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8-K - FORM 8-K - TRICO BANCSHARES / | c12809e8vk.htm |
Exhibit 3.1
BY-LAWS
OF
TRICO BANCSHARES
OF
TRICO BANCSHARES
Last Amended
February 15, 2011
February 15, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE I Offices | ||||||||
Section 1. | Principal Office | 1 | ||||||
Section 2. | Other Offices | 1 | ||||||
ARTICLE II Meeting of Shareholders | ||||||||
Section 3. | Place of Meetings | 1 | ||||||
Section 4. | Annual Meetings | 1 | ||||||
Section 5. | Special Meetings | 2 | ||||||
Section 6. | Notice of Shareholders Meetings | 2 | ||||||
Section 7. | Quorum | 3 | ||||||
Section 8. | Adjourned Meeting | 3 | ||||||
Section 9. | Waiver or Consent by Shareholders | 4 | ||||||
Section 10. | Action Without Meeting | 5 | ||||||
Section 11. | Voting Rights; Cumulative Voting | 5 | ||||||
Section 12. | Proxies | 6 | ||||||
Section 13. | Inspectors of Election | 7 | ||||||
ARTICLE III Directors, Management | ||||||||
Section 14. | Powers | 7 | ||||||
Section 15. | Number and Qualification of Directors | 8 | ||||||
Section 15A. | Directors Emeritus | 9 | ||||||
Section 16. | Election and Term of Office | 9 | ||||||
Section 17. | Removal of Directors | 9 | ||||||
Section 18. | Vacancies | 10 | ||||||
Section 19. | Place of Meetings | 10 | ||||||
Section 20. | Organizational Meetings | 11 | ||||||
Section 21. | Other Regular Meetings | 11 | ||||||
Section 22. | Special Meetings | 11 | ||||||
Section 23. | Quorum | 11 | ||||||
Section 24. | Contents of Notice and Waiver of Notice | 12 | ||||||
Section 25. | Adjournment | 12 | ||||||
Section 26. | Notice of Adjournment | 12 | ||||||
Section 27. | Telephone Participation | 12 | ||||||
Section 28. | Action Without Meeting | 12 | ||||||
Section 29. | Fees and Compensation | 12 |
i
Page | ||||||||
ARTICLE IV OFFICERS | ||||||||
Section 30. | Officers | 13 | ||||||
Section 31. | Election | 13 | ||||||
Section 32. | Subordinate Officers | 13 | ||||||
Section 33. | Removal and Resignation | 13 | ||||||
Section 34. | Vacancies | 13 | ||||||
Section 35. | Chairman of the Board | 14 | ||||||
Section 36. | President | 14 | ||||||
Section 37. | Vice Presidents | 14 | ||||||
Section 38. | Secretary | 14 | ||||||
Section 39. | Treasurer | 15 | ||||||
ARTICLE V General Corporate Matters | ||||||||
Section 40. | Record Date and Closing of Stockbooks | 16 | ||||||
Section 41. | Corporate Records and Inspection by Shareholders and Directors | 16 | ||||||
Section 42. | Checks, Drafts, Evidences of Indebtedness | 17 | ||||||
Section 43. | Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed | 17 | ||||||
Section 43A. | Representation of Shares | 17 | ||||||
Section 44. | Stock Certificates | 18 | ||||||
Section 45. | Lost Certificates | 18 | ||||||
Section 46. | Reports to Shareholders | 18 | ||||||
Section 47. | Indemnity of Officers, Directors, etc. | 19 | ||||||
ARTICLE VI Amendments | ||||||||
Section 48. | Amendments by Shareholders | 24 | ||||||
Section 49. | Amendments by Directors | 24 | ||||||
ARTICLE VII Committees of the Board | ||||||||
Section 50. | Committees of the Board of Directors | 24 | ||||||
Section 51. | Loans or Guaranties to Officers | 25 |
ii
BY-LAWS
OF
TRI CO BANCSHARES
(A California Corporation)
OF
TRI CO BANCSHARES
(A California Corporation)
ARTICLE I
Offices
Offices
Section 1. Principal Office. The principal executive office in the State of
California for the transaction of the business of the corporation (called the principal office) is
fixed and located at:
63 Constitution Drive
Chico, California
Chico, California
The Board of Directors shall have the authority from time to time to change the principal office
from one location to another within the State by amending this Section 1.
