EXHIBIT 4.4
Published on November 5, 1997
ENTERTAINMENT PROPERTIES TRUST
BYLAWS
(Amended on November 4, 1997)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. PRINCIPAL OFFICE. The principal office of the Trust shall be
located at such place or places as the Trustees may designate.
Section 2. ADDITIONAL OFFICES. The Trust may have additional offices at
such places as the Board of Trustees may from time to time determine or the
business of the Trust may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS
Section 1. PLACE. All meetings of shareholders shall be held at the
principal office of the Trust or at such other place within the United States as
shall be stated in the notice of the meeting.
Section 2. ANNUAL MEETING. An annual meeting of the shareholders for the
election of Trustees and the transaction of any business within the powers of
the Trust shall be held during the second quarter of each year or as the Board
of Trustees otherwise determines, to the extent permitted by Title 8, after the
delivery of the annual report, referred to in Section 12 of this Article II, at
a convenient location and on proper notice, on a date and at the time set by the
Trustees, beginning with the year 1998. Failure to hold an annual meeting does
not invalidate the Trust's existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the
Trust.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The chairman of the board or the president
or one-third of the Trustees may call special meetings of the shareholders.
Special meetings of shareholders shall also be called by the secretary upon the
written request of the holders of shares entitled to cast not less than a
majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at such meeting. Such request
shall state the purpose of such meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on
at such meeting. The secretary shall inform such shareholders of the reasonably
estimated cost of preparing and mailing notice of the meeting and, upon payment
by such shareholders to the Trust of such costs, the secretary shall give
notice to each shareholder entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless requested
by shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast
at such meeting, a special meeting need not be called to consider any matter
which is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any meeting of the
shareholders held during the preceding twelve months.
Section 4. NOTICE. Not less than ten nor more than 90 days before each
meeting of shareholders, the secretary shall give to each shareholder entitled
to vote at such meeting and to each shareholder not entitled to vote who is
entitled to notice of the meeting written or printed notice stating the time and
place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may
be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, either
by mail or by presenting it to such shareholder personally or by leaving it at
his residence or usual place of business. If mailed, such notice shall be
deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the
shareholder at his post office address as it appears on the records of the
Trust, with postage thereon prepaid.
Section 5. SCOPE OF NOTICE. Any business of the Trust may be transacted
at an annual meeting of shareholders without being specifically designated in
the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in
such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of
shareholders except as specifically designated in the notice.
Section 6. ORGANIZATION. At every meeting of the shareholders, the
Chairman of the Board, if there be one, shall conduct the meeting or, in the
case of vacancy in office or absence of the Chairman of the Board, one of the
following officers present shall conduct the meeting in the order stated: the
Vice Chairman of the Board, if there be one, the President, the Vice Presidents
in their order of rank and seniority, or a Chairman chosen by the shareholders
entitled to cast a majority of the votes which all shareholders present in
person or by proxy are entitled to cast, shall act as Chairman, and the
Secretary, or, in his absence, an assistant secretary, or in the absence of both
the Secretary and assistant secretaries, a person appointed by the Chairman
shall act as Secretary.
Section 7. QUORUM. At any meeting of shareholders, the presence in person
or by proxy of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes
entitled to be cast at such meeting shall constitute a quorum; but this section
shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the Declaration of Trust
for the vote necessary for the adoption of any measure. If, however, such
quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the shareholders, the shareholders
entitled to vote at such meeting, present in person or by proxy, shall have the
power to adjourn the meeting from time to
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time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without
notice other than announcement at the meeting. At such adjourned meeting at
which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which might have
been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
Section 8. VOTING. A plurality of all the votes cast at a meeting of
shareholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to
elect a Trustee. Each share may be voted for as many individuals as there are
Trustees to be elected and for whose election the share is entitled to be voted.
A majority of the votes cast at a meeting of shareholders duly called and at
which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any other matter which
may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes
cast is required herein or by statute or by the Declaration of Trust. Unless
otherwise provided in the Declaration of Trust, each outstanding share,
regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a
vote at a meeting of shareholders.
Section 9. PROXIES. A shareholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast
by the shares owned of record by him either in person or by proxy executed in
writing by the shareholder or by his duly authorized agent. Such proxy shall be
filed with the secretary of the Trust before or at the time of the meeting. No
proxy shall be valid after eleven months from the date of its execution, unless
otherwise provided in the proxy.
Section 10. VOTING OF SHARES BY CERTAIN HOLDERS. Shares of the Trust
registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, trust or other entity, if
entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, a
general partner or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy appointed by
any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been
appointed to vote such shares pursuant to a bylaw or a resolution of the
governing board of such corporation or other entity or agreement of the partners
of the partnership presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or
agreement, in which case such person may vote such shares. Any trustee or other
fiduciary may vote shares registered in his name as such fiduciary, either in
person or by proxy.
Shares of the Trust directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted
at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of
outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held
by it in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be
counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.
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The Trustees may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a shareholder may
certify in writing to the Trust that any shares registered in the name of the
shareholder are held for the account of a specified person other than the
shareholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of shareholders who may
make the certification, the purpose for which the certification may be made, the
form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the
certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the share transfer
books, the time after the record date or closing of the share transfer books
within which the certification must be received by the Trust; and any other
provisions with respect to the procedure which the Trustees consider necessary
or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person specified in the
certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the
certification, the shareholder of record of the specified shares in place of the
shareholder who makes the certification.
Section 11. INSPECTORS. At any meeting of shareholders, the chairman of
the meeting may appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting.
Such inspectors shall ascertain and report the number of shares represented at
the meeting based upon their determination of the validity and effect of
proxies, count all votes, report the results and perform such other acts as are
proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and fairness to all
the shareholders.
Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by him or by a
majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If
there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report
of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of
shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be PRIMA
FACIE evidence thereof.
Section 12. REPORTS TO SHAREHOLDERS.
The Trustees shall submit to the shareholders at or before the annual
meeting of shareholders a report of the business and operations of the Trust
during such fiscal year, containing a balance sheet and a statement of income
and surplus of the Trust, accompanied by the certification of an independent
certified public accountant, and such further information as the Trustees elect
or as they may determine is required pursuant to any law or regulation to which
the Trust is subject. Within the earlier of 20 days after the annual meeting of
shareholders or 120 days after the end of the fiscal year of the Trust, the
Trustees shall place the annual report on file at the principal office of the
Trust and with any governmental agencies as may be required by law and as the
Trustees may deem appropriate.
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Section 13. NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) ANNUAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS. (1) Nominations of persons for
election to the Board of Trustees and the proposal of business to be considered
by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (i)
pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of the
Trustees or (iii) by any shareholder of the Trust who was a shareholder of
record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 13(a)
and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting
and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13(a).
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before
an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a) (1)
of this Section 13, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in
writing to the secretary of the Trust and such other business must otherwise be
a proper matter for action by shareholders. To be timely, a shareholder's
notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of
the Trust not later than the close of business on the 60th day nor earlier than
the close of business on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary of the
preceding year's annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the
date of the annual meeting is advanced by more than 30 days or delayed by more
than 60 days from such anniversary date or if the Trust has not previously held
an annual meeting, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so delivered
not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day prior to such annual
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 60th day
prior to such annual meeting or the tenth day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Trust. In no
event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an
annual meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving
of a shareholder's notice as described above. Such shareholder's notice shall
set forth (i) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for
election or reelection as a Trustee all information relating to such person that
is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election of Trustees
in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") (including such person's written consent to being named in the
proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a Trustee if elected); (ii) as to
any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in
such business of such shareholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose
behalf the proposal is
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made; and (iii) as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial
owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made, (x) the name
and address of such shareholder, as they appear on the Trust's books, and of
such beneficial owner and (y) the number of each class of shares of the Trust
which are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such
beneficial owner.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a)
(2) of this Section 13 to the contrary, in the event that the number of Trustees
to be elected to the Board of Trustees is increased and there is no public
announcement by the Trust naming all of the nominees for Trustee or specifying
the size of the increased Board of Trustees at least 70 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding year's annual meeting, a shareholder's notice
required by this Section 13(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with
respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall
be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive offices of the Trust
not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the day on which
such public announcement is first made by the Trust.
(b) SPECIAL MEETINGS OF SHAREHOLDERS. Only such business shall be
conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before
the meeting pursuant to the Trust's notice of meeting. Nominations of persons
for election to the Board of Trustees may be made at a special meeting of
shareholders at which Trustees are to be elected (i) pursuant to the Trust's
notice of meeting (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Trustees or (iii)
provided that the Board of Trustees has determined that Trustees shall be
elected at such special meeting, by any shareholder of the Trust who was a
shareholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this
Section 13(b) and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at
the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this
Section 13(b). In the event the Trust calls a special meeting of shareholders
for the purpose of electing one or more Trustees to the Board of Trustees, any
such shareholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for
election to such position as specified in the Trust's notice of meeting, if the
shareholder's notice containing the information required by paragraph (a) (2) of
this Section 13 shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal executive
offices of the Trust not earlier than the close of business on the 90th day
prior to such special meeting and not later than the close of business on the
later of the 60th day prior to such special meeting or the tenth day following
the day on which public announcement is first made of the date of the special
meeting and of the nominees proposed by the Trustees to be elected at such
meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or
adjournment of a special
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meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a
shareholder's notice as described above.
(c) GENERAL. (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section 13 shall be eligible to serve as
Trustees and only such business shall be conducted at a meeting of shareholders
as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance with the procedures
set forth in this Section 13. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power
and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be
brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 13 and, if any proposed
nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section 13, to declare
that such nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.
(2) For purposes of this Section 13, "public announcement" shall mean
disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated
Press or comparable news service or in a document publicly filed by the Trust
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13, a
shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the
matters set forth in this Section 13. Nothing in this Section 13 shall be
deemed to affect any rights of shareholders to request inclusion of proposals
in, nor the rights of the Trust to omit a proposal from, the Trust's proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
Section 14. INFORMAL ACTION BY SHAREHOLDERS. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at a meeting of shareholders may be taken without a
meeting if a consent in writing, setting forth such action, is signed by
shareholders entitled to cast a sufficient number of votes to approve the
matter, as required by statute, the Declaration of Trust of the Trust or these
Bylaws, and such consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the
shareholders.
Section 15. VOTING BY BALLOT. Voting on any question or in any election
may be VIVA VOCE unless the presiding officer shall order or any shareholder
shall demand that voting be by ballot.
ARTICLE III
TRUSTEES
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Section 1. GENERAL POWERS; QUALIFICATIONS; TRUSTEES HOLDING OVER. The
business and affairs of the Trust shall be managed under the direction of its
Board of Trustees. A Trustee shall be an individual at least 21 years of age
who is not under legal disability. In case of failure to elect Trustees at an
annual meeting of the shareholders, the Trustees holding over shall continue to
direct the management of the business and affairs of the Trust until their
successors are elected and qualify.
Section 2. NUMBER. At any regular meeting or at any special meeting
called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Trustees may
establish, increase or decrease the number of Trustees.
Section 3. ANNUAL AND REGULAR MEETINGS. An annual meeting of the Trustees
shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of
shareholders, no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary. The Trustees may
provide, by resolution, the time and place, either within or without the State
of Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of the Trustees without other
notice than such resolution.
Section 4. SPECIAL MEETINGS. Special meetings of the Trustees may be
called by or at the request of the chairman of the board or the president or by
a majority of the Trustees then in office. The person or persons authorized to
call special meetings of the Trustees may fix any place, either within or
without the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any special meeting of
the Trustees called by them.
Section 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting shall be given by
written notice delivered personally, telegraphed, communicated by telephone
call, facsimile-transmitted or mailed to each Trustee at his business or
residence address. Personally delivered or telegraphed notices shall be given at
least two days prior to the meeting. Notice by mail shall be given at least
five days prior to the meeting. Telephone or facsimile-transmission notice
shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. If mailed, such notice
shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly
addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If given by telegram, such notice
shall be deemed to be given when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph
company. Telephone notice shall be deemed given when the Trustee is personally
given such notice in a telephone call to which he is a party.
Facsimile-transmission notice shall be deemed given upon completion of the
transmission of the message to the number given to the Trust by the Trustee and
receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Neither the business to
be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of
the Trustees need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by
statute or these Bylaws.
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Section 6. QUORUM. A majority of the entire Board of Trustees shall
constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Trustees,
provided that, if less than a majority of such Trustees are present at said
meeting, a majority of the Trustees present may adjourn the meeting from time to
time without further notice, and provided further that if, pursuant to the
Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority of a particular
group of Trustees is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority
of such group.
The Trustees present at a meeting which has been duly called and convened
may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the
withdrawal of enough Trustees to leave less than a quorum.
Section 7. VOTING. The action of the majority of the Trustees present at
a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Trustees,
unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by
applicable statute.
Section 8. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Trustees may participate in a meeting by
means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at the same time.
Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at
the meeting.
Section 9. INFORMAL ACTION BY TRUSTEES. Any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Trustees may be taken without a meeting, if a
consent in writing to such action is signed by each Trustee and such written
consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Trustees.
Section 10. VACANCIES. If for any reason any or all the Trustees cease to
be Trustees, such event shall not terminate the Trust or affect these Bylaws or
the powers of the remaining Trustees hereunder (even if fewer than three
Trustees remain). Any vacancy (including a vacancy created by an increase in the
number of Trustees or the removal of a Trustee) may be filled, at any regular
meeting or at any special meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of the
Trustees. Any individual so elected as Trustee shall hold office until the next
annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her successor shall be elected
and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation or removal.
Section 11. COMPENSATION; FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE.
(a) COMPENSATION. Trustees shall not receive any stated salary for their
services as Trustees but, by resolution of the Trustees, may receive
compensation per year and/or per meeting
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and/or per visit to real property owned or to be acquired by the Trust and for
any service or activity they performed or engaged in as Trustees. Trustees may
be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual, regular or
special meeting of the Trustees or of any committee thereof; and for their
expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service
or activity performed or engaged in as Trustees; but nothing herein contained
shall be construed to preclude any Trustees from serving the Trust in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
(b) FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO TRUSTEES. The Trust may lend money to,
guarantee an obligation of or otherwise assist a Trustee or a trustee of its
direct or indirect subsidiary. The loan, guarantee or other assistance may be
with or without interest, unsecured, or secured in any manner that the Board of
Trustees approves, including a pledge of Shares.
Section 12. REMOVAL OF TRUSTEES. The shareholders may, at any time,
remove any Trustee in the manner provided in the Declaration of Trust.
Section 13. LOSS OF DEPOSITS. No Trustee shall be liable for any loss
which may occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and
loan association, or other institution with whom moneys or shares have been
deposited.
Section 14. SURETY BONDS. Unless required by law, no Trustee shall be
obligated to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of
any of his duties.
Section 15. RELIANCE. Each Trustee, officer, employee and agent of the
Trust shall, in the performance of his duties with respect to the Trust, be
fully justified and protected with regard to any act or failure to act in
reliance in good faith upon the books of account or other records of the Trust,
upon an opinion of counsel or upon reports made to the Trust by any of its
officers or employees or by the adviser, accountants, appraisers or other
experts or consultants selected by the Trustees or officers of the Trust,
regardless of whether such counsel or expert may also be a Trustee.
Section 16. INTERESTED TRUSTEE TRANSACTIONS. Section 2-419 of the
Maryland General Corporation Law (the "MGCL") shall be available for and apply
to any contract or other transaction between the Trust and any of its Trustees
or between the Trust and any other trust, corporation, firm or other entity in
which any of its Trustees is a trustee or director or has a material financial
interest.
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Section 17. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEES, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS.
The Trustees shall have no responsibility to devote their full time to the
affairs of the Trust. Any Trustee or officer, employee or agent of the Trust
(other than a full-time officer, employee or agent of the Trust), in his
personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any
other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business
activities similar or in addition to those of or relating to the Trust.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. NUMBER, TENURE AND QUALIFICATIONS. The Trustees may appoint
from among its members an Executive Committee, an Audit Committee, a
Compensation Committee and other committees, composed of one or more Trustees,
to serve at the pleasure of the Trustees.
Section 2. POWERS. The Trustees may delegate to committees appointed
under Section 1 of this Article any of the powers of the Trustees, except as
prohibited by law.
Section 3. MEETINGS. In the absence of any member of any such committee,
the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a
quorum, may appoint another Trustee to act in the place of such absent member.
Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for
special meetings of the Board of Trustees.
One-third, but not less than one, of the members of any committee shall be
present in person at any meeting of such committee in order to constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting, and the act of a
majority present shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Trustees may
designate a chairman of any committee, and such chairman or any member of any
committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board shall
otherwise provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any such
committee, the members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another
Trustee to act at the meeting in the place of such absent or disqualified
members.
Each committee shall keep minutes of its proceedings and shall report the
same to the Board of Trustees at the next succeeding meeting, and any action by
the committee shall be subject to revision and alteration by the Board of
Trustees, provided that no rights of third persons shall be affected by any such
revision or alteration.
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Section 4. TELEPHONE MEETINGS. Members of a committee of the Trustees may
participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar
communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 5. INFORMAL ACTION BY COMMITTEES. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Trustees may be taken
without a meeting, if a consent in writing to such action is signed by each
member of the committee and such written consent is filed with the minutes of
proceedings of such committee.
Section 6. VACANCIES. Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of
Trustees shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any
committee, to fill all vacancies, to designate alternate members to replace any
absent, disqualified or removed member or to dissolve any such committee.
ARTICLE V
OFFICERS
Section 1. GENERAL PROVISIONS. The officers of the Trust shall include a
president, a secretary and a treasurer and may include a chairman of the board,
a vice chairman of the board, a chief executive officer, a chief operating
officer, a chief financial officer, one or more vice presidents, one or more
assistant secretaries and one or more assistant treasurers. In addition, the
Trustees may from time to time appoint such other officers with such powers and
duties as they shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Trust
shall be elected annually by the Trustees at the first meeting of the Trustees
held after each annual meeting of shareholders. If the election of officers
shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon
thereafter as may be convenient. Each officer shall hold office until his
successor is elected and qualifies or until his death, resignation or removal in
the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except president and
vice president may be held by the same person. In their discretion, the
Trustees may leave unfilled any office except that of president and secretary.
Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights
between the Trust and such officer or agent.
Section 2. REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION. Any officer or agent of the Trust may
be removed by the Trustees if in their judgment the best interests of the Trust
would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the
contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Trust may
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resign at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Trustees,
the chairman of the board, the president or the secretary. Any resignation
shall take effect at any time subsequent to the time specified therein or, if
the time when it shall become effective is not specified therein, immediately
upon its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to
make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation
shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Trust.
Section 3. VACANCIES. A vacancy in any office may be filled by the
Trustees for the balance of the term.
Section 4. CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER. The Trustees may designate a chief
executive officer from among the elected officers. The chief executive officer
shall have responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Trust, as
determined by the Trustees, and for the administration of the business affairs
of the Trust. In the absence of both the chairman and vice chairman of the
board, the chief executive officer shall preside over the meetings of the
Trustees and of the shareholders at which he shall be present.
Section 5. CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER. The Trustees may designate a chief
operating officer from among the elected officers. Said officer will have the
responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Trustees or the chief executive
officer.
Section 6. CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER. The Trustees may designate a chief
financial officer from among the elected officers. Said officer will have the
responsibilities and duties as set forth by the Trustees or the chief executive
officer.
Section 7. CHAIRMAN AND VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD. The chairman of the
board shall preside over the meetings of the Trustees and of the shareholders at
which he shall be present and shall in general oversee all of the business and
affairs of the Trust. In the absence of the chairman of the board, the vice
chairman of the board shall preside at such meetings at which he shall be
present. The chairman and the vice chairman of the board may execute any deed,
mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the
execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Trustees or by these
Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law
to be otherwise executed. The chairman of the board and the vice chairman of
the board shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him or them by
the Trustees.
Section 8. PRESIDENT. In the absence of the chairman, the vice chairman
of the board and the chief executive officer, the president shall preside over
the meetings of the Trustees and of
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the shareholders at which he shall be present. In the absence of a designation
of a chief executive officer by the Trustees, the president shall be the chief
executive officer and shall be ex officio a member of all committees that may,
from time to time, be constituted by the Trustees. The president may execute
any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where
the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Trustees or by these
Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Trust or shall be required by law
to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to
the office of president and such other duties as may be prescribed by the
Trustees from time to time.
Section 9. VICE PRESIDENTS. In the absence of the president or in the
event of a vacancy in such office, the vice president (or in the event there be
more than one vice president, the vice presidents in the order designated at the
time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in the order
of their election) shall perform the duties of the president and when so acting
shall have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the
president; and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to him by the president or by the Trustees. The Trustees may designate
one or more vice presidents as executive vice president or as vice president for
particular areas of responsibility.
Section 10. SECRETARY. The secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the
proceedings of the shareholders, the Trustees and committees of the Trustees in
one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly
given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the trust records and of the seal of the Trust; (d) keep a
register of the post office address of each shareholder which shall be furnished
to the secretary by such shareholder; (e) have general charge of the share
transfer books of the Trust; and (f) in general perform such other duties as
from time to time may be assigned to him by the chief executive officer, the
president or by the Trustees.
Section 11. TREASURER. The treasurer shall have the custody of the funds
and securities of the Trust and shall keep full and accurate accounts of
receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Trust and shall deposit all
moneys and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Trust in
such depositories as may be designated by the Trustees.
The treasurer shall disburse the funds of the Trust as may be ordered by
the Trustees, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to
the president and Trustees, at the regular meetings of the Trustees or whenever
they may require
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it, an account of all his transactions as treasurer and of the financial
condition of the Trust.
If required by the Trustees, the treasurer shall give the Trust a bond in
such sum and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the
Trustees for the faithful performance of the duties of his office and for the
restoration to the Trust, in case of his death, resignation, retirement or
removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other property
of whatever kind in his possession or under his control belonging to the Trust.
Section 12. ASSISTANT SECRETARIES AND ASSISTANT TREASURERS. The assistant
secretaries and assistant treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as
shall be assigned to them by the secretary or treasurer, respectively, or by the
president or the Trustees. The assistant treasurers shall, if required by the
Trustees, give bonds for the faithful performance of their duties in such sums
and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Trustees.
Section 13. SALARIES. The salaries and other compensation of the officers
shall be fixed from time to time by the Trustees and no officer shall be
prevented from receiving such salary or other compensation by reason of the fact
that he is also a Trustee.
ARTICLE VI
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
Section 1. CONTRACTS. The Trustees may authorize any officer or agent to
enter into any contract or to execute and deliver any instrument in the name of
and on behalf of the Trust and such authority may be general or confined to
specific instances. Any agreement, deed, mortgage, lease or other document
executed by one or more of the Trustees or by an authorized person shall be
valid and binding upon the Trustees and upon the Trust when authorized or
ratified by action of the Trustees.
Section 2. CHECKS AND DRAFTS. All checks, drafts or other orders for the
payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of
the Trust shall be signed by such officer or agent of the Trust in such manner
as shall from time to time be determined by the Trustees.
Section 3. DEPOSITS. All funds of the Trust not otherwise employed shall
be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Trust in such banks, trust
companies or other depositories as the Trustees may designate.
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ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 1. CERTIFICATES. Each shareholder shall be entitled to a
certificate or certificates which shall represent and certify the number of
shares of each class of beneficial interests held by him in the Trust. Each
certificate shall be signed by the chairman, the president or a vice president
and countersigned by the secretary or an assistant secretary or the treasurer or
an assistant treasurer and may be sealed with the seal, if any, of the Trust.
The signatures may be either manual or facsimile. Certificates shall be
consecutively numbered; and if the Trust shall, from time to time, issue several
classes of shares, each class may have its own number series. A certificate is
valid and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an
officer when it is issued. Each certificate representing shares which are
restricted as to their transferability or voting powers, which are preferred or
limited as to their dividends or as to their allocable portion of the assets
upon liquidation or which are redeemable at the option of the Trust, shall have
a statement of such restriction, limitation, preference or redemption provision,
or a summary thereof, plainly stated on the certificate. In lieu of such
statement or summary, the Trust may set forth upon the face or back of the
certificate a statement that the Trust will furnish to any shareholder, upon
request and without charge, a full statement of such information.
Section 2. TRANSFERS. Certificates shall be treated as negotiable and
title thereto and to the shares they represent shall be transferred by delivery
thereof to the same extent as those of a Maryland stock corporation. Upon
surrender to the Trust or the transfer agent of the Trust of a share certificate
duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or
authority to transfer, the Trust shall issue a new certificate to the person
entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction upon its
books.
The Trust shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or
shares as the holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on
the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other
notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of
Maryland.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of beneficial interest
of the Trust will be subject in all respects to the Declaration of Trust and all
of the terms and conditions contained therein.
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Section 3. REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATE. Any officer designated by the
Trustees may direct a new certificate to be issued in place of any certificate
previously issued by the Trust alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed
upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the
certificate to be lost, stolen or destroyed. When authorizing the issuance of a
new certificate, an officer designated by the Trustees may, in his discretion
and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such
lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owner's legal representative to
advertise the same in such manner as he shall require and/or to give bond, with
sufficient surety, to the Trust to indemnify it against any loss or claim which
may arise as a result of the issuance of a new certificate.
Section 4. CLOSING OF TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING OF RECORD DATE. The
Trustees may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of shareholders or
determining shareholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the
allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of
shareholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be
prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be
not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of shareholders not less
than ten days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action
requiring such determination of shareholders of record is to be held or taken.
In lieu of fixing a record date, the Trustees may provide that the share
transfer books shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than 20 days.
If the share transfer books are closed for the purpose of determining
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such
books shall be closed for at least ten days before the date of such meeting.
If no record date is fixed and the share transfer books are not closed for
the determination of shareholders, (a) the record date for the determination of
shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall
be at the close of business on the day on which the notice of meeting is mailed
or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is the closer date to the meeting;
and (b) the record date for the determination of shareholders entitled to
receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the
close of business on the day on which the resolution of the Trustees, declaring
the dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted.
When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall
apply to any adjournment thereof, except when (i) the determination has been
made through the closing of the transfer books and the stated period of closing
has expired
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or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than 120 days after the record
date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which case a new record date
shall be determined as set forth herein.
Section 5. STOCK LEDGER. The Trust shall maintain at its principal office
or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or
duplicate share ledger containing the name and address of each shareholder and
the number of shares of each class held by such shareholder.
Section 6. FRACTIONAL SHARES; ISSUANCE OF UNITS. The Trustees may issue
fractional shares or provide for the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and
under such conditions as they may determine. Notwithstanding any other
provision of the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, the Trustees may issue
units consisting of different securities of the Trust. Any security issued in a
unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities issued by
the Trust, except that the Trustees may provide that for a specified period
securities of the Trust issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of
the Trust only in such unit.
ARTICLE VIII
ACCOUNTING YEAR
The Trustees shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal
year of the Trust by a duly adopted resolution.
ARTICLE IX
DISTRIBUTIONS
Section 1. AUTHORIZATION. Dividends and other distributions upon the
shares of beneficial interest of the Trust may be authorized and declared by the
Trustees, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.
Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or shares of the
Trust, subject to the provisions of law and the Declaration of Trust.
Section 2. CONTINGENCIES. Before payment of any dividends or other
distributions, there may be set aside out of any funds of the Trust available
for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Trustees may from
time to time, in their absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for
contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or
maintaining any property of the Trust, for investment or for such other purpose
as the Trustees shall determine to be in
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the best interest of the Trust, and the Trustees may modify or abolish any such
reserve in the manner in which it was created.
ARTICLE X
INVESTMENT POLICY
Subject to the provisions of the Declaration of Trust, the Board of
Trustees may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or
policies with respect to investments by the Trust as it shall deem appropriate
in its sole discretion.
ARTICLE XI
SEAL
Section 1. SEAL. The Trustees may authorize the adoption of a seal by the
Trust. The seal shall have inscribed thereon the name of the Trust and the year
of its formation. The Trustees may authorize one or more duplicate seals and
provide for the custody thereof.
Section 2. AFFIXING SEAL. Whenever the Trust is permitted or required to
affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of
any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word "(SEAL)"
adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on
behalf of the Trust.
ARTICLE XII
INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES
To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to
time, the Trust shall indemnify (a) any Trustee or officer or any former
Trustee or officer (including among the foregoing, for all purposes of this
Article XII and without limitation, any individual who, while a Trustee or
officer and at the express request of the Trust, serves or has served another
real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust,
employee benefit plan or any other enterprise as a director, officer, partner or
trustee of such real estate investment trust, corporation, partnership, joint
venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise) who has been
successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of a proceeding to which
he was made a party by reason of service in such capacity, against reasonable
expenses incurred by him in connection with the proceeding and (b) any Trustee
or officer or any former Trustee or officer against any
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claim or liability to which he may become subject by reason of such status
unless it is established that (i) his act or omission was material to the matter
giving rise to the proceeding and was committed in bad faith or was the result
of active and deliberate dishonesty, (ii) he actually received an improper
personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of a
criminal proceeding, he had reasonable cause to believe that his act or omission
was unlawful. In addition, the Trust shall, without requiring a preliminary
determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, pay or reimburse,
in advance of final disposition of a proceeding, reasonable expenses incurred by
a Trustee or officer or former Trustee or officer made a party to a proceeding
by reason of such status, provided that, the Trust shall have received (i) a
written affirmation by the Trustee or officer of his good faith belief that he
has met the applicable standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the
Trust as authorized by these Bylaws and (ii) a written undertaking by or on his
behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the Trust if it shall
ultimately be determined that the applicable standard of conduct was not met.
The Trust may, with the approval of its Trustees, provide such indemnification
or payment or reimbursement of expenses to any Trustee or officer or any former
Trustee or officer who served a predecessor of the Trust and to any employee or
agent of the Trust or a predecessor of the Trust. Neither the amendment nor
repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of
the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article, shall
apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of this Article with respect
to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or
adoption.
Any indemnification or payment or reimbursement of the expenses permitted
by these Bylaws shall be furnished in accordance with the procedures provided
for indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be,
under Section 2-418 of the MGCL for directors of Maryland corporations. The
Trust may provide to Trustees or officers such other and further indemnification
or payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, to the fullest
extent permitted by the MGCL, as in effect from time to time, for directors of
Maryland corporations.
ARTICLE XIII
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Whenever any notice is required to be given pursuant to the Declaration of
Trust or Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing,
signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after
the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such
notice.
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Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be
set forth in the waiver of notice, unless specifically required by statute. The
attendance of any person at any meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of
such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose
of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting
is not lawfully called or convened.
ARTICLE XIV
AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
The Trustees shall have the exclusive power to alter, amend or repeal any
provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include any amendments
thereto.
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