iSTAR INC.
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
(as of April 3, 2018)
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ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1.1 Principal Executive Office. The principal executive office of iStar Inc.
(the "Company") shall be located at such place or places as the Board of Directors may designate.
Section 1.2 Additional Offices. The Company may have additional offices at such
places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Company
may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 2.1 Place. All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal office of
the Company or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in
the notice of the meeting.
Section 2.2 Annual Meeting. An annual meeting of the stockholders for the election
of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Company shall be held
on such date and at such time and place as shall be set by the Board of Directors. Except as the
Amended and Restated Charter of the Company, as further amended (the "Charter") or statute
provides otherwise, any business may be considered at an annual meeting without the purpose of
the meeting having been specified in the notice. Failure to hold an annual meeting does not
invalidate the Company's existence or affect any otherwise valid corporate acts.
Section 2.3 Special Meetings.
(a) General. The president, chief executive officer, Chairman of the Board or
Board of Directors may call special meetings of the stockholders. Except as provided in subsection
(b)(4) of this Section 2.3, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the
time and place set by the president, chief executive officer, Chairman of the Board or Board of
Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 2.3, special
meetings of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Company to act on any matter
that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of the
holders of shares entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such
matter at such meeting.
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(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, each individual whom the stockholder proposes
to nominate for election or reelection as a director 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 or the election of each such individual, as applicable, 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, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (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 a 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 Company’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 Company which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder
and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Company 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 of 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.
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(3) The secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the
reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering notice of the meeting (including
the Company’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 2.3(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) 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 Company. In fixing a date for a
Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as 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 2.3(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 on the matter 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 a special meeting on the
matter, 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 the matter written
notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Company’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.
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(6) The president, chief executive officer, Chairman of the Board or
Board of Directors may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of
elections to act as the agent of the Company 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 received by the secretary until the earlier of (i) five
Business Days after actual receipt by the secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as
the independent inspectors certify to the Company that the valid requests received by the secretary
represent, as of the Request Record Date, 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 Company 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 2.4 Notice. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each stockholders'
meeting, the Secretary shall give notice of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the
meeting and each other stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting in any manner permitted under
Maryland General Corporation Law now or hereafter enforced. The notice shall state the time and
place of the meeting and, if the meeting is a special meeting or notice of the purpose is required
by statute, the purpose of the meeting. Notice is given to a stockholder when it is personally
delivered to him or her, left at his or her residence or usual place of business, mailed to him or her
at his or her address as it appears on the records of the Company, or electronically delivered in
accordance with Maryland General Corporation Law now or hereafter enforced. 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 Company, 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. The Company may give a
single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to
any stockholder at such address, unless such stockholder objects to receiving such single notice or
revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. 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.
Subject to Section 2.11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Company 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. The
Company may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement
(as defined in Section 2.11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to
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the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place 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 2.5 Organization and Conduct. At every meeting of stockholders, the
Chairman of the Board, if there be one, shall conduct the meeting or, in the case of vacancy in
office or absence of the Chairman of the Board, one of the following officers present shall conduct
the meeting in the order stated: the Vice Chairman of the Board, if there be one, the President, the
Vice Presidents in their order of rank and seniority, or a chairman of the meeting chosen by the
stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all stockholders present in person or by
proxy are entitled to cast, shall act as chairman of the meeting, and the secretary of the Company,
or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the Company, or in the absence of both the
Secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the chairman of the meeting shall act as
Secretary. In the event that the secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an assistant
secretary, or, in the absence of all 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 Company, their duly authorized
proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting
participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Company 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; (e)
determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be
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 2.6 Quorum; Adjournments. 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 shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any
statute or the Charter of the Company for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If,
however, such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the
meeting shall have the power to adjourn the meeting sine die or 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 that has been duly called
and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment,
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notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than
would be required to establish a quorum.
Section 2.7 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 statute or by
the Charter. Unless otherwise provided in 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.
Section 2.8 Proxies. A holder of record of shares of stock of the Company may cast
votes 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 Company before or at the meeting. Unless a proxy provides
otherwise, it is not valid more than 11 months after its date.
Section 2.9 Voting of Stock by Certain Holders. Stock of the Company registered in
the name of a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, managing member,
manager, 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 fiduciary may vote
stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of such director or fiduciary, either in
person or by proxy.
Shares of stock of the Company 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 Company 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, the time after the record date within which the
certification must be received by the Company; 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.
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Section 2.10 Inspectors. Before or at any meeting of stockholders, the Board of
Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such
meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chairman of the
meeting, 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 chairman 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 fairly conduct the election or vote.
Each report of an inspector 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 2.11 Advance Notice of Stockholder Nominees for Director and Other
Stockholder Proposals.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(1) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and
the proposal of business to be considered by the stockholders may be made at an annual meeting
of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Company's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the
Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Company who was a stockholder of record at
the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 2.11(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 with this Section 2.11(a).
(2) For any nomination 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 2.11,
the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Company
and any 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 2.11
and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Company 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 (as defined in Section 2.11(c)(3) of this Article II)
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, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such
notice 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, as originally convened, 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:
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(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;
(ii) as to any other 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 Company 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 (x) 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 Company (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 Company or any affiliate thereof (or,
as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) disproportionately to such person’s economic interest
in the Company Securities (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) and
(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including,
without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship
with the Company), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or
Stockholder Associated Person, in the Company, other than an interest arising from the ownership
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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 2.11(a) and any Proposed Nominee,
(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they
appear on the Company’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;
(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.
(4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed
Nominee, be accompanied by a certificate executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) certifying that
such Proposed Nominee (a) is not, and will not become, a party to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding with any person or entity other than the Company in connection with service or
action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Company and (b) will serve as a director of
the Company if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which
questionnaire shall be provided by the Company, upon request, to the stockholder providing the
notice and shall include 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, or would be
required pursuant to the rules of any national securities exchange on which any securities of the
Company are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Company are
traded).
(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 2.11
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 (as defined in Section 2.11(c)(3) of this Article II)
for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 2.11(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
Company 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 Company.
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(6) For purposes of this Section 2.11, “Stockholder Associated Person”
of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder, (ii) any
beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Company 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
Company's notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may
be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected (i) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors, (ii) by a stockholder that has requested that a special meeting
be called for the purpose of electing directors in compliance with Section 3 of this Article II and
that has supplied the information required by Section 2.3 of this Article II about each individual
whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election of directors or (iii) provided that the
special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 2.3(a) of this Article II for the purpose
of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Company who is a stockholder of record both at
the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 2.11 and at the time of the special meeting,
who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each person so nominated and who complied
with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.11. In the event the Company calls a special
meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more persons to the Board of Directors,
any such stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election to such
position as specified in the Company's notice of meeting, if the stockholder’s notice, containing
the information required by paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 2.11, is delivered to the
secretary at the principal executive office of the Company 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 2.11 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 in any material respect, such information may be
deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 2.11. Any such stockholder
shall notify the Company 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 Company, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder
pursuant to this Section 2.11, and (B) a written update of any information (including, if requested
by the Company, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such
nomination or other business proposal before the meeting) submitted by the stockholder pursuant
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to this Section 2.11 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
2.11.
(2) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section 2.11 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 the procedures set forth in this Section 2.11. 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 2.11.
(3) For purposes of this Section 2.11, “the date of the proxy statement”
shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to
shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the
Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean
disclosure (A) 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 (B) in a document
publicly filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.11, 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 2.11. Nothing in this Section 2.11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to
request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Company to omit a proposal from, any proxy
statement filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule
14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 2.11 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 2.12 Voting by Ballot. 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 or otherwise.
Section 2.13 List of Stockholders. At each meeting of stockholders, a full, true and
complete list of all stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, showing the number and class of
shares held by each and certified by the transfer agent for such class or by the secretary of the
Company, shall be furnished by the secretary of the Company.
Section 2.14 Informal Action by Stockholders. Any action required or permitted to be
taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a unanimous consent setting
forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to
vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders.
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Section 2.15 Meeting by Conference Telephone. The Board of Directors or chairman
of the meeting may permit one or more stockholders to participate in a meeting by means of a
conference telephone or similar 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.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 3.1 General Powers; Qualifications. The business and affairs of the Company
shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. All powers of the Company may
be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Directors, except as conferred on or reserved to
the stockholders by statute or by the Charter or Bylaws.
Section 3.2 Number and Tenure. 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 7 nor
more than 18, and shall never be less than the minimum number required by the Maryland General
Corporation Law now or hereafter enforced, and further provided that the tenure of office of a
director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors.
Section 3.3 Resignation. Any director may resign at any time by delivering his or her
resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board or the Secretary. Any resignation
shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The
acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in
the resignation.
Section 3.4 Removal of Director. Any director or the entire Board of Directors may
be removed only in accordance with the provisions of the Charter.
Section 3.5 Annual and Regular Meetings. 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. The Board of Directors may
provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State of Maryland, for the
holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
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 3.6 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be
called by or at the request of the chairman of the board (or any co-chairman of the board if more
than one), the chief executive officer, the 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, either within or without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting
of the Board of Directors called by them.
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Section 3.7 Notice. Except as provided in Sections 3.5 and 3.6, the Secretary shall give
notice to each director of each regular and special meeting of the Board of Directors. The notice
shall state the time and place of the meeting. Notice is given to a director when it is delivered
personally to him or her, left at his or her residence or usual place of business, or sent by electronic
mail, facsimile transmission, telephone or courier, at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting
or, in the alternative by mail to his or her address as it shall appear on the records of the Company,
at least 72 hours before the time of the meeting. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given
upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Company 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 Company by the director and receipt of a
completed answer-back indicating receipt. 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. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited
with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed
to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon
prepaid. Unless statute, these Bylaws or a resolution of the Board of Directors provides otherwise,
the notice need not state the business to be transacted at or the purposes of any regular or special
meeting of the Board of Directors. 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.
Section 3.8 Quorum. A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for
transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that, if less than a
majority of such directors are present at said meeting, a majority of the directors present may
adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and provided further that if,
pursuant to the Charter of the Company or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage
of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or
such other percentage of such group.
The Board of Directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a
quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding
the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than would be required to
establish a quorum.
Section 3.9 Voting. The action of the majority of the directors present at a 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 statute, the Charter or these Bylaws.
If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish 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 3.10 Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the chairman of
the board or, in the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman of the board, if any, shall act as
chairman of the meeting. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the board, the
chief executive officer or, in the absence of the chief executive officer, the president or, in the
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absence of the president, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as
chairman of the meeting. The secretary or, in his or her absence, an assistant secretary of the
Company, or, in the absence of the secretary and all assistant secretaries, an individual appointed
by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 3.11 Telephone Meetings. 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 shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 3.12 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 3.13 Vacancies. If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors,
such event shall not terminate the Company or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining
directors hereunder. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors for any cause other than an increase
in the number of directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors, although such
majority is less than a quorum. Any vacancy in the number of directors created by an increase in
the number of directors may be filled by a majority vote of the entire Board of Directors. Any
individual so elected as director shall serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until
his or her successor is elected and qualifies.
Section 3.14 Compensation. Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their
services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per
year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property owned, leased or to be acquired by the
Company and for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors. Directors may
be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or special meeting of the
Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with
each property visit and any other service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors; but
nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Company
in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 3.15 Reliance. Each director and officer of the Company shall, in the
performance of his or her duties with respect to the Company, 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 Company 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 3.16 Ratification. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and
make binding on the Company any action or inaction by the Company or its officers to the extent
that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter.
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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 Company 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 3.17 Certain Rights of Directors, Officers, Employees and Agents. The
directors shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the affairs of the Company. Any
director or officer, employee or agent of the Company, 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 or in competition with those
of or relating to the Company.
Section 3.18 Emergency Provisions. Notwithstanding any other provision in the
Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 3.18 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 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
COMMITTEES
Section 4.1 Number, Tenure and Qualifications. The Board of Directors may appoint
from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a Compensation
Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and other committees, composed
of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors.
Section 4.2 Powers. The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed
under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited
by law.
Section 4.3 Meetings. Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner
as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the
committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the
committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act
of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chairman of any committee, and such
chairman or, in the absence of a chairman, any two members of any committee (if there are at least
two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall
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otherwise provide. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof
present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to
act in the place of such absent member. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings.
Section 4.4 Telephone Meetings. Members of a 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 shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 4.5 Consent by Committees Without a Meeting. 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.
Section 4.6 Vacancies. 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 alternate members to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such
committee.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 5.1 General Provisions. The officers of the Company shall include a president,
a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board (or one or more co-chairmen
of the board), a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, one or more vice presidents,
a chief operating officer, a chief financial officer, one or more assistant secretaries and one or more
assistant treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other
officers with such powers and duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable or authorize any
committee or officer to elect assistant or subordinate officers. The officers of the Company shall
be elected annually by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held
after each annual meeting of stockholders, except that the chief executive officer may appoint one
or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. If the
election of officers shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter
as may be convenient. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies
or until his or her death, resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or
more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. In its discretion,
the Board of Directors may leave unfilled any office except that of president, treasurer and
secretary. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the
Company and such officer or agent.
Section 5.2 Removal and Resignation. Any officer or agent of the Company may be
removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of
the Company would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract
rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Company may resign at any time by
delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board (or any
co-chairman of the board if more than one), the chief executive officer, the president or the
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secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time
specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to
the contract rights, if any, of the Company.
Section 5.3 Vacancies. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors
for the balance of the term.
Section 5.4 Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may designate a chief
executive officer. In the absence of such designation, the chairman of the board (or, if more than
one, the co-chairmen of the board in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the
absence of any designation, then in the order of their election) shall be the chief executive officer
of the Company. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation
of the policies of the Company, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management
of the business and affairs of the Company. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond,
contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly
delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the
Company or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all
duties incident to the office of chief executive officer and such other duties as may be prescribed
by the Board of Directors from time to time.
Section 5.5 Chief Operating Officer. The Board of Directors may designate a chief
operating officer. The chief operating officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as
determined by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 5.6 Chief Financial Officer. The Board of Directors may designate a chief
financial officer. The chief financial officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined
by the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer.
Section 5.7 Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may designate from
among its members a chairman of the board (or one or more co-chairmen of the board), who shall
not, solely by reason of these bylaws, be an officer of the Company. The Board of Directors may
designate the chairman of the board as an executive or non-executive chairman. The chairman of
the board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which
he or she shall be present. If there be more than one, the co-chairmen designated by the Board of
Directors will perform such duties. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as
may be assigned to him, her or them by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.
Section 5.8 President. In the absence of a chief executive officer, the president shall in
general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Company. In the absence of a
designation of a chief operating officer by the Board of Directors, the president shall be the chief
operating officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument,
except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors
or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Company or shall be required by law to
be otherwise 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.
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Section 5.9 Vice Presidents. In the absence of the president or in the event of a vacancy
in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be more than one vice president, the vice
presidents in the order designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation,
then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting
shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president; and shall
perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the chief executive
officer, by the president or by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one
or more vice presidents as executive vice president, as senior vice president or as vice president
for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 5.10 Secretary. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of
the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more
books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of
the seal of the Company; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which
shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer
books of the Company; and (f) in general 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 5.11 Treasurer. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities
of the Company, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books
belonging to the Company, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to
the credit of the Company in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors and
in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the
chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of
a chief financial officer by the Board of Directors, the treasurer shall be the chief financial officer
of the Company.
The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Company as may be ordered by the Board of
Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the president and
Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever it may so require,
an account of all his or her transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Company.
Section 5.12 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 chief executive officer, the president or the Board of
Directors.
Section 5.13 Compensation. The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time
to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors and no officer shall be prevented from
receiving such compensation by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.
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ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section 6.1 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 Company 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 Company when
authorized or ratified by action of the Board of Directors and executed by one or more of the
directors or by an authorized person.
Section 6.2 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 Company shall be signed
by such officer or agent of the Company in such manner as shall from time to time be determined
by the Board of Directors.
Section 6.3 Deposits. All funds of the Company not otherwise employed shall be
deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Company as the Board of Directors,
the chief executive officer, the president, the chief financial officer, or any other officer designated
by the Board of Directors may determine.
ARTICLE VII
STOCK
Section 7.1 Certificates. Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of
Directors, stockholders of the Company are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of
stock held by them. In the event that the Company 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 Maryland
General Corporation Law and shall be signed by the officers of the Company in any manner
permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law. In the event that the Company issues shares
of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the Maryland General Corporation Law,
the Company shall provide to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the
information required by the Maryland General Corporation Law 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 7.2 Transfers. All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of
the Company, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as
the Board of Directors or any officer of the Company may prescribe and, if such shares are
certificated, upon surrender of certificates duly endorsed. The issuance of a new certificate upon
the transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that such
shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares,
to the extent then required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Company shall provide
to the record holders of such shares a written statement of the information required by the Maryland
General Corporation Law to be included on stock certificates.
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The Company 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.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class of stock will be subject in
all respects to the Charter of the Company and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
Section 7.3 Control Share Acquisition Act. Notwithstanding any other provision of
the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (or any
successor statute) shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the
Company. 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
or bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
Section 7.4 Replacement Certificate. Any officer of the Company may direct a new
certificate to be issued in place of any certificate or certificates previously issued by the Company
alleged to have been lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the person claiming the certificate or certificates 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 that
such certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Company, the
owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or the owner's legal
representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or
certificates, to give the Company a bond as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may
be made against the Company.
Section 7.5 Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set, in advance, a
record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of stockholders or determining stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend
or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any
other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day
the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of
stockholders, not less than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action
requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.
When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall
continue to apply to the meeting if adjourned or postponed, except if the meeting is adjourned or
postponed to a date more than 120 days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in
which case a new record date for such meeting may be determined as set forth herein.
Section 7.6 Stock Ledger. The Company shall maintain at its principal executive office
or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate share ledger
containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held
by such stockholder.
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Section 7.7 Fractional Stock; Issuance of Units. The Board of Directors may
authorize the Company to issue fractional stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms
and under such conditions as it may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter
or these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may issue units consisting of different securities of the
Company. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical
securities issued by the Company, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a
specified period securities of the Company issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of
the Company only in such unit.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the
Company by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 9.1 Authorization. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the
Company may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the
Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Company,
subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.
Section 9.2 Contingencies. Before payment of any dividends or other distributions,
there may be set aside out of any assets of the Company available for dividends or other
distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends, for repairing
or maintaining any property of the Company or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors
shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner.
ARTICLE X
INVESTMENT POLICY
Subject to the provisions of the Charter, the Board of Directors may from time to time
adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the
Company as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 11.1 Seal. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the
Company. The seal shall contain the name of the Company and the year of its incorporation and
the words “Incorporated Maryland.” The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate
seals and provide for the custody thereof.
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Section 11.2 Affixing Seal. Whenever the Company is permitted or required to affix its
seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation
relating to a seal to place the word "(SEAL)" adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to
execute the document on behalf of the Company.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCES OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, the
Company 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 Company and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding
by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer
of the Company and at the request of the Company, serves or has served as a director, officer,
trustee, member, manager or partner of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited
liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and
who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, the proceeding by reason of his or
her service in that capacity. The rights to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by
the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer. The
Company may, with the approval of its Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and
advance for expenses to an individual who served a predecessor of the Company in any of the
capacities described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Company or a
predecessor of the Company. The indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the
Charter and these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way other rights to
which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or
may become entitled under any bylaw, resolution, insurance, agreement, or otherwise.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any
other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall apply to or affect
in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph with respect to any act or failure to act
which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these
Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission,
given 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 of such
meeting, 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.
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ARTICLE XIV
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION
Unless the Company consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit
Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that Court does not have jurisdiction, the United States
District Court for the District of Maryland, Baltimore Division, shall be the sole and exclusive
forum for (a) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Company, (b) any action
asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the
Company to the Company or to the stockholders of the Company, (c) any action asserting a claim
against the Company or any director or officer or other employee of the Company arising pursuant
to any provision of the Maryland General Corporation Law or the Charter or these Bylaws, or
(d) any action asserting a claim against the Company or any director or officer or other employee
of the Company that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.
ARTICLE XV
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors shall have the power to alter, amend or repeal any provision of
these Bylaws and to adopt new Bylaws. The Bylaws may be altered, amended or repealed, and
new Bylaws may be adopted, at any meeting of the Board by a majority vote of the directors of
the Company. In addition, pursuant to a binding proposal that is submitted to the stockholders for
approval at a duly called annual meeting or special meeting of stockholders by a stockholder, the
stockholders shall have the power, by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be
cast on the matter, to alter, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to adopt new
Bylaws, except that the stockholders shall not have the power to alter this Article XV or adopt any
provision of these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article XV without the approval of the Board of
Directors.