Section 2. Other Offices. One or more branches or other subordinate offices may at
any time be fixed and located by the Board of Directors at such place or places within or without
the State of California as it deems appropriate.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of Shareholders
Meetings of Shareholders
Section 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the shareholders shall be held at any place
within or outside the State of California that may be designated either by the Board of Directors
in accordance with these By-Laws, or by the written consent of all persons entitled to vote at the
meeting, given either before or after the meeting and filed with the Secretary of the corporation.
If no such designation is made, the meetings shall be held at the principal office of the
corporation designated in Section 1 of these By-laws.
Section 4. Annual Meetings. The annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held on
the third Tuesday of May of each year, if not a legal holiday, and if a legal holiday, then on the
next succeeding business day, at the hour of 5:00 p.m., at which time the shareholders shall elect
a
Board of Directors, consider reports of the affairs of the corporation, and transact such
other business as may properly be brought before the meeting.
1
If the annual meeting of shareholders shall not be held on the date above specified, the Board
of Directors shall cause such a meeting to be held as soon thereafter as convenient, and any
business transacted or election held at such meeting shall be as valid as if transacted or held at
an annual meeting on the date above specified.
Section 5. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders, for any purpose or
purposes whatsoever, may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the President, or by holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 10 percent (10%)
of the votes at the meeting.
Section 6. Notice of Shareholders Meetings. Whenever shareholders are required or
permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall be given not less
than 10 nor more than 60 days before the date of the meeting to each shareholder entitled to vote
thereat. Such notice shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting and (1) in the case of a
special meeting, the general nature of the business to be transacted, and no other business may be
transacted, or (2) in the case of the annual meeting, those matters which the Board of Directors,
at the time of the mailing of the notice, intends to present for action by the shareholders, but
subject to the provisions of Section 601(f) of the Corporations Code, any proper matter may be
presented at the meeting for such action. The notice of any meeting at which directors are to be
elected shall include the names of nominees intended at the time of the notice to be presented by
management for election.
Notice of a shareholders meeting shall be given either personally or by first-class mail, or
other means of written communication, addressed to the shareholder at the address of such
shareholder appearing on the books of the corporation or given by the shareholder to the
corporation for the purpose of notice; or if no such address appears or is given, at the place
where the principal office of the corporation is located. The notice shall be deemed to have been
given
at the time when delivered personally or deposited in the mail or sent by other means of
written communication.
2
Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the corporation has outstanding shares held of record
by 500 or more persons, notice may be given by third class mail as provided in Sections 601(a) and
601(b) of the Corporations Code.
If any notice addressed to the shareholder at the address of such shareholder appearing on the
books of the corporation is returned to the corporation by the United States Postal Service marked
to indicate that the United States Postal Service is unable to deliver the notice to the
shareholder at such address, all future notices shall be deemed to have been duly given without
further mailing if the same shall be available for the shareholder upon written demand of the
shareholder at the principal office of the corporation for a period of one year from the date of
the giving of the notice to all other shareholders.
Upon request in writing to the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, Vice President
or Secretary by any person entitled to call a special meeting of shareholders, the officer
forthwith shall cause notice to be given to the shareholders entitled to vote that a meeting will
be held at a time requested by the person or persons calling the meeting, not less than 35 nor more
than 60 days after the receipt of the request.
Section 7. Quorum. The presence at any meeting, in person or by proxy, of the persons
entitled to vote a majority of the voting shares of the corporation shall constitute a quorum for
the transaction of business. Shareholders present at a valid meeting at which a quorum is
initially present may continue to do business until adjournment notwithstanding the withdrawal of
enough shareholders to leave less than a quorum, if any action taken (other than adjournment) is
approved by persons voting more than 25 percent of the voting shares.
Section 8. Adjourned Meeting. Any annual or special shareholders meeting may be
adjourned from time to time, even though a quorum if not present, by vote of the holders of a
majority of the voting shares present at the meeting either in person or by proxy, provided that in
the absence of a quorum, no other business may be transacted at the meeting except as provided
in Section 7.
