Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc 8-K, filed Oct 8, 2021
Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (FBRT)
About this 8-K
Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc filed this 8-K on October 8, 2021, reporting on events of October 4, 2021.
Items reported
- Item 3.03: Change to shareholders' rights
- Item 5.02: Director or officer change, or executive pay
- Item 5.03: Charter or bylaw amendment, or fiscal year change
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM
CURRENT REPORT
PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(D) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2 below):
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter)
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If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ¨
Item 3.03 Material Modifications to Rights of Security Holders.
The disclosure set forth under Item 5.03 below is incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Principal Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Principal Officers; Compensatory Arrangements Of Certain Officers.
Appointment of Capstead Directors to the Board
On October 4, 2021, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Company”) increased the size of the Board from five to eight directors and appointed to the Board Pat Augustine, Michelle P. Goolsby and Gary Keiser, effective as of the closing date of the Company’s previously announced merger (the “Merger”) with Capstead Mortgage Corporation (“Capstead”). The closing date of the Merger is currently anticipated to occur on or about October 19, 2021.
Pursuant to the terms of the merger agreement, Capstead designated as candidates to serve on the Board Messrs. Augustine and Keiser and Ms. Goolsby, each of whom currently serve on the board of directors of Capstead, and the Board agreed to appoint each of them to the Board for a term lasting until the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company. Additionally, the Company has agreed to nominate two of the former Capstead directors to stand for election at the 2022 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company, to serve for a term until the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders of the Company.
Messrs. Augustine and Keiser and Ms. Goolsby will participate in the current director compensation arrangements applicable to the Company’s non-employee directors, which are described under “Compensation of Directors” in the Company’s definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on April 8, 2021.
None of Messrs. Augustine and Keiser or Ms. Goolsby has any direct or indirect material interest in any transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Approval of 2021 Equity Incentive Plan
In addition, on October 4, 2021, the Board approved and adopted the Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. 2021 Equity Incentive Plan (the “2021 Incentive Plan”). Pursuant to the 2021 Incentive Plan, the Company may, from time to time, grant equity awards to the Company’s directors, officers and employees (if it ever has employees), employees of the Company’s advisor, Benefit Street Partners L.L.C. (the “Advisor”) and its affiliates, or certain of the Company’s consultants, advisors or other service providers to the Company or an affiliate of the Company. The 2021 Incentive Plan, which will be administered by the Compensation Committee of the Board, is designed to provide eligible persons with an incentive to contribute to the success of the Company and to operate and manage the Company’s business in a manner that will provide for the Company’s long-term growth and profitability to benefit its stockholders and other important stakeholders, and (b) provide a means of obtaining, rewarding and retaining key personnel.
To this end, the 2021 Incentive Plan provides for the grant of awards of share options, share appreciation rights, restricted shares, restricted share units, deferred share units, unrestricted shares, dividend equivalent rights, performance shares and other performance-based awards, other equity-based awards, LTIP units and cash bonus awards. Any of these awards may, but need not, be made as performance incentives to reward the holders of such awards for the achievement of performance goals in accordance with the terms of the 2021 Incentive Plan. Each award granted under the 2021 Incentive Plan will be evidenced by an award agreement in such form or forms as may be determined by the Compensation Committee that sets forth the terms and conditions of the award.
The maximum number of shares of common stock available for issuance under the 2021 Incentive Plan is 5,500,000 shares. No grants of awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan have been made. Because benefits under the 2021 Incentive Plan are discretionary and will depend on the actions of the Compensation Committee, the performance of the Company and the value of its shares, it is not possible to determine the benefits that will be received by recipients of awards under the 2021 Incentive Plan.
The Board may amend, suspend or terminate the 2021 Incentive Plan at any time; provided that no amendment, suspension or termination may impair rights or obligations under any outstanding award without the participant’s consent or violate the 2021 Incentive Plan’s prohibition on repricing. The Company’s stockholders must approve any amendment if such approval is required under applicable law or stock exchange requirements. The stockholders also must approve any amendment that changes the no-repricing provisions of the 2021 Incentive Plan. The 2021 Incentive Plan has a term of ten years, but may be terminated earlier by the Board at any time, as described above.
The foregoing summary of the 2021 Incentive Plan does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the 2021 Incentive Plan, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 10.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
Reverse Stock Split, Stock Dividend and Name Change
In accordance with the terms of the Capstead merger agreement, on October 6, 2021, the Company filed Articles of Amendment to the Company’s charter (the “Articles of Amendment”) with the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) to effect (a) a Company name change and (b) a one-for-ten reverse stock split (the “Reverse Stock Split”). Pursuant to the Articles of Amendment, effective as of 9:00 a.m. eastern time on October 12, 2021, the Company’s name will change to “Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.,” and effective as of the close of business on October 12, 2021, each outstanding share of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), will automatically combine into 1/10th of a share of Common Stock. Fractional shares that are created as a result of the Reverse Stock Split will remain outstanding. As a result of the Reverse Stock Split, the number of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company will be reduced to approximately 4.5 million shares.
The foregoing summary of the Articles of Amendment does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles of Amendment, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
In addition, also on October 6, 2021 the Company filed Articles Supplementary (the “Articles Supplementary”) to the Company’s charter with the SDAT, with an effective date of October 12, 2021. The Articles Supplementary (a) reclassify 50,000,000 shares of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock as preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, as a result of which the Company is authorized to issue 900,000,000 shares of Common Stock and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock under the charter, and (b) designate and classify 40,000,000 shares of preferred stock as a new series of Series F Convertible Preferred Stock (“Series F Preferred Stock”), with the rights, preferences and obligations set forth in the Articles Supplementary.
Also in accordance with the terms of the Capstead merger agreement, on October 4, 2021, the Board declared a stock dividend (the “Stock Dividend”) on the outstanding shares of Common Stock, payable at a rate of nine shares of Series F Preferred Stock for each share of Common Stock issued and outstanding following the Reverse Stock Split on October 12, 2021. The record date used to determine the list of holders of Common Stock eligible to receive the Stock Dividend (following the Reverse Stock Split) was set by the Board as October 7, 2021.
The Reverse Stock Split and Stock Dividend will result in each stockholder of Common Stock having the same economic value of equity securities in the Company as such holder did prior to the Reverse Stock Split and Stock Dividend, except that each such holder will have 10% of their holdings in Common Stock and 90% of their holdings in Series F Preferred Stock.
Terms of the Series F Preferred Stock
Pursuant to the Articles Supplementary, the Series F Preferred Stock generally provides for the rights, preferences and obligations set forth below.
The Series F Preferred Stock ranks junior to all other outstanding classes of preferred stock of Company with respect to priority in dividends and in the distribution of assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company. The liquidation preference of each share of Series F Preferred Stock is $2.00.
Dividends on the Series F Preferred Stock will be equal to, and will be paid at the same time as, dividends that are authorized and declared on the Common Stock. The Series F Preferred Stock will rank senior to the Common Stock with respect to the distribution of assets upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Combined Company (other than a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Combined Company that results in the automatic conversion of such Series F Preferred Stock into Common Stock).
Each share (or fractional share) of Series F Preferred Stock shall automatically convert into one share of Common Stock (or equivalent fractional share, as applicable) upon the earlier of (i) the six-month anniversary of the listing of the Common Stock on the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) the date approved as the conversion date by the Board following a termination of the Capstead merger agreement, (iii) three business days prior to a liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company in the event that the Board determines (which determination will be conclusive) that the liquidating distribution per share in respect of such converted share of Series F Preferred Stock (or fractional share) would be in an amount in excess of the liquidation preference of $2.00 per share or (iv) immediately prior to the effective time of a qualifying change of control, provided that the consideration per share payable in connection with such change in control in respect of such converted share of Series F Preferred Stock (or fractional share) is an amount in excess of the liquidation preference of $2.00.
Series F Preferred Stock has no stated maturity and is not redeemable.
Holders of the Series F Preferred Stock (voting as a single class with holders of Common Stock and other series of equity entitled to vote with the common stockholders) are entitled to vote on each matter submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Company upon which the holders of Common Stock are entitled to vote. The number of votes applicable to a share of outstanding Series F Preferred Stock will be equal to the number of shares of Common Stock a share of Series F Preferred Stock could have been converted into as of the record date set for purposes of such stockholder vote (rounded down to the nearest whole number of shares of Common Stock). In addition, the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the outstanding shares of Series F Preferred Stock is required to take certain actions materially adverse to the holders of the Series F Preferred Stock.
The foregoing summary of the Articles Supplementary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Articles Supplementary, a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
Amendment of Bylaws
Effective October 12, 2021, the Company amended and restated its Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) to reflect the name change of the Company to “Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.” A copy of the Bylaws, as amended, is attached hereto as Exhibit 3.3 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.
(d) Exhibits.
| EXHIBIT INDEX | ||
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 3.1 | Articles of Amendment to the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of Benefit Street Partners Realty Trust, Inc. | |
| 3.2 | Articles Supplementary of Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc., effective October 12, 2021, relating to Series F Convertible Preferred Stock | |
| 3.3 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. | |
| 104.1 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document). | |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE MERGER
In connection with the Merger, the Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) a registration statement on Form S-4 (File No. 333-258947), which was declared effective by the SEC on September 3, 2021. The registration statement includes a prospectus of the Company and a proxy statement of Capstead. Capstead and the Company also expect to file with the SEC other documents regarding the Merger.
STOCKHOLDERS OF CAPSTEAD ARE ADVISED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS (INCLUDING ALL OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT ARE FILED OR WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC, AS WELL AS ANY AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THESE DOCUMENTS) CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT CAPSTEAD, THE COMPANY, THE PROPOSED MERGER AND RELATED MATTERS. Stockholders of the Company and Capstead may obtain free copies of the registration statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by Capstead or the Company at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by Capstead are available free of charge on Capstead’s website at http://www.capstead.com/investor-relations/financial-reports/sec-filings. Copies of documents filed with the SEC by the Company are available free of charge on the Company’s website at http://bsprealtytrust.com/investorrelations.
PARTICIPANTS IN SOLICITATION RELATING TO THE MERGER
The Company and Capstead and their respective directors and executive officers and other members of management and employees, may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Capstead stockholders in respect of the proposed merger among the Company, Capstead and their respective subsidiaries.
Information about the directors and executive officers of Capstead is available in the proxy statement for its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 1, 2021. Information about directors and executive officers of the Company is available in the proxy statement for its 2021 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April 8, 2021. Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials filed with the SEC regarding the proposed merger on September 7, 2021. Stockholders of Capstead should read the proxy statement/prospectus carefully before making any voting or investment decisions. Investors may obtain free copies of these documents from the Company or Capstead using the sources indicated above.
NO OFFER OR SOLICITATION
This communication and the information contained herein does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any securities or a solicitation of a proxy or of any vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. This communication may be deemed to be solicitation material in respect of the proposed merger.
Disclaimer on Forward-Looking Statements
This communication contains statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Statements can generally be identified as forward-looking because they include words such as “believes,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “would,” “could,” or words of similar meaning. Such forward-looking statements include or may relate to statements about the benefits of the proposed merger involving the Company and Capstead and statements that address operating performance, events or developments that the Company expects or anticipates will occur in the future, including but not limited to statements regarding future financial and operating results, plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, anticipated leadership and governance changes, changes to outstanding structure of the Company’s capital stock, creation of value for stockholders, operation and implementation of share repurchase programs, benefits of the proposed merger to customers, stockholders and other constituents of the combined company, the integration of the Company and Capstead, and other non-historical statements. These statements are based on the companies’ current expectations and beliefs and are subject to a number of trends and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements; the Company can give no assurance that its expectations will be attained. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company’s expectations include, but are not limited to, the risk that the merger will not be consummated within the expected time period or at all; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the merger agreement; the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed merger, including the approval of the stockholders of Capstead; risks related to the disruption of management’s attention from ongoing business operations due to the proposed merger; the availability of suitable investment or disposition opportunities; changes in interest rates; the availability and terms of financing; the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the operations and financial condition of each of the Company and Capstead and the industries in which they operate; general financial and economic conditions, which may be affected by government responses to the COVID-19 pandemic; market conditions; legislative and regulatory changes that could adversely affect the business of the Company or Capstead; and other factors, including those set forth in the section entitled “Risk Factors” in the proxy statement/prospectus, the Company’s and Capstead’s most recent Annual Reports on Form 10-K, as amended, and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed with the SEC, and other reports filed by the Company and Capstead with the SEC, copies of which are available on the SEC’s website, www.sec.gov. Forward-looking statements are not guarantees of performance or results and speak only as of the date such statements are made. Except as required by law, neither the Company nor Capstead undertakes any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement in this communication, whether to reflect new information, future events, changes in assumptions or circumstances or otherwise.
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| BENEFIT STREET PARTNERS REALTY TRUST, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Jerome S. Baglien | |
| Name: | Jerome S. Baglien | |
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |
Date: October 8, 2021
Exhibit 3.1
BENEFIT STREET PARTNERS REALTY TRUST, INC.
ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
BENEFIT STREET PARTNERS REALTY TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) that:
FIRST: The Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company (the “Charter”) are hereby amended by striking out Article I of the Charter and inserting in lieu thereof the following to effectuate a change in the name of the Company:
“The name of the Company is Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc.”
SECOND: The Charter is hereby amended by combining each share of common stock, $0.01 par value per share of the Company, which is issued and outstanding at the close of business on the effective date of these Articles of Amendment, into one-tenth of a share of common stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Shares”), and any fractional Common Shares that are outstanding as a result of the reverse stock split will remain outstanding after the effective date of these Articles of Amendment.
THIRD: The Charter is hereby amended, effective immediately after the Effective Time (as defined below), to decrease the par value of the Common Shares issued and outstanding immediately after the Effective Time from $0.10 per share to $0.01 per share.
FOURTH: The Company has a class of equity securities registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
FIFTH: There has been no increase in the authorized shares of stock of the Company effected by the amendments to the Charter as set forth above.
SIXTH: The directors of the Company, at a meeting duly noticed and held, adopted and approved the foregoing amendments by the vote required under Maryland law and the Charter and bylaws of the Company. Pursuant to Sections 2-605(a)(1), 2-309(e) and 2-605(a)(2) of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland, stockholder approval of these Articles of Amendment is not required.
SEVENTH: These Articles of Amendment shall become effective at 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 12, 2021 (the “Effective Time”).
EIGHTH: The undersigned Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company acknowledges these Articles of Amendment to be the act of the Company and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this amendment to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and attested to by its Secretary on this 6th day of October, 2021.
| WITNESS: | BENEFIT STREET PARTNERS REALTY TRUST, INC. | |||||
| By: | /s/ Micah Goodman | By: | /s/ Jerome S. Baglien | |||
| Name: | Micah Goodman | Name: | Jerome S. Baglien | |||
| Title: | Secretary | Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | |||
Exhibit 3.2
FRANKLIN BSP REALTY TRUST, INC.
ARTICLES SUPPLEMENTARY
SERIES F CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
FRANKLIN BSP REALTY TRUST, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”) that:
FIRST: The charter of the Company (the “Charter”) authorizes the issuance of 50,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Preferred Shares”), issuable from time to time in one or more series, and authorizes the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) to classify or reclassify any unissued shares from time to time by setting or changing the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or distributions, qualifications, or terms or conditions of redemption of such unissued shares.
SECOND: Under the authority contained in the Charter, the Board, in resolutions adopted at a meeting held on October 4, 2021, has reclassified 50,000,000 shares of authorized but unissued shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Shares”), into additional Preferred Shares, without designation as to class or series. As a result, the Company is authorized to issue 100,000,000 Preferred Shares and 900,000,000 Common Shares.
THIRD: Under the authority contained in the Charter, the Board, in resolutions adopted at a meeting held on October 4, 2021, has classified and designated 40,000,000 Preferred Shares of the Company as Series F Convertible Preferred Stock, with the following preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or distributions, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption, which upon any restatement of the Charter, shall be deemed to be part of Article V of the Charter, with any necessary or appropriate changes to the enumeration of sections or subsections hereof. Capitalized terms used and not otherwise defined herein have the meanings set forth in the Charter.
Series F Convertible Preferred Stock
(1) Designation and Number. A series of Preferred Shares, designated as the “Series F Convertible Preferred Stock” (the “Series F Preferred Shares”), is hereby established. The par value of the Series F Preferred Shares is $0.01 per share. The number of authorized Series F Preferred Shares is 40,000,000.
(2) Maturity. The Series F Preferred Shares have no stated maturity and will not be subject to any sinking fund or mandatory redemption.
(3) Ranking. The Series F Preferred Shares will, with respect to rights to receive dividends and to participate in distributions or payments upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company (a “Liquidation Event”), rank (a) senior to shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Shares”) and any other class or series of equity securities (the “Equity Securities”), now or hereafter issued and outstanding, the terms of which provide that such Equity Securities rank, as to dividend payments and the distribution of assets upon a Liquidation Event, junior to such Series F Preferred Shares (“Junior Equity Securities”), and (b) junior to the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, Series C Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, Series D Convertible Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share and any other Equity Securities now or hereafter issued by the Company and outstanding with terms specifically providing that such Equity Securities rank senior to the Series F Preferred Shares with respect to rights of dividend payments and the distribution of assets upon a Liquidation Event (“Senior Equity Securities”).
(4) Dividends.
(a) Dividends on each outstanding Series F Preferred Share shall be payable, when and as authorized by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefore, on the date the Company pays a dividend on its Common Shares (each such day being hereinafter called a “Series F Dividend Payment Date”) at the then applicable Dividend Rate (as defined below). Each dividend is payable to holders of record as they appear on the share records of the Company at 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the record date for each such dividend payment, which shall be the record date for the Common Shares with respect to such dividend payment (each such date, a “Record Date”).
(b) Dividends payable on each Series F Preferred Share on the Series F Dividend Payment Date shall be equal to the dividend paid with respect to a Common Share on such date (the “Dividend Rate”). Dividends shall be paid in the form in which dividends were paid to holders of Common Shares.
(c) If, for any taxable year, the Company elects to designate as a “capital gain dividend” (as defined in Section 857 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended) any portion (the “Capital Gains Amount”) of the dividends (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) paid or made available for the year to holders of all classes of the Company’s equity securities (the “Total Dividends”), then, except as otherwise required by applicable law, that portion of the Capital Gains Amount that shall be allocable to the holders of Series F Preferred Shares shall be in proportion to the amount that the total dividends (as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes) paid or made available to the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares for the year bears to the Total Dividends. Except as otherwise required by applicable law, the Company will make a similar allocation with respect to any undistributed long-term capital gains of the Company which are to be included in its stockholders’ long-term capital gains, based on the allocation of the Capital Gains Amount which would have resulted if such undistributed long-term capital gains had been distributed as “capital gains dividends” by the Company to its stockholders.
(d) As used herein, the term “Business Day” shall mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday, that is neither a legal holiday nor a day on which banking institutions in New York, New York are authorized or required by law, regulation or executive order to close.
(5) Liquidation Preference.
(a) In the event of any Liquidation Event, before any payment or distribution of the assets of the Company shall be made to or set apart for the holders of Junior Equity Securities, a holder of Series F Preferred Shares shall receive an amount per share equal to $2.00 per share.
(b) Upon any Liquidation Event, after payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares, as provided in paragraph 5(a) above, any series or class or classes of Junior Equity Securities shall, subject to any respective terms and provisions applying thereto, be entitled to receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed, and the holders of the Series F Preferred Shares shall not be entitled to share therein.
(c) Notice of any Liquidation Event, stating the payment or conversion date or dates when, and the place or places where the amounts distributable in such circumstances shall be payable or converted, shall be given not less than thirty (30) nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the payment date stated therein, to each record holder of the Series F Preferred Shares at the respective addresses of such holders as the same shall appear on the share transfer records of the Company.
(d) In determining whether a distribution (other than upon voluntary or involuntary liquidation), by dividend, redemption or other acquisition of shares of stock of the Company or otherwise, is permitted under the Maryland General Corporation Law, amounts that would be needed, if the Company were to be dissolved at the time of distribution, to satisfy the preferential rights upon dissolution of holders of shares of the Series F Preferred Stock shall not be added to the Company’s total liabilities.
(6) Redemption. The Series F Preferred Shares are not redeemable.
(7) Conversion. The Series F Preferred Shares are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other property or securities of Company, except as provided in this paragraph (7).
2
(a) Mandatory Conversion. Each Series F Preferred Share (or fractional share) shall automatically and without any action on the part of the holder thereof convert into one Common Share (or equivalent fractional share, as applicable) (subject to adjustment as contemplated in Section 7(c) below, the “Conversion Rate”) upon the earlier of (i) the six-month anniversary of the listing of the Common Shares for trading on a national securities exchange, (ii) the date approved as the conversion date by the Board following a termination of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of July 25, 2021, by and among the Company, Rodeo Sub I, LLC, Capstead Mortgage Corporation and Benefit Street Partners L.L.C., (iii) three business days prior to a Liquidation Event in the event that the Board determines (which determination shall be conclusive) that the liquidating distribution per share in respect of such converted Series F Preferred Share (or fractional share) would be in an amount in excess of $2.00 per share, or (iv) immediately prior to the effective time of a Company Change of Control, provided that the consideration per share payable in connection with such Company Change of Control in respect of such converted Series F Preferred Share (or fractional share) is an amount in excess of $2.00. A “Company Change of Control” shall be deemed to have occurred at such time after the effective date of these Articles Supplementary when the following has occurred and is continuing: the sale of all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company (by sale, merger, consolidation or otherwise), or the acquisition by any person, including any syndicate or group deemed to be a “person” under Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, of beneficial ownership, directly or indirectly, through a purchase, merger or other acquisition transaction or series of purchases, mergers or other acquisition transactions of securities of the Company entitling the acquiring person to exercise more than fifty percent (50%) of the total economic interests or total voting power of all securities of beneficial interest of the Company entitled to vote generally (except that such acquiring person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all securities that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is currently exercisable or is exercisable only upon the occurrence of a subsequent condition).
(b) Miscellaneous.
(i) Any conversion pursuant to this Section 7 shall be subject to and effected in compliance with all U.S. federal and state laws and applicable stock exchange rules.
(ii) The Company will issue all Common Shares or other securities issuable upon conversion in uncertificated book entry-form no later than the fourth Business Day following the conversion date. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the persons entitled to receive any Common Shares or other securities upon conversion will be deemed to have become the holders of record thereof as of the conversion date.
(iii) The Company will at all times reserve and keep available out of its authorized and unissued Common Shares, solely for issuance upon the conversion of shares of Series F Preferred Shares as provided herein, free from any preemptive or other similar rights, such number of Common Shares as shall from time to time be issuable upon the conversion of all the shares of Series F Preferred Shares then outstanding.
(c) Anti-Dilution.
(i) If the Company shall, at any time or from time to time after the effective date of these Articles Supplementary while any Series F Preferred Shares are outstanding, subdivide, combine, reclassify, or split its outstanding Common Shares into a greater or lesser number of Common Shares, the Conversion Rate in effect immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision, combination, reclassification or split becomes effective shall be adjusted by multiplying such Conversion Rate by a fraction:
(A) the numerator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the day such subdivision, combination, reclassification or split becomes effective; and
(B) the denominator of which shall be the number of Common Shares outstanding immediately prior to the opening of business on the day that such subdivision, combination, reclassification or split becomes effective.
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An adjustment made pursuant to this Section 7(c)(i) shall become effective immediately prior to the opening of business on the day following the day upon which such subdivision, reclassification, split or combination becomes effective.
(8) Voting Rights.
(a) So long as Series F Preferred Shares are outstanding, the affirmative vote of holders entitled to cast two-thirds (2/3) of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding Series F Preferred Shares shall be necessary to approve any amendment, alteration or repeal of any provisions of the Company’s Charter, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege, voting power, conversion right, qualification and terms and conditions of redemption of the Series F Preferred Shares, provided, however, that the classification or issuance of any shares of any class or series of Equity Securities, including without limitation Senior Equity Securities, shall not be deemed to adversely affect the rights, preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, qualifications and terms and conditions of redemption of the Series F Preferred Shares. In any matter in which the holders of Series F Preferred Shares are entitled to vote, each such holder shall have the right to one vote for each Series F Preferred Share held by such holder.
(b) Each Series F Preferred Share shall entitle the holder thereof on the applicable record date to vote together with the holders of Common Shares as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of the holders of Common Shares, whether at a meeting of stockholders or by written consent. Each Series F Preferred Share will be entitled to a number of votes equal to the Conversion Rate (rounded down to the nearest whole number of Common Shares). The holders of Series F Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive notice of all annual or special meetings of the stockholders of the Company in the same manner in which the holders of Common Shares are entitled to such notice.
(9) Other Limitations; Ownership and Transfer. The Series F Preferred Shares constitute Preferred Shares of the Company and are governed by and issued subject to all the limitations, terms and conditions of the Charter applicable to Preferred Shares generally, including but not limited to the terms and conditions (including exceptions and exemptions) of Article V of the Charter applicable to Preferred Shares. The foregoing sentence shall not be construed to limit the applicability to the Series F Preferred Shares of any other term or provision of the Charter.
(10) Record Holders. The Company and the transfer agent for the Series F Preferred Shares may deem and treat the record holder of any Series F Preferred Shares as the true and lawful owner thereof for all purposes, and neither the Company nor the transfer agent shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
(11) Miscellaneous.
(a) Preemptive and Appraisal Rights. The Series F Preferred Shares are subject to Section 5.12 of the Charter.
(b) Tax Withholding. The Company may withhold from or pay on behalf of or with respect to each holder of Series F Preferred Shares any amount of U.S. federal, state, local, or foreign taxes that the Company reasonably determines that it was or is required to withhold or pay with respect to any cash or property distributable, allocable or otherwise transferred to such holder pursuant to these Articles Supplementary, including, without limitation, any taxes required to be withheld or paid by the Company pursuant to Section 1441, 1442, or 1445 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(c) Status of Reacquired or Converted Series F Preferred Shares. Any Series F Preferred Shares that shall at any time have been repurchased, redeemed, reacquired or converted shall, after such repurchase, redemption, reacquisition or conversion, have the status of authorized but unissued Preferred Shares, without designation as to series until such shares are once more designated as part of a particular series by the Board.
(d) Severability. If any term of the Series F Preferred Shares is invalid, unlawful or incapable of being enforced by reason of any rule of law or public policy, then, to the extent permitted by law, all other terms of the Series F Preferred Shares which can be given effect without the invalid, unlawful or unenforceable term shall remain in full force and effect and shall not be deemed dependent upon any other such term unless so expressed herein.
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(e) Terms of the Series F Preferred Shares. All references to the “terms” of the Series F Preferred Shares (and all similar references) shall include all of the preferences, conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions and limitations as to dividends and other distributions, qualifications and other terms and provisions set forth in paragraphs (1) through (10), inclusive, hereof.
(f) Notices. All notices required to be provided by the Company shall be given by email or by first class mail, postage pre-paid. Any notices required to be provided by any shareholder may be given by email or by first class mail, postage prepaid.
FOURTH: The Series F Preferred Shares have been classified and designated by the Board pursuant to the powers of the Board as contained in the Charter. These Articles Supplementary have been approved by the Board in the manner and by the vote required by law.
FIFTH: These Articles Supplementary shall become effective at 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time on October 12, 2021.
SIXTH: The undersigned Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company acknowledges these Articles Supplementary to be the act of the Company and, as to all matters or facts required to be verified under oath, the undersigned Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer of the Company acknowledges that to the best of his knowledge, information and belief, these matters and facts are true in all material respects and that this statement is made under the penalties for perjury.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused these Articles Supplementary to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer and attested to by its Secretary on this 6th day of October, 2021.
| FRANKLIN BSP REALTY TRUST, INC. | |||
| By: | /s/ Jerome S. Baglien | ||
| Name: | Jerome S. Baglien | ||
| Title: | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer | ||
| ATTEST: | |||
| By: | /s/ Micah Goodman | ||
| Name: | Micah Goodman | ||
| Title: | Secretary | ||
Exhibit 3.3
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
FRANKLIN BSP REALTY TRUST, INC.
a Maryland corporation
Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (the “Corporation”) hereby adopts these Amended and Restated Bylaws, which restate, amend and supersede the bylaws of the Corporation, in their entirety as described below:
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 in accordance with these Bylaws and stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The chairman of the board, the president, the chief executive officer, a majority of the Board of Directors or a majority of the Independent Directors (as defined in the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”)) may call a special meeting of the stockholders. Any such special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the chairman of the board, the president, the chief executive officer, the Board of Directors or the Independent Directors, whoever has called the meeting. A special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting. The written request must state the purpose of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at such meeting. Within ten (10) days after receipt of such written request, either in person or by mail, the secretary of the Corporation shall provide all stockholders with written notice, either in person or by mail, of such meeting and the purpose of such meeting. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, such meeting shall be held not less than fifteen (15) days nor more than sixty (60) days after the secretary’s delivery of such notice. Subject to the foregoing sentence, such meeting shall be held at the time and place specified in the stockholder request; provided, however, that if none is so specified, such meeting shall be held at a time and place convenient to the stockholders.
Section 4. NOTICE. Except as provided otherwise in Section 3 of this Article II, not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety (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 in writing or by electronic transmission stating the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business 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. 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 Corporation 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 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 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 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. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than ten (10) days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this Section 4.
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 or appointed individual, by the chairman of the board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the chairman of the board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the vice chairman of the board, if there is one, the chief executive officer, the president, the vice presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the secretary 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, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual 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 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, (i) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (ii) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chairman of the meeting may determine; (iii) 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; (iv) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (v) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed; (vi) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (vii) 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; (viii) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (ix) 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 any statute or the Charter for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chairman of the meeting may 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 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 stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.
Section 7. VOTING. Except as provided in these Bylaws or otherwise required by law or the Charter, a majority of all the votes cast for and against a nominee at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a director; provided, that if the number of persons lawfully nominated exceeds the number of directors to be elected, the directors shall be elected by the vote of a plurality of the votes cast at the meeting at which a quorum is present. Each share of stock may be voted for as many individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the share of stock is entitled to be voted, without any right to cumulate votes. 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 by statute 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. 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 8. PROXIES. A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation 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 Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than eleven (11) 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, limited liability company or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, general partner, trustee or managing member 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 trustee or other fiduciary may vote stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of trustee or 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, the time after the record date 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 by the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
Section 10. INSPECTORS. The Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. 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 such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of them if there is more than one (1) inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one (1) 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 at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 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 11, the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Corporation 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 11 and shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in connection with the Corporation’s first annual meeting or in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than thirty (30) days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, notice by the stockholder to be timely must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, 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:
(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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and the rules thereunder (including the Proposed Nominee’s written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected);
(ii) as to any 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 Corporation (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person and the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition;
(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person;
(C) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last six months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of Company Securities for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any controlled affiliate thereof disproportionately to such person's economic interest in the Company Securities; and
(D) a representation as to whether such stockholder or such beneficial owner (if any) intends, or is intended to be part of a group (within the meaning ascribed to such term under Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act) that intends, (I) to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding shares of stock required to elect the Proposed Nominee or to approve or adopt the other business proposal, as the case may be, and/or (II) otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of such nominee or other business proposal, as the case may be;
(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 11(a) and any Proposed Nominee:
(A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation’s stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee, and
(B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;
(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 Corporation in connection with service or action as a director that has not been disclosed to the Corporation and (b) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, 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 Corporation are listed or over-the-counter market on which any securities of the Corporation are traded).
(5) 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 (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) 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., Eastern Time, on the tenth day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Corporation.
(6) For purposes of this Section 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 Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3 of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied 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 (1) or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any 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, containing the information required by paragraph (a)(3) of this Section 11, is delivered to the secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time on the later of the 90th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(c) General.
(1) If information submitted pursuant to this Section 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 11. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two (2) 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 (5) business days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (i) 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 (ii) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, 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 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, and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with this Section 11, the chairman of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether such defective nomination or proposal may be disregarded.
(3) For purposes of this Section 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 United States Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “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 United States Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(4) Sections 11(a) and (b) shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or submit business before an annual meeting of the stockholders. 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, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 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 12. STOCKHOLDERS’ CONSENT IN LIEU OF MEETING. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any 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.
Section 13. 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 (the “MGCL”), shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. 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.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. GENERAL POWERS. The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors.
Section 2. NUMBER, TENURE, QUALIFICATIONS AND RESIGNATION. 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 MGCL, and further provided that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Until the time the Corporation has a class of common stock listed on a national securities exchange or national securities association (or a facility thereof), at which time this provision will no longer apply and the Company will be subject to the board independence requirements of such exchange or association, a majority of the directors shall be Independent Directors except for a period of up to sixty (60) days after the death, removal or resignation of an Independent Director, pending the election of such Independent Director’s successor. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer 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. 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 for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president or a majority of the directors or Independent Directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix any place as the place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail 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 twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three (3) days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two (2) days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
Section 6. 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 is present at such 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 applicable law, the Charter 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 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 required to establish a quorum.
Section 7. VOTING. The action of a 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 law, 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. On any matter for which the Charter requires the approval of the Independent Directors, the action of a majority of the total number of Independent Directors shall be the action of the Independent Directors.
Section 8. 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 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 Corporation 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 9. 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 10. 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 11. VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all of 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. 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 for any cause other than an increase in the number of directors may be filled by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining directors, even if 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; and 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 12. 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 for any service or activity they performed or engaged in as directors, including under an incentive plan approved by the Board of 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 any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors; but nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 13. 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 14. RATIFICATION. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders’ derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.
Section 15. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS. A director, officer, employee or agent shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director, officer, employee or agent, 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, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.
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 twenty-four (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 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members committees, composed of one (1) or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of each committee shall be Independent Directors.
Section 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 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 (2) members of any committee (if there are at least two (2) members of the committee) may fix the time and place of its meeting unless the Board shall 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. 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 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 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 any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Corporation shall include a president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman 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 it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the chief executive officer or president may from time to time appoint one or more vice presidents, assistant secretaries and assistant treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two (2) or more offices except president and vice president may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. 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, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation to the Board of Directors, the chairman of the board, the chief executive officer, the president 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. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.
Section 3. VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term.
Section 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 shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation. The chief executive officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. 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 Corporation 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. 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 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 7. CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The Board of Directors may designate from among its members a chairman of the board, who shall not, solely by reason of these Bylaws, be an officer of the Corporation. 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. The chairman of the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or her by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.
Section 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 Corporation. 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 Corporation 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.
Section 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 (1) 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 such vice president by the chief executive officer, the president or the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more vice presidents as executive vice president, senior vice president, or vice president for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 10. SECRETARY. The secretary shall (i) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one (1) or more books provided for that purpose; (ii) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (iii) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (iv) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the secretary by such stockholder; (v) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (vi) 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.
Section 11. TREASURER. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, shall deposit all moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of Directors and in general 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 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 Corporation.
The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Corporation 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 Corporation.
Section 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 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.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, 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 or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation 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 1. CERTIFICATES. Except as may otherwise be 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. TRANSFERS. All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation, 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 Corporation 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 un certificated shares, 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.
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 expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.
Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. 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 that 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 4. 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 ninety (90) days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten (10) 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 originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting may be determined as set forth herein.
Section 5. STOCK LEDGER. The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.
Section 6. FRACTIONAL STOCK; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation 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 Corporation. Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by the Corporation, except that the Board of Directors may provide that for a specified period securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The fiscal year of the Corporation shall end on December 31st of each calendar year, unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1. AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors and declared by the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.
Section 2. CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside out of any assets of the Corporation 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 Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve.
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 Corporation as it shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 1. SEAL. The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall contain the name of the Corporation 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.
Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Corporation 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 Corporation.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time (but subject to the provisions of this Article XII and the Charter), 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, (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, member, manager or trustee of another corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, 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, and (c) Benefit Street Partners L.L.C. and its affiliates from and against any claim, liability or expense to which they may become subject or which they may incur by reason of their service in any such capacity. The rights of a director or officer to indemnification and advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of such director or officer. The Corporation 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 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 or Benefit Street Partners L.L.C. The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses provided in 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, regulation, insurance, agreement or otherwise.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of these Bylaws or Charter 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 has not been lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
ARTICLE XV
EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION
Unless the Corporation 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 Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in Section 1-101(p) of the MGCL, or any successor provision thereof; (b) any derivative action or proceeding brought on behalf of the Corporation; (c) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or to the stockholders of the Corporation; (d) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, the Charter or these bylaws; or (e) any action asserting a claim against the Corporation or any director or officer or other employee of the Corporation that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine.