegate to these committees any of the powers of the
Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law.
Unless
provided otherwise by the Board of Directors, each committee may fix rules
of
procedure for its business. A majority of the members of a committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority
of
those present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of
the
committee. The members of a committee present at any meeting, whether or not
they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act in the place of an
absent member; provided,
however,
that in
the event of the absence or disqualification of any Independent Director, such
appointee shall be an Independent Director. Any action required or permitted
to
be taken at any meeting of a 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 and is filed with the minutes
of
proceedings of such committee. The members of a committee may conduct any
meeting thereof by conference telephone in accordance with the provisions of
Section 6 of this Article.
Subject
to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any
time to change the membership of any committee, to fill all vacancies, to
designate alternative members to replace any absent or disqualified member,
or
to dissolve any such committee.
SECTION
6. Meetings
of the Board of Directors.
Meetings of the Board of Directors, regular or special, may be held at any
place
in or out of the State of Maryland as the Board of Directors may from time
to
time determine or as shall be specified in the notice of such meeting.
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
such
means constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
The
first
meeting of each newly elected Board of Directors shall be held as soon as
practicable after the annual meeting of the stockholders at which the directors
were elected. 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, except that no notice shall be necessary if such meeting
is
held immediately after the adjournment, and at the site, of the annual meeting
of stockholders.
Regular
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice at such time
and
place as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by two
(2)
or more directors or by a majority of the members of the executive committee,
if
one be constituted, in writing with or without a meeting of such committee,
or
by the Chairman of the Board, or the President.
Special
meetings may be held at such place or places in or out of the State of Maryland
as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors; in the absence
of such designation, such meetings shall be held at such places as may be
designated in the notice of meeting.
Any
meeting of the Board of Directors, regular or special, may adjourn from time
to
time to reconvene at the same or some other place, and no notice need be given
of any such adjourned meeting other than by announcement at the
meeting.
SECTION
7. 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 applicable law or these
Bylaws.
SECTION
8. Consent
by Directors Without a Meeting.
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 is filed
with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.
SECTION
9. Quorum
and Voting.
At all
meetings of the Board of Directors, a majority of the Board of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, and the action of a
majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present
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. If, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws,
the
vote of a majority of a particular group of directors is required for action,
a
quorum must also include a majority of such group. The directors present at
a
meeting which has been duly called and convened may continue to transact
business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough directors
to leave less than a quorum. 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. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of directors,
the directors present thereat may, by a majority vote, adjourn the meeting
from
time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until
a
quorum shall be present.
SECTION
10. Organization.
The
Chairman of the Board shall preside at each meeting of the Board of Directors.
In the absence or inability of the Chairman of the Board to preside at a
meeting, the President or, in his absence or inability to act, another director
chosen by a majority of the directors present shall act as chairman of the
meeting and preside thereat. The Secretary (or, in his absence or inability
to
act, any person appointed by the chairman of the meeting) shall act as secretary
of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION
11. Compensation
of Directors.
Independent Directors shall receive compensation for their services, and
expenses of attendance for attendance at each regular or special meeting of
the
Board of Directors, or of any committee thereof or both, as may be determined
from time to time by the Board of Directors. Nothing herein contained shall
be
construed to preclude any director from serving the Corporation in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION
12. Investment
Policies and Restrictions.
The
Board of Directors, including a majority of the Independent Directors, shall
approve the investment policies of the Corporation. The investment policies
and
compliance therewith shall be reviewed by the Independent Directors at least
annually to determine that the policies then being followed by the Corporation
are in the best interests of the Corporation. Each such determination and the
basis therefor shall be set forth in the minutes of the meeting of the Board
of
Directors.
SECTION
13. Presumption
of Assent.
A
director of the Corporation who is present at a meeting of the Board of
Directors at which action on any corporate matter is taken shall be presumed
to
have assented to the action taken unless his or her dissent or abstention shall
be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he or she shall file his
or
her written dissent to such action with the person acting as the secretary
of
the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by
registered mail to the Secretary of the Corporation immediately after the
adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to any
director who votes in favor of such action.
SECTION
14. Advisory
Directors.
The
Board of Directors may by resolution appoint advisory directors to the Board,
who may also serve as directors emeriti, and shall have such authority and
receive such compensation and reimbursement as the Board of Directors shall
provide. Advisory directors or directors emeriti shall not have the authority
to
participate by vote in the transaction of business.
SECTION
15. 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, or the
application of improper principles or practices of accounting may be ratified,
before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders
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.
SECTION
16. Emergency
Provisions.
Notwithstanding any other provision in the charter or these Bylaws, this Section
16 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar
emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors
under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an "Emergency").
During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors,
(i) a
meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any
director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice
of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given
less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means
as it may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio,
and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be
one-third of the entire Board of Directors.
ARTICLE
IV
OFFICERS
SECTION
1. Officers.
The
officers of the Corporation shall be the Chairman of the Board, the President,
the Chief Financial Officer, the Chief Investment Officer, one or more Managing
Directors, one or more Vice Presidents, the Treasurer, the Secretary, and such
other individuals holding such other titles, as the Board of Directors from
time
to time shall expressly designate as officers of the Corporation. Officers
shall
be elected by the Board of Directors to serve during the pleasure of the Board
and until their respective successors are elected and qualified, except as
otherwise provided in any employment agreement between the Corporation and
any
officer. The Chairman of the Board shall always be a member of the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
2. Subordinate
Officers, Committees and Agents.
The
Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers and appoint
such committees, employees or other agents as the business of the Corporation
may require, including one or more Assistant Secretaries, and one or more
Assistant Treasurers, each of whom shall hold office for such period, have
such
authority, and perform such duties as are provided in these Bylaws, or as the
Board of Directors may from time to time determine. The Board of Directors
may
delegate to any officer or committee the power to elect subordinate officers
and
to retain or appoint employees or other agents.
SECTION
3. Chairman
of the Board.
The
Chairman of the Board shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors
at
which he or she is present. Unless otherwise specified by the Board of
Directors, the Chairman of the Board shall also be the Chief Executive Officer
of the Corporation and perform the duties customarily performed by chief
executive officers and shall perform such other duties as may from time to
time
be requested of him or her by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
4. President.
Unless
otherwise provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the President,
in
the absence of the Chairman of the Board, shall preside at all meetings of
the
Board of Directors at which he or she is present. The President shall, subject
to the control of the Board of Directors, in general supervise and control
all
of the business and affairs of the Corporation. The President may sign, with
the
Secretary or any other proper officer of the Corporation thereunto authorized
by
the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the Corporation, any deeds,
mortgages, bonds, contracts, or other instruments which the Board of Directors
have authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution
thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or a duly
authorized committee thereof or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent
of the Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise signed or
executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of
President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors
from time to time.
SECTION
5. Chief
Financial Officer and Chief Investment Officer.
In the
absence of the President or in event of his or her death, inability or refusal
to act, or at the request of the Chief Executive Officer or President, the
Chief
Financial Officer or the Chief Investment Officer in the order designated by
the
Board of Directors, shall perform the duties and exercise all the powers of
the
President and be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Chief
Financial Officer shall perform all duties incident to the office of Chief
Financial Officer and shall perform such other duties as from time to time
may
be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or
by
the Board of Directors. The Chief Investment Officer shall perform all duties
incident to the office of Chief Investment Officer and shall perform such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive
Officer, the President or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
6. Managing
Directors.
In the
absence of the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Investment Officer or
in
event of their death, inability or refusal to act, or at the request of the
Chief Executive Officer or President, the Managing Director or Managing
Directors in order of their seniority or in any other order determined by the
Board, shall perform the duties and exercise all the powers of the President
and
be subject to all the restrictions upon the President. The Managing Director
or
Managing Directors shall perform such other duties as from time to time may
be
assigned to him or her or them by the Chief Executive Officer, the President
or
by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
7. Vice
Presidents.
The
Vice President or Vice Presidents, in order of their seniority or in any other
order determined by the Board of Directors, shall perform such duties as from
time to time may be assigned to him or her or them by the Chief Executive
Officer, the President or by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
8. Secretary.
The
Secretary shall keep the minutes of the stockholders’ and of the Board of
Directors’ meetings in one or more books provided for that purpose, see that all
notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or
as
required by law, be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the
Corporation and keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder
which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder, have general
charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation and, in general, perform
all duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from
time to time may be assigned to him or her by the President, the Chief Executive
Officer or the Board of Directors.
SECTION
9. Treasurer.
The
Treasurer shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds
and
securities of the Corporation, receive and give receipts for moneys due and
payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever, and deposit all such
moneys in the name of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other
depositories as shall be selected in accordance with these Bylaws and in general
perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other
duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the President,
the
Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer or by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION
10. Other
Officers.
The
other officers of the Corporation shall perform such duties as the President
may
from time to time assign to them.
SECTION
11. Removal.
Any
officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause,
by
the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation
would be served thereby. Any other employee of the Corporation may be removed
or
dismissed at any time by the President. The removal of an officer does not
prejudice any of his or her contract rights.
SECTION
12. Resignation.
Any
officer or agent may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board
of
Directors, or to the President or to the Secretary of the Corporation. Any
such
resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice or
at
any later time specified therein and, unless otherwise specified therein, the
acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION
13. Vacancies.
A
vacancy in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification,
or any other cause, shall be filled by the Board of Directors or by the officer
or remaining members of the committee to which the power to fill such office
has
been delegated pursuant to Section 2 of this Article, as the case may be, and
if
the office is one for which these Bylaws prescribe a term, shall be filled
for
the unexpired portion of the term.
SECTION
14. Compensation.
The
salaries or other compensation, if any, of the officers elected by the Board
of
Directors shall be fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors or by
such
officer as may be designated by resolution of the Board of Directors or a duly
authorized committee thereof. The salaries or other compensation of any other
officers, employees and other agents shall be fixed from time to time by the
officer or committee to which the power to elect such officers or to retain
or
appoint such employees or other agents has been delegated pursuant to Section
2
of this Article. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary or
other compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE
V
STOCK
SECTION
1. Certificates;
Required Information.
Except
as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, stockholders of the
Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock
held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock
represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as
prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain
the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by
the
officers of the Corporation in the manner permitted by the MGCL. In the event
that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent
then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders
of such shares a written statement of the information required by the MGCL
to be
included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights
and
obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented
by certificates.
SECTION
2. Lost
Certificates.
Any
officer of the Corporation may direct a new certificate or certificates to
be
issued in place of any certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the
Corporation alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon
the
making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate
to be
lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, if such shares have
ceased to be certificated, no new certificate shall be issued unless requested
in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined such
certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the
Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate
or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as
a
condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to
give the Corporation a bond in such sums as it may direct as indemnity against
any claim that may be made against the Corporation.
SECTION
3. Transfer
Agents and Registrars.
At such
time as the Corporation lists its securities on a national securities exchange
or the Nasdaq National Market, or such earlier time as the Board of Directors
may elect, the Board of Directors shall appoint one or more banks or trust
companies in such city or cities as the Board of Directors may deem advisable,
from time to time, to act as transfer agents and/or registrars of the shares
of
stock of the Corporation; and, upon such appointments being made, no certificate
representing shares shall be valid until countersigned by one of such transfer
agents and registered by one of such registrars.
SECTION
4. Transfer
of Stock.
No
transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made if (i) void
ab initio
pursuant
to the Charter, or (ii) the Board of Directors, pursuant to the Charter, shall
have refused to transfer such shares; provided, however, that nothing contained
in these Bylaws shall impair the settlement of transactions entered into on
the
facilities of the New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities
exchange or automated inter-dealer quotation system. Permitted transfers of
shares of
stock
of
the Corporation shall be made on the stock records of the Corporation only
upon
the instruction of the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto
authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary
or
with a transfer agent or transfer clerk, and upon surrender of the certificate
or certificates, if issued, for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied
by
a duly executed stock transfer power and the payment of all taxes thereon.
Upon
surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the Corporation of a
certificate for shares duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of
succession, assignment or authority to transfer, as to any transfers not
prohibited by the Charter or by action of the Board of Directors thereunder,
the
Corporation shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.
