Exhibit 3.2
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS OF
CORPORATE OFFICE PROPERTIES TRUST
(THE TRUST)
(as amended and restated effective December 3, 2009)
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 within a reasonable period, but not less than 30 days, following delivery of the annual report, referred to in Section 12 of this Article II, but in any event within six months after the end of each full fiscal year at a convenient location and on proper notice, on a date and at the time set by the Trustees, beginning with the year 1999. Failure to hold an annual meeting does not invalidate the Trusts existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Trust.
Section 3. SPECIAL MEETINGS. The chairman of the board or the president or a majority 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 or her 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 or her post office address as it appears on the records of the Trust, with postage thereon prepaid.
Section 5. SCOPE OF NOTICE. Subject to the requirements of Section 13 of this Article II, 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 or her 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 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,
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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 or her either in person or by proxy executed in writing by the shareholder or by his or her 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 or her 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.
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.
Notwithstanding any other provision contained herein or in the Declaration of Trust or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Corporations and Associations Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland (or any successor statute) shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of beneficial interest of the Trust. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.
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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 her 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 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.
Section 13. NOMINATIONS AND PROPOSALS BY SHAREHOLDERS.
(a) Annual Meetings of Shareholders. (1) Nominations of persons for election or re-election to the Board of Trustees (Nominations) and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders (Proposals) may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (i) pursuant to the Trusts 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 has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13(a).
(2) For a Nomination or a Proposal to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (iii) of paragraph (a) (1) of this Section 13, the record holder of shares intending to make the Nomination or Proposal (the Proponent) must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the secretary of the Trust and such Nomination or Proposal must otherwise be a proper matter for action by shareholders. To be timely, a shareholders notice shall be delivered to the secretary at the principal 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 years 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, 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
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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 shareholders notice as described above. A Proponents notice shall set forth as to each Nomination or Proposal the Proponent proposes to bring before the annual meeting (i) in the case of a Proposal, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual meeting, and in the case of a Nomination, the information described in paragraph (a)(3) of this Section 13 (including a completed and signed questionnaire, representation and agreement as required by paragraph (a)(3) of this Section 13, (ii) the name and address of the Proponent as it appears on the Trusts share transfer books, and of the beneficial owners (if any) of the shares registered in the Proponents name, and the name and address of other shareholders known by the Proponent to be supporting the Proponents position with respect to the Nomination or the Proposal, as the case may be, on the date of the Proponents notice to the Secretary, (iii) the class and number of shares of the Trust that are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned, held of record or represented by proxy by the Proponent and by any other shareholders known by the Proponent to be supporting the Proponents position with respect to the Nomination or the Proposal, as the case may be, on the date of the Proponents notice, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Trust in writing of the class and number of such shares that are, directly or indirectly, beneficially owned, held of record or represented by proxy by the Proponent and by any other shareholders known by the Proponent to be supporting the Proponents position with respect to the Nomination or the Proposal, as the case may be, as of the record date for the annual meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (iv) in the case of a Proposal, any material interest of the Proponent (and of the beneficial owners, if any, of the shares registered in the Proponents name) in such Proposal, (v) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such Nomination or Proposal, as the case may be, between or among the Proponent and any of its affiliates or associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Trust in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (vi) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any derivative or short positions, profit interests, options, hedging transactions, and borrowed or loaned shares) that has been entered into as of the date of the Proponents notice by, or on behalf of, the Proponent (or the beneficial owners, if any, of the shares registered in the Proponents name) or any of their respective affiliates or associates, the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss to, manage risk or benefit of share price changes for, or increase or decrease the voting power of the Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates with respect to shares of the Trust and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Trust in writing of any such agreement, arrangement or understanding in effect as of the record date for the meeting promptly following the later of the record date or the date notice of the record date is first publicly disclosed, (vii) a representation that the Proponent is a holder of record of shares of the Trust entitled to vote at the annual meeting and that the Proponent or the beneficial owner (if any) of the shares registered in the Proponents name intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to present such Nomination or Proposal, as the case may be, and (viii) in the case of a Proposal, a representation
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that the Proponent or the beneficial owner (if any) of the shares registered in the Proponents name intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Trusts outstanding shares required to approve the Proposal and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from shareholders in support of the Proposal or a representation that the Proponent (or the beneficial owners (if any) of the shares registered in the Proponents name) does not intend to do so.
(3) With respect to each person whom the Proponent proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a Trustee (a Nominee), the Proponents notice shall (i) set forth the name, age, business address and residence address of the Nominee, (ii) set forth the principal occupation or employment of the Nominee, (iii) set forth the class and number of the shares of the Trust which are owned of beneficially and of record by the Nominee on the date of the Proponents notice, (iv) include a completed questionnaire signed by such nominee, with respect to the background and qualification of such person and the background of any other person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made (which questionnaire shall be provided by the Trust upon written request), (v) include a written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Trust upon written request) that the Nominee (1) is not and will not become a party to (A) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or entity as to how the Nominee, if elected as a Trustee of the Trust, will act or vote on any issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed therein or (B) any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with the Nominees ability to comply, if elected as a Trustee of the Trust, with the Nominees standard of care under applicable law, (2) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Trust with respect to any direct or indirect compensation, reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a Trustee that has not been disclosed therein, and (3) in such nominees individual capacity and on behalf of any person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance with, if elected as a Trustee of the Trust, and will comply with, applicable law and all applicable publicly disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, corporate opportunities, confidentiality and share ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Trust, and (vi) set forth such other information concerning the Nominee as would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement soliciting proxies for the election of the Nominee as a Trustee in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or that is otherwise required to be disclosed, under the rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Trust may require any Nominee to furnish such other information as may reasonably be required by the Trust to determine the eligibility of such proposed Nominee to serve as an independent Trustee of the Trust or that could be material to a reasonable shareholders understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Nominee.
(4) 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 years annual meeting, a shareholders 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
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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 Trusts 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 Trusts 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 has 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 (also a Proponent) may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be) for election as a Trustee (also a Nominee) as specified in the Trusts notice of meeting, if the Proponents notice containing the information required by paragraphs (a)(2) and (3) of this Section 13 with respect to a Nomination shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal 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 earlier of the date of the special meeting and or 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 meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a Proponents 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) The requirements of this Section 13 shall apply to any business to be brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder, whether such business is to be included in the Trusts proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 of the Exchange Act or presented to shareholders by means of an independently financed proxy solicitation. 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
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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 the Trusts 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 each shareholder entitled to vote on the matter and any other shareholder entitled to notice of a meeting of shareholders (but not to vote thereat) has waived in writing any right to dissent from such action, and such consent and waiver are 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
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. The tenure of office of a Trustee shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of Trustees. At each annual meeting of shareholders, Trustees elected to succeed those Trustees whose terms expire shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the next succeeding annual meeting of shareholders after their election.
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.
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Section 5. NOTICE. Notice of any special meeting shall be given by written notice delivered personally, by electronic mail, by facsimile, by courier or overnight delivery service or mailed to each Trustee at his or her business or residence address. Personally delivered notices, or notices delivered by courier or overnight delivery service 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, electronic mail or facsimile notice shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. If mailed, notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If given by courier or overnight delivery service, notice shall be deemed to be given when delivered to the courier or overnight delivery service. Telephone notice shall be deemed given when the Trustee is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which he or she is a party. Electronic mail and facsimile notice shall be deemed given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number or e-mail address given to the Trust by the Trustee and confirmation of transmission or 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.
Section 6. QUORUM. A majority of the 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 two Trustees remain). Any vacancy (including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of Trustees) shall be filled, at any regular meeting or at any
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special meeting called for that purpose, by a majority of the Trustees. Any individual so elected as Trustee shall hold office for the unexpired term of the Trustee he or she is replacing.
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 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 only 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 or her duties.
Section 15. RELIANCE. Each Trustee, officer, employee and agent of the Trust shall, in the performance of his or her or her 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.
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
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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 or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee, or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar or in addition to those of or relating to the Trust.
Section 18. RATIFICATION. The Trustees or the shareholders may ratify and make binding on the Trust any action or inaction by the Trust or its officers to the extent that the Trustees or shareholders could have originally authorized the matter. Any action or inaction questioned in any derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the grounds of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a Trustee, officer or shareholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting, or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Trustees or by the shareholders, and if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Trust and its shareholders.
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 two (if there are two or more members of the committee), 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 two (if there are two or more members of the committee) members 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
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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.
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 or disqualified 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 by the Trustees. Each officer shall hold office until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her 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 resign at any time by giving written notice of his or her 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.
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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 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 or she 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 or she 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 or she 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 her 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 the shareholders at which he or she 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 is 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
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shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her 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 or her 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 it, an account of all his or her 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 or her office and for the restoration to the Trust, in case of his or her death, resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other property of whatever kind in his or her possession or under his or her 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 or she is also a Trustee.
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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 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.
ARTICLE VII
SHARES
Section 1. CERTIFICATES The Trusts shares of beneficial interest may be certificated or uncertificated, as provided under Maryland law, and this Section 1 of this Article VII shall not be interpreted to limit the authority of the Trustees to issue some or all of the shares of beneficial interest of any or all of the Trusts classes or series without certificates. Each shareholder, upon written request to the secretary of the Trust, shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates which shall evidence and certify the number of shares of each class of beneficial interests held by him, her or it in the Trust. Each certificate shall be signed by the chief executive officer, 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 evidencing 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; provided, that in the case of shares that are not represented by a
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certificate, no delivery of a certificate shall be required and transfers shall be made on the books of the Trust only by the record holder of such shares or by an attorney lawfully constituted in writing. 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.
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 or her discretion and as a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed certificate or the owners legal representative to advertise the same in such manner as he or she 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
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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 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
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repairing or maintaining any property of the Trust or for such other purpose as the Trustees shall determine to be in 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 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 trustee, director, officer, partner, employee or agent 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 or she was made a party by reason of service in such capacity, against reasonable expenses incurred by him or her in connection with the proceeding, (b) any Trustee or officer or any former Trustee or officer against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject by reason of such status unless it is established that (i) his or her 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 or she actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (iii) in the case of a criminal proceeding, he or she had reasonable cause to believe that his or her act or omission was unlawful and (c) each shareholder or former shareholder against any claim or liability to which he or she may become subject by reason of
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such status. 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, officer or shareholder or former Trustee, officer or shareholder made a party to a proceeding by reason of such status, provided that, in the case of a Trustee or officer, the Trust shall have received (i) a written affirmation by the Trustee or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she 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 or her 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, officer or shareholder or any former Trustee, officer or shareholder 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 and payment or reimbursement of expenses, as the case may be, under Section 2-418 of the MGCL for directors of Maryland corporations as if the Trust were a Maryland corporation. The Trust may provide to Trustees, officers and shareholders 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. 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 adopt, alter or repeal any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws.
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ARTICLE XV
MISCELLANEOUS
All references to the Declaration of Trust shall include any amendments thereto.
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