3
Notice need not be given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place thereof are announced
at the meeting at which the adjournment is taken. At the adjourned meeting, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than 45 days or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting,
a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to each shareholder of record entitled to vote at
the meeting.
Section 9. Waiver or Consent by Shareholders. The transactions of any meeting of
shareholders, however called and noticed, and wherever held, are as valid as though had at a
meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum is present either in person or by
proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each of the persons entitled to vote, not
present in person or by proxy, signs a written waiver of notice or a consent to the holding of the
meeting or an approval of the minutes thereof. All such waivers, consents and approvals shall be
filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance of a
person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of and presence at such meeting, except
when the person objects, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened and except that attendance at a meeting is
not a waiver of any right to object to the consideration of matters required by Section of these
By-Laws or Section 601(f) of the Corporations Code to be included in the notice but not so
included, if such objection is expressly made at the meeting. Neither the business to be
transacted at nor the purpose of any regular or special meeting of shareholders need be specified
in any written waiver of notice, consent to the holding of the meeting or approval of the minutes
thereof, except as provided in Section 601(f) of the California Corporations Code.
4
Section 10. Action Without Meeting. Any action which may be taken at any annual or
special meeting of shareholders may be taken without a meeting and without prior notice, if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding
shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary to authorize
or take such action at a meeting at which all shares entitled to vote thereon were present and
voted, except that unanimous written consent shall be required for election of directors to
non-vacant positions.
Unless the consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have been solicited or received in
writing, notice shall be given to non-consenting shareholders to the extent required by Section
603(b) of the California Corporations code.
Any shareholder giving a written consent, or the shareholders proxyholders, or a transferee
of the shares or a personal representative of the shareholder or their respective proxyholders, may
revoke the consent by a writing received by the corporation prior to the time that written consents
of the number of shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the
Secretary of the corporation, but may not do so thereafter. Such revocation is effective upon its
receipt by the Secretary of the corporation.
Section 11. Voting Rights; Cumulative Voting. Only persons in whose names shares
entitled to vote stand on the stock records of the corporation at the close of business on the
record date fixed by the Board of Directors as provided in Section 40 for the determination of
shareholders of record shall be entitled to notice of and to vote at such meeting of shareholders.
If no record date is fixed, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of shareholders shall be at the close of business on the business day next
preceding the day on which notice is given or, if notice is waived, at the close of business on the
business day next preceding the day on which the meeting is held; the record date for determining
shareholders entitled to give consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, when no
prior action by the Board has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent is
given; and the record date for determining shareholders for any other purpose shall be at the close
of business on the day on which the Board adopts the resolution relating thereto, or the 60th day
prior to the date of such other action, whichever is later.
5
Except as provided in the next following sentence and except as may be otherwise provided in
the Articles of Incorporation, each shareholder entitled to vote shall be entitled to one vote for
each share held on each matter submitted to a vote of shareholders. In the election of directors,
each such shareholder complying with the following paragraph may cumulate such shareholders votes
and give one candidate a number of votes equal to the number of directors to be elected multiplied
by the number of votes to which the shareholders shares are normally entitled, or distribute the
shareholders votes on the same principle among as many candidates as the shareholder thinks fit.
No shareholder shall be entitled to cumulate votes in favor of any candidate or candidates
unless such candidates or candidates names have been placed in nomination prior to the voting and
the shareholder has given notice at the meeting prior to the voting of the shareholders intention
to cumulate the shareholders votes. If any one shareholder has given such notice, such fact shall
be announced to all shareholders and proxies present, who may then cumulate their votes for
candidates in nomination.
In any election of directors, the candidates receiving the highest number of votes of the
shares entitled to be voted for them, up to the number of directors to be elected by such shares,
are elected.
Voting may be by voice or ballot, provided that any election of directors must be by ballot
upon the demand of any shareholder made at the meeting and before the voting begins.
Section 12. Proxies. Every person entitled to vote shares may authorize another
person or persons to act by proxy with respect to such shares. All proxies must be in writing and
must be signed by the shareholder confirming the proxy or his attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be
valid after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the
proxy. Every proxy continues in full force and effect until revoked by the person executing it
prior to the vote pursuant thereto, except as otherwise provided in Section 705 of the Corporations
Code. Such revocation may be effected by a writing delivered to the corporation stating that the
proxy is revoked or by a subsequent proxy executed by the person executing the
prior proxy and presented to the meeting, or as to any meeting, by attendance at such meeting
and voting in person, by the person executing the proxy. The dates contained on the forms of proxy
presumptively determine the order of execution, regardless of the postmark dates on the envelopes
in which they are mailed.
6
Section 13. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of shareholders the
Board may appoint inspectors of election to act at the meeting and any adjournment thereof. If
inspectors of election are not so appointed, or if any persons so appointed fail to appear or
refuse to act, the chairman of any meeting of shareholders may, and on the request of any
shareholder or a shareholders proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election (or persons to reflect
those who so fail or refuse) at the meeting. The number of inspectors shall be either one or
three. If appointed at a meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the
majority of shares represented in person or by proxy shall determine whether one or three
inspectors are to be appointed. If there are three inspections of election, the decision, act or
certificate of a majority is effective in all respects as the decision, act or certificate of all.
The inspectors of election shall determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting
power of each, the shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a quorum and the
authenticity, validity and effect of proxies, receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and
determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote,
count and tabulate all votes or consents, determine when the polls shall close, determine the
result and do such acts as may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all
shareholders.
ARTICLE III
Directors; Management
Directors; Management
Section 14. Powers. Subject to any provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, of
the By-Laws and of law limiting the powers of the Board of Directors or reserving powers to the
shareholders, the Board of Directors shall, directly or by delegation, manage the business and
affairs of the corporation and exercise all corporate powers permitted by law.
7
Section 15. Number and Qualification of Directors. The authorized number of directors
shall be not less than eight (8) nor more than fifteen (15) unless and until changed by an
amendment to this Section 15 adopted by the shareholders pursuant to Section 48 of these Bylaws,
with the exact number within such minimum and maximum limits to be fixed and determined from time
to time by resolution of a majority of the full Board of Directors or by resolution of a majority
of the shareholders at any meeting thereof. A reduction in the authorized number of directors
shall not remove any director prior to the expiration of such directors term of office.
Directors need not be shareholders of the corporation; however, no person may serve as a
director of this corporation who is seventy-five (75) years of age or older at the time of
election.
Nomination for election of members to the Board of Directors may be made by the Board of
Directors or by any shareholder of any outstanding class of capital stock of the corporation
entitled to vote for the election of directors.
Notice of intention to make any nominations shall be made in writing and shall be delivered or
mailed to the President of the corporation not less than twenty-one (21) days nor more than sixty
(60) days prior to any meeting of shareholders called for the election of directors; provided,
however, that if less than twenty-one (21) days notice of the meeting is given to shareholders,
such notice of intention to nominate shall be mailed or delivered to the President of the
corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on which
the notice of meeting was mailed; provided further, that if notice of such meeting is sent by
third-class mail as permitted by Section 6 of these Bylaws, no notice of intention to make
nominations shall be required. Such notification shall contain the following information to the
extent known to the notifying shareholder: (a) the name and address of each proposed nominee; (b)
a statement or evidence showing that each proposed nominee is qualified to serve as director; (c)
the principal occupation of each proposed nominee; (d) the number of shares of capital stock of
the corporation owned by each proposed nominee; (e) the name and residence address of the
notifying shareholder; and (f) the number of shares of capital stock of
8
the corporation owned by
the notifying shareholder. Nominations not made in accordance herewith may, in the discretion
of the Chairman of the meeting, be disregarded and, upon the Chairmans instructions, the
inspectors of election can disregard all votes cast for each such nominee. A copy of this
paragraph shall be set forth in a notice to shareholders of any meeting at which directors are to
be elected.
Section 15A. Directors Emeritus. Any Director who has retired from the Board of
Directors due to such person attaining the age of 75, and therefore not being eligible to stand for
reelection, or because such person determined at an earlier age not to stand for reelection, may be
appointed Director Emeritus by a resolution approved by a majority of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation. Director Emeritus shall be merely an honorary position. A Director Emeritus may
attend meetings of the Board of Directors but shall not be an active Director with any rights,
responsibilities, or powers of a Director.
Section 16. Election and Term of Office. The directors shall be elected annually by
the shareholders at the annual meeting of the shareholders; provided, that if for any reason, said
annual meeting or an adjournment thereof is not held or the directors are not elected thereat, then
the directors may be elected at any special meeting of the shareholders called and held for that
purpose. The term of office of the directors shall, except as provided in Section 17, begin
immediately after their election and shall continue until their respective successors are elected
and qualified.
Section 17. Removal of Directors. A director may be removed from office by the Board
of Directors if he is declared of unsound mind by the order of court or convicted of a felony. Any
or all of the directors may be removed from office without cause by a vote of shareholders holding
a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote at an election of directors; however, unless
the entire Board of Directors is removed, an individual director shall not be removed if the votes
cast against removal, or not consenting in writing to such removal, would be sufficient to elect
such director if voted cumulatively at an election at which the same total number of votes were
cast, or, if such action is taken by written consent, all shares entitled
9
to vote were voted, and
the entire number of directors authorized at the time of the directors
most recent election were then being elected. A director may also be removed from office by
the Superior Court of the county in which the principal office is located, at the suit of
shareholders holding at least ten percent (10%) of the number of outstanding shares of any class,
in case of fraudulent or dishonest acts or gross abuse of authority or discretion with reference to
the corporation, in the manner provided by law.
No reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of removing any
director before his term of office expires.
Section 18. Vacancies. Vacancy or vacancies on the Board of Directors shall exist on
the death, resignation, or removal of any director, or if the authorized number of directors is
increased or the shareholders fail to elect the full authorized number of directors.
Except for a vacancy created by the removal of a director, vacancies on the Board of Directors
may be filled by a majority of the remaining directors although less than a quorum, or by a sole
remaining director, and each director elected in this manner shall hold office until his successor
is elected at an annual or special shareholders meeting.
The shareholders may elect a director at any time to fill any vacancy not filled by the
directors. Any such election by written consent other than to fill a vacancy created by removal
requires the consent of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Any director may resign effective upon giving written notice to the Chairman of the Board of
Directors, the President, the Secretary or the Board of Directors of the corporation, unless the
notice specifies a later time for the effectiveness of such resignation. If the resignation is
effective at a future time, a successor may be elected to take office when the resignation becomes
effective.
Section 19. Place of Meetings. Regular and special meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held at any place within or outside the State of California that is designated by
resolution of the Board or, either before or after the meeting, consented to in writing by all the
Board members. If the place of a regular or special meeting is not fixed by resolution or written
consents of the Board, it shall be held at the corporations principal office.
10
Section 20. Organizational Meetings. Immediately following each annual shareholders
meeting, the Board of Directors shall hold an organizational meeting to organize, elect officers,
and transact other business. Notice of this meeting shall not be required.
Section 21. Other Regular Meetings. The Board of Directors, shall by resolution
adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, fix the date and time for other
regular meetings of the Board of Directors. Notice of these regular meetings shall not be
required.
Section 22. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors for any
purpose may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board of Directors, or the President, or
any Vice President, or the Secretary, or any two directors.
Special meetings of the Board shall be held upon four days notice by mail or 48 hours notice
delivered personally or by telephone or telegraph. If notice is by telephone, it shall be complete
when the person calling the meeting believes in good faith that the notified person has heard and
acknowledged the notice. If the notice is by mail or telegraph, it shall be complete when
deposited in the United States mail or delivered to the telegraph office at the place where the
corporations principal office is located, charges prepaid and addressed to the notified person at
such persons address appearing on the corporate records or, if it is not on these records or is
not readily ascertainable, at the place where the regular Board meeting is held.
Section 23. Quorum. A majority of the authorized number of directors, but in no event
less than two (unless the authorized number of directors is one), shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business, except to adjourn a meeting under Section 25. Every act done or decision
made by a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
regarded as the act of the Board of Directors, unless the vote of a greater number is required by
law, the Articles of Incorporation, or these By-Laws. A meeting at which a quorum is initially
present may continue to transact business notwithstanding the withdrawal of directors, if any
action taken is approved by a majority of the required quorum for such meeting.
11
Section 24. Contents of Notice and Waiver of Notice. Neither the business to be
transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special Board meeting need be specified in the
notice or waiver of notice of the meeting. Notice of a meeting need not be given to any director
who signs a waiver of notice or a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes
thereof, either before or after the meeting, or who attends the meeting without protesting, prior
thereto or at its commencement, the lack of notice to said director. All such waivers, consents,
and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records or made a part of the minutes of the
meeting.
Section 25. Adjournment. A majority of the directors present, whether or not a quorum
is present, may adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
Section 26. Notice of Adjournment. Notice of the time and place of holding an
adjourned meeting need not be given to absent directors if the time and place are fixed at the
meeting being adjourned, except that if the meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours such notice
shall be given prior to the adjourned meeting to the directors who were not present at the time of
the adjournment.
Section 27. Telephone Participation. Members of the Board may participate in a
meeting through use of conference telephone or similar communications equipment, so long as all
members participating in such meetings can hear one another. Such participation constitutes
presence in person at such meeting.
Section 28. Action without Meeting. The Board of Directors may take any action
without a meeting that may be required or permitted to be taken by the Board at a meeting, if all
members of the Board individually or collectively consent in writing to the action. The written
consent or consents shall be filed in the minutes of the proceedings of the Board. Such action by
written consent shall have the same effect as an unanimous vote of directors.
12
Section 29. Fees and Compensation. Directors and members of committees shall receive
neither compensation for their services nor reimbursement for their expenses unless these payments
are fixed by resolution of the Board.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Officers
Section 30. Officers. The officers of the corporation shall be a President, a
Secretary, and a Treasurer. The corporation may also have, at the discretion of the Board of
Directors, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries,
one or more Assistant Treasurers, and any other officers who may be appointed under Section 32 of
these By-Laws. Any two or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 31. Election. The officers of the corporation, except those appointed under
Section 32 of these By-Laws, shall be chosen annually by the Board of Directors, and each shall
hold his office until he resigns or is removed or otherwise disqualified to serve, or his successor
is elected and qualified.
Section 32. Subordinate Officers. The Board of Directors may appoint, and may
authorize the President to appoint, any other officers that the business of the corporation may
require, each of whom shall hold office for the period, have the authority, and perform the duties
specified in the By-Laws or by the Board of Directors.
Section 33. Removal and Resignation. Any officer may be removed with or without cause
either by the Board of Directors at any regular or special directors meeting or, except for an
officer chosen by the Board, by any officer on whom the power of removal may be conferred by the
Board.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board of Directors, the
President or the Secretary of the corporation. An officers resignation shall take effect when it
is received or at any later time specified in the resignation. Unless the resignation specifies
otherwise, its acceptance by the corporation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
13
Section 34. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office because of death, resignation,
removal, disqualification, or any other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in the
By-Laws for regular appointments to the office.
Section 35. Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may in its discretion elect
a Chairman of the Board, who shall preside at all meetings of the directors and shareholders at
which he is present and shall exercise and perform any other powers and duties assigned to him by
the Board or prescribed by the By-Laws.
Section 36. President. Subject to any supervisory powers that may be given by the
Board of Directors or the By-Laws to the Chairman of the Board, the President shall be the
corporations chief executive officer and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors,
have general supervision, direction, and control over the corporations business and officers. The
President shall preside as chairman at all meetings of the shareholders and directors not presided
over by the Chairman of the Board. He shall be ex officio a member of all the standing committees,
shall have the general powers and duties of management usually vested in a corporations president;
shall have any other powers and duties that are prescribed by the Board of Directors or the
By-Laws; and shall be primarily responsible for carrying out all orders and resolutions of the
Board of Directors.
Section 37. Vice Presidents. If the President is absent or is unable or refuses to
act, the Vice Presidents in order of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not
ranked, the Vice President designated by the Board of Directors, shall perform all the duties of
the President, and when so acting shall have all the powers of, and be subject to all the
restrictions on, the President. