8-K
RAYONIER INC (RYN)
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)
January 30, 2026

COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 1-6780 (Rayonier Inc.)
COMMISSION FILE NUMBER: 333-237246 (Rayonier, L.P.)
RAYONIER INC.
Incorporated in the State of North Carolina
I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 13-2607329
RAYONIER, L.P.
Incorporated in the State of Delaware
I.R.S. Employer Identification Number 91-1313292
1 Rayonier Way
Wildlight, Florida 32097
(Principal Executive Office)
Telephone Number: (904) 357-9100
Check the appropriate box below if the form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligations of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| ☐ | Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) |
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| ☐ | Soliciting material pursuant to Rule <br>14a-12<br> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <br>240.14a-12) |
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| ☐ | Pre-commencement<br> communications pursuant to Rule <br>14d-2(b)<br> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <br>240.14d-2(b)) |
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| ☐ | Pre-commencement<br> communications pursuant to Rule <br>13e-4(c)<br> under the Exchange Act (17 CFR <br>240.13e-4(c)) |
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934:
| Title of each class | Trading<br><br>Symbol | Exchange |
|---|---|---|
| Common Shares, no par value, of Rayonier Inc. | RYN | New York Stock Exchange |
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
| Rayonier Inc.: Emerging growth company ☐ |
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| Rayonier, L.P.: 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.
| Rayonier Inc.: ☐ |
|---|
| Rayonier, L.P.: ☐ |
Introductory Note
On January 30, 2026 (the “Closing Date”), Rayonier Inc., a North Carolina corporation (“Rayonier”), completed its previously announced merger-of-equals transaction with PotlatchDeltic Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“PotlatchDeltic”), pursuant to that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 13, 2025 (the “Merger Agreement”), by and among Rayonier, Redwood Merger Sub, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier (“Merger Sub”), and PotlatchDeltic. Pursuant to the terms of the Merger Agreement, PotlatchDeltic merged with and into Merger Sub (the “Merger”), with Merger Sub continuing as the surviving corporation and as a wholly owned subsidiary of Rayonier. Promptly following the completion of the Merger, Rayonier contributed all of the limited liability company interests of Merger Sub to Rayonier, L.P. in exchange for a number of limited partnership interests in Rayonier, L.P. equal to the aggregate number of common shares, without par value, of Rayonier (“Rayonier Common Shares”) issued in the Merger.
| Item 2.01 | Completion of Acquisition or Disposition of Assets. |
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The information set forth in the “Introductory Note” above is incorporated into this Item 2.01 by reference.
At the effective time of the Merger (the “Effective Time”), each share of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of PotlatchDeltic (“PotlatchDeltic Common Stock”) issued and outstanding immediately prior to the Effective Time (other than certain excluded shares as described in the Merger Agreement) was automatically converted into the right to receive (a) 1.8185 Rayonier Common Shares and (b) $0.61 in cash.
Pursuant to the Merger Agreement, at the Effective Time, (i) each outstanding PotlatchDeltic restricted stock unit award was converted into a Rayonier restricted stock unit award, in respect of a number of Rayonier Common Shares equal to the product of the number of shares of PotlatchDeltic Common Stock underlying such award immediately prior to the Effective Time multiplied by 1.8449 (the “Equity Award Exchange Ratio”); (ii) each outstanding PotlatchDeltic performance share award was converted into a Rayonier restricted stock unit award, with performance deemed achieved at 100%, 176.19% and 100% of target performance in respect of awards granted in 2024, 2025 and 2026, respectively, adjusted based on the Equity Award Exchange Ratio; (iii) each outstanding PotlatchDeltic stock equivalent unit converted into a Rayonier stock equivalent unit, adjusted based on the Equity Award Exchange Ratio; and (iv) each outstanding PotlatchDeltic stock option was converted into the right to receive a number of Rayonier Common Shares adjusted based on the Equity Award Exchange Ratio, taking into account the applicable PotlatchDeltic stock option’s exercise price. Each converted Rayonier award will otherwise continue to be subject to the same terms and conditions as applied to the corresponding PotlatchDeltic award (excluding any performance-based vesting requirements) in effect immediately prior to the Effective Time.
In connection with the Merger, Rayonier issued approximately 140.9 million Rayonier Common Shares.
The foregoing description of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Merger Agreement, which is included as Exhibit 2.1 to hereto and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 3.03 | Material Modification to Rights of Security Holders. |
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The information set forth in Item 2.01 and Item 5.03 is incorporated into this Item 3.03 by reference.
| Item 5.02 | Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers. |
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Director Resignations and Appointments
In accordance with the director selection process set forth in the Merger Agreement, as of the Effective Time, the Board of Directors of Rayonier (the “Rayonier Board”) was reconstituted so that it consists of (a) four persons who were members of the Rayonier Board immediately prior to the Effective Time, (b) four persons who were members of the Board of Directors of PotlatchDeltic (the “PotlatchDeltic Board”) immediately prior to the Effective Time, (c) Mark McHugh, the Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier, and (d) Eric J. Cremers, who was the Chief Executive Officer of PotlatchDeltic. As a result, the Rayonier Board now consists of the following ten persons:
Keith E. Bass
Linda M. Breard
Michael J. Covey
Eric J. Cremers
Gregg A. Gonsalves
Scott R. Jones
D. Mark Leland
Mark D. McHugh
Ann C. Nelson
Lenore M. Sullivan
Each of Keith E. Bass, Gregg A. Gonsalves, Scott R. Jones, Mark D. McHugh and Ann C. Nelson were members of the Rayonier Board as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and therefore are continuing to serve as directors of the Rayonier Board as of the Effective Time. Each of Linda M. Breard, Michael J. Covey, Eric J. Cremers, D. Mark Leland and Lenore M. Sullivan were members of the PotlatchDeltic Board prior to the Effective Time and were appointed to the Rayonier Board, effective as of the Effective Time.
To reconstitute the Rayonier Board as noted above, on January 30, 2026, prior to the Effective Time, each of V. Larkin Martin, Meridee A. Moore, Matthew J. Rivers and Andrew G. Wiltshire resigned from the Rayonier Board and any and all committees thereof. Such resignations were not the result, in whole or in part, of any disagreement with Rayonier or Rayonier’s management.
In addition, as of the Effective Time, Mr. Cremers was appointed as Executive Chairman of the Rayonier Board for a period of two years, and Mr. Jones was appointed as Lead Independent Director of the Rayonier Board.
As of the Effective Time, the Rayonier Board reconstituted its Audit Committee, Compensation and Management Development Committee and Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee such that the membership of such committees is as described below:
| Audit Committee<br><br><br><br>Ann C. Nelson (Chair)<br><br>Linda M. Breard<br><br>Gregg A. Gonsalves<br><br>D. Mark Leland<br><br>Lenore M. Sullivan | Compensation and Management Development Committee<br><br><br><br>Keith E. Bass (Chair)<br><br>Linda M. Breard<br><br>Gregg A. Gonsalves<br><br>Scott R. Jones<br><br>D. Mark Leland |
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| Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee<br><br><br><br>Michael J. Covey (Chair)<br><br>Scott R. Jones<br><br>Ann C. Nelson<br><br>Lenore M. Sullivan |
As previously described in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration on Form S-4 (File No. 333-292031) filed by Rayonier with the Securities and Exchange Commission and declared effective on December 23, 2025 (the “Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus”) under the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of Rayonier’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—Letter Agreement with Mark D. McHugh,” pursuant to that certain letter agreement, dated October 13, 2025, by and between Mr. McHugh and Rayonier (the “McHugh Letter Agreement”), Mr. McHugh will serve as a member of the Board and will be employed as President and Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier for a four-year term following the completion of the Merger. Upon expiration of the four-year term, Mr. McHugh’s employment as President and Chief Executive Officer will continue on an “at-will” basis. During the term of the McHugh Letter Agreement, Mr. McHugh will receive an annual base salary of $950,000, will be eligible for an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 150% of his base salary and will be granted annual long-term incentive awards with a grant date fair value of $3,600,000. Mr. McHugh will remain eligible for severance benefits under the Executive Severance Pay Plan upon an involuntary termination following a change in control for the duration of the four-year term.
As previously described in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus under the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of PotlatchDeltic’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—Letter Agreement with Eric J. Cremers,” pursuant to that certain letter agreement, dated October 13, 2025, by and between Mr. Cremers and Rayonier (the “Cremers Letter Agreement”), Mr. Cremers will serve as Executive Chairman of the Board for a two-year term following the completion of the Merger. During the term of the Cremers Letter Agreement, Mr. Cremers will receive an annual base salary of $600,000, will be eligible for an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 125% of his base salary and will be granted annual long-term incentive awards with a grant date fair value equal to 300% of his annual base salary beginning in the 2027 fiscal year. In addition, shortly following the Effective Time, in lieu of any payments or benefits that might otherwise be due to Mr. Cremers under PotlatchDeltic’s Severance Program for Executive Employees, Mr. Cremers will be entitled to a one-time lump sum cash payment of $6,728,305, and all outstanding equity awards held by Mr. Cremers as of immediately prior to the Effective Time will vest in full.
Other than as described above, there are no other arrangements or understandings between Ms. Breard, Mr. Covey, Mr. Cremers, Mr. Leland and Ms. Sullivan and Rayonier or any other person pursuant to which Ms. Breard, Mr. Covey, Mr. Cremers, Mr. Leland or Ms. Sullivan was appointed as a director of Rayonier. There are no related party transactions between Ms. Breard, Mr. Covey, Mr. Cremers, Mr. Leland or Ms. Sullivan and Rayonier that are required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Officer Appointments
As of the Effective Time, the following persons shall be the executive officers of Rayonier:
| •<br><br>Mark D. McHugh<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>Eric J. Cremers<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>Mark R. Bridwell<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>Ashlee Townsend Cribb<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>W. Rhett Rogers<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>Wayne Wasechek<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>Christopher T. Corr<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>Robert L. Schwartz<br><br><br><br>•<br><br>April J. Tice | President and Chief Executive Officer<br><br><br><br>Executive Chairman<br><br><br><br>Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary<br><br><br><br>Executive Vice President, Wood Products<br><br><br><br>Executive Vice President, Land Resources<br><br><br><br>Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer<br><br><br><br>Senior Vice President, Real Estate Development<br><br><br><br>Senior Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer<br><br><br><br>Senior Vice President and Chief Accounting Officer |
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Each of Mark D. McHugh, Mark R. Bridwell, W. Rhett Rogers, Christopher T. Corr and April J. Tice were executive officers of Rayonier as of immediately prior to the Effective Time and therefore are continuing to serve as executive officers of Rayonier. Each of Eric J. Cremers, Ashlee Townsend Cribb, Wayne Wasechek and Robert L. Schwartz were executive officers of PotlatchDeltic prior to the Effective Time and became executive officers of Rayonier, effective as of the Effective Time. Information relating to the new executive officers of Rayonier is set forth below:
Eric Cremers ,
62,
served as President and Chief Executive Officer of PotlatchDeltic from January 2021 until the Effective Time and served as a director on the PotlatchDeltic Board from March 2013 until the Effective Time. He also served as President and Chief Operating Officer of PotlatchDeltic from March 2013 through December 2020, and as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PotlatchDeltic from February 2012 to March 2013.
Wayne Wasechek ,
55, served as Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of PotlatchDeltic from August 2023 until the Effective Time and as Interim Vice President, Chief Financial Officer and Chief Accounting Officer of PotlatchDeltic from April 2023 to August 2023. He also served as Controller and Principal Accounting Officer of PotlatchDeltic from November 2018 to April 2023.
Ashlee Townsend Cribb ,
57, served as Vice President of Wood Products of PotlatchDeltic from July 2021 until the Effective Time. Prior to joining PotlatchDeltic, Ms. Cribb was Senior Vice President - Chief Commercial Officer at Roseburg Forest Products.
Robert L. Schwartz , 53, served as Vice President of Human Resources of PotlatchDeltic from 2014 until the Effective Time. He also served as Director, Human Resources, of PotlatchDeltic from 2009-2013.
As previously described in the Joint Proxy Statement/Prospectus under the section entitled “The Merger—Interests of Rayonier’s Directors and Executive Officers in the Merger—New Management Arrangements,” it is currently expected that (i) Mr. Rogers will receive an annual base salary of $525,000, be eligible for an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 100% of his base salary, and be eligible for annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of $950,000, (ii) Mr. Bridwell will receive an annual base salary of $500,000, be eligible for an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 75% of his base salary, and be eligible for annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of $625,000 and (iii) Ms. Tice will receive an annual base salary of $385,000, be eligible for an annual cash incentive award with a target opportunity of 65% of her base salary, and be eligible for annual long-term incentive awards with a target grant date fair value of $280,000.
Except as described above, there are no other arrangements or understandings between Mr. Cremers, Mr. Wasechek, Ms. Cribb or Mr. Schwartz and Rayonier or any other person pursuant to which Mr. Cremers, Mr. Wasechek, Ms. Cribb or Mr. Schwartz was selected as an officer of Rayonier. There are no family relationships between Mr. Cremers, Mr. Wasechek, Ms. Cribb or Mr. Schwartz and any director or executive officer of Rayonier. There are no related party transactions between Mr. Cremers, Mr. Wasechek, Ms. Cribb or Mr. Schwartz and Rayonier that are required to be disclosed under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.
Entry into Indemnification Agreements
The officers and directors of Rayonier have entered into indemnification agreements with Rayonier, the form of which is attached as Exhibit 10.18 to Rayonier’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on February 24, 2020.
| Item 5.03 | Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year. |
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Effective at the Effective Time, Rayonier amended and restated Rayonier’s bylaws (the “Rayonier Bylaws”) in order to provide, among other things, that Mr. Cremers will serve as the Executive Chair of the Rayonier Board for a term of two years and that Mr. McHugh will serve as the Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier. The Rayonier Bylaws also provide (i) that Mr. Cremers will (1) serve as an executive officer of Rayonier and report directly to the Rayonier Board and (2) have all such powers and perform all such duties as may be assigned by the Rayonier Board and his employment agreement with Rayonier and (ii) that Mr. McHugh will (1) serve as an executive officer of Rayonier and report directly to the Rayonier Board and (2) have all such powers and perform all such duties as may be assigned by the Rayonier Board and his employment agreement with Rayonier.
The Rayonier Bylaws also provide that, prior to the second anniversary of the Effective Time, any resolution or action taken by the Rayonier Board to amend or modify the terms set forth in the paragraph above, including to (1) remove or replace Mr. McHugh as Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier, or (2) remove or replace Mr. Cremers as Executive Chairman of Rayonier, must be adopted or approved by directors representing at least 75% of the then serving directors of the Rayonier Board.
The foregoing description of the Rayonier Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Rayonier Bylaws, which is filed as Exhibit 3.2 hereto and incorporated by reference.
| Item 8.01 | Other Matters. |
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On January 30, 2026, Rayonier issued a press release announcing the completion of the previously announced Merger. A copy of that press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
| Item 9.01 | Financial Statements and Exhibits. |
|---|---|
| (a) | Financial Statements of Businesses Acquired |
| --- | --- |
Financial statements, to the extent required by this Item 9.01, will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 days following the date that this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
| (b) | Pro Forma Financial Information |
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Financial statements, to the extent required by this Item 9.01, will be filed by amendment to this Current Report on Form 8-K no later than 71 days following the date that this Current Report on Form 8-K is required to be filed.
| (d) | Exhibits. |
|---|---|
| Exhibit<br><br><br>No. | Description |
| --- | --- |
| 2.1 | Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated October 13, 2025, by and among Rayonier Inc., Redwood Merger Sub, LLC and PotlatchDeltic Corporation (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 2.1 to Rayonier’s Form 8-K filed on October 14, 2025).† |
| 3.2 | Amended and Restated Bylaws of Rayonier Inc. |
| 99.1 | Press Release of Rayonier Inc. dated January 30, 2026. |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document) |
| † | Schedules (or similar attachments) have been omitted pursuant to Item 601(a)(5) <br>of Regulation S-K. Rayonier<br> hereby undertakes to furnish supplementally copies of any of the omitted schedules upon request by the SEC. |
| --- | --- |
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of l934, the registrant has duly caused this Report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| RAYONIER INC. | |
|---|---|
| BY: | /s/ Mark R. Bridwell |
| Mark R. Bridwell | |
| Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary | |
| RAYONIER, L.P. | |
| By: RAYONIER INC., its sole general partner | |
| BY: | /s/ Mark R. Bridwell |
| Mark R. Bridwell | |
| Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary |
January 30, 2026
EX-3.2
Exhibit 3.2
BYLAWS
OF
RAYONIER INC.
ASAMENDED AND RESTATED EFFECTIVE JANUARY 30, 2026
BYLAWS
OF
RAYONIER INC.
ARTICLE 1 — OFFICES
Section 1. Offices. The principal office of the Corporation may be located at such place as the Board of Directors may fix from time to time. The Corporation may have offices at such other places, either within or without the State of North Carolina, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE 2 — MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. Place of Meeting. Meetings of Shareholders shall be held at such places, either within or without the State of North Carolina, as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors and designated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of Shareholders shall be held on such date and at such time as the Board of Directors shall determine each year in advance thereof, for the purpose of electing Directors of the Corporation and the transaction of such other business as may be a proper subject for action at the meeting. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be transacted at an annual meeting of Shareholders except such business as shall be (a) specified in the notice of meeting given as provided in Article 2, Section 4, (b) otherwise brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, or (c) otherwise brought before the meeting by a Shareholder who (i) was a Shareholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such business is proposed, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of giving the notice provided for in Article 2, Section 7 regarding Shareholder proposals or Article 3, Section 6 regarding nominations of Directors, and at the time of the meeting, (ii) is entitled to vote at the meeting, and (iii) has complied with the procedure set forth in Article 2, Section 7 or Article 3, Section 6 as to such business. Except for proposals properly made in accordance with Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (as so amended and inclusive of such rules and regulations, the “Exchange Act”) and included in the notice of meeting given as provided in Article 2, Section 4, the foregoing clause (c) shall be the exclusive means for a Shareholder to propose business to be brought before an annual meeting of Shareholders. If the chairman of the annual meeting determines that any business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions prescribed by these Bylaws, he shall so declare at the meeting and to the extent permitted by law any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted.
Section 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Shareholders shall be held at such places and times as determined by the Board of Directors in their discretion as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
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Section 4. Notice of Meetings. At least 10 and no more than 60 days prior to any annual or special meeting of Shareholders, the Corporation shall notify Shareholders of the date, time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or where otherwise required by the Articles of Incorporation or by law, shall briefly describe the purpose or purposes of the meeting. The only matters that may be brought before a special meeting are the matters specified in the Corporation’s notice of meeting given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof. Unless otherwise required by the Articles of Incorporation or by law, the Corporation shall be required to give notice only to Shareholders entitled to vote at the meeting. If an annual or special Shareholders’ meeting is adjourned to a different date, time or place, notice thereof need not be given if the new date, time or place is announced at the meeting before adjournment. If a new record date for the adjourned meeting is fixed pursuant to Article 7, Section 5 hereof, notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to persons who are Shareholders as of the new record date. Notice may be given either by personal delivery, or by telegraph, teletype, facsimile transmission or other form of electronic communication or by mail or private carrier. If mailed, notice shall be deemed to be effective when deposited in the United States mail with postage thereon prepaid, correctly addressed to the Shareholder’s address shown in the Corporation’s current record of Shareholders; provided, however, that notice is not required to be given to a Shareholder if (a) notice of two consecutive annual meetings, and all notices of meetings during the period between those two consecutive annual meetings, have been sent to the Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address as shown in the Corporation’s current record of Shareholders and have been returned undeliverable; or (b) all, but not less than two, payments of dividends on securities during a 12-month period, or two consecutive payments of dividends on securities during a period of more than 12 months, have been sent to the Shareholder at the Shareholder’s address as shown on the Corporation’s current record of Shareholders and have been returned undeliverable. If any Shareholder delivers to the Corporation a written notice setting forth the Shareholder’s current address, the requirement that notice be given to the Shareholder shall be reinstated.
Section 5. Quorum. Except as may be provided in the terms of a series of Preferred Stock, a majority of the votes entitled to be cast by a voting group on a matter, represented in person or by proxy at a meeting of Shareholders, shall constitute a quorum for that voting group for any action on that matter, unless quorum requirements are otherwise fixed by a court of competent jurisdiction acting pursuant to Section 55-7-03 of the North Carolina Business Corporation Act (the “NCBCA”). Once a share is represented for any purpose at a meeting, it is deemed present for quorum purposes for the remainder of the meeting and any adjournment thereof, unless a new record date is or must be set for the adjournment. Action may be taken by a voting group at any meeting at which a quorum of that voting group is represented, regardless of whether action is taken at that meeting by any other voting group. In the absence of a quorum at the opening of any meeting of Shareholders, such meeting may be adjourned from time to time by a vote of the majority of the shares voting on the motion to adjourn.
Section 6. Voting of Shares. Except as otherwise provided by the Articles of Incorporation or by law, each outstanding share of voting capital stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of the Shareholders. Action on a matter by a voting group for which a quorum is present is approved if the votes cast within the voting group favoring the action exceed the votes cast opposing the action, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law, by the Articles of Incorporation, by rules of any exchange on which the voting group’s stock is listed or by Section 55-10-03(c) of the NCBCA. Voting on all matters shall be by ballot
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vote. Either the Board of Directors or the Chairman of the meeting may appoint one or more voting inspectors, each of whom shall take an oath to execute his duties impartially and to the best of his ability. The voting inspectors shall, by majority vote, resolve all questions regarding voting of shares, including the number of shares outstanding, the voting power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the qualification of voters, the validity of proxies, the existence of a quorum as to any voting group, and the acceptance, rejection and tabulation of votes.
Section 7. Shareholder Proposals.
(a) For business proposed by a Shareholder (other than Director nominations) to be properly brought before an annual Shareholders meeting, the Shareholder must provide timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and must provide any updates or supplements to such notice as required by this Section 7, and any such proposed business must constitute a proper matter for Shareholder action. To be timely, a Shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual Shareholders meeting; provided, however, in the event the date of the annual Shareholders meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual Shareholders meeting, notice by a Shareholder must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not less than 90 days prior to such annual meeting and not more than 120 days prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the day on which public notice of the date of such annual meeting was first given. In no event shall any adjournment of an annual meeting or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a Shareholder’s notice as described above.
(b) Such Shareholder’s notice shall set forth:
(i) (A) a reasonably brief description of the business proposed to be brought before the annual meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting and any material interest in such business of the Shareholder and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the proposal is made, (B) the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), and (C) a reasonably detailed description of all agreements, arrangements and understandings between such Shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and any other person or entity (including their names) in connection with the proposal of such business by such Shareholder.
(ii) as to the Shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made (each a “Proposing Person”): (A) the name and address of such Proposing Person, as they appear on the Corporation’s books; (B)(1) the class or series and number of shares of the Corporation which are, directly or indirectly, owned beneficially (within the meaning of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) and of record by such Proposing Person, except that such persons shall in all events be deemed to beneficially own any shares of any class or series of the Corporation as to which such person has a right to acquire beneficial ownership at any time in the future; (2) any derivative positions held or beneficially held and whether and the extent to which any hedging or other transaction or series of transactions has been entered into by or on behalf of, or any other agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any short positions or any borrowing or lending of shares of stock) has been made, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate
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loss to or manage risk of stock price changes for, or to increase or decrease the voting power of, such Proposing Person with respect to any share of capital stock of the Corporation (any of the foregoing, a “Short Interest”); and (3) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such Proposing Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation, if any, as of the date of such notice; including in each case and without limitation any such interests held by members of Proposing Person’s immediate family sharing the same household; (4) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such Proposing Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation or derivative instruments, if any, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of the immediate family sharing the same household of such Proposing Person, (5) any significant equity interests or any derivative instruments or Short Interests in any principal competitor of the Corporation held by such Proposing Person and (6) any direct or indirect interest of Proposing Person in any contract with the Corporation, any affiliate of the Corporation or any principal competitor of the Corporation (including, in any such case, any employment agreement, collective bargaining agreement or consulting agreement); (C) any other information relating to such Proposing Person that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies for the proposal pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act; (D) a representation that the Shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at the annual meeting and intends to appear in person or through a qualified representative at the meeting to make such proposal; and (E) a representation whether the Proposing Person intends or is part of a group which intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Corporation’s outstanding capital stock required to approve or adopt the proposal and/or otherwise solicit proxies from Shareholders in support of such proposal. For purposes of the foregoing clause (D), to be considered a qualified representative of the Shareholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such Shareholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such Shareholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such Shareholder to act for such Shareholder as proxy at the annual meeting and such person must produce evidence of such authority (which may be through a reliable reproduction) at the annual meeting.
(c) A Proposing Person shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 7 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5 business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than 8 business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof), if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the earliest practicable day prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).
(d) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no business proposed by a Proposing Person (other than Director nominations) shall be conducted at an annual meeting except in accordance with this Section 7. The chairman of the annual Shareholders meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a proposal was not made in accordance with the provisions prescribed by these Bylaws, and if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and the defective proposal shall be disregarded.
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(e) This Section 7 is expressly intended to apply to any business proposed by a Shareholder (other than Director nominations) to be brought before an annual Shareholders meeting other than any proposal properly made pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in a proxy statement that has been prepared by the Corporation to solicit proxies for such annual meeting. Nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to affect the rights of Shareholders to request inclusion of proposals in the Corporation’s proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8. This Section 7 is further intended to apply to any Shareholder notice delivered in compliance with any inconsistent advance notice requirement mandated by rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, except to the extent the provisions of this Section 7 are directly inconsistent with such mandated rules or regulations. In addition to the requirements of this Section 7, a Shareholder shall comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with regard to business proposed by the Shareholder to be brought before an annual meeting of Shareholders.
(f) For purposes of these Bylaws, “public notice” shall mean disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Section 8. Postponement of Shareholders’ Meeting. A scheduled annual or special meeting of Shareholders may be postponed by the Board of Directors by public notice given at or prior to the time of the meeting.
Section 9. Shareholders’ List. Before each meeting of Shareholders, the Secretary of the Corporation shall prepare an alphabetical list of the Shareholders entitled to notice of such meeting. The list shall be arranged by voting group (and within each voting group by class or series of shares) and show the address of and number of shares held by each Shareholder. The list shall be kept on file at the principal office of the Corporation, or at a place identified in the meeting notice in the city where the meeting will be held, for the period beginning two business days after notice of the meeting is given and continuing through the meeting, and shall be available for inspection by any Shareholder, personally or by or with his representative, at any time during regular business hours. The list shall also be available at the meeting and shall be subject to inspection by any Shareholder, personally or by or with his representative, at any time during the meeting or adjournment thereof.
ARTICLE 3 — BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. General Powers. Except as otherwise expressly provided in the Articles of Incorporation or by law, the Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to direct the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall exercise all corporate powers, and possess all authority, necessary or appropriate to carry out the intent of this provision, and which are customarily exercised by the board of directors of a public company.
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Section 2. Number, Term and Qualification. The number, term and qualification of Directors of the Corporation shall be as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 3. Removal. Directors may be removed from office only for the reasons, if any, specified in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled only as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 5. Compensation. Compensation for the services of Directors as such shall be determined exclusively by the Board of Directors as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 6. Nominations for Election of Directors.
(a) Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the provisions set forth in these Bylaws shall be eligible to be elected as Directors at a Shareholders meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting or at a special meeting (but only for such Director positions as may be specified in the notice of special meeting given as provided in Article 2, Section 4) of Shareholders may be made at such meeting only (i) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof or (ii) by any Shareholder of the Corporation who (A) is a Shareholder of record (and, with respect to any beneficial owner, if different, on whose behalf such nomination is proposed to be made, only if such beneficial owner was the beneficial owner of shares of the Corporation) both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 6 and at the time of the meeting, (B) shall be entitled to vote for the election of Directors at the meeting and (C) complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 6. The foregoing clause (ii) shall be the exclusive means for a Shareholder to make any nomination of a person or persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting or a special meeting.
(b) A Shareholder making such a nomination must provide timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and must provide any updates or supplements to such notice as required by this Section 6. To be timely in connection with an annual meeting of Shareholders, a Shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual Shareholders meeting; provided, however, in the event the date of the annual Shareholders meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after the first anniversary of the preceding year’s annual Shareholders meeting, notice by a Shareholder must be so delivered, or mailed and received, not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to such annual meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the date on which public notice of the date of such annual meeting was first made. To be timely in connection with a special meeting of Shareholders for which the election of Directors is a matter specified in the notice of meeting given as provided in Article 2, Section 4 by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, a Shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to, or mailed and received at, the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days nor more than 120 days prior to such special meeting or, if later, the 10th day following the date on which public notice of the date of such special meeting was first made. In no event shall any adjournment of an annual meeting or a special meeting of Shareholders or the announcement thereof commence a new time period for the giving of a Shareholder’s notice as provided in this paragraph. If a Shareholder intends to solicit proxies for the election of Directors other than the nominees of the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act, such Shareholder must comply with the timing requirements in this Section 6(b) for the notice to be timely.
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(c) Such Shareholder’s notice shall:
(i) as to each person whom the Shareholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director: (A) set forth all information relating to such person which is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for the election of Directors in a contested election pursuant to Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act (including such person’s written consent to being named as a nominee and to serving as a Director if elected); (B) set forth a description of all direct and indirect compensation and other material monetary agreements, arrangements and understandings during the past three years, and any other material relationships, between or among such Shareholder and beneficial owner, if any, and their respective affiliates, associates or others acting in concert therewith, on the one hand, and each proposed nominee and his or her respective affiliates, associates or others acting in concert therewith, on the other hand, including without limitation all information that would be required to be disclosed pursuant to Rule 404 promulgated under Regulation S-K of the Securities and Exchange Commission if the Shareholder making the nomination and any beneficial owner on whose behalf the nomination is made, or any affiliate, associate or other person acting in concert therewith, were the “registrant” for purposes of such rule and the nominee were a director or executive officer of such registrant; and (C) include a complete and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement of such nominee as required by paragraph (d) of this Section 6, and
(ii) as to the Shareholder giving the notice, the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination is made, and any Affiliate (within the meaning of Rule 12b-2 under the Exchange Act) of such Shareholder or beneficial owner (each a “Nominating Person”): (A) set forth the information required by Article 2, Section 7(b)(ii) (substituting the term “Nominating Person” for “Proposing Person” and the term “nomination” for “proposal” therein); and (B) include a written representation as to whether such Nominating Person intends, or is part of a group that intends, to solicit proxies in support of Director nominees other than the nominees of the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act; (C) for those Nominating Persons that affirm intent to solicit proxies in accordance with Rule 14a-19 pursuant to the preceding clause (B), include a written agreement (in substantially the form provided by the Secretary upon request), on behalf of such Nominating Person and any group of which such Nominating Person is a member, pursuant to which such Nominating Person acknowledges and agrees that (1) the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Nominating Person’s nominees if such Nominating Person (y) notifies the Corporation that such Nominating Person no longer intends, or is part of a group that no longer intends, to solicit proxies in support of Director nominees other than the nominees of the Board (or a committee thereof) in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (z) fails to comply with Rules 14a-19(a)(2) and (3) under the Exchange Act (or with the interpretation of such requirements by the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to special meetings, if applicable), and (2) if any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(a)(1) under the Exchange Act, such Nominating Person shall deliver to the Secretary, no later than five business days prior to the applicable meeting, reasonable documentary evidence (as determined by the Corporation or one of its representatives in good faith) that the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) under the Exchange Act have been satisfied.
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(d) To be eligible to be a nominee for election as a Director of the Corporation, the proposed nominee must deliver (in conjunction with, and in accordance with the time periods prescribed for the delivery of a nominating Shareholder’s notice under this Section 6) to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation a written questionnaire with respect to the background and qualification of such proposed nominee and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Secretary upon written request) and a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request) that the proposed nominee (i) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how such proposed nominee, if elected as a Director of the Corporation, will act or vote on any issue or question (a “Voting Commitment”) that has not been disclosed to the Corporation or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such proposed nominee’s ability to comply, if elected as a Director of the Corporation, with such person’s fiduciary duties under applicable law, (ii) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Director that has not been disclosed therein, and (iii) in such proposed nominee’s individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on which behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected as a Director of the Corporation, and will comply, with all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, confidentiality and stock ownership and trading policies, principles and guidelines of the Corporation. The Corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Corporation to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent Director of the Corporation in accordance with the Corporation’s corporate governance principles or that could be material to a reasonable Shareholder’s understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. The Corporation may request that any nominee submit to interviews (which may be conducted via virtual meeting) with the Board of Directors or any committee thereof, and such nominee shall, and the Nominating Person shall cause the nominee to, make himself or herself available for any such interviews within ten business days following the Corporation’s request.
(e) A Nominating Person shall further update and supplement such notice, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided in such notice pursuant to this Section 6 shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof. Such update and supplement shall be delivered to, or mailed and received by, the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than 5 business days after the record date for the meeting (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of the record date) and not later than 8 business days prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof (in the case of the update and supplement required to be made as of 10 business days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof), if practicable (or, if not practicable, on the earliest practicable date prior to the date of the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof).
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(f) Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, no person shall be eligible for election by the Shareholders as a Director of the Corporation except in accordance with Article 2, Section 2 or this Section 6. The chairman of the annual Shareholders meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in accordance with the provisions prescribed by these Bylaws and, if the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting and the defective nomination shall be disregarded. If (i) any Nominating Person provides notice pursuant to Rule 14a-19(a)(1) under the Exchange Act and (ii) such Nominating Person subsequently either (A) notifies the Corporation that such Nominating Person no longer intends to, or is part of a group that no longer intends to, solicit proxies in support of Director nominees other than the nominees of the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) in accordance with Rule 14a-19 under the Exchange Act or (B) fails to comply with the requirements of Rules 14a-19(a)(2) and (3) under the Exchange Act (or with the interpretation of such requirements by the Securities and Exchange Commission), then the Corporation shall disregard any proxies or votes solicited for the Nominating Person’s nominees, notwithstanding that proxies or votes in favor thereof may have been received by the Corporation.
(g) Except as otherwise required by law, nothing in this Section 6 shall obligate the Corporation or the Board of Directors to include in any proxy statement or other shareholder communication distributed on behalf of the Corporation or the Board of Directors information with respect to any nominee for director submitted by a Shareholder. Any Nominating Person or any person or entity acting on behalf of a Nominating Person directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other Shareholders must use a proxy card other than white, which shall be reserved for the exclusive use by the Board of Directors.
(h) As provided in Article V, Section (b) of the Corporation’s Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation, if the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected at any meeting for the election of directors at which a quorum is present, the directors shall be elected by a vote of the plurality of the shares represented and entitled to vote at such meeting. Such plurality vote standard shall also apply if, on the record date for such meeting, the number of nominees exceeds the number of directors to be elected, even if as of the meeting date the number of nominees is less than or equal to the number of directors to be elected.
(i) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 6, a Shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Exchange Act with regard to the matters set forth in this Section 6. This Section 6 shall apply to any Shareholder notice delivered in compliance with any inconsistent advance notice requirement mandated by rules or regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission, except to the extent that the provisions of this Section 6 are directly inconsistent with such mandated rules or regulations. Without limitation the foregoing provisions of this Section 6 shall not apply to any Director who is nominated and elected under specified circumstances by holders of any class or series of stock having a preference over the common stock as to dividends or upon liquidation.
ARTICLE 4 — MEETINGS OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. Annual and Regular Meetings. All annual and regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such places and times as determined by the Board of Directors in their discretion as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
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Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held at such places and times as determined by the Board of Directors in their discretion as provided in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 3. Notice of Meetings. Unless the Board of Directors by resolution determines otherwise in accordance with authority set forth in the Articles of Incorporation, all meetings of the Board of Directors may be held without notice of the date, time, place or purpose of the meeting. The Secretary shall give such notice of any meetings called by the Board by such means of communication as may be specified by the Board. A Director may waive notice before or after the date and time stated in such notice if the Director makes such waiver in writing, signs the waiver and the waiver is filed with the minutes or corporate records of the Corporation. A Director’s attendance at or participation in a meeting waives any required notice to him of the meeting unless the Director at the beginning of the meeting (or promptly upon his arrival) objects to holding the meeting or transacting business at the meeting and does not thereafter vote for or assent to action taken at the meeting.
Section 4. Quorum. The percentage of Directors in office specified in the Articles of Incorporation will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
Section 5. Manner of Acting. Except as set forth in Section 16 of Article 6 of these Bylaws, a majority of Directors who are present at a meeting at which a quorum is present will constitute the required vote to effect any action taken by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Written Consents. Action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all members of the Board. The action must be evidenced by one or more unrevoked written consents signed by each Director before or after such action, describing the action taken, and included in the minutes or filed with the corporate records. Action taken without a meeting is effective when the last Director signs the unrevoked consent, unless the unrevoked consents specify a different effective date. A Director’s consent to action may be revoked in a writing signed by the Director and delivered to the Corporation prior to the action becoming effective.
Section 7. Meeting by Communications Device. The Board of Directors may permit Directors to participate in any meeting of the Board of Directors by, or conduct the meeting through the use of, any means of communication by which all Directors participating may simultaneously hear each other during the meeting. A Director participating in a meeting by this means is deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
Section 8. Presumption of Assent. A Director who is present at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors when corporate action is taken is deemed to have assented to the action taken unless (a) he objects at the beginning of the meeting, or promptly upon his arrival, to holding it or to transacting business at the meeting, or (b) his dissent or abstention from the action taken is entered into the minutes of the meeting, or (c) he files written notice of his dissention or abstention with the presiding officer of the meeting before its adjournment or with the Corporation immediately after the adjournment of the meeting. Such right of dissent or abstention is not available to a Director who votes in favor of the action taken.
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ARTICLE 5 — COMMITTEES
Section 1. Election and Powers. The Board of Directors may have such committees, with such members who shall have such powers and authority as may be determined by the Board of Directors as provided by the Articles of Incorporation. To the extent specified by the Board of Directors or in the Articles of Incorporation, each committee shall have and may exercise the powers of the Board in the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation, except that no committee shall have authority to do the following:
| (a) | Authorize distributions. |
|---|---|
| (b) | Approve or propose to Shareholders action required to be approved by Shareholders. |
| --- | --- |
| (c) | Fill vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any of its committees. |
| --- | --- |
| (d) | Amend the Articles of Incorporation. |
| --- | --- |
| (e) | Adopt, amend or repeal the bylaws. |
| --- | --- |
| (f) | Approve a plan of merger not requiring Shareholder approval. |
| --- | --- |
Section 2. Removal; Vacancies. Unless the Board of Directors by resolution determines otherwise in accordance with authority specified in the Articles of Incorporation, any member of a committee may be removed at any time exclusively by the Board of Directors with or without cause, and vacancies in the membership of a committee as a result of death, resignation, disqualification or removal shall be filled by a majority of the whole Board of Directors.
Section 3. Meetings. The provisions of Article 4 governing meetings of the Board of Directors, action without meeting, notice, waiver of notice and quorum and voting requirements shall apply to the committees of the Board and its members to the extent not otherwise prescribed by the Board in the resolution authorizing the establishment of the committee.
Section 4. Minutes. Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report thereon to the Board of Directors at or before the next meeting of the Board.
ARTICLE 6 — OFFICERS
Section 1. Titles. Pursuant to authority conferred in the Articles of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the exclusive power and authority to elect from time to time such officers of the Corporation, including a Chairman and a President (one of whom shall be the Chief Executive Officer), a Vice Chairman, one or more Executive Vice Presidents, one or more Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Vice Presidents, a Chief Financial Officer, a General Counsel, a Controller, a Treasurer, a Secretary, one or more Assistant Controllers, one or more Assistant Treasurers, and one or more Assistant Secretaries, and such other officers as shall be deemed necessary or desirable from time to time. The officers shall have the authority and perform the duties as set forth herein or as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board of Directors. Any two or more offices may be held by the same individual, but no officer may act in more than one capacity where action of two or more officers is required.
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The officers of the Corporation may appoint one or more individuals to hold a position which includes one of the titles indicated above. An individual holding such title by virtue of being so appointed rather than by virtue of being elected to such position by the Board of Directors shall not be an officer of the Corporation for purposes of the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, but such individual shall have such duties as may be prescribed by the officer or officers appointing him or her.
Section 2. Election; Removal. Pursuant to authority conferred in the Articles of Incorporation, the officers of the Corporation shall be elected exclusively by or under the authority of the Board of Directors. A duly appointed officer may appoint one or more officers or assistant officers if authorized by the Board of Directors. Officers shall hold office as specified at the time of their election, until their successors are elected and qualify, or until the earlier of their resignation or removal. Pursuant to authority conferred in the Articles of Incorporation, any officer may be removed at any time with or without cause by (a) the Board of Directors, (b) the appointing officer, unless these bylaws or the Board of Directors provide otherwise, or (c) any other officer if authorized by these bylaws or the Board of Directors.
Section 3. Compensation. Pursuant to authority conferred in the Articles of Incorporation, the compensation of the officers shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 4. General Powers of Officers. Except as may be otherwise provided in these bylaws or in the NCBCA, the Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President, any Vice President, the Chief Financial Officer, the General Counsel, the Controller, the Treasurer, the Secretary, or any one of them, may (a) execute and deliver in the name of the Corporation, in the name of any division of the Corporation or in both names any agreement, contract, deed, instrument, power of attorney or other document pertaining to the business or affairs of the Corporation or any division of the Corporation, and (b) delegate to any employee or agent the power to execute and deliver any such agreement, contract, deed, instrument, power of attorney or other document.
Section 5. Chief Executive Officer. The Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation shall report directly to the Board. Except in such instances as the Board may confer powers in particular transactions upon any other officer, and subject to the control and direction of the Board, the Chief Executive Officer shall manage the business and affairs of the Corporation and shall communicate to the Board and any committee thereof reports, proposals and recommendations for their respective consideration or action. He may do and perform all acts on behalf of the Corporation.
Section 6. Chairman. The Chairman shall preside at meetings of the Board of Directors and the Shareholders and shall have such other powers and perform such other duties as the Board may prescribe or as may be prescribed in these bylaws. The Board of Directors may designate the Chairman as an executive or non-executive Chairman.
Section 7. Vice Chairman. The Vice Chairman shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chairman (to the extent he is authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the authority and duties of other officers) may from time to time prescribe or as may be prescribed in these bylaws.
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Section 8. President. The President shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board and the Chief Executive Officer (to the extent he is authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the authority and duties of other officers) may from time to time prescribe or as may be prescribed in these bylaws.
Section 9. Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents. The Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (to the extent he is authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the authority and duties of other officers) may from time to time prescribe or as may be prescribed in these bylaws.
Section 10. Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have such powers and perform such duties as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (to the extent he is authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the authority and duties of other officers) may from time to time prescribe or as may be prescribed in these bylaws. The Chief Financial Officer shall present to the Board such balance sheets, income statements, budgets and other financial statements and reports as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer (to the extent he is authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the authority and duties of other officers) may require and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed or assigned pursuant to these bylaws and all other acts incident to the position of Chief Financial Officer.
Section 11. Controller. The Controller shall be responsible for the maintenance of adequate accounting records of all assets, liabilities, capital and transactions of the Corporation. The Controller shall prepare such balance sheets, income statements, budgets and other financial statements and reports as the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or the Chief Financial Officer (to the extent they are authorized by the Board of Directors to prescribe the authority and duties of other officers) may require, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed or assigned pursuant to these bylaws and all other acts incident to the position of Controller.
Section 12. Treasurer.
(a) The Treasurer shall have the care and custody of all the funds and securities of the Corporation except as may be otherwise ordered by the Board, and shall cause such funds (i) to be invested or reinvested from time to time for the benefit of the Corporation as may be designated by the Board or by the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer (to the extent they are authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designations), or (ii) to be deposited to the credit of the Corporation in such banks or depositories as may be designated by the Board or by the Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Offer or the Treasurer (to the extent they are authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designations), and shall cause such securities to be placed in safekeeping in such manner as may be designated by the Board or by the Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer (to the extent they are authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designations).
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(b) The Treasurer or such other person or persons as may be designated for such purpose by the Board or by the Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer (to the extent they are authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designations) may endorse in the name and on behalf of the Corporation all instruments for the payment of money, bills of lading, warehouse receipts, insurance policies and other commercial documents requiring such endorsement.
(c) The Treasurer or such other person or persons as may be designated for such purpose by the Board or by the Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer (to the extent they are authorized by the Board of Directors to make such designations), (i) may sign all receipts and vouchers for payments made to the Corporation; (ii) shall prepare a statement of the cash account of the Corporation to the Board as often as it shall require the same; and (iii) shall enter regularly in books to be kept for that purpose full and accurate account of all moneys received and paid on account of the Corporation and of all securities received and delivered by the Corporation.
(d) The Treasurer shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed or assigned pursuant to these bylaws and all other acts incident to the position of Treasurer.
Section 13. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all proceedings of the Shareholders, the Board and the Committees of the Board. The Secretary shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Corporation, in accordance with the provisions of these bylaws and as required by the laws of the State of North Carolina. The Secretary shall cause to be prepared and maintained (a) at the office of the Corporation a stock ledger containing the names and addresses of all Shareholders and the number of shares held by each and (b) any list of Shareholders required by law to be prepared for any meeting of Shareholders. The Secretary shall be responsible for the custody of all stock books and of all unissued stock certificates. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the seal of the Corporation. The Secretary shall affix or cause to be affixed the seal of the Corporation to such contracts, instruments and other documents requiring the seal of the Corporation, and when so affixed may attest the same and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed or assigned pursuant to these bylaws and all other acts incident to the position of Secretary.
Section 14. Voting Upon Securities. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chairman, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President or any Vice President shall have full power and authority in behalf of the Corporation to attend, act and vote at meetings of the security holders of any entity in which this Corporation may hold securities, and at such meetings shall possess and may exercise any and all rights and powers incident to the ownership of such securities and which, as the owner, the Corporation might have possessed and exercised if present. The Board of Directors may by resolution from time to time confer such power and authority upon any other person or persons.
Section 15. Continuing Determination by Board. All powers and duties of the officers shall be subject to a continuing determination by the Board of Directors.
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Section 16. Transitional Provisions Relating to Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
(a) On January 30, 2026 (the “Closing Date”), the business combination transaction between the Corporation and PotlatchDeltic Corporation was completed pursuant to the terms set forth in the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of October 13, 2025, by and among the Corporation, Redwood Merger Sub, LLC and PotlatchDeltic Corporation (the “Merger Agreement”). As contemplated by the Merger Agreement, (i) the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation as of the Closing Date (the “Specified CEO”) shall continue to serve as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation following the Closing Date, and (ii) the Chief Executive Officer of PotlatchDeltic Corporation as of the Closing Date (the “Specified Executive Chair”) shall be appointed to serve as the executive Chairman of the Corporation for two years after the Closing Date, subject to such person serving as a Director of the Corporation during such time.
(b) As executive Chairman of the Board, the Specified Executive Chair shall (1) serve as an executive officer of the Corporation and report directly to the Board of Directors and (2) have all such powers and perform all such duties as may be assigned by the Board of Directors from time to time consistent with these Bylaws and his employment agreement with the Corporation.
(c) As Chief Executive Officer, the Specified CEO shall (1) serve as an executive officer of the Corporation and report directly to the Board of Directors, and (2) have all such powers and perform all such duties as are customarily had and performed by the Chief Executive Officer and/or as may be assigned by the Board of Directors from time to time consistent with these Bylaws and his employment agreement with the Corporation.
(d) Prior to the second anniversary of the Closing Date, any resolution or action taken by the Board of Directors to amend or modify this Section 16 of Article 6 of these Bylaws, including to (1) remove or replace the Specified CEO as Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation, or (2) remove or replace the Specified Executive Chair as executive Chairman of the Corporation, must be adopted or approved by Directors representing at least 75% of the then serving Directors.
(e) Following the second anniversary of the Closing Date, this Section 16 of Article 6 of these Bylaws shall cease to be in effect.
(f) In the event of any inconsistency between the provisions of this Section 16 of Article 6 of these Bylaws and any other provision of these Bylaws, the provisions of this Section 16 of Article 6 of these Bylaws shall control.
ARTICLE 7 — CAPITAL STOCK
Section 1. Certificates. The Board of Directors may authorize the issuance of some or all of the shares of the Corporation’s classes or series without issuing certificates to represent such shares. If shares are represented by certificates, the certificates shall be in such form as required by law and as determined by the Board of Directors. Certificates shall be signed, either manually or by facsimile, by (a) the Chairman, the President or any Vice-President and by the Secretary, Assistant Secretary, Treasurer or Assistant Treasurer or (b) by any two officers designated by the Board of Directors. Each certificate may be sealed with the seal of the Corporation or a facsimile thereof. All certificates for shares shall be consecutively numbered or otherwise identified and entered into the stock transfer books of the Corporation. When shares are represented by certificates, the Corporation shall issue and deliver to each Shareholder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred certificates representing the shares owned by him. When shares are not represented by certificates, then within a reasonable time after the issuance or transfer of such shares, the Corporation shall send the Shareholder to whom such shares have been issued or transferred a written statement of the information required by law to be on certificates.
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Section 2. Transfer of Shares. The Corporation shall maintain share transfer records, containing the name and address of each Shareholder of record and the number and class or series of shares held by such Shareholder. Transfers of shares of the Corporation shall be made only on the share transfer records of the Corporation by the holder of record thereof or by a duly authorized agent, transferee or legal representative and, if the shares are represented by certificates, only upon surrender for cancellation of the certificate for such shares.
Section 3. Transfer Agent and Registrar. The Board of Directors may appoint one or more transfer agents and one or more registrars of transfers and may require all stock certificates to be signed or countersigned by the transfer agent and registered by the registrar of transfers.
Section 4. Regulations. The Board of Directors may make rules and regulations as it deems expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
Section 5. Fixing Record Date. For the purpose of determining Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Shareholders, or entitled to receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of Shareholders for any other purpose, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date as the record date for the determination of Shareholders. The record date shall be not more than 70 days before the meeting or action requiring a determination of Shareholders. A determination of Shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a Shareholders’ meeting shall be effective for any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board of Directors fixes a new record date, which it shall do if the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the date fixed for the original meeting.
Section 6. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors must authorize the issuance of a new certificate in place of a certificate claimed to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, upon receipt of (a) an affidavit from the person explaining the loss, destruction or wrongful taking, and (b) a bond from the claimant in a sum as the Corporation may reasonably direct to indemnify the Corporation against loss from any claim with respect to the certificate claimed to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken. The Board of Directors may, in its discretion, waive the affidavit and bond and authorize the issuance of a new certificate in place of a certificate claimed to have been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken.
ARTICLE8 — GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 1. Dividends and other Distributions. The Board of Directors may from time to time declare and the Corporation may pay dividends or make other distributions with respect to its outstanding shares in the manner and upon the terms and conditions provided by law.
Section 2. Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be any form approved from time to time or at any time by the Board of Directors.
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Section 3. Depositaries. The Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, and the Treasurer are each authorized to designate depositaries for the funds of the Corporation deposited in its name or that of a division of the Corporation, or both, and the signatories with respect thereto in each case, and from time to time, to change such depositaries and signatories, with the same force and effect as if each such depositary and the signatories with respect thereto and changes therein had been specifically designated or authorized by the Board; and each depositary designated by the Board or by the Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer, or the Treasurer shall be entitled to rely upon the certificate of the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Corporation or of a division of the Corporation setting forth the fact of such designation and of the appointment of the officers of the Corporation or of the Division or of both or of other persons who are to be signatories with respect to the withdrawal of funds deposited with such depositary, or from time to time the fact of any change in any depositary or in the signatories with respect thereto.
Section 4. Signatories. Unless otherwise designated by the Board or by the Chairman, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer, all notes, drafts, checks, acceptances, orders for the payment of money shall be (a) signed by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer and (b) countersigned by the Controller or any Assistant Controller, or either signed or countersigned by the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the President, any Executive Vice President, any Senior Vice President or any Vice President in lieu of either the officers designated in (a) or the officers designated in (b) of this Section.
Section 5. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Amendment. These bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors, including any bylaw adopted, amended or repealed by the Shareholders generally. These bylaws may be amended or repealed by the Shareholders even though the bylaws may also be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.
Section 7. Definitions. Unless the context otherwise requires, terms used in these bylaws shall have the meanings assigned to them in the NCBCA to the extent defined therein.
Section 8. Electronic Transactions. The Corporation may conduct any action or set of actions by any electronic means.
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EX-99.1
Exhibit 99.1

Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic Announce Closing of Merger of Equals ****
WILDLIGHT, Fla. – (BUSINESS WIRE) – January 30, 2026 – Rayonier (NYSE: RYN) today announced the closing of its merger with PotlatchDeltic Corporation. The combined company owns over four million acres of geographically diverse timberland in the United States, and operates six sawmills, an industrial-grade plywood mill, residential and commercial real estate developments, and a rural land sales program.
Mark McHugh, President and Chief Executive Officer of Rayonier, said, “We are excited to close this strategic merger of equals, and we are confident that combining these two exceptional land resources companies will generate meaningful value creation for our shareholders and other stakeholders.”
Leadership, Board Composition, and Name ****
The senior leadership team of the combined company comprises roughly equal representation of top talent from both Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic. The new senior leadership team consists of Mark D. McHugh (President and Chief Executive Officer), Wayne Wasechek (EVP and Chief Financial Officer), Mark R. Bridwell (EVP, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary), Ashlee Townsend Cribb (EVP, Wood Products), W. Rhett Rogers (EVP, Land Resources), Christopher T. Corr (SVP, Real Estate Development), Robert L. Schwartz (SVP and Chief Human Resources Officer), April J. Tice (SVP and Chief Accounting Officer), and Anna E. Torma (SVP and Chief Sustainability Officer).
The new Board of Directors of the combined company consists of five legacy Rayonier directors and five legacy PotlatchDeltic directors, with Eric J. Cremers serving as the Executive Chairman of the Board of Directors and Scott R. Jones serving as the Lead Independent Director. The other eight directors are Mark D. McHugh, Keith E. Bass (Chair of the Compensation and Management Development Committee), Michael J. Covey (Chair of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee), Ann C. Nelson (Chair of the Audit Committee), Linda M. Breard, Gregg A. Gonsalves, D. Mark Leland, and Lenore M. Sullivan.

The combined company will initially retain the Rayonier name, and its common stock will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol “RYN” starting on February 2, 2026. The company intends to announce a new name and ticker symbol later in the first quarter of 2026.
About Rayonier
Rayonier is a land resources real estate investment trust (REIT) with a portfolio comprising over four million acres in the U.S. South and U.S. Northwest. The company is focused on managing its timberlands on a sustainable basis while optimizing its overall portfolio value by delivering land to its highest and best use. Rayonier also operates six sawmills, an industrial-grade plywood mill, residential and commercial real estate developments, and a rural land sales program. Rayonier is committed to corporate responsibility, third-party forest certification, and supporting climate change mitigation through its land-based solutions business. More information is available at www.rayonier.com.
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This communication contains certain “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of federal securities laws. Words such as “anticipates,” “believes,” “could,” “continue,” “estimate,” “expects,” “intends,” “will,” “should,” “may,” “plan,” “predict,” “project,” “would” and similar expressions may be used to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are not statements of historical fact and reflect Rayonier Inc.’s current views about future events. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the benefits of the merger involving Rayonier Inc. and PotlatchDeltic Corporation, including future financial and operating results, Rayonier Inc.’s plans, objectives, expectations and intentions, and other statements that are not historical facts, including expected synergies, harvest schedules, timberland acquisitions and dispositions, future results of operations, projected cash flow and liquidity, business strategy and other plans and objectives for future operations. No assurances can be given that the forward-looking statements contained in this communication will occur as projected and actual results may differ materially from those projected. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and assumptions that involve a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected. Rayonier Inc. undertakes no obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof.

Contacts
(Media)
Anna Torma
509-835-1558
(Investors)
Collin Mings
904-357-9100
