ML20353A375
| ML20353A375 | |
| Person / Time | |
|---|---|
| Site: | Callaway  |
| Issue date: | 12/12/2014 |
| From: | Ameren Missouri, Union Electric Co |
| To: | Office of Nuclear Security and Incident Response |
| Shared Package | |
| ML20353A355 | List: |
| References | |
| ULNRC-06624 | |
| Download: ML20353A375 (12) | |
Text
Enclosure 17 to ULNRC-06624 BY - LAWS OF UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY AS AMENDED TO 12/12/2014
UNION ELECTRIC COMPANY BYLAWS As Amended to December 12, 2014 ARTICLE I SHAREHOLDERS Section 1. The annual meeting ofthe shareholders ofthe Company shall be held on the fourth Tuesday of April in each year (or if said day be a legal holiday, then on the next succeeding day not a legal holiday), at the registered office ofthe Company in the City of St.
Louis, State of Missouri, or on such other date and at such other place within or without the State of Missouri as may be stated in the notice of meeting, for the purpose of electing directors and of transacting such other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
Section 2. Special meetings ofthe shareholders may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution adopted by a majority of the total number of directors which the Company would have ifthere were no vacancies.
Section 3. Written or printed notice of each meeting of shareholders stating the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered or given not less than ten nor more than seventy days before the date of the meeting, either personally or by mail, to each shareholder of record entitled to vote thereat, at his address as it appears, ifat all, on the records ofthe Company. Such further notice shall be given by mail, publication or otherwise as may be required by law. Meetings may be held without notice if all the shareholders entitled to vote thereat are present or represented at the meeting, or if notice is waived by those not present or represented.
Section 4. The holders ofrecord ofa majority ofthe shares ofthe capital stock ofthe Company issued and outstanding, entitled to vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall, except as otherwise provided by law, constitute a quorum at all meetings of the shareholders. If at any meeting there be no such quorum, such holders of a majority of the shares so present or represented may successively adjourn the meeting to a specified date not longer than ninety days after such adjournment, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until such quorum shall have been obtained, when any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. The chairman ofthe meeting or a majority of shares so represented may adjourn the meeting from time to time, whether or not there is such a quorum.
Section 5. Meetings ofthe shareholders shall be presided over by the President or, ifhe is not present, by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or, in any event, by such other person as shall be selected for such purpose by the Board ofDirectors. The Secretary ofthe Company or, ifhe is not present, an Assistant Secretary of the Company or, if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant Secretary is present, a secretary pro tem to be designated by the Board of Directors shall act as secretary ofthe meeting.
Section 6. At all meetings ofthe shareholders every holder ofrecord ofthe shares of the capital stock of the Company, entitled to vote thereat, may vote either in person or by proxy.
Section 7. At all elections for directors the voting shall be by written ballot. Ifthe object of any meeting be to elect directors or to take a vote of the shareholders on any proposition of which notice shall have been given in the notice ofthe meeting, the person presiding at such meeting shall appoint not less than two persons, who are not directors, inspectors to receive and canvass the votes given at such meeting. Any inspector, before he shall enter on the duties of his office, shall take and subscribe an oath, in the manner provided by law, that he will execute the duties of inspector at such meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors shall take charge ofthe polls and after the balloting shall make a certificate ofthe result ofthe vote taken.
Section 8. (a) (1) Nominations ofpersons for election to the Board ofDirectors of the Company and the proposal of business to be considered by the shareholders may be made at an annual meeting of shareholders (a) pursuant to the Company s notice of meeting, (b) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (c) by any shareholder of the Company who was a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw, who is entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw.
(2) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting by a shareholder pursuant to clause (c) ofparagraph (a)(1) ofthis Bylaw, the shareholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary ofthe Company and such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for shareholder action. To be timely, a shareholder s notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Company not later than the close ofbusiness on the 60th day nor earlier than the close ofbusiness on the 90th day prior to the first anniversary ofthe preceding years annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date ofthe annual meeting is more than 30 days before or more than 60 days after 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 not later than the close of business on the later ofthe 60th day prior to such annual meeting or the 1 0th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made by the Company. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment of an annual meeting commence a new time period for the giving of a shareholders notice as described above. Such shareholders notice shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations ofproxies for election ofdirectors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1 934, as amended (the Exchange Act) and Rule 14a-1 1 thereunder (including such persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); (b) as to any other business that the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such shareholder and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalfthe proposal is made; and (c) as to the shareholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the nomination or proposal is made (i) the name and address ofsuch shareholder, as they appear on the Companys books, and ofsuch beneficial owner and (ii) the class and number ofshares ofthe Company which are owned beneficially and of record by such shareholder and such beneficial owner.
(3) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence ofparagraph (a)(2) ofthis Bylaw to the contrary, in the event that the number of directors to be elected to the Board of Directors of the 2
Company is increased and there is no public announcement by the Company naming all of the nominees for director or specifying the size ofthe increased Board ofDirectors at least 70 days prior to the first anniversary ofthe preceding years annual meeting, a shareholders notice required by this Bylaw shall also be considered timely, but only with respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices ofthe Company not later than the close ofbusiness on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement is first made by the Company.
( b) Only such business shall be conducted at a special meeting of shareholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Companys notice ofmeeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of shareholders at which directors are to be elected pursuant to the Company s notice of meeting (1) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (2) provided that the Board of Directors has determined that directors shall be elected at such meeting, by any shareholder ofthe Company who is a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Bylaw, who shall be entitled to vote at the meeting and who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Bylaw. In the event the Company calls a special meeting of shareholders for the purpose of electing one or more directors to the Board ofDirectors, any such shareholder may nominate a person or persons (as the case may be), for election to such position(s) as specified in the Companys notice ofmeeting, if the shareholders notice required by paragraph (a)(2) ofthis Bylaw shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices ofthe Company not earlier than the close ofbusiness on the 90th day prior to such special meeting and not later than the close ofbusiness on the later ofthe 60th day prior to such special meeting or the 1 0th day following the day on which public announcement is first made ofthe date ofthe special meeting and ofthe nominees proposed by the Board of Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of an adjournment ofa special meeting commence a new time period for the giving ofa shareholders notice as described above.
(c) (1) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Bylaw shall be eligible to serve as directors 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 Bylaw. Except as otherwise provided by law, the Articles of Incorporation of the Company (such articles, as they may be amended and/or restated from time to time being referred to herein as the Articles of Incorporation) or these Bylaws, the chairman ofthe 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 Bylaw and, ifany proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Bylaw, to declare that such defective proposal or nomination shall be disregarded.
( 2) For purposes ofthis Bylaw, 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 Section 13, 14 or 15(d) ofthe Exchange Act.
(3) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions ofthis Bylaw, a shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements ofthe Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Bylaw. Nothing in this Bylaw shall be deemed to affect any 3
rights (a) ofshareholders to request inclusion ofproposals in the Companys proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act or (b) ofthe holders ofany series of Preferred Stock to elect directors under specified circumstances.
ARTICLE II DIRECTORS Section 1. The property and business ofthe Company shall be controlled and managed by its Board of Directors. The number of directors to constitute the Board of Directors shall be five; provided, however, that such number may be fixed by the Board of Directors, from time to time, at not less than a minimum ofthree nor more than a maximum offourteen (subject to the rights ofthe holders ofPreferred Stock as set forth in the Articles ofincorporation). Any such change shall be reported to the Secretary of State ofthe State ofMissouri within thirty (30) calendar days of such change. Not less than one member of the Board of Directors shall be a bona fide citizen ofthe State ofMissouri. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, the directors shall hold office until the next annual election and until their successors shall be elected and qualified. A majority ofthe members ofthe Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction ofbusiness, but ifat any meeting ofthe Board there shall be less than a quorum present, a majority ofthe directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until such quorum shall have been obtained, when any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting had a quorum been present.
Section 2. Vacancies in the Board ofDirectors, including vacancies created by newly created directorships, shall be filled in the manner provided in the Articles of Incorporation and, except as otherwise provided therein, the directors so elected shall hold office until their successors shall be elected and qualified.
Section 3. Meetings ofthe Board ofDirectors shall be held at such time and place within or without the State ofMissouri as may from time to time be fixed by resolution ofthe Board, or as may be stated in the notice ofany meeting. Regular meetings ofthe Board shall be held at such time as may from time to time be fixed by resolution ofthe Board, and notice of such meetings need not be given. Special meetings ofthe Board may be held at any time upon call of the President or the Executive Committee, by oral, telegraphic or written notice, duly given or sent or mailed to each director not less than two (2) days before any such meeting. The notice of any meeting of the Board need not specify the purposes thereof except as may be otherwise required by law. Meetings may be held at any time without notice if all of the directors are present or if those not present waive notice ofthe meeting, in writing.
Section 4. The Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board may appoint an Executive Committee, to consist oftwo or more directors, one ofwhom shall be a bona fide citizen of the State of Missouri, as the Board may from time to time determine. The Executive Committee shall have and may exercise to the extent permitted by law, when the Board is not in session, all ofthe powers vested in the Board, except the power to fill vacancies in the Board, the power to fill vacancies in or to change the membership of said Committee, and the power to make or amend Bylaws of the Company. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve, the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee may make rules for the conduct of its business and may appoint such 4
committees and assistants as it shall from time to time deem necessary. A majority ofthe members ofthe Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5. The Board ofDirectors may also appoint one or more other committees to consist of such number ofthe directors and to have such powers as the Board may from time to time determine. The Board shall have the power at any time to fill vacancies in, to change the membership of, or to dissolve, any such committee. A majority of any such committee may determine its action and fix the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide.
ARTICLE III OFFICERS Section 1. As soon as is practicable after the election of directors at the annual meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors shall elect one of its members President of the Company, and shall elect a Secretary. The Board may also elect from its members a Chairman of the Board of Directors (which office may be held by the President) and one or more Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. In addition, the Board may elect one or more Vice Presidents (any one or more of whom may be designated as Senior or Executive Vice Presidents), and a Treasurer, and from time to time may appoint such Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers and other officers, agents, and employees as it may deem proper. The offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by the same person, and a Vice President ofthe Company may also be either the Secretary or the Treasurer.
Section 2. Between annual elections of officers, the Board of Directors may effect such changes in Company offices as it deems necessary or proper.
Section 3. Subject to such limitations as the Board ofDirectors may from time to time prescribe, the officers ofthe Company shall each have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their respective offices, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time may be conferred by the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. The Treasurer and the Assistant Treasurers may be required to give bond for the faithful discharge of their duties, in such sum and of such character as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE IV INDEMNIFICATION Each person who now is or hereafter becomes a director, officer or employee of the Company, or who now is or hereafter becomes a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise at the request ofthe Company, shall be entitled to indemnification to the extent permitted by law and these Bylaws. Such right of indemnification shall include, but not be limited to, the following:
Section 1. (a) The Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, other than an action by or in the right of the Company, by reason ofthe fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee ofthe Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another corporation, 5
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses, including attorneys fees, judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests ofthe Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
The termination of any action, suit, or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nob contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
(b) The Company shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the Company to procure ajudgment in its favor by reason ofthe fact that he is or was a director, officer or employee ofthe Company, or is or was serving at the request ofthe Company as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses, including attorneys fees, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of the action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests ofthe Company; except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to the Company unless and only to the extent that the court in which the action or suit was brought determines upon application that, despite the adjudication ofliability and in view ofall the circumstances ofthe case, the person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which the court shall deem proper.
( c) To the extent that a director, officer or employee ofthe Company or a person who is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit, or proceeding referred to in this Article, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses, including attorneys fees, actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the action, suit, or proceeding.
Unless otherwise expressly provided by the Board of Directors, in no event shall any person who is or was an agent of the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as an employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or enterprise, be entitled to any indemnification by the Company in any action, suit or proceeding, regardless of the fact that such person may have been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein. The preceding sentence is intended to eliminate any right any such person might otherwise have to be indemnified by the Company pursuant to Section 351.355.3. ofthe General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri.
(d) Any indemnification under this Article, unless ordered by a court, shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer or employee is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in this Article. The determination shall be made by the Board of Directors by a majority vote ofa quorum consisting ofdirectors who were not parties to the action, 6
suit, or proceeding, or if such a quorum is not obtainable, or even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or by the shareholders.
Section 2. (a) In addition to the indemnity authorized or contemplated under other Sections of this Article, the Company shall further indemnify to the maximum extent permitted by law, any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, or proceeding (including appeals), whether civil, criminal, investigative (including private Company investigations), or administrative, including an action by or in the right ofthe Company, by reason ofthe fact that the person is or was a director, officer or employee ofthe Company, or is or was serving at the request ofthe Company as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, from and against any and all expenses incurred by such person, including, but not limited to, attorneys fees, judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or proceeding, provided that the Company shall not indemnify any person from or on account of such persons conduct which was finally adjudged to have been knowingly fraudulent, deliberately dishonest or willful misconduct.
(b) Where full and complete indemnification is prohibited by law or public policy, any person referred to in Section 1(a) above who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification nevertheless shall be entitled to partial indemnification to the extent permitted by law and public policy. Furthermore, where full and complete indemnification is prohibited by law or public policy, any person referred to in this Article who would otherwise be entitled to indemnification nevertheless shall have a right of contribution to the extent permitted by law and public policy in cases where said party is heldjointly or concurrently liable with the Company.
Section 3. The indemnification provided by Sections 1 and 2 shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification may be entitled under the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office, and the Company is hereby specifically authorized to provide such indemnification by any agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.
The indemnification shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer or employee entitled to indemnification under this Article and shall inure to the benefit ofthe heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.
Section 4. The Company is authorized to purchase and maintain insurance on behalf of, or provide another method or methods of assuring payment to, any person who is or was a director, officer or employee ofthe Company, or is or was serving at the request ofthe Company as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Company would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the provisions ofthis Article.
Section 5. Expenses incurred by a person who is or was serving as a director or officer of the Company or a person who is or was serving at the request ofthe Company as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 ofthis Article shall be paid by the 7
Company in advance ofthe final disposition ofthe action, suit, or proceeding as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such person to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Company as may be authorized in this Article. Expenses incurred by a person who is or was serving as an employee ofthe Company in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 ofthis Article may be paid by the Company in advance ofthe final disposition ofthe action, suit, or proceeding as may be authorized by the Board of Directors in the specific case upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such employee to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he is entitled to be indemnified by the Company as authorized in this Article.
Section 6. If any provision or portion of this Article shall be held invalid, illegal or unenforceable for any reason whatsoever, the validity, legality and enforceability of all other provisions and portions not specifically held to be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, shall not be affected or impaired thereby and shall be construed according to the original intent, to the extent not precluded by applicable law.
Section 7. For purposes ofthis Article:
( a) References to the Company include all constituent corporations absorbed in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation so that any person who is or was a director, officer or employee of such a constituent corporation or is or was serving at the request ofsuch constituent corporation as a director or officer ofanother corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Article with respect to the resulting or surviving corporation as he would ifhe had served the resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
( b) The term other enterprise shall include employee benefit plans; the term fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a person with respect to an employee benefit plan; and the term serving at the request ofthe Company shall be established as specified below in this Section 7(b) and shall include any service as a director, officer or employee ofthe Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by, such director, officer or employee with respect to an employee benefit plan, its participants, or beneficiaries; and the word include or includes shall be construed in its expansive sense and not as a limiter; and a person who acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in the interest ofthe participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests ofthe Company as referred to in this Article. For purposes ofthis Article, serving at the request ofthe Company shall be established solely by (1) express approval by Ameren Corporations Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee ofsuch persons service as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise or (2) the annual review by Ameren Corporations Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee ofa list of non-affiliated corporations, partnerships, joint ventures, trusts or other enterprises that Company officers are serving as a director or officer of so long as the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee does not notify any such officer within 30 days after receiving such list that such person is not serving at the request ofthe Company. Upon establishing that a person is serving at the request ofthe Company as described under (1) and (2) above, such persons service for purposes of this Article shall begin at the time of his initial service as a director or officer of such other corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise. The 8
obligations of the Company under this Article to provide indemnification or advancement of expenses to a person serving at the request ofthe Company as a director or officer ofanother entity shall only apply to the extent that such person is not entitled to or does not receive indemnification or advancement of expenses from such other entity.
(c) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in (1) these Bylaws, (2) the By-Laws ofAmeren Corporation, (3) the Bylaws ofany other majority owned subsidiary of Ameren Corporation or (4) applicable law, the maximum aggregate liability ofthe Company, Ameren Corporation and any other majority owned subsidiary ofAmeren Corporation to any person serving at the request of the Company, at any time for all aggregate claims for indemnification and advancement of expenses for such person under these Bylaws, the By-Laws of Ameren Corporation, the Bylaws ofany other majority owned subsidiary ofAmeren Corporation and applicable law, for such service shall for all purposes be limited to $25 million, except as otherwise expressly approved by the Board of Directors. Any payment for indemnification or advancement ofexpenses by the Company to a person serving at the request ofthe Company under this Article shall be treated as a payment made by Ameren Corporation under its By-Laws for the purpose of determining the maximum liability ofAmeren Corporation under Ameren Corporations By-Laws payable to a person serving at the request ofthe Company. In no event shall the limitations of this paragraph (c) be construed to apply to any indemnification or advancement of expenses for any service as a director, officer or employee ofthe Company which imposes duties on, or involves services by such director, officer or employee with respect to an employee benefit plan of the Company, Ameren Corporation or any other majority owned subsidiary of Ameren Corporation, or any such plans participants or beneficiaries.
Section 8. This Article may be hereafter amended or repealed; provided, however, that no amendment or repeal shall reduce, terminate or otherwise adversely affect the right of a person who is or was a director, officer or employee to obtain indemnification or advancement of expenses with respect to an action, suit, or proceeding that pertains to or arises out of actions or omissions that occur prior to the effective date of such amendment or repeal.
ARTICLE V UNCERTIFICATED SHARES AND CERTIFICATES OF STOCK Section 1. The interest ofeach shareholder ofany class ofstock ofthe Company shall not be evidenced by certificates for shares and all shares of all classes of stock shall be uncertificated shares; provided, however, that (a) any shares of stock ofthe Company represented by a certificate shall continue to be represented by such certificate until such certificate is surrendered to the Company and (b) the Company may, at its option but without obligation, issue certificates for some or all of any shares of some or all of any classes and series of stock as determined by the Company from time to time. The shares of stock ofthe Company which are to be evidenced by certificates as provided in this Bylaw shall be in such form as the Board ofDirectors may from time to time prescribe and shall be signed by the Chairman, if any, or the President or a Vice President (including Senior or Executive Vice Presidents) and by the Secretary or Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary or an Assistant Treasurer of the Company and sealed with the seal of the Company and shall be countersigned and registered in such manner if any, as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. Any or all ofthe signatures on the certificate may be facsimile and the seal may be facsimile, engraved or printed. In case any officer, transfer agent 9
of registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued, the certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if the person were an officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Every holder of uncertificated shares is entitled to receive a statement of holdings as evidence of share ownership. Upon the request of any holder ofuncertificated shares, the Company shall also furnish to a holder of uncertificated shares such information as is required pursuant to Section 35 1 1 80.6. ofthe General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri.
Section 2. The shares of stock of the Company shall be transferable only on the books of the Company by the holders thereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon delivery of an assignment and power of transfer, duly executed, and with such proof of the authenticity of the signatures as the Company or its agents may reasonably require, and with respect to any shares represented by a certificate upon surrender for cancellation of such certificate.
Section 3. No shares of stock of the Company shall be transferred if represented by a certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, except upon production of such evidence of such loss, theft or destruction, and upon the Company being indemnified to such extent and in such manner as the Board of Directors in its discretion may require. No certificate for shares of stock of the Company shall be issued in place of any certificate alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed, except that upon the request of the shareholder the Company may, at its option but without obligation, issue a replacement certificate upon production of such evidence of such loss, theft or destruction, and upon the Company being indemnified to such extent and in such manner as the Board of Directors in its discretion may require.
Section 4. All determinations by the Company from time to time as to whether the Company shall at its option issue a certificate for any shares ofany class or series ofstock as provided in this Bylaw shall be made by such officers of the Company as may be designated by the Board.
ARTICLE VI CLOSING OF STOCK TRANSFER BOOKS OR FIXING RECORD DATE The Board of Directors shall have power to close the stock transfer books of the Company for a period not exceeding seventy days preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders or the date of payment of any dividend or the date for the allotment of rights or the date when any change or conversion or exchange of shares shall go into effect; provided, however, that in lieu of closing the stock transfer books as aforesaid, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a date, not exceeding seventy days preceding the date of any meeting of shareholders, or 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 shares shall go into effect, as a record date for the determination of the shareholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting, and any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend, or entitled to any such allotment of rights, or entitled to exercise the rights in respect of any such change, conversion or exchange of shares. In such case such shareholders and only such shareholders as shall be shareholders of record on the date of closing the stock transfer books or on the record date so fixed shall be entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, and any adjoumments thereof, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to receive such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books of the Company after such 10
date of closing of the transfer books or such record date fixed as aforesaid.
ARTICLE VII CHECKS, NOTES, ETC.
All checks and drafts on the Companys bank accounts and all bills ofexchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, shall be signed by such officer or officers or agent or agents as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may authorize any such officer or agent to sign and, when the Companys seal is on the instrument, to attest any ofthe foregoing instruments by the use ofa facsimile signature, engraved or printed or otherwise affixed thereto. In case any officer or agent who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon any such instrument for the payment ofmoney shall have ceased to be such officer or agent before such instrument is issued, such instrument may nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such officer or agent had not ceased to be such officer or agent at the date of its issue.
ARTICLE VIII FISCAL YEAR The fiscal year ofthe Company shall begin on the first day ofJanuary in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of December following until otherwise changed by resolution of the Board, and the Board is authorized at any time by resolution to adopt and fix a different fiscal year for the Company.
ARTICLE IX CORPORATE SEAL The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the name ofthe Company and the words Corporate Seal, Missouri.
ARTICLE X AMENDMENTS The Bylaws of the Company may be made, altered, amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE XI Words used herein denoting a specific gender, shall be construed to include any other gender, as applicable in the context.
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