HIX 8-K
Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (HIX)
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 8-K
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): November 15, 2024
Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
| Maryland | 811-08709 | 13-3998455 | ||
| (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) |
(Commission File Number) |
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.) |
| 620 Eighth Avenue, 47th Floor New York, NY |
10018 | |
| (Address of principal executive offices) | (Zip Code) |
(888) 777-0102
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)
Not applicable
(Former name or former address if changed since last report.)
Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) |
| ☐ | Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
| Title of each class |
Trading Symbol(s) |
Name of each exchange on which registered | ||
| Common Stock | HIX | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Emerging growth company ☐
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 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year |
The Board of Directors of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (the “Fund”) has amended and restated in its entirety the bylaws of the Fund (the “Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws”). The Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws became effective November 15, 2024, are attached hereto as an Exhibit and are incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
| (d) | Exhibits. |
| Exhibit No. |
Description | |
| 99.1 | Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated November 15, 2024, of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. |
EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are filed herewith:
| Exhibit | Exhibit Description | |
| 99.1 | Fourth Amended and Restated Bylaws, dated November 15, 2024, of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. |
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Fund has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Date: November 20, 2024 | Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. | |||||
| /s/ Marc A. De Oliveira | ||||||
| Name: Marc A. De Oliveira | ||||||
| Title: Secretary and Chief Legal Officer | ||||||
[Signature Page to Form 8-K]
FOURTH AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
WESTERN ASSET HIGH INCOME FUND II INC.
A Maryland Corporation
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1. Principal Office in Maryland. Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (the “Corporation”) shall have a principal office at such place as the Board of Directors may designate.
SECTION 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may have offices also at such other places within and without the State of Maryland as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation shall be held on a date following the end of the Corporation’s fiscal year as fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors. An annual meeting may be held at any place in or out of the State of Maryland and at any time, each as may be determined by the Board of Directors and designated in the notice of the meeting. Any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting without the purposes having been specified in the notice unless otherwise provided by statute, the charter of the Corporation (the “Charter”), or these Bylaws.
SECTION 2. Special Meetings.
(a) General. Each of the Board of Directors, Chair of the Board or President may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in subsection (b)(4) of this Section 2, a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Chair of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President or Board of Directors, whoever has called the meeting. Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 2, a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting.
(b) Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings.
(1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice to the Secretary (the “Record Date Request Notice”) by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the “Request Record Date”). The Record Date Request Notice shall set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, shall be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), shall bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and shall set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than ten days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within ten days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the tenth day after the first date on which a Record Date Request Notice is received by the Secretary.
(2) In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the “Special Meeting Request”) signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than a majority of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the “Special Meeting Percentage”) shall be delivered to the Secretary. In addition, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the Secretary), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation’s books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, (d) be sent to the Secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the Secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.
(3) The Secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the meeting (including the Corporation’s proxy materials). The Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by paragraph (2) of this Section 2(b), the Secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.
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(4) In the case of any special meeting called by the Secretary upon the request of stockholders (a “Stockholder-Requested Meeting”), such meeting shall be held at such place, date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; provided, however, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the “Meeting Record Date”); and provided further that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within fifteen days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the Secretary (the “Delivery Date”), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first preceding Business Day; and provided further that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within fifteen days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of paragraph (3) of this Section 2(b).
(5) If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the Secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the Secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been delivered, the Secretary shall refrain from delivering the notice of the meeting and send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been delivered and if the Secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation’s intention to revoke the notice of the meeting or for the chair of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, (A) the Secretary may revoke the notice of the meeting at any time before ten days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chair of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting from time to time without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the Secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.
(6) The Board of Directors, Chair of the Board or President may appoint regionally or nationally recognized independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the Secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after actual receipt by the Secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the Secretary represent,
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as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).
(7) For purposes of these Bylaws, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
SECTION 3. Place of Meetings.
(a) Unless the Charter or these Bylaws provide otherwise, meetings of stockholders shall be held at such place as is set from time to time by the Board of Directors, or the Board of Directors may determine that the meeting not be held at any place but instead be held by means of remote communication.
(b) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors authorized for such purpose may determine at any time, including, without limitation, after the calling of any meeting of stockholders, that any meeting of stockholders be held solely by means of remote communication or both at a physical location and by means of remote communication; provided that, at the request of a stockholder delivered reasonably in advance of the meeting, the Board of Directors shall provide a place for stockholders to attend the meeting if and as required by applicable law. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, if it is determined after notice of the meeting has been sent to stockholders that participation by stockholders in the meeting shall or may be conducted by means of remote communication, notice thereof may be provided at any time by press release or any other means of public communication or as otherwise required by applicable law. Stockholders and proxy holders entitled to be present and to vote at the meeting that are not physically present at such a meeting but participate by means of remote communication shall be considered present in person for all purposes under these Bylaws and may vote at such a meeting. Subject to any guidelines and procedures that the Board of Directors may adopt, any meeting at which stockholders or proxy holders are permitted to participate by means of remote communication shall be conducted in accordance with the following, unless otherwise permitted by applicable law or regulation:
(1) The Corporation shall implement, at the direction of the President or the President’s designee, reasonable measures to verify that each person considered present and authorized to vote at the meeting by means of remote communication is a stockholder or proxy holder;
(2) The Corporation shall implement, at the direction of the President or the President’s designee, reasonable measures to provide the stockholders and proxy holders a reasonable opportunity to participate in the meeting and to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders, including an opportunity to read or hear the proceedings of the meeting substantially concurrently with the proceedings; and
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(3) In the event any stockholder or proxy holder votes or takes other action at the meeting by means of remote communication, a record of the vote or other action shall be maintained by the Corporation.
SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each stockholders’ meeting, the Secretary shall give notice in writing or by electronic transmission of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting and each other stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting. Any notice given by the Corporation to a stockholder is effective if given by a single notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, to all stockholders who share an address if the Corporation gives notice, in writing or by electronic transmission, to the stockholder of its intent to give a single notice, and the stockholder consents to receiving a single notice or fails to object in writing within 60 days after the Corporation gives notice to the stockholder of its intent to give a single notice. A stockholder may revoke consent given, whether affirmative or implied, by written notice to the Corporation. The notice shall state the time of the meeting, the place of the meeting, if any, and the means of remote communication, if any, by which stockholders and proxy holders may be deemed to be present in person and may vote at the meeting and, if the meeting is a special meeting or notice of the purpose is required by statute, the purpose of the meeting. Notice is given to a stockholder when it is personally delivered to the stockholder, left at the stockholder’s residence or usual place of business, mailed to the stockholder at the stockholder’s address as it appears on the records of the Corporation or transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. If the Corporation has received a request from a stockholder that notice not be sent by electronic transmission, the Corporation may not provide notice to the stockholder by electronic transmission. Notice given by electronic transmission shall be considered ineffective if the Corporation is unable to deliver two consecutive notices and the inability to deliver the notices becomes known to the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the transfer agent or other person responsible for giving notice. The inadvertent failure to deliver any notice by electronic transmission does not invalidate any meeting or other action. An affidavit of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the transfer agent or other agent of the Corporation that notice has been given by a form of electronic transmission, in the absence of actual fraud, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated in the affidavit. Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed waived by any stockholder who attends the meeting in person or by proxy, or who before or after the meeting submits a written waiver or waiver by electronic transmission that is filed with the records of the meeting.
SECTION 5. 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 at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the annual meeting, at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 5(a) and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), 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 5(a).
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(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 5, 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 5 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 5(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year’s annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the tenth day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder’s notice as described above.
(3) Such stockholder’s notice shall set forth:
(i) as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a “Proposed Nominee”),
(1) 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
(2) whether such stockholder believes any such Proposed Nominee is, or is not, an “interested person” of the Corporation, as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”), and information regarding such individual that is sufficient, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to make such determination (including, without limitation, whether such Proposed Nominee may have a “material business or professional relationship” with the Corporation, its principal executive officer, the investment adviser and principal underwriter of the Corporation, the principal executive officer of such investment adviser or principal underwriter, or any controlling person of such investment adviser or principal underwriter, any other fund with the same investment adviser or principal underwriter, and the principal executive officer of such other fund);
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(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 or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the “Company Securities”), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person,
(B) the nominee holder for, and number of, any Company Securities owned beneficially but not of record by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person,
(C) whether and the extent to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, directly or indirectly (through brokers, nominees or otherwise), is subject to or during the last twelve months has engaged in any hedging, derivative or other transaction or series of transactions or entered into any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short interest, any borrowing or lending of securities or any proxy or voting agreement), the effect or intent of which is to (I) manage risk or benefit of changes in the price of (x) Company Securities or (y) any security of any other closed-end investment company (a “Peer Group Company”) for such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person or (II) increase or decrease the voting power of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company) disproportionately to such person’s economic interest in the Company Securities (or, as applicable, in any Peer Group Company); and
(D) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series;
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(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 5(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) the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal; and
(vi) 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.
(4) Such stockholder’s notice shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by a written undertaking executed by the Proposed Nominee (i) 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, (b) will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected and (c) consents to the Corporation’s or Board of Directors’ use of a background check with the scope and depth consistent with that previously used by the Corporation or Board of Directors; and (ii) attaching a completed Proposed Nominee questionnaire (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Corporation, upon request by 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, 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, or would be necessary to establish that the Proposed Nominee satisfies the director qualifications as set forth in Section 1 of Article III of these Bylaws).
(5) Notwithstanding anything in this subsection (a) of this Section 5 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 5(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year’s annual meeting, a stockholder’s notice required by this Section 5(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.
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(6) For purposes of this Section 5, “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, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporation’s notice of meeting. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) provided that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 2(a) of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by the Board of Directors for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at the special meeting, at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 5 and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), 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 5. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any 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 paragraphs (a)(3) and (4) of this Section 5, 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 5 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 5. Any such stockholder shall notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information. Upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (A) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 5, and (B) 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 5 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 5.
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(2) Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 5 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 5. The chair 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 5. The chair of the meeting may refuse to acknowledge a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting by any stockholder that is not made in accordance with this Section 5, and such nomination or proposal shall be considered invalid.
(3) For purposes of this Section 5, “the date of the proxy statement” shall have the same meaning as “the date of the company’s proxy statement released to shareholders” as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. “Public announcement” shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(4) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 5, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 5. Nothing in this Section 5 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, any proxy statement filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 5 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.
(5) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting, if the stockholder giving notice as provided for in this Section 5 does not appear in person or by proxy at such annual or special meeting to present each nominee for election as a director or the proposed business, as applicable, such matter shall not be considered at the meeting.
SECTION 6. Quorum; Voting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, the presence in person or by proxy of stockholders of the Corporation entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast shall constitute a quorum at each meeting of the stockholders. A majority of the votes entitled to be cast in the election of directors shall be required to elect a director. A majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to approve any other matter which properly comes before the meeting, unless a different vote is required by statute or the Charter. The stockholders present at any duly organized meeting may continue to do business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less than a quorum.
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SECTION 7. Postponement; Adjournment. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a “public announcement” (as defined in Section 5(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 days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in these Bylaws. Whether or not a quorum is present, any meeting of the stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken, by the chair of the meeting. At any postponed or adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present any action may be taken that could have been taken at the meeting as originally called.
SECTION 8. Organization and Conduct. Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chair of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the Chair of the Board or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Chair of the Board, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the Vice Chair of the Board, if there is one, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Vice Presidents in their order of rank and, within each rank, in their order of seniority, the Secretary, the Assistant Secretaries in their order of rank and, within each rank, in their order of seniority, or, in the absence of such officers, a chair 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 case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary or an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting shall act as secretary. In the event that the Secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an Assistant Secretary, or, in the absence of all Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. The order of business and all other matters or procedure at any meeting of stockholders shall be determined by the chair of the meeting. The chair of the meeting may prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and take such action as, in the discretion of the chair of the meeting and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance or participation at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chair of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments; (d) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed and when announcement of the results should be made; (e) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (f) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chair of the meeting; (g) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date and time and at a place announced at the meeting; and (h) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security.
SECTION 9. Proxies. A stockholder may vote the stock he, she or it owns of record either in person or by written proxy signed by the stockholder or by his, her or its duly authorized agent. Stockholders may authorize others to act as proxies by means of facsimile signatures, electronic transmissions, internet transmissions and other reasonable means authorized or accepted by the Corporation, subject to the reasonable satisfaction of the Corporation that the stockholder has authorized the creation of the proxy. No proxy shall be valid
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after the expiration of eleven (11) months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder executing it, except in those cases in which the proxy states that it is irrevocable and in which an irrevocable proxy is permitted by law.
SECTION 10. Fixing of Record Date for Determining Stockholders Entitled to Vote at Meeting. The Board of Directors shall set a record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of the stockholders. The record date for a particular meeting shall be not more than ninety (90) or fewer than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting. All persons who were holders of record of shares as of the record date of a meeting, and no others, shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting and any postponement or adjournment thereof.
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 postponed or adjourned, except if the meeting is postponed or adjourned 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; provided, however, that any proxy received by the Corporation from a stockholder who was a stockholder of record on both the record date originally set for the meeting and the new record date for such meeting shall remain in full force and effect unless explicitly revoked by the applicable stockholder.
SECTION 11. Inspectors. The Board of Directors may, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one (1) or more inspectors to act at the meeting or at any postponement or adjournment of the meeting. If the inspectors shall not be so appointed or if any of them shall fail to appear or act, the chair of the meeting may appoint inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his, her or its duties, shall, if required by the chair of the meeting, take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector at the meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors, if appointed, shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting power of each share, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, determine the result, and do those acts as are proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the chair of the meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in writing of any challenge, request or matter determined by them and shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them. No director or candidate for the office of director shall act as inspector of an election of directors. Inspectors need not be stockholders of the Corporation.
SECTION 12. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the Charter, any action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting, if a unanimous consent which sets forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed in paper or electronic form with the records of stockholder meetings.
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ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 1. General Powers and Qualifications. Except as otherwise provided in the Charter, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of the Board of Directors. All powers of the Corporation may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of Directors except as conferred on or reserved to the stockholders by law, by the Charter or by these Bylaws.
To qualify as a nominee for election as a director and to be elected as a director, an individual, at the time of nomination and election unless a majority of the Board of Directors then in office shall have determined by resolution that failure to satisfy a particular qualification requirement will not present undue conflicts or impede the ability of the individual to discharge the duties of a director or the free flow of information among director or between the Corporation’s investment adviser and the Board of Directors:
(a) shall have at least five years’ experience in either investment management, economics, public accounting, business or law, or shall have other substantial expertise, experience or relationships relevant to the business of the Corporation in the determination of the Nominating Committee or the Board of Directors;
(b) shall, at the time the individual is nominated or elected, serve as a director of no more than five (5) companies having securities registered under the Exchange Act or 1940 Act or treated as public reporting companies under any comparable regulatory regime (investment companies having the same investment adviser or investment advisers in a control relationship with each other shall all be counted as a single company for this purpose);
(c) shall not have been charged (unless such charges were dismissed or the individual was otherwise exonerated) with a criminal offense involving dishonesty or breach of trust, or have been convicted or have pled guilty or nolo contendere with respect to a felony under the laws of the United States or any state thereof;
(d) shall not be and shall not have been subject to any censure, order, consent decree (including consent decrees in which the respondent has neither admitted nor denied the findings) or adverse final action of any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority (including self-regulatory organizations), barring or suspending such individual from participation in or association with any investment-related business or restricting such individual’s activities with respect to any investment-related business, nor shall be subject to any “proceeding,” as defined in Form ADV adopted under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, that could reasonably be expected to result in an individual nominated or seated as a director failing to satisfy the requirements of this paragraph;
(e) shall not be and shall not have been the subject of any of the ineligibility provisions contained in Section 9(a) of the 1940 Act that would result in, or could have reasonably been expected or would reasonably be expected to result in such individual or a company of which such individual is an affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the
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1940 Act) being ineligible, in the absence of an exemptive order under Section 9(c) of the 1940 Act, to serve or act in the capacity of employee, officer, director, member of an advisory board, investment adviser, or depositor of any registered investment company, or principal underwriter for any registered investment company, registered unit investment trust, or registered face-amount certificate company;
(f) shall not be and shall not have been the subject of any of the ineligibility provisions contained in Section 9(b) of the 1940 Act that, in the absence of an exemptive order under Section 9(c) of the 1940 Act, would permit, or could reasonably have been expected or would reasonably be expected to permit the Securities and Exchange Commission by order to prohibit, conditionally or unconditionally, either permanently or for a period of time, such individual from serving or acting as an employee, officer, director, member of an advisory board, investment adviser or depositor of, or principal underwriter for, a registered investment company or affiliated person (as defined in Section 2(a)(3) of the 1940 Act) of such investment adviser, depositor, or principal underwriter; and
(g) only with respect to individuals nominated or elected to serve as disinterested director, shall not be an “interested person,” as defined under Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, of the Corporation.
The Nominating Committee of the Board of Directors, or in the absence thereof, the entire Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, shall determine whether an individual satisfies the foregoing qualifications. Any individual who does not satisfy the qualifications set forth under this Section 1 shall not be eligible for nomination or election as a director.
SECTION 2. Number, Election and Term of Directors. The number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors may be changed from time to time by a majority of the entire Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of directors shall in no event be fewer than that required by law, nor more than twenty-five (25). Beginning with the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and if at such time, the number of directors shall be three (3) or more, (the “First Annual Meeting”), the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be divided into three classes: Class I, Class II and Class III. At the First Annual Meeting, directors of Class I shall be elected to the Board of Directors for a term expiring at the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders, directors of Class II shall be elected to the Board of Directors for a term expiring at the second succeeding annual meeting of stockholders and directors of Class III shall be elected to the Board of Directors for a term expiring at the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders. At each subsequent annual meeting of stockholders, the directors chosen to succeed those whose terms are expiring shall be identified as being of the same class as the directors whom they succeed and shall be elected for a term expiring at the time of the third succeeding annual meeting of stockholders subsequent to their election. The directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders, except as provided in Section 4 of this Article III, and each director elected shall hold office for the term provided above and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified, or until his death, or until he shall have resigned or have been removed as provided by statute or the Charter. Any director nominated for re-election as a director who fails to receive the requisite vote for re-election at an annual meeting of stockholders, and whose successor has neither been elected nor qualified, shall holdover and shall continue to be considered “elected” by stockholders for
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purposes of applicable law, including Maryland law and the 1940 Act. Except as otherwise provided by applicable law, such holdover director shall continue to serve as director until he has received the requisite vote for re-election at a meeting of stockholders or until his successor shall have been elected and shall have qualified, or until his death, or until he shall have resigned or have been removed as provided by statute or the Charter. No reduction in the number of directors shall have the effect of removing any director from office prior to the expiration of his term unless the director is specifically removed pursuant to the Charter at the time of the decrease.
SECTION 3. Resignation. A director of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board or to the Vice-Chair of the Board or the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. Acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless the resignation states otherwise.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. If for any reason any or all the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Except as may be provided in the Charter and by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock and subject to the 1940 Act, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.
SECTION 5. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held at any place that the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or that is specified in the notice of the meeting, or by means of remote communication, if so designated by the Board.
SECTION 6. Regular Meetings. A meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held as soon as practicable after 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 notice, the time and place of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other action other than notice.
SECTION 7. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by two (2) or more directors of the Corporation or by the Chair of the Board or the President.
SECTION 8. Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided. Each notice shall state the time and place of the meeting, or that the meeting is being held by means of remote communication, and shall be delivered to each director, either personally or by telephone or other standard form of telecommunication or electronic transmission, at least twenty-four (24) hours before the time at which the meeting is to be held, or by first-class mail, postage prepaid, addressed to the director at his residence or usual place of business, and mailed at least three (3) days before the day on which the meeting is to be held.
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SECTION 9. Waiver of Notice of Meetings. Notice of any special meeting need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting, deliver a written waiver or an electronic transmission of a waiver of notice that is filed with the records of the meeting or who shall attend the meeting. The attendance of the director at a special meeting shall constitute waiver of notice of such meeting, except (i) where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting has not been properly called or convened or (ii) as specified in writing by such director.
SECTION 10. Quorum and Voting. A majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, 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 specified group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group. Except as otherwise expressly required by statute, the Charter or these Bylaws, the action of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board. 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. 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 a majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.
SECTION 11. Organization. The Chair of the Board shall preside at each meeting of the Board. In the absence or inability of the Chair of the Board to act or in the event of a vacancy in the position of Chair of the Board, another director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chair of the meeting and preside at the meeting. The Secretary (or, in his or her absence or inability to act, any person appointed by the chair of the meeting) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes of the meeting.
SECTION 12. Committees. The Board of Directors may designate one (1) or more committees of the Board of Directors, including an executive committee, an audit committee, an investments committee and a valuation committee, each consisting of one (1) or more directors. To the extent provided in the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors, and permitted by law, the committee or committees shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. Any committee or committees shall have the name or names determined from time to time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of its meetings and provide those minutes to the Board of Directors when required. The members of a committee present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act in the place of an absent member.
SECTION 13. Written Consent of Directors in Lieu of a Meeting. Subject to the provisions of the 1940 Act, any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any committee of the Board may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing or by electronic transmission, and the writing or writings, in paper or electronic form, are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
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SECTION 14. Telephone Conference. Members of the Board of Directors or any committee of the Board may participate in any Board or committee meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting, provided, however, that such participation shall not constitute presence in person with respect to matters which the 1940 Act, and the rules thereunder, require the approval of directors by vote cast in person at a meeting.
SECTION 15. Compensation. Each director shall be entitled to receive compensation, if any, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors, including a fee for each meeting of the Board or any committee thereof, regular or special, he attends. Directors may also be reimbursed by the Corporation for all reasonable expenses incurred in traveling to and from the place of a Board or committee meeting.
SECTION 16. Ratification. The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify any act, omission, failure to act or determination made not to act (an “Act”) by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the Act and, if so ratified, such Act shall have the same force and effect as if originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders. Any Act questioned in any 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 such ratification shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned Act.
SECTION 17. Emergency Provisions. Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 17 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an “Emergency”). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.
SECTION 18. Governance. The Board of Directors may from time to time require all its members (including any individual nominated to serve as a director) to agree in writing as to matters of corporate governance, business ethics and confidentiality while such persons serve as a director, including a consent to the Corporation’s or the Board of Directors’ use of a background check with the scope and depth consistent with that previously used by the Corporation or Board of Directors, such agreement to be on the terms and in a form determined satisfactory by the Board of Directors, as amended and supplemented from time to time in the discretion of the Board of Directors.
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ARTICLE IV
OFFICERS, AGENTS AND EMPLOYEES
SECTION 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the Corporation shall be a Chair of the Board, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant Secretary and an Assistant Treasurer, each of whom shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may elect or appoint a Chair of the Board, and one (1) or more Vice Presidents and may also appoint any other officers, assistant officers, agents and employees it deems necessary or proper. Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Vice President, but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify in more than one (1) capacity any instrument required by law to be executed, acknowledged or verified by more than one officer. Officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors each year, each to hold office until his successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified, or until his death, or until he shall have resigned or have been removed, as provided in these Bylaws. The Board of Directors may from time to time elect such officers (including one or more Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries) and may appoint, or delegate to the President the power to appoint, such agents as may be necessary or desirable for the business of the Corporation. Such other officers and agents shall have such duties and shall hold their offices for such terms as may be prescribed by the Board or by the appointing authority.
SECTION 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board, 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.
SECTION 3. Removal of Officer, Agent or Employee. Any officer, agent or employee of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors with or without cause at any time, and the Board may delegate the power of removal as to agents and employees not elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. Removal shall be without prejudice to the person’s contract rights, if any, but the appointment of any person as an officer, agent or employee of the Corporation shall not of itself create contract rights.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office, whether arising from death, resignation, removal or any other cause, may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term of the office that shall be vacant, in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for the regular election or appointment to the office.
SECTION 5. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, but this power may be delegated to any officer with respect to other officers under his control.
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SECTION 6. Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board, any officer, agent or employee of the Corporation shall give a bond or other security for the faithful performance of his duties, in an amount and with any surety or sureties as the Board may require.
SECTION 7. Chair of the Board. The Board of Directors may designate a Chair of the Board. The Chair of the Board shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors and of the stockholders at which he shall be present or his designee shall be present. The Chair of the Board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors, but shall have no individual authority to act for the Corporation as an officer of the Corporation.
SECTION 8. Vice-Chair of the Board. The Vice-Chair of the Board shall have and exercise the powers and perform the duties and responsibilities as shall be assigned to him by the Chair of the Board or the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. President. 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 Executive Officer by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Executive Officer. He 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 10. Vice President. Each Vice President shall have the powers and perform the duties that the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 11. Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of such designation, the President 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.
SECTION 12. Treasurer. Subject to the provisions of any contract that may be entered into with any custodian pursuant to authority granted by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall have charge of all receipts and disbursements of the Corporation and shall have or provide for the custody of the Corporation’s funds and securities; he shall have full authority to receive and give receipts for all money due and payable to the Corporation, and to endorse checks, drafts, and warrants, in its name and on its behalf and to give full discharge for the same; he shall deposit all funds of the Corporation, except those that may be required for current use, in such banks or other places of deposit as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate; and, in general, he shall perform all duties incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board.
SECTION 13. Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Treasurers in the order of their seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Chair of the Board or the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Treasurer, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Treasurer. They shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the Chair of the Board or the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
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SECTION 14. Secretary. The Secretary shall:
(a) keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for the purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board of Directors, the committees of the Board and the stockholders;
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws and as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal;
(d) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and
(e) in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or the Chair of the Board.
SECTION 15. Assistant Secretaries. The Assistant Secretaries in the order of their seniority, unless otherwise determined by the Chair of the Board or the Board of Directors, shall, in the absence or disability of the Secretary, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary. They shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the President or the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
SECTION 16. Delegation of Duties. In case of the absence of any officer of the Corporation, or for any other reason that the Board of Directors may deem sufficient, the Board may confer for the time being the powers or duties, or any of them, of such officer upon any other officer or upon any director.
ARTICLE V
STOCK
SECTION 1. Stock Certificates. The Board of Directors may determine to issue certificated or uncertificated shares of capital stock and other securities of the Corporation. For certificated stock, each holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled upon specific written request to such person as may be designated by the Corporation to have a certificate or certificates, in a form approved by the Board, representing the number of shares of stock of the Corporation owned by him; provided, however, that certificates for fractional shares will not be delivered in any case. The certificates representing shares of stock shall be signed by or in the name of the Corporation by the Chair of the Board, the Vice-Chair of the Board, the President or
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a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer and may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures or the seal on the certificate may be facsimiles. In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before the certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the same effect as if the officer, transfer agent or registrar was still in office at the date of issue.
SECTION 2. Stock Ledger. There shall be maintained a stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of stock of each class the shareholder holds. The stock ledger may be in written form or any other form which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual inspection. The original or a duplicate of the stock ledger shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation or at any other office or agency specified by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3. Transfers of Shares. Transfers of shares of stock of the Corporation shall be made on the stock records of the Corporation only by the registered holder of the shares, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or with a transfer agent or transfer clerk, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates, if issued, for the shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock transfer power and the payment of all taxes thereon. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive right of a person in whose name any share or shares stand on the record of stockholders as the owner of the share or shares for all purposes, including, without limitation, the rights to receive dividends or other distributions and to vote as the owner, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any equitable or legal claim to or interest in any such share or shares on the part of any other person.
SECTION 4. Regulations. The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of uncertificated securities. If stock certificates are issued, the Board of Directors may make any additional rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these Bylaws, as it may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation. The Board may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer agents or one or more transfer clerks and one or more registrars and may require all certificates for shares of stock to bear the signature or signatures of any of them.
SECTION 5. Lost, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. The holder of any certificate representing shares of stock of the Corporation shall immediately notify the Corporation of its loss, destruction or mutilation and the Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the place of any certificate issued by it that has been alleged to have been lost or destroyed or that shall have been mutilated. The Board may, in its discretion, require the owner (or his legal representative) of a lost, destroyed or mutilated certificate to give to the Corporation a bond in a sum, limited or unlimited, and in a form and with any surety or sureties, as the Board in its absolute discretion shall determine, to indemnify the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or destruction of any such certificate, or issuance of a new certificate. Anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board of Directors, in its absolute discretion, may refuse to issue any such new certificate, except pursuant to legal proceedings under the laws of the State of Maryland.
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SECTION 6. Fixing of Record Date for Dividends, Distributions, etc. The Board (or, to the extent permitted by law, a Board committee or an officer of the Corporation so empowered by the Board) may fix, in advance, a date not more than ninety (90) days preceding the date fixed for the payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution or the allotment of rights to subscribe for securities of the Corporation, or for the delivery of evidences of rights or evidences of interests arising out of any change, conversion or exchange of common stock or other securities, as the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive any such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests, and in such case only the stockholders of record at the time so fixed shall be entitled to receive such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests.
ARTICLE VI
INDEMNIFICATION AND INSURANCE
SECTION 1. Indemnification of Directors and Officers. Any person who was or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that such person is a current or former director or officer of the Corporation, or is or was serving while a director or officer of the Corporation at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or employee benefit plan, shall be indemnified by the Corporation against judgments, penalties, fines, excise taxes, settlements and reasonable expenses (including attorneys’ fees) actually incurred by such person in connection with such action, suit or proceeding to the full extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the 1940 Act, as those statutes are now or hereafter in force, except that such indemnity shall not protect any such person against any liability to the Corporation or any stockholder thereof to which such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office (“disabling conduct”). Any repeal or modification of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or these Bylaws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification hereunder except as required by law. The right to indemnification provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer.
SECTION 2. Advances. Any current or former director or officer of the Corporation claiming indemnification within the scope of this Article VI shall be entitled to advances from the Corporation for payment of the reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection with proceedings to which he is a party in the manner and to the full extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law, the 1933 Act, and the 1940 Act, as those statutes are now or hereafter in force; provided, however, that the person seeking indemnification shall provide to the Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation has been met and a written undertaking to repay any such advance, if it should ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met, and provided further that at least one of the following additional conditions is met: (a) the person seeking indemnification shall provide a security in form and amount acceptable to the Corporation for his undertaking; (b) the Corporation is insured against losses arising by reason of the advance; or (c) a majority of a quorum of directors of the Corporation who are
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neither “interested persons” as defined in Section 2(a)(19) of the 1940 Act, nor parties to the proceeding (“disinterested non-party directors”), or independent legal counsel, in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of facts readily available to the Corporation at the time the advance is proposed to be made, that there is reason to believe that the person seeking indemnification will ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification. The right to advance of expenses provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer.
SECTION 3. Procedure. At the request of any current or former director or officer, or any employee or agent whom the Corporation proposes to indemnify, the Board of Directors shall determine, or cause to be determined, in a manner consistent with the Maryland General Corporation Law, the 1933 Act, and the 1940 Act, as those statutes are now or hereafter in force, whether the standards required by this Article VI have been met; provided, however, that, unless otherwise provided in any agreement relating to indemnification between a person to be indemnified and the Corporation, indemnification shall be made only following: (a) a final decision on the merits by a court or other body of competent jurisdiction before whom the proceeding was brought, finding that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct and entitled to indemnification hereunder or (b) in the absence of such a decision, a reasonable determination, based upon a review of the facts, that the person to be indemnified was not liable by reason of disabling conduct and entitled to indemnification hereunder, by (i) the vote of a majority of a quorum of disinterested non-party directors or (ii) if such quorum is not obtainable or even if obtainable, if such majority so directs, an independent legal counsel in a written opinion.
SECTION 4. Indemnification of Employees and Agents. Employees and agents who are not officers or directors of the Corporation may be indemnified, and reasonable expenses may be advanced to such employees or agents, in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Article VI to the extent permissible under the Maryland General Corporation Law, the 1933 Act, and the 1940 Act, as those statutes are now or hereafter in force, and to such further extent, consistent with the foregoing, as may be provided by action of the Board of Directors or by contract.
SECTION 5. Other Rights. The indemnification provided by this Article VI shall not be deemed exclusive of any other right, with respect to indemnification or otherwise, to which those seeking such indemnification may be entitled under any insurance or other agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action by a director or officer of the Corporation in his official capacity and as to action by such person in another capacity while holding such office or position, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director or officer and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
SECTION 6. Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or who, while a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, agent or fiduciary of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, enterprise or employee benefit plan, against any liability asserted against and incurred by him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, provided that no insurance may be obtained by the Corporation for liabilities against which it would not have the power to indemnify him under this Article VI or applicable law.
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ARTICLE VII
GENERAL
SECTION 1. SEAL. The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and shall bear the name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation, the words “Corporate Seal” and “Maryland” and any emblem or device approved by the Board of Directors. The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced. In lieu of affixing the seal, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a corporate seal to place the word “(seal)” adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to sign the document on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION 2. Electronic Transmission. An electronic transmission is any form of communication, not directly involving the physical transmission of paper, that creates a record that may be retained, retrieved, and reviewed by the recipient of the communication and may be reproduced directly in paper form by a recipient through an automated process.
SECTION 3. Provisions in Conflict with Law or Regulation.
(a) The provisions of these Bylaws are severable, and if the directors shall determine, with the advice of counsel, that any of such provisions is in conflict with the 1940 Act, the regulated investment company provisions of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations promulgated thereunder or with other applicable binding laws and regulations, the conflicting provision shall be deemed never to have constituted a part of these Bylaws; provided, however, that such determination shall not affect any of the remaining provisions of these Bylaws or render invalid or improper any action taken or omitted prior to such determination.
(b) If any provision of these Bylaws shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any jurisdiction, such invalidity or unenforceability shall attach only to such provision in such jurisdiction and shall not in any manner affect such provision in any other jurisdiction or any other provision of these Bylaws in any jurisdiction.
(c) If and to the extent that any provision of the MGCL (as defined below), including, without limitation, Subtitle 7, of Title 3 of the MGCL (the “Control Share Act”), or any provision of the Charter or these Bylaws conflicts with any provision of the 1940 Act, the applicable provision of the 1940 Act shall control.
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ARTICLE VIII
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, Northern 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 Maryland General Corporation Law (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 or the Charter or these Bylaws or federal law, including the 1940 Act, or (e) any other 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. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland unless the Corporation consents in writing to such court.
ARTICLE IX
AMENDMENTS
The Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power, at any time, to adopt, amend or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws, subject to the requirements of the 1940 Act; provided, however, that no amendment of these Bylaws shall affect any right of any person under Article VI hereof based on any event, omission or proceeding prior to the amendment. These Bylaws may not be amended by the stockholders of the Corporation.
ARTICLE X
MARYLAND CONTROL SHARE ACQUISITION ACT
Pursuant to a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 3-702(c)(4) of the MGCL, the Corporation is subject to the Control Share Act, which shall apply to any acquisition or proposed acquisition of shares of stock of the Corporation to the extent provided therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Control Share Act shall not apply to any acquisition or proposed acquisition of shares of stock of the Corporation by any company that, in accordance with the 1940 Act or SEC exemptive order or other regulatory relief or guidance, votes the shares held by it in the same proportion as the vote of all other holders of such security or all securities (such company, a “Proportional Voter”). For the avoidance of doubt, the Control Share Act shall apply to any acquisition or proposed acquisition of shares of stock of the Corporation by any affiliate of a Proportional Voter.
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