Toronto Dominion Bank 6-K, filed Apr 19, 2024
Toronto Dominion Bank (TD)
About this 6-K
Toronto Dominion Bank filed this 6-K on April 19, 2024.
UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
FORM 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER
Pursuant to Rule 13a-16 or 15d-16 of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
| For the month of April, 2024. | Commission File Number: 001-14446 |
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
(Translation of registrant's name into English)
c/o General Counsel’s Office
P.O. Box 1, Toronto Dominion Centre,
Toronto, Ontario, M5K 1A2
(Address of principal executive offices)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F:
| Form 20-F | Form 40-F √ |
This Form 6-K, excluding Exhibit 99.1 hereto, is incorporated by reference into all outstanding Registration Statements of The Toronto-Dominion Bank filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.
EXHIBIT INDEX
| Exhibit | Description | |
| 99.1 | April 18, 2024 – Annual and Special Meeting of Common Shareholders – Voting Results | |
| 99.2 | By-Law No. 1 - Amended April 18, 2024 |
FORM 6-K
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.
| THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK | ||
| DATE: April 19, 2024 | By: | /s/ Caroline Cook |
| Name: | Caroline Cook | |
| Title: | Associate Vice President, Legal | |
EXHIBIT 99.1
| ANNUAL AND SPECIAL MEETING OF COMMON SHAREHOLDERS |
| OF THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK |
| THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2024 - 9:30 A.M. (Eastern) |
| TORONTO, ONTARIO |
| VOTING RESULTS: |
| This report on the voting results of the 168th annual and special meeting of common shareholders of The Toronto-Dominion Bank is made in accordance with section 11.3 of National Instrument 51-102 Continuous Disclosure Obligations. Full details of the matters for shareholder action can be viewed by accessing the Management Proxy Circular for the meeting at: https://www.td.com/content/dam/tdcom/canada/about-td/pdf/td-investor-2024-proxy-en.pdf |
The Directors of the Bank recommended that Shareholders vote FOR matters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 below:
| 1 . | Election of Directors |
Each of the fifteen (15) nominees listed in the Management Proxy Circular were elected as directors of The Toronto- Dominion Bank.
| Nominee | Votes For | % Votes | Votes Witheld | % Votes |
| For | Withheld | |||
| Ayman Antoun | 844,356,320 | 99.5 | 3,865,792 | 0.5 |
| Cherie L. Brant | 843,728,161 | 99.5 | 4,493,951 | 0.5 |
| Amy W. Brinkley | 816,181,922 | 96.2 | 32,040,190 | 3.8 |
| Brian C. Ferguson | 842,623,402 | 99.3 | 5,598,711 | 0.7 |
| Colleen A. Goggins | 843,105,339 | 99.4 | 5,116,774 | 0.6 |
| Alan N. MacGibbon | 824,168,138 | 97.2 | 24,053,964 | 2.8 |
| John B. MacIntyre | 844,561,588 | 99.6 | 3,660,524 | 0.4 |
| Karen E. Maidment | 828,611,333 | 97.7 | 19,610,780 | 2.3 |
| Keith G. Martell | 844,659,456 | 99.6 | 3,562,657 | 0.4 |
| Bharat B. Masrani | 839,248,088 | 98.9 | 8,969,348 | 1.1 |
| Claude Mongeau | 843,838,738 | 99.5 | 4,383,374 | 0.5 |
| S. Jane Rowe | 842,951,734 | 99.4 | 5,270,379 | 0.6 |
| Nancy G. Tower | 842,528,503 | 99.3 | 5,693,610 | 0.7 |
| Ajay K. Virmani | 841,996,300 | 99.3 | 6,225,813 | 0.7 |
| Mary A. Winston | 839,217,384 | 98.9 | 9,004,729 | 1.1 |
| 2 . | Appointment of Auditor |
The auditor listed in the Management Proxy Circular was appointed as auditor of The Toronto-Dominion Bank.
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Withheld | % Votes Withheld |
| 847,615,886 | 97.2 | 24,789,765 | 2.8 |
| 3 . | Advisory vote on the approach to executive compensation |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 764,899,458 | 90.2 | 83,321,595 | 9.8 |
| - 1 - |
|
4 . |
Amendments to By-law No. 1 relating to (a) the aggregate remuneration of directors and (b) the minimum number of directors |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 817,440,192 | 96.4 | 30,781,021 | 3.6 |
| 5 . | Other admendments to By-law No. 1 |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 840,942,599 | 99.1 | 7,278,942 | 0.9 |
The Directors of the Bank recommended that Shareholders vote AGAINST matters 6 to 14 below:
| 6 . | Shareholder Proposal 1 - CEO to Median Employee Pay Ratio |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 106,566,286 | 12.6 | 699,863,294 | 82.5 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 41,785,116 | 4.9 |
| 7 . | Shareholder Proposal 2 - Disclose Transition Activities |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 242,558,567 | 28.6 | 600,032,070 | 70.7 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 5,625,992 | 0.7 |
| 8 . | Shareholder Proposal 3 - Incentive Compensation for All Employees against ESG Objectives |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 16,826,025 | 2.0 | 821,086,578 | 96.8 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 10,305,526 | 1.2 |
|
9 . |
Shareholder Proposal 4 - Public Disclosure of Non-Confidential Information, Country-by-Country Reporting, Compensation Ratios and Tax Havens |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 97,869,718 | 11.5 | 707,473,138 | 83.4 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 42,878,347 | 5.1 |
| - 2 - |
| 10 . | Shareholder Proposal 5 - Advisory Vote on Environmental Policies |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 151,497,908 | 17.9 | 642,490,876 | 75.7 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 54,206,108 | 6.4 |
| 11 . | Shareholder Proposal 6 - Report on Impact of Oil and Gas Divestment |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 10,184,551 | 1.2 | 831,765,430 | 98.1 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 6,236,207 | 0.7 |
| 12 . | Shareholder Proposal 7 - Annex to Annual Report on All Out-of-court Settlements |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 6,432,184 | 0.8 | 831,782,139 | 98.1 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 9,973,516 | 1.2 |
| 13 . | Shareholder Proposal 8 - Committee of 5 Persons to Consider All Out-of-court Settlements |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 4,506,600 | 0.5 | 840,324,980 | 99.1 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 3,357,676 | 0.4 |
| 14 . | Shareholder Proposal 9 - Providing All Employees with the Same Amount of Social Benefits |
| Votes For | % Votes For | Votes Against | % Votes Against |
| 6,378,963 | 0.8 | 832,539,986 | 98.2 |
| Votes Abstained | % Votes Abstained | ||
| 9,269,244 | 1.1 |
| Anyone wishing additional information on the vote results may contact TD Shareholder Relations at (416) 944-6367 or toll-free at 1-866-756-8936 or by email at tdshinfo@td.com. |
EXHIBIT 99.2
THE TORONTO-DOMINION BANK
| By-laws |
April 2024
Index to By-laws of
The Toronto-Dominion Bank
| By-law No. 1 | Page | |
| Section One | Interpretation | 1 |
| 1.01 | Definitions: | 1 |
| 1.02 | Construction: | 1 |
| 1.03 | Severability: | 1 |
| Section Two | Directors | 1 |
| 2.01 | Number and Vacancies: | 1 |
| 2.02 | Meetings: | 2 |
| 2.03 | Quorum: | 2 |
| 2.04 | Votes to Govern: | 2 |
| 2.05 | Remuneration: | 2 |
| 2.06 | Committees: | 2 |
| Section Three | Officers | 3 |
| 3.01 | Appointment and Election - Board Chair, Chief Executive Officer & President: | 3 |
| 3.02 | Deleted | 3 |
| 3.03 | Term of Office: | 3 |
| Section Four | Protection of Directors and Officers | 3 |
| 4.01 | Limitation of Liability: | 3 |
| 4.02 | Indemnity: | 3 |
| Section Five | Shares | 4 |
| 5.01 | Share Classes: | 4 |
| 5.02 | Class Rights: | 4 |
| 5.03 | Deceased Shareholders: | 4 |
| 5.04 | Shareholder Declaration: | 5 |
| Section Six | Meetings of Shareholders | 5 |
| 6.01 | Presiding Officer: | 5 |
| 6.02 | Persons Entitled to Attend: | 5 |
| 6.03 | Quorum: | 6 |
| 6.04 | Adjournment and Termination: | 6 |
| 6.05 | Voting: | 6 |
| 6.06 | Votes to Govern: | 6 |
| 6.07 | Ballots: | 6 |
| 6.08 | Scrutineers: | 7 |
| Section Seven | Notices | 7 |
| 7.01 | Giving of Notice: | 7 |
| Section Eight | Dividends and Rights | 7 |
| - i - |
| 8.01 | Dividends: | 7 |
| Section Nine | General | 7 |
| 9.01 | Corporate Seal: | 7 |
| 9.02 | Deleted | 7 |
| 9.03 | Secrecy: | 8 |
| Section Ten | Effective Date and Repeal | 8 |
| 10.01 | Effective Date: | 8 |
| 10.02 | Repeal and Continuance: | 8 |
| Schedule A | ||
| To By-law No. 1 | ||
| 1. | Interpretation | 9 |
| 2. | Issue in Series | 9 |
| 3. | Priority | 9 |
| 4. | Series to Rank Equally | 10 |
| 5. | Dividents | 10 |
| 6. | Priority on Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-up | 10 |
| 7. | Voting Rights | 11 |
| 8. | Creation and Issue of Additional Preferred Shares | 11 |
| 9. | Approval of Preferred Shareholders | 11 |
| 10. | Amendment | 12 |
| - ii - |
By-law No. 1
A BY-LAW RELATING GENERALLY
TO THE TRANSACTION OF
THE BUSINESS AND AFFAIRS OF THE BANK
Section One Interpretation
| 1.01 | Definitions: |
In this By-law and all other by-laws and ordinary and special resolutions of the Bank, unless the context otherwise requires:
| (i) | "Act" means the Bank Act and any regulations in force thereunder, and any Act and regulations that may be substituted therefor, all as amended from time to time; |
| (ii) | "Bank" means The Toronto-Dominion Bank; |
| (iii) | "Board" means the board of directors of the Bank; |
| (iv) | "Meeting of Shareholders" includes an annual or special meeting of any class or series of any class of shareholders; and |
| (v) | “Recorded Address” means, for shareholders, the last known postal address or telephone number according to the Bank’s central securities register, and, for directors, officers or auditors, the last known postal address or telephone number according to the records of the Bank. |
| 1.02 | Construction: |
Subject to Section 1.01 of this By-law, words and expressions defined in the Act have the same meaning when used in a by-law of the Bank and words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa.
| 1.03 | Severability: |
The provisions of each by-law of the Bank are subject to the Act, but, if any such provision is in contravention thereof, such contravention shall not invalidate any other provision of a by-law.
Section Two Directors
| 2.01 | Number and Vacancies: |
The Board shall number not less than the minimum number of directors required under the Act and not more than 22. The number of directors to be elected at any Meeting of Shareholders shall be such number as is fixed by the Board prior to such meeting. The Board may change the number of directors from time to time. Where a vacancy occurs in the Board for any reason, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of directors, the Board may appoint a person qualified under the Act to fill the vacancy, provided that the Board may not appoint a person to fill a vacancy resulting from a change in this By-law by which the minimum number of directors is increased or from a failure to elect the minimum number of directors required by this By-law.
| - 1 - |
| 2.02 | Meetings: |
The Board Chair or the President or in their absence any two of the following if they are directors: a Deputy Board Chair, a Vice Board Chair, an Executive Vice President, a Senior Vice President, and a Vice President, may call a meeting of the Board by giving notice of the place, date and time of such meeting to each director at the director’s Recorded Address at least 12 hours prior to the time fixed for the holding of the meeting. Notices shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed, telephoned, or sent by electronic or other communications facilities.
| 2.03 | Quorum: |
For meetings of the Board, a majority of directors shall constitute a quorum.
| 2.04 | Votes to Govern: |
At all meetings of the Board every matter shall be decided by majority of the votes cast on the matter. If an equality of votes occurs on any matter the chair of the meeting shall not be entitled to a second or casting vote.
| 2.05 | Remuneration: |
The directors shall be paid such remuneration for their services as directors of the Bank as the Board may from time to time by resolution determine. The remuneration paid to the directors as such in the aggregate shall not exceed $7,000,000 in each year and individually shall be such amounts as the Board shall from time to time by resolution determine. Directors who are not officers or employees of the Bank may also be eligible to participate in stock incentive plans or other similar plans on the terms and conditions approved by the shareholders of the Bank. The remuneration, if any, payable to a director who is also an officer or employee of the Bank or who serves it in any professional capacity shall, unless the Board otherwise directs, be in addition to the director’s salary as an officer or employee or to the director’s professional fees, as the case may be. The directors may also be paid their reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred in attending meetings of the Board, shareholders or committees of the Board or otherwise in the performance of their duties.
| 2.06 | Committees: |
Subject to any restrictions imposed by the Board, each committee of the Board shall have the power to elect its chair and regulate its procedure. For meetings of a committee of the Board, a majority of the committee members shall constitute a quorum.
| - 2 - |
Section Three Officers
| 3.01 | Appointment and Election - Board Chair, Chief Executive Officer & President: |
The Board shall elect from its number a Board Chair of the Board, a Chief Executive Officer and a President each of whom shall have such responsibilities as may be assigned to the holder of such office by the Board. Any one person may hold more than one such office.
| 3.02 | Deleted |
| 3.03 | Term of Office: |
The Board in its discretion may remove any officer of the Bank. Each officer shall hold office at the pleasure of the Chief Executive Officer or of an officer authorized by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section Four Protection of Directors and Officers
| 4.01 | Limitation of Liability: |
No director or officer of the Bank shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other director or officer or any employee or for any liability or expense sustained or incurred by the Bank in the execution of the duties of such director or officer, provided that nothing herein contained shall relieve any director or officer from the duty to act in accordance with the Act or from any liability for any breach thereof or of any other applicable statute or regulation.
| 4.02 | Indemnity: |
| (a) | Subject to the limitation contained in the Act and in paragraph (b) below, but without limit to the right of the Bank to indemnify or advance funds to any person under the Act or otherwise, the Bank shall indemnify a director or officer of the Bank, or a former director or officer, or a person who acts or acted at the Bank’s request, as a director or officer of or in a similar capacity for another entity, and such person’s heirs and legal representatives, against all costs, charges and expenses, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment, reasonably incurred by them in respect of any civil, criminal, administrative, investigative or other proceeding in which they are involved because of that association with the Bank or other entity. |
(b) The Bank shall not indemnify a person under paragraph (a) above unless:
| (i) | such person acted honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of, as the case may be, the Bank or the other entity for which they acted at the Bank’s request as a director or officer or in a similar capacity; and |
| (ii) | in the case of a criminal or administrative action or proceeding that is enforced by a monetary penalty, such person had reasonable grounds for believing that such person’s conduct was lawful. |
| - 3 - |
Section Five Shares
| 5.01 | Share Classes: |
| (a) | The Bank shall have two classes of shares, designated as common shares and Class A first preferred shares, and the Bank is authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of each class. |
| (b) | The Class B first preferred shares of the Bank are hereby reclassified as Class A first preferred shares of the Bank, and the Price Adjusted Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Class B First Preferred Shares, Series 1, and the Non-Cumulative Redeemable Class B First Preferred Shares, Series 2, are hereby reclassified, respectively, as Price Adjusted Floating Rate Cumulative Redeemable Class A First Preferred Shares, Series E, and Non-Cumulative Redeemable Class A First Preferred Shares, Series Y. |
| 5.02 | Class Rights: |
| (a) | The class of shares designated as Class A first preferred shares shall be entitled to preference over the common shares of the Bank and over any other shares of the Bank ranking junior to the Class A first preferred shares with respect to the payment of dividends and distribution of assets of the Bank in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Bank, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of the assets of the Bank among its shareholders for the purpose of winding-up its affairs. |
| (b) | The class of shares designated as common shares shall not be redeemable and the rights of the holders thereof shall be equal in all respects, and those rights shall include (i) the right to vote at all meetings of shareholders except where only holders of a specified class of shares are entitled to vote, (ii) the right to receive dividends declared on those shares, and (iii) the right to receive the remaining property of the Bank on dissolution. |
| (c) | The directors of the Bank are hereby authorized to divide the Class A first preferred shares into series, and the rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions set out in Schedule A hereto which is incorporated herein and forms a part of this By-law, shall apply to all Class A first preferred shares. |
| 5.03 | Deceased Shareholders: |
In the event of the death of a holder, or one of the joint holders, of any share, the Bank shall not be required to make any entry in the Bank’s securities register in respect thereof or to make payment of any dividends thereon except upon production of all such documents as may be required by law and upon compliance with the requirements of the Bank and its transfer agents.
| - 4 - |
| 5.04 | Shareholder Declaration: |
| (a) | The Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary of the Bank may require any person in whose name a share of the Bank is held to submit a statutory declaration concerning: |
| (i) | the ownership of such share; |
| (ii) | the place in which the shareholder and any person in whose right or for whose use or benefit the share is held are ordinarily resident; |
| (iii) | whether the shareholder is associated with, is controlled by, or controls any other shareholder; |
| (iv) | whether the shareholder is an agent or agency of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in right of a Province of Canada or an agent or agency of the government of a foreign state or any political subdivision thereof; and |
| (v) | such other matters as the Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may deem relevant to the purposes of the Act. |
| (b) | The Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may require any person who wishes to have a transfer of a share registered in the name of, or to have a share issued to, that person to submit a statutory declaration as though the person were a shareholder. |
| (c) | The Chief Executive Officer or the Secretary may determine the circumstances in which any statutory declaration shall be required, its form and the time at which it shall be submitted. |
| (d) | If a person who desires to exercise the voting rights pertaining to shares of the Bank held by such person fails to submit a declaration as required under this By-law, the Bank may refuse to permit such person to exercise such voting rights. |
Section Six Meetings of Shareholders
| 6.01 | Presiding Officer: |
The Board Chair, or if the Board Chair declines or is absent, the President, or if both decline or are absent, such other person designated by the Board, shall act as chair at each Meeting of Shareholders. The Secretary of the Bank, or if the Secretary of the Bank declines or is absent, the General Counsel, or if both decline or are absent, such other person as the chair of the meeting shall designate, shall act as secretary of the meeting.
| 6.02 | Persons Entitled to Attend: |
The only persons entitled to attend a Meeting of Shareholders shall be those entitled to vote thereat and such others who, although not entitled to vote thereat, are entitled or required to attend under the Act. Any other person may be permitted to attend a Meeting of Shareholders by the chair of the meeting.
The chair of any Meeting of Shareholders may, but need not, at their sole discretion, make determinations as to the acceptability of proxies deposited for use at the Meeting of Shareholders, including the acceptability of proxies which may not strictly comply with the requirements of these by-laws or otherwise, and any such determination made in good faith shall be final and conclusive.
| - 5 - |
| 6.03 | Quorum: |
Two persons participating in the Meeting of Shareholders and each entitled to vote thereat and representing either in their own right or by proxy at least twenty five (25) per cent of the issued and outstanding shares of the Bank carrying voting rights at such time shall constitute a quorum at any Meeting of Shareholders.
However, where the provisions relating to a class or series of shares otherwise provide for the quorum for meetings of the holders thereof, such provisions shall apply to such Meeting of Shareholders.
| 6.04 | Adjournment and Termination: |
The chair of the Meeting of Shareholders or the Board Chair may adjourn the Meeting of Shareholders from time to time and change the place at which or facility through which shareholders may participate and may terminate the Meeting of Shareholders on completion of the business for which it was called as set out in the notice of meeting.
| 6.05 | Voting: |
Voting at a Meeting of Shareholders shall be by a show of hands unless a ballot is demanded by the chair of the meeting or any person entitled to vote. Upon a show of hands every person entitled to vote shall have one vote. After a vote by a show of hands, the chair of the meeting or any person entitled to vote may demand a ballot thereon. After a vote a declaration by the chair of the meeting that the vote upon the matter has been carried or carried by a particular majority or not carried and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the meeting shall be prima facie evidence of the result of the vote.
| 6.06 | Votes to Govern: |
Unless otherwise required by the Act every vote at a Meeting of Shareholders shall be decided by a majority of the votes cast on the matter. If an equality of votes occurs on any matter at a Meeting of the Shareholders the chair of the meeting shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.
| 6.07 | Ballots: |
If a ballot is to be held it shall be taken in such manner as the chair of the meeting shall direct.
| - 6 - |
| 6.08 | Scrutineers: |
At any Meeting of Shareholders one or more persons, who may be shareholders, may be appointed to serve as scrutineers at the meeting by the chair of the meeting.
Section Seven Notices
| 7.01 | Giving of Notice: |
Any notice or other document to be given or sent by the Bank to a shareholder, director, officer or auditor of the Bank may be delivered, telephoned, or given or sent by pre-paid mail or by pre-paid transmitted, electronic or other communication, to the recipient's Recorded Address. The accidental omission to give notice to any shareholder, director, officer or auditor, or the non-receipt of any notice or any error in a notice shall not invalidate any action taken at any meeting called by such notice or otherwise founded thereon. Any notice with respect to any shares registered in more than one name may, if more than one address appears as a Recorded Address for such joint holding, be given or sent to the joint shareholders at any one of such addresses.
Section Eight Dividends and Rights
| 8.01 | Dividends: |
The mailing or other transmission to any shareholder at the shareholder's Recorded Address of a draft payable to such shareholder or to such shareholder's order, or the electronic deposit in accordance with the last instructions of any shareholder received by the Bank or its transfer agent, for the amount of any dividend payable in cash shall discharge the Bank's liability for the dividend to the extent of the amount of the draft or the electronic deposit plus the amount of any tax which the Bank has properly withheld, unless, in the case of issuance by the Bank of a draft, the draft is not paid on due presentation. If any draft for a dividend is not received, the Bank shall issue to the shareholder a replacement draft for the same amount on such reasonable terms as to indemnity and evidence of non-receipt as the Board or any officer may impose. No shareholder shall be entitled to recover by action or other legal process against the Bank any dividend that is represented by a draft that has not been duly presented to the Bank for payment or that otherwise remains unclaimed for a period of 6 years from the date on which it was payable.
Section Nine General
| 9.01 | Corporate Seal: |
The corporate seal of the Bank shall bear the name of the Bank and shall bear such insignia as may be approved from time to time by the Board.
| 9.02 | Deleted |
| - 7 - |
| 9.03 | Secrecy: |
Each director and every person in the employ of the Bank shall maintain secrecy as to everything that takes place at the Bank, and shall not, subject to applicable law, give any information relating to any account or transaction at or in the books of the Bank.
Section Ten Effective Date and Repeal
| 10.01 | Effective Date: |
This By-law shall come into force upon the date when it is enacted by the Board, provided that clauses 2.01 and 2.05 shall not come into force unless and until this By-law has been confirmed by the shareholders, and clauses 5.01 and 5.02 shall not come into force unless and until this By-law has been confirmed by the shareholders and approved by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions.
| 10.02 | Repeal and Continuance: |
All previous by-laws of the Bank are repealed as of the coming into force of this By-law provided that clauses 2.03 and 2.10 of previous By-law No. 1 shall be repealed as of the confirmation of this By-law by the shareholders, and previous By-laws Nos. 2 and 6 shall be repealed as of the confirmation of this By-law by the shareholders and the approval of this By-law by the Superintendent of Financial Institutions, and further provided that such repeal shall not affect the previous operation of any by-law so repealed or affect the validity of any act done or right, privilege, obligation or liability acquired or incurred under, or the validity of any contract or agreement made pursuant to any such by-law prior to its repeal. All directors, officers and other persons acting under any repealed by-law shall continue to act as if elected or appointed under the provisions of this By-law and all resolutions of the shareholders or the Board with continuing effect passed under any repealed by-law shall continue to be valid except to the extent inconsistent with this By-law.
| - 8 - |
Schedule A
To By-law No. 1
Rights, Privileges, Restrictions and Conditions Applying to Each Series of Class A First Preferred Shares as a Class.
1. Interpretation
The term "Preferred Shares" shall mean the Class A first preferred shares as a class.
2. Issue in Series
The Preferred Shares may at any time and from time to time be issuable in one or more series, in accordance with and subject to the provisions of the Bank Act as now existing or hereafter amended (herein referred to as the "Bank Act"). The Board shall, subject to the provisions of the Bank Act, the provisions herein contained and to any conditions attaching to any outstanding series of Preferred Shares, by resolution duly passed before the issue of any Preferred Shares of any series, fix the number of Preferred Shares to be comprised in such series, fix the rights, privileges, restrictions, and conditions to be attached to the Preferred Shares of such series, including, but without in any way limiting or restricting the generality of the foregoing, the designation thereof, the rate or method of calculation or amount of preferential dividends, and whether such rate, amount or method or calculation shall be subject to change or adjustment in the future, the date or dates and place or places of payment thereof, the consideration for which the Preferred Shares of any series are to be issued, the consideration and the terms and conditions of any purchase for cancellation or redemption thereof, conversion rights (if any), voting rights (if any), the terms and conditions of any purchase fund or sinking fund, the restrictions (if any) respecting payment of dividends on or any repayment of capital in respect of any shares ranking junior to the Preferred Shares, rights or retraction (if any) vested in the holders thereof, and constraints on the transfer of the Preferred Shares.
3. Priority
The Preferred Shares of each series shall, with respect to priority in payment of dividends and, as more particularly set forth in paragraph 6 hereof, with respect to distribution of assets in the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Bank, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of the assets of the Bank among its shareholders for the purpose of winding-up its affairs, be entitled to a preference over the common shares of the Bank and over any other shares ranking junior to the Preferred Shares, and the Preferred Shares of each series may also be given such other preferences over the common shares and any other shares ranking junior to the Preferred Shares as may be determined as to the respective series authorized to be issued. The priority, in the case of cumulative dividends, shall be with respect to all prior completed periods in respect of which such dividends were payable and, in the case of non-cumulative dividends, shall be with respect to all dividends declared and unpaid, plus such further amounts, if any, as may be specified in the provisions attaching to a particular series.
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4. Series to Rank Equally
The Preferred Shares of each series shall rank on a parity with the Preferred Shares of every other series with respect to priority in payment of dividends and in the distribution of assets in the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Bank, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of the assets of the Bank among its shareholders for the purpose of winding-up of its affairs.
5. Dividends
The holders of the Preferred Shares of each series shall be entitled to receive and the Bank shall pay thereon as and when declared by the Board, subject to the provisions of the Bank Act, dividends in the amounts specified or determinable in accordance with the provisions of such series and such dividends may be cumulative or non-cumulative and payable in cash (including a foreign currency) or by way of a stock dividend or in any other lawful manner. Dividends which are cumulative, shall accrue from the date of issue of the Preferred Shares on the amount paid up thereon. In the case of dividends payable in cash, drafts of the Bank payable at par at any branch of the Bank for the time being in Canada shall be issued for the amount of such dividends less any tax required to be deducted. Dividend drafts shall be forwarded to each holder of Preferred Shares in accordance with the by-laws of the Bank. In the case of a dividend payable in cash, the forwarding of such a draft to a holder of Preferred Shares or payment to the credit of a holder on the direction of such holder shall be a full and complete discharge of the Bank's obligation to pay such dividend to such holder. If on any date for the payment of any dividend on the Preferred Shares of any series, the dividend payable on such date is not paid in full on all the Preferred Shares of such series then issued and outstanding, such dividend or the unpaid part thereof shall be paid on a subsequent date or dates determined by the Board on which the Bank shall have sufficient moneys or property properly applicable to the payment of the same. The holders of the Preferred Shares of any series shall not be entitled to any dividends other than or in excess of those expressly provided for in the preferences, rights, conditions, restrictions, limitations or prohibitions attached to the Preferred Shares of such series.