SECTION
5. Fixing
of Record Dates.
The
Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a date as the record date for the
purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any
meeting of stockholders, or stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or the allotment of any rights, or in order to make a determination
of
stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, may not
be
prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed nor more
than
90 days, or in case of a meeting of stockholders, less than ten days, prior
to
the date on which the particular action requiring such determination of
stockholders is to be taken.
SECTION
6. Registered
Stockholders.
The
Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of
stock as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or on the
part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice
thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
SECTION
7. Regulations;
Book-Entry System.
The
Board of Directors may make such additional rules and regulations, not
inconsistent with the Bylaws or the Charter, as it may deem expedient concerning
the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of
the
Corporation. The Corporation may participate in one or more systems under which
certificates for shares of stock are replaced by electronic book-entry pursuant
to such rules, terms and conditions as the Board of Directors may approve and
subject to applicable law, notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary set
forth in this Article.
ARTICLE
VI
SEAL
The
Board
of Directors may provide a suitable seal for the Corporation, which may be
either facsimile or any other form of seal and shall remain in the custody
of
the Secretary. If the Board of Directors so provides, it shall be affixed to
all
certificates of the Corporation's stock and to other instruments requiring
a
seal. If the Corporation is required to place its corporate seal to a document,
it is sufficient to meet the requirement of any law, rule, or regulation
relating to a corporate seal to place the word "(seal)" adjacent to the
signature of the person authorized to sign the document on behalf of the
Corporation.
ARTICLE
VII
CONTRACTS,
LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
SECTION
1. Contracts.
The
Board of Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract
or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the
Corporation and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document shall be valid and
binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified by action of
the
Board of Directors and executed by an authorized person.
SECTION
2. Checks
and Drafts.
All
checks, drafts or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other
evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed
by such officer or agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time
to
time be determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION
3. Deposits.
All
funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited from time
to
time to the credit of the Corporation in such banks, trust companies or other
depositories as the Board of Directors may designate.
ARTICLE
VIII
FISCAL
YEAR
The
fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the twelve calendar months period ending
December 31 in each year, unless otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE
IX
INDEMNIFICATION
AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
SECTION
1. General.
To the
maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the
Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a preliminary determination
of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse
reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a)
any
individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation
and
who is made, or threatened to be made, a party to the proceeding by reason
of
his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director
or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves
or
has served as a director, officer, partner or trustee of such corporation,
real
estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit
plan or other enterprise and who is made, or threatened to be made, a party
to
the proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The Corporation
may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification
and advance for expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation
in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee
or
agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.
SECTION
2. Procedure.
Any
indemnification, or payment of expenses in advance of the final disposition
of
any proceeding, to which a director or officer may be entitled pursuant to
applicable law or the Charter and this Bylaw shall be made promptly,
and
in
any event within 60 days, upon the written request of the director or officer
entitled to seek indemnification or advance of expenses (the "Indemnified
Party"). The right to indemnification and advance of expenses hereunder shall
be
enforceable by the Indemnified Party in any court of competent jurisdiction,
if
(i) the Corporation denies such request, in whole or in part, or (ii) no
disposition thereof is made within 60 days. The Indemnified Party's costs and
expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his or her right
to indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall be reimbursed
by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any action for advance for expenses
that the Corporation has not received either (i) an undertaking as required
by
law to repay such advances in the event it shall ultimately be determined that
the standard of conduct has not been met or (ii) a written affirmation by the
Indemnified Party of such Indemnified Party's good faith belief that the
standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been
met.
SECTION
3. Exclusivity,
Etc.
The
indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and this Bylaw
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking
indemnification or advance of expenses may be entitled under any law, or any
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or other provision
that is consistent with law, both as to action in his or her official capacity
and as to action in another capacity while holding office or while employed
by
or acting as agent for the Corporation, shall continue in respect of all events
occurring while a person was a director or officer after such person has ceased
to be a director or officer, and shall inure to the benefit of the estate,
heirs, executors and administrators of such person. All rights to
indemnification and advance of expenses under the Charter and this Bylaw shall
be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation and each director or officer
of the Corporation who serves or served in such capacity at any time while
this
Bylaw is in effect. Nothing herein shall prevent the amendment of this Bylaw,
provided that no such amendment shall diminish the rights of any person
hereunder with respect to events occurring or claims made before its adoption
or
as to claims made after its adoption in respect of events occurring before
its
adoption. Any repeal or modification of this Bylaw shall not in any way diminish
any rights to indemnification or advance of expenses of such director or officer
or the obligations of the Corporation arising hereunder with respect to events
occurring, or claims made, while this Bylaw or any provision hereof is in force.
The Corporation shall not be liable for any payment under this Bylaw in
connection with a claim made by a director or officer to the extent such
director or officer has otherwise actually received payment under insurance
policy, agreement, vote or otherwise, of the amounts otherwise indemnifiable
hereunder.
SECTION
4. Severability;
Definitions.
The
invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of this Article IX shall not
affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision hereof. The phrase
"this Bylaw" in this Article IX means this Article IX in its
entirety.
ARTICLE
X
SUNDRY
PROVISIONS
SECTION
1. Books
and Records.
The
Corporation shall keep correct and complete books and records of its accounts
and transactions and minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders and Board
of
Directors and of any executive or other committee when exercising any of the
powers of the Board of Directors. The books and records of the Corporation
may
be in written form or in any other form which can be converted within a
reasonable time into written form for visual inspection. Minutes shall be
recorded in written form but may be maintained in the form of a reproduction.
The original or a certified copy of the Bylaws shall be kept at the principal
office of the Corporation.
SECTION
2. Voting
Upon Shares in Other Corpora-tions.
Stock
of other corporations or associations, registered in the name of the
Corporation, may be voted by the President, a Managing Director, or a proxy
appointed by either of them. The Board of Directors, however, may by resolution
appoint some other person to vote such shares, in which case such person shall
be entitled to vote such shares upon the production of a certified copy of
such
resolution.
SECTION
3. Annual
Statement of Affairs.
The
President or chief accounting officer shall prepare annually a full and correct
statement of the affairs of the Corporation, to include a balance sheet and
a
financial statement of operations for the preceding fiscal year. The statement
of affairs shall be submitted at the annual meeting of the stockholders and,
within 20 days after the meeting, placed on file at the Corporation's principal
office.
SECTION
4. Mail.
Except
as herein expressly provided, any notice or other document which is required
by
these Bylaws to be mailed shall be deposited in the United States mails, postage
prepaid.
SECTION
5. 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
6. Certain
Rights of Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents.
The
directors shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs
of the Corporation. Any director or officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate,
employee or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests
and engage in business activities similar to or in addition to those of or
relating to the Corporation.
SECTION
7. Loss
of Deposits.
No
director shall be liable for any loss which may occur by reason of the failure
of any bank, trust company, savings and loan association or other institution
with whom moneys or stock of the Corporation have been deposited.
SECTION
8. Maryland
Control Share Acquisition Act.
Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3,
Subtitle 7 of the MGCL, or any successor statute, shall not apply to the voting
rights of any shares of stock of the Corporation acquired and held by any person
pursuant to a grant by the Board of Directors of a waiver to such person of
the
stock ownership limitation contained in the Charter. This section may be
repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an
acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided
by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share
acquisition.
SECTION
9. Waiver
of Notice.
Whenever any notice is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these
Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by
the
person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time
stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither
the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set
forth in the waiver of notice, unless specifically required by statute. The
attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice
of
such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose
of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE
XI
AMENDMENTS
These
Bylaws may be amended or replaced, or new Bylaws may be adopted, either (1)
by
the vote of the stockholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes
which all stockholders are entitled to cast thereon at any duly organized annual
or special meeting of stockholders, or (2), with respect to those matters which
are not by statute reserved exclusively to the stockholders, by vote of a
majority of the Board of Directors, including a majority of the Independent
Directors of the Corporation, in office at any regular or special meeting of
the
Board of Directors. It shall not be necessary to set forth such proposed
amendment, repeal or new Bylaws, or a summary thereof, in any notice of such
meeting, whether annual, regular or special.