Exhibit 3.2
NEW JERSEY RESOURCES CORPORATION
BY-LAWS
Adopted November 20, 1981
Amended November 19, 1982
Amended December 8, 1983
Amended January 29, 1986
Amended and Adopted December 17, 1986
Amended January 27, 1988
Amended November 29, 1995
Amended March 10, 1997
Amended November 17, 1999
Amended July 11, 2007
Amended November 14, 2007
Amended July 14, 2009
ARTICLE I
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1 ELECTION.
The business and affairs of the Company shall be conducted under the
direction of its Board of Directors, which shall have all the powers of the Company except such as
are by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation, or by these By-Laws conferred upon or reserved
to the stockholders. The number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors shall not
be less than three, the exact number to be determined from time to time by resolution adopted by
the affirmative vote of a majority of the entire Board of Directors, each director to hold office
until his or her successor shall have been elected and qualified. The members of the Board of
Directors shall be divided into classes in the manner provided by Paragraph 7 of the Companys
Certificate of Incorporation and shall be elected and serve for such terms of office as are
provided therein.
This Section shall provide the exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations of
persons for election to the Board of Directors at an annual meeting of stockholders or a special
meeting of stockholders pursuant to which persons shall be elected to the Board of Directors, and
only persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these Bylaws shall be
eligible for election as a director.
Nominations of persons for election as directors may be made by (a) the Board of Directors or
(b) by any stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the time of giving of the notice provided
for in this Section and at the time of the meeting of stockholders, who is entitled to vote for the
election of directors at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this
Section (a Nominating Stockholder). Any such Nominating Stockholder may nominate a person or
persons for election as director only if written notice of such Nominating Stockholders intent
(the Nominating Stockholder Notice) is delivered to the Secretary of the Company at the principal
executive offices of the Company (
i
) with respect to an election to be held at an annual
meeting of stockholders, not later than 75 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding
years annual meeting, or as set out below, and (
ii
) with respect to an election to be held
at a special meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, not later than 10 days
following the date on which public announcement (as defined in Article III, Section 1 of these
By-Laws) of the date of such meeting is first made. 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 the anniversary date
of the annual meeting, notice by the Nominating Stockholder must be delivered not later than 75
days prior to such annual meeting, or, if the date of the annual meeting is less than 75 days from
the date on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made, not later than or
the 10
th
day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting
is first made. Notwithstanding anything in the foregoing sentence to the contrary, in the event
that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the Company is increased
and there is no public announcement naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size
of the increased Board of Directors made by the Company at least 85 days prior to the first
anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a Nominating Stockholder Notice required by
this Section 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 of the
Company not later than the close of business on the 10
th
day following the day on which
such public announcement is first made.
1
To be eligible to be a nominee for election or reelection as a director of the Company, a
prospective nominee who is nominated by a Nominating Stockholder must deliver (in accordance with
the time periods prescribed for delivery of the Nominating Stockholder Notice under this Section to
the Secretary of the Company at the principal executive offices of the Company) a written
questionnaire 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 Secretary upon written request). Such prospective nominee must also provide a
written representation and agreement (in the form provided by the Secretary upon written request)
that such person (
i
) is not and will not become a party to (
A
) any agreement,
arrangement or understanding with, and has not given any commitment or assurance to, any person or
entity as to how such person, if elected as a director of the Company, will act or vote on any
issue or question (a Voting Commitment) that has not been disclosed to the Company or (
B
)
any Voting Commitment that could limit or interfere with such persons ability to comply, if
elected as a director of the Company, with such persons fiduciary duties under applicable law,
(
ii
) is not and will not become a party to any agreement, arrangement or understanding with
any person or entity other than the Company with respect to any direct or indirect compensation,
reimbursement or indemnification in connection with service or action as a director that has not
been disclosed therein, and (
iii
) in such persons individual capacity and on behalf of any
person or entity on whose behalf the nomination is being made, would be in compliance, if elected
as a director of the Company, and will comply with, applicable law and all applicable publicly
disclosed corporate governance, conflict of interest, corporate opportunities, confidentiality and
stock ownership and trading policies and guidelines of the Company. For purposes of this Section,
a nominee nominated by a Nominating Stockholder includes any person being considered to fill a
vacancy on the Board of Directors.
The Nominating Stockholder Notice shall set forth (
a
) as to each person whom the
Nominating Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, (
i
)
all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of
proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to and in
accordance with Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange
Act), including, without limitation, such persons written consent to be named in the proxy
statement as a nominee and to serve as a director if elected, and (
ii
) a completed and
signed questionnaire, representation and agreement required by this Section described above and
(
b
) as to the Nominating Stockholder proposing such nomination (
1
) the name and
address, as they appear on the books of the Company, of such Nominating Stockholder, and
(
2
) the class and number of shares of the Company which are owned (beneficially and of
record) by such Nominating Stockholder and owned by any holder of record of the Nominating
Stockholders shares, as of the date of the Nominating Stockholder Notice, and a representation
that the Nominating Stockholder will notify the Company in writing of the class and number of such
shares owned of record and beneficially 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,
(
3
) a description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding with respect to such
nomination between or among the Nominating Stockholder and any of his or her affiliates or
associates, and any others (including their names) acting in concert with any of the foregoing, and
a representation that the
Nominating Stockholder will notify the Company 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, (
4
) a
description of any agreement, arrangement or understanding (including any Derivative Transaction
(as defined below)) that has been entered into as of the date of the Nominating Stockholder Notice
by, or on behalf of, the Nominating Stockholder or any of his or her affiliates or associates, and
a representation that the Nominating Stockholder will notify the Company 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, (
5
) a representation that the Nominating Stockholder is a holder of record or
beneficial owner of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear in
person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice and
(
6
) a representation whether the Nominating Stockholder intends to deliver a proxy
statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at least the percentage of the Companys outstanding
shares required to approve the nomination and/or otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in
support of the nomination.
2
The Company may require any proposed nominee to furnish such other information as it may
reasonably require to determine the eligibility of such proposed nominee to serve as an independent
director of the Company or that could be material to a reasonable stockholders understanding of
the independence, or lack thereof, of such nominee. At the request of the Board of Directors any
person nominated by the Board of Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the
Secretary of the Company that information required to be set forth in a Nominating Stockholder
Notice of nomination which pertains to the nominee. The Chairman of the Board or other person
presiding at a meeting of stockholders, may refuse to acknowledge the nomination of any person not
made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by this Section, and in that event the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.
Subject to limits, if any, contained in the Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors shall be authorized at any time to increase the number of directors and to elect a new
director to fill any such newly created directorship, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote
of the majority of the directors then in office. Any such new director shall hold office until the
next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected.
If the office of any director becomes vacant for any reason, any such vacancy shall be filled
by the Board of Directors, by resolution adopted by the affirmative vote of the majority of the
remaining directors then in office. Any such new director shall hold office for the unexpired term
and until his or her successor is elected. The stockholders may fill a directorship resulting from
a vacancy or from an increase in the number of directors only if the Board of Directors shall not
have done so.
The Board of Directors shall be authorized at any time by resolution to increase the number of
directors and, by a majority vote, to elect a new director to fill any such newly created
directorship. Any such new director shall hold office until the next Annual Stockholders Meeting
and until his or her successor is elected.
3
A director, or the entire Board of Directors may be removed only for cause and only by the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 80% of the voting power of the voting stock.
For purposes of this Section and Article III, beneficial owner or beneficially owned shall
have the meaning set forth for such terms in Section 13(d) of the Exchange Act and public
disclosure or publicly disclosed shall mean disclosure or disclosed in a press release reported
by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, PR Newswire or comparable news service or in a
document publicly filed or furnished by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
For purposes of this Section and Article III, Section 1, Derivative Transaction means any
agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding entered into by, or on behalf or for the benefit
of, any Nominating Stockholder or Proponent or any of its affiliates or associates, whether record
or beneficial:
(i) the value of which is derived in whole or in part from the value of any class or series of
shares or other securities of the corporation,
(ii) which otherwise provides any direct or indirect opportunity to gain or share in any gain
derived from a change in the value of securities of the corporation,
(iii) the effect or intent of which is to mitigate loss, manage risk or benefit of security
value or price changes, or
(iv) which provides the right to vote or increase or decrease the voting power of, such
Nominating Stockholder or Proponent, or any of its affiliates or associates, with respect to any
securities of the corporation,
which agreement, arrangement, interest or understanding may include, without limitation, any
option, warrant, debt position, note, bond, convertible security, swap, stock appreciation right,
short position, profit interest, hedge, right to dividends, voting agreement, performance-related
fee or arrangement to borrow or lend shares (whether or not subject to payment, settlement,
exercise or conversion in any such class or series), and any proportionate interest of such
Nominating Stockholder or Proponent in the securities of the corporation held by any general or
limited partnership, or any limited liability company, of which such Nominating Stockholder or
Proponent is, directly or indirectly, a general partner or managing member.
Section 2 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS.
As soon as practicable, after the Annual Meeting of
Stockholders, the Board of Directors shall meet for organization and elect a Chairman, who shall
not
ex officio
be deemed an officer or employee of the Company unless expressly so
designated by the Board as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. The Chairman shall preside
at all meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may also elect a Vice Chairman,
who shall not
ex officio
be deemed an officer or employee of the Company, but who shall
preside at any meeting of the Board of Directors in the absence of the Chairman.
Regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held in alternate months on the last
Wednesday of each month unless otherwise determined by resolution of the Board. The time and
place of each meeting shall be designated by resolution of the Board, Chairman, the President, or
the Secretary in the notice of meeting.
4
Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called at any time by the Chairman or the
President. The Secretary shall also call such meeting on the written request of a majority of the
directors.
No notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Board of Directors, provided the time
and place shall have been previously fixed by resolution of the Board. The meeting for
organization may be held on the day of and after the annual meeting of stockholders. Two days
notice of a special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be given, but this notice may be waived
at any time in writing or by telegraph. A meeting may be held at any time without notice when all
directors are present and consent thereto. The Board of Directors may also act without a meeting
by unanimous written consent which shall be filed with the minutes of the Board.
At all meetings of the Board of Directors, the presence in person or by telephonic conference
call of a majority of directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A
lesser number than a quorum, however, may meet and adjourn to any day.
Section 3 REMUNERATION.
Directors, other than Company Officers, shall receive remuneration
in such amount as shall be fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
ARTICLE II
OFFICERS
Section 1 APPOINTMENT.
The Board of Directors shall, as soon as practicable after the
Annual Meeting, meet for organization and shall elect or appoint a president; such number of Vice
Presidents as the Board may direct; Treasurer; and a Secretary, any of whom may but need not be a
director, except that the officer designated as the Chief Executive Officer as provided herein must
be one of the directors.
The Board of Directors shall further designate either the Chairman of the Board, or the
President, as the Chief Executive Officer of the Company. In the event that the Chairman of the
Board is designated by the Board of Directors as the Chief Executive Officer, the president shall
be the Chief Operating Officer of the Company. In the event that the President is designated as
the Chief Executive Officer, the Board may, in its discretion, designate a Vice President as the
Chief Operating Officer. The Board of Directors shall further designate an officer as the Chief
Financial Officer of the Company.
The Board of Directors may also elect or appoint one or more Assistant Vice Presidents,
Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries, and such other officers as the Board shall from time
to time deem necessary, who shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as may be
prescribed in these By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Any two or more offices may be held by the same person. All of said officers shall hold their
offices at the pleasure of the Board.
5
Section 2 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER.
The Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all
meetings of the stockholders and shall have, under the direction of the Board of Directors, overall
executive responsibility for the supervision, management, and control of the business of the
Company and of all departments of the Companys operations; the Chief Executive Officer shall sign
all certificates of stock and all contracts and other instruments in the name of the Company,
unless otherwise ordered by the Board; and shall have the authority and responsibility to do and
perform all other duties as provided by law, by these By-Laws, or which are otherwise incidental to
his or her office.
Section 3 CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER.
The Chief Operating Officer, if there be any such
officer so designated, shall have general responsibility for the operation and administration of
the business of the Company subject to the direction and control of the Chief Executive Officer and
of the Board of Directors. The Chief Operating Officer shall perform such other duties as may be
delegated or assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Board of Directors,
and in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer shall perform the
duties of the Chief Executive Officer, and the performance of any such duty by the Chief Operating
Officer shall be conclusive evidence of his or her right to act.
Section 4 CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER.
The Chief Financial Officer shall have overall
responsibility for the preparation and maintenance of the Companys financial books and records,
for the accuracy and integrity of all reports of the Companys financial condition which are
prepared or issued under his or her authority, and for the financial affairs; and requirements of
the Company. Upon request, the Chief Financial Officer shall make a report of the financial
condition of the Company to the Board of Directors or to the Chief Executive Officer, and shall
perform such other duties as may be delegated or assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors
or by the Chief Executive Officer.
Section 5 VICE PRESIDENTS.
Each Vice President shall have such powers and shall perform
such duties as may be delegated or assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, by the Chief
Executive Officer (if other than the President), by the President, or by the Chief Operating
Officer (if other than the President), and in the absence of the President: the Vice Presidents
severally, in the order to be designated by the Chief Executive Officer, shall perform the duties
of the President, and the performance of any such duty by a Vice President shall be conclusive
evidence of his or her right to act.
Section 6 ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT.
Each Assistant Vice President shall have such powers
and perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, by the Chief
Executive Officer (if other than the President), by the President, or by any Vice President and the
performance of any such duty shall be conclusive evidence of his or her right to act.
Section 7 SECRETARY.
The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the Board of
Directors and Committees thereof, and of the stockholders, and shall give all notices of meetings
of the stockholders, and of the Board of Directors and Committees thereof. The Secretary shall
have custody of all deeds, contracts, agreements, and other records, except as otherwise provided
in these By-Laws, or by the Board of Directors, and shall attend to such correspondence of the
Company as the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer shall
direct. The Secretary shall be the custodian of the seal of the Company and shall affix it to any
instrument requiring the same, except as otherwise provided herein or by the Board of Directors.
The Secretary shall further perform such other duties as may be delegated or assigned to him or her
by the Board of Directors, or by the Chief Executive Officer, and the performance of any such duty
shall be conclusive evidence of his or her right to act.
6
Section 8 ASSISTANT SECRETARY.
Each Assistant Secretary, if there be any such officer,
shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors, by the Chief
Executive Officer, or by the Secretary and the performance of any such duties shall be conclusive
evidence of his or her right to act.
Section 9 TREASURER.
The Treasurer shall have charge of all receipts and disbursements of
the Company and shall be the custodian of the Companys funds. The Treasurer shall have full
authority to receive and give receipts for all monies due and payable to the Company from any
source whatever, and to endorse checks, drafts and warrants in its name and on its behalf, and full
discharge for the same to give. The Treasurer shall also have full authority to sign all checks,
notes, drafts and certificates of stock. A report of the financial condition of the Company shall
be made by the Treasurer or to the Chief Executive Officer whenever so requested by either of them.
The Treasurer shall further perform such other duties as may be delegated or assigned to him or
her by the Board of Directors, by the Chief Executive Officer, or by the Chief Financial Officer,
and the performance of any such duty shall be conclusive evidence of his or her right to act.
Section 10 ASSISTANT TREASURER.
Each Assistant Treasurer, if there be any such officer,
shall have such powers and shall perform such duties as may be assigned to him or her by the Board
of Directors, or by the Chief Executive Officer, by the Chief Financial Officer, or by the
Treasurer, and the performance of any such duty shall be conclusive evidence of his or her right to
act.
ARTICLE III
STOCKHOLDERS MEETINGS
Section 1 ANNUAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS.
The annual meeting of the stockholders shall be
held on the last Wednesday in the month of January in each year, at the hour of 10:30 a.m., at the
principal office of the Company in New Jersey, or at such other date, time and place as may be
fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors and set forth in the notice of the
meeting, for the purpose of electing directors and transacting such other business as may properly
come before the meeting.
At an annual meeting of the stockholders, only such business (other than nominations of
directors, which must be made in compliance with, and shall be exclusively governed by Article I,
Section 1) shall be conducted as shall have been properly brought before an annual meeting. To be
properly brought before an annual meeting, business must be (
i
) specified in the notice of
the meeting (or any supplement thereto) given by or at the direction of the Board of Directors,
(
ii
) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (
iii
) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by a stockholder of the
Company who was
a stockholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this
Section (the Proponent). For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a
Proponent, the Proponent must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the
Company, at the principal executive offices of the Company. To be timely, a Proponents notice
shall be delivered not less than 75 days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years
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
stockholder, to be timely, must be so delivered not later than the 75th day prior to such annual
meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement (as defined herein) of the
date of such meeting is first made.
7
Such Proponents notice shall set forth as to each matter the Proponent proposes to bring
before the annual meeting (
i
) 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,
(
ii
) the name and address, as they appear on the Companys books, of the Proponent
proposing such business, (
iii
) the class and number of shares of the Company which are,
directly or indirectly, owned by the Proponent (beneficially and of record) and owned by any holder
of record of the Proponents shares, as of the date of the notice, and a representation that the
Proponent will notify the Company in writing of the class and number of such shares owned
beneficially and of record 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, (
iv
) any
material interest of the Proponent in such business, (
v
) a description of any agreement,
arrangement or understanding with respect to such business 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 Company 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 Transaction (as defined in Article I, Section 1)) that has been entered
into as of the date of the Proponents notice by, or on behalf of, the Proponent or any of its
affiliates or associates, and a representation that the Proponent will notify the Company 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
or beneficial owner of shares of the Company entitled to vote at the meeting and intends to appear
in person or by proxy at the meeting to propose such business, (
viii
) a representation
whether the Proponent intends to deliver a proxy statement and/or form of proxy to holders of at
least the percentage of the Companys outstanding shares required to approve the proposal and/or
otherwise to solicit proxies from stockholders in support of the proposal and (ix) in the event
that such matter includes a proposal to amend either the Certificate of Incorporation or the
By-Laws of the Company, the language of the proposed amendment.
For the purposes of this Section and Article I, Section 1, public announcement shall mean
disclosure in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or
comparable national news service or in a document publicly filed by the Company with the Securities
and Exchange Commission pursuant to Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
8
The Chairman of an annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the
meeting that business was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the provisions
of this Section, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting
and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted. This
Section shall provide the exclusive means for a stockholder to submit business (other than the
nomination of a person for election as a director, which is governed by Article I, Section 1 above)
before a meeting of stockholders.
Notwithstanding this Section, a stockholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder with respect to the
matters set forth in this Section;
provided, however,
that any references in this Section to the
Exchange Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder are not intended to and shall not
limit the requirements applicable to proposals as to any other business to be considered pursuant
to this Section. Nothing in this Section shall be deemed to affect any rights of stockholders to
request inclusion of proposals in the Companys proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the
Exchange Act.
Each share of stock entitled to vote at any meeting shall be entitled to one vote, which vote
may be given either in person or by proxy, but no proxy shall be valid for more than eleven months
unless a longer time is expressly provided therein, but in no event shall a proxy be valid after
three years from the date of execution.
Every proxy shall be executed in writing by the stockholder or his or her agent, except that a
proxy may be given by a stockholder or his or her agent by telegram, cable, telephonic transmission
or by any other means of electronic communication so long as that telegram, cable telephonic
transmission or other means of electronic communication either sets forth or is submitted with
information from which it can be determined that the proxy was authorized by the stockholder or his
or her agent.
Section 2 SPECIAL MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS.
Special meetings of the stockholders may be
called at any time by the Chief Executive Officer, or upon the order of the Board of Directors, or
upon the written request of the holders of a majority of the capital stock outstanding at the time
and entitled to vote there at.
Section 3 NOTICE OF MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS; POSTPONEMENT OF MEETINGS; OPENING AND CLOSING
OF POLLS.
Unless waived, written notice of the time, place, and purpose or purposes of all
stockholders meetings, either annual or special, shall be given by the Secretary not less than ten
nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, to each
stockholder entitled to vote at the meeting at his or her last post office address as shown on the
books of the Company.
Any previously scheduled annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be postponed by
resolution of the Board of Directors upon public announcement made on or prior to the date
previously scheduled for such annual or special meeting.
The date and time for the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter to be voted
upon at any meeting of stockholders shall be announced at the meeting by or pursuant to the
direction of the officer presiding at the meeting.
9
Section 4 RECORD DATES
. The Board of Directors by resolution shall have power to fix in
advance a date, not exceeding sixty days or less than ten days preceding the date of any meeting of
stockholders, and not exceeding sixty days preceding the date for the payment of any dividend, or
the date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of
capital stock shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders
vote at any such meeting or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or any such allotment
of rights or to exercise the rights in respect to any such change, conversion or exchange of
capital stock, and in such case stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be exclusively
entitled to such notice of and to vote at such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or
allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, not withstanding any transfer
of any stock on the books of the Company after any such record date so fixed as aforesaid.
Section 5 QUORUM OF STOCKHOLDERS.
At any meeting of the stockholders, the holders of a
majority of all the shares of the capital stock of the Company entitled to vote at such meeting,
present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum of the stockholders for all
purposes, unless the representation of a larger number shall be required by law, and in that case,
the representation of the number so required shall constitute a quorum.
If the holders of the amount of stock necessary to constitute a quorum shall fail to attend in
person or by proxy at the time and place fixed by these By-Laws for an annual meeting or fixed by
notice as above provided for a special meeting, a majority in interest of the stockholders present
in person or by proxy may adjourn from time to time, without notice other than by announcement at
the meeting, until holders of the amount of stock requisite to constitute a quorum shall attend.
At any 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 called.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
The Board of Directors may appoint an Executive Committee of
not less than three of its members, including
ex officio
the Chairman of the Board and the
Chief Executive Officer (if other than the Chairman). The Chairman shall,
ex officio
be
the Chairman of the Executive Committee and shall preside at its meetings.
The Executive Committee shall hold regular meetings at such times and places as shall be
designated by resolution of the Board or of the Committee, or in the notice of meeting. Special
meetings of the Executive Committee may be called at any time by the Chairman or by the Chief
Executive Officer (if other than the Chairman) and shall be called upon the written request of a
majority of the members thereof.
10
No notice shall be required for regular meetings of the Executive Committee, provided the time
and place thereof shall have been previously fixed by resolution of the Board or the
Committee. Two days notice of a special meeting of the Executive Committee shall be given to each
member, but this notice may be waived by such member at any time in writing or by telegraph. A
meeting of the Executive Committee may be held at any time without notice when all the members are
present and consent thereto. The Executive Committee may also act without a meeting, by unanimous
written consent of the members thereof which shall be filed with the minutes of the Board. At
every meeting of the Executive Committee, the presence in person or by telephonic conference call,
of a majority of the members thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
During the intervals between the meetings of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee
shall possess and may exercise all the powers of the Board of Directors as may be permitted by law
in the management and direction of the business and the conduct of the affairs of the Company, in
such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem best for the interests of the Company, in all
cases in which specific directions shall not have been given by the Board of Directors.
All action taken by the Executive Committee shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its
meeting next succeeding such action.
Section 2 AUDIT COMMITTEE.
The Board of Directors shall designate an Audit Committee, which
shall consist of three or more directors, each of whom shall satisfy the independence requirements
of the New York Stock Exchange and the Companys Corporate Governance Guidelines, each as then in
effect. The Audit Committee shall fix its own rules of procedure and a majority of the members
serving shall constitute a quorum. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee shall be set forth
in the Audit Committees charter as approved by the Board of Directors.
Section 3 OTHER COMMITTEES.
The Board of Directors may, from time to time, appoint such
other committees for any purpose or purposes as the Board may deem appropriate, which shall have
such powers as shall be specified in the resolution of appointment.
Section 4 RECORDS AND REPORTS.
All committees shall keep full records of their proceedings,
and shall report from time to time to the Board, as called upon by the Board, or as provided by
these By-Laws.
Section 5 REMUNERATION.
Directors, other than Company Officers, shall receive such
compensation for their services as a member of any Committee of the Board in such amount as shall
be fixed by the Board of Directors from time to time.
11
ARTICLE V
COMPANY STOCK
Section 1 STOCK CERTIFICATES.
The Certificates for shares of capital stock of the Company
shall be in such form as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe and as may be
required by New Jersey law. Certificates for shares of capital stock of the Company shall be
signed by the President and Chief Executive Officer or a Vice President (including any Executive or
Senior Vice Presidents) and countersigned by the Treasurer or an
Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary. Each certificate of stock shall
certify the number of shares owned by the stockholder in the Company. The shares of capital stock
of the Company shall be represented by certificates unless the Board of Directors shall by
resolution provide that some or all of any class or series of capital stock of the Company shall be
uncertificated shares. Any such resolution shall not apply to shares represented by a certificate
until the certificate is surrendered to the Company. Notwithstanding the adoption of any
resolution providing for uncertificated shares of capital stock, every holder of shares of capital
stock represented by certificates and upon request every holder of uncertificated shares of capital
stock shall be entitled to have a certificate representing the number of shares of capital stock
registered in certificate form. Any or all signatures upon a certificate may be facsimiles.
Section 2 TRANSFER OF SHARES.
Shares of Company stock shall be transferred on the books of
the Company only (1) upon presentation and surrender of the appropriate certificate by the
registered holder of such shares in person or by his or her duly authorized attorney or by a person
presenting proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer such shares and, in
any of such cases, cancellation of a certificate or of certificates for an equivalent number of
shares or (2) in the case of uncertificated shares upon receipt of proper transfer instructions
from the registered holder of such shares or from a duly authorized attorney or upon presentation
of proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer such shares.
Section 3
LOST CERTIFICATES OF STOCK.
In case of loss, destruction or mutilation of any
certificate for shares of capital stock of the Company, pursuant to the laws of the State of New
Jersey relating to lost, destroyed or mutilated certificates for shares of capital stock, the
Company may require the holder of record to furnish such information as the Board of Directors may
require to ascertain whether such certificate has been lost, destroyed or mutilated. In addition,
the Board of Directors may require that such holder of record give a bond of indemnity to the
Company in such form and in such sum as the Board of Directors may direct, and to comply with any
other terms the Board of Directors may lawfully prescribe, provided that the Board of Directors may
elect not to require any bond when, in the judgment of the Board of Directors, it is proper so to
do. Upon satisfactory completion by the holder of record of the requirements imposed by the Board
of Directors, the Company shall deliver to the holder of record either a duplicate certificate for
such shares of capital stock or evidence of the holders ownership of such shares of capital stock
in uncertificated form, as the Board of Directors so determines.
Section 4 STOCKHOLDER LIST.
It shall be the duty of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary to
prepare, at least ten days before every stockholders meeting, a true, full, and complete list of
all the stockholders of the Company entitled to vote at the ensuing meeting, with the residence or
other address of record of each and with the number of shares held by each, which list shall be
made and arranged in alphabetical order, and shall, at all times during the usual hours for
business, be open to the examination of any stockholder.
12
ARTICLE VI
STOCK OF OTHER CORPORATIONS
Section 1 VOTING OF STOCK.
Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chief
Executive Officer or the President of the Company or, in his, her or their absence, any Vice
President, shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Company to attend and to act and
to vote at any meetings of stockholders of any corporation in which the Company may hold stock,
and at any such meeting shall possess and may exercise any and all the rights and powers
incident to the ownership of such stock, and which as the owner thereof, the Company might have
possessed and exercised. The Board of Directors or the Executive Committee, by resolution, from
time to time may confer like powers upon any other person or persons.
Section 2 WAIVERS AND CONSENTS.
Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the
Chief Executive Officer or the President of the Company or in his, her or their absence, any
Vice President, shall have full power and authority on behalf of the Company to waive notice of
any meeting of stockholders of any corporation in which the Company may hold stock, and to
authorize or approve and consent in writing to any action by any such corporation to the same
extent and with the same force and effect as an individual stockholder of such corporation.
ARTICLE VII
FISCAL YEAR
Section 1.
The fiscal year of the Company shall begin on October first of each year.
ARTICLE VIII
SEAL
Section 1.
The seal of the Company shall be similar to the impression contained in the
margin opposite hereto. It may at any time be changed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
13
ARTICLE IX
INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS
Section 1.
Each person who is a party or is threatened to be made a party, either as
plaintiff, defendant, respondent, or otherwise, to any action, suit, or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative, regulatory or investigative (a Proceeding), based upon,
arising from, relating to, or by reason of the fact that such person, or a person of whom such
person is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the Company, or is or was
serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or
agent of another foreign or domestic corporation or non-profit corporation, cooperative,
partnership, joint venture, trust, or other incorporated or unincorporated enterprise, or any
employee benefit plan or trust (each, a Company Affiliate), shall be indemnified and held
harmless by the Company to the fullest extent authorized by the NJBCA, as the same exists on the
date of the adoption of this By-Law [March 12, 1997] or as may hereafter be amended (but, in the
case of any such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Company to
provide broader indemnification rights than the NJBCA permitted the Company to provide prior to
such amendment), against any and all expenses, liability, and loss (including, without
limitation, investigation expenses and expert witnesses and attorneys retainer, fees and
expenses, judgments, penalties, fines, and amounts paid or to be paid in settlement) actually
incurred by such person in connection therewith; provided, however, that, except for Proceedings
seeking to enforce rights under this By-Law, the Company shall indemnify any such person seeking
to enforce such rights in connection with a Proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such
person only if such Proceeding (or part thereof) was authorized by a majority vote of the Board
of Directors. The right to indemnification conferred in this Article IX shall be a contract
right and shall include the right to be paid by the Company for expenses to be incurred in
defending or prosecuting any such Proceeding in advance of its final disposition.
Section 2.
The right to indemnification and the payment of expenses incurred in defending
a Proceeding in advance of its final disposition conferred in this Article IX shall not be
exclusive of any other right which any person may be entitled under any statute, provision of
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, or By-Law, an agreement, a resolution of stockholders
or directors, or otherwise both as to action in such persons official capacity and as to action
in another capacity while holding such office.
Section 3.
The Company may purchase and maintain insurance or furnish similar protection
on behalf of any person who is a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company or who,
while a director, officer, employee, or agent of the Company, is serving at the request of the
Company as a director, officer, partner, trustee, employee, or agent of a Company Affiliate,
against any liability asserted against and incurred by such director, officer, employee, or
agent in such capacity or arising out of such directors, officers, employees, or agents
status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify such director,
officer, employee, or agent against such liability under the NJBCA.
Section 4.
The Board of Directors, or, if so authorized by the Board of Directors and as
it relates to the employees or agents of the Company, one or more officers of the Company, may
indemnify and advance expenses to directors, officers, employees or agents of the Company on
such terms and conditions as the Board of Directors or any such officer or officers, as
applicable, deem appropriate under the circumstances.
14
Section 5.
Anything in this Article IX to the contrary notwithstanding, no elimination of
this By-Law and no amendment of this By-Law adversely affecting the right of any person to
indemnification or advancement of expenses hereunder shall be effective until the sixtieth day
following notice to such indemnified person of such action, and no elimination of or amendment
to this By-Law shall deprive any such person of such persons rights hereunder arising out of
alleged or actual occurrences, acts, or failures to act which had their origin prior to such
sixtieth day.
Section 6.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted
pursuant to, this Article IX shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized, continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and shall inure to the
benefit of the heirs, executors, and administrators of such a person.
ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS
Section 1.
These By-Laws may be amended or repealed (i) by action of a majority of the
Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, provided notice
of such alteration, amendment, or repeal shall be given in the notice of any such meeting, or
(ii) except as otherwise provided in Paragraphs 6, 7, 8, and 9 of the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, by action of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares
of capital stock of the Company entitled to vote generally in the election of directors,
considered for this purpose as one class.
15