6. Priority on Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding-up
In the event of liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Bank, whether voluntary or involuntary, or any other distribution of the assets of the Bank among its shareholders for the purpose of winding-up its affairs, before any amount shall be paid to or any assets distributed among the holders of the common shares or shares of any other class of the Bank ranking junior to the Preferred Shares, the holder of a Preferred Share of a series shall be entitled to receive to the extent provided for with respect to such Preferred Share by such series, (i) an amount equal to the amount paid up thereon (ii) such premium, if any, as has been provided for with respect to the Preferred Shares of such series and (iii) all unpaid cumulative dividends, if any, on such Preferred Share (which for such purpose shall be calculated as if such cumulative dividends were accruing daily for the period from the expiration of the last period for which cumulative dividends have been paid up to and including the date of distribution) and, in the case of non-cumulative Preferred Shares, all declared and unpaid non-cumulative dividends. After payment to the holders of the Preferred Shares of the amounts so payable to them, they shall not be entitled to share in any further distribution of the property or assets of the Bank.
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7. Voting Rights
Subject to the provisions of the Bank Act and except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the holders of the Preferred Shares of each series shall not, as such, have any voting rights for the election of directors of the Bank or for any other purpose, nor shall they be entitled to receive any notice of or attend shareholders' meetings, except to the extent provided in any series.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the holders of the Preferred Shares shall be entitled to receive notice of meetings of shareholders called for the purpose of authorizing the dissolution of the Bank or the sale of its business or assets.
8. Creation and Issue of Additional Preferred Shares
The Bank shall not, without the prior approval of the holders of the Preferred Shares given as hereinafter specified,
| (i) | create or issue any shares ranking in priority to the Preferred Shares, or |
| (ii) | create or issue any additional series of Preferred Shares or any shares ranking pari passu with the Preferred Shares |
unless at the date of such creation or issuance all cumulative dividends up to and including the last completed period for which such cumulative dividends shall be payable, shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment in respect of each series of cumulative Preferred Shares then issued and outstanding and any declared and unpaid non-cumulative dividends shall have been paid or set apart for payment in respect of each series of non-cumulative Preferred Shares then issued and outstanding.
9. Approval of Preferred Shareholders
The approval of the holders of Preferred Shares required as to any and all matters referred to herein (in addition to or as distinct from any vote, authorization, confirmation or approval required by the Bank Act) may be given by an instrument or instruments in writing signed by the holders of not less than two-thirds of the issued and outstanding Preferred Shares or by a resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a general meeting of the holders of Preferred Shares duly called for that purpose.
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10. Amendment
Any by-law to amend, delete or vary any preferences, rights, privileges, restrictions and conditions attaching to the Preferred Shares shall, in addition to the requirements of the Bank Act, not be effective until it has been confirmed either in writing by the holders of all of the Preferred Shares for the time being outstanding or by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a meeting of the holders of the Preferred Shares duly called for that purpose at which the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares are present or represented by proxy. If at any such meeting the holders of a majority of the outstanding Preferred Shares are not present or represented by proxy within one-half an hour after the time appointed for such meeting, such meeting shall be adjourned to such date being not less than 15 days later and to such time and place as may be appointed by the Board Chair and not less than 7 days' notice shall be given of such adjourned meeting but it shall not be necessary in such notice to specify the purpose for which the meeting was originally called.
At such adjourned meeting, the holders of Preferred Shares present or represented by proxy may transact the business for which the meeting was originally called and a resolution passed thereat by not less than two-thirds of the votes cast at such adjourned meeting shall constitute the confirmation of the holders of the Preferred Shares referred to above.
The formalities to be observed in respect of the giving of notice of any such meeting or adjourned meeting and the conduct thereof shall be those from time to time prescribed by the Bank Act and the by-laws of the Bank with respect to meetings of shareholders. On every poll taken at a meeting or adjourned meeting of holders of Preferred Shares every holder of Preferred Shares shall be entitled to one vote in respect of each Preferred Share held by such shareholder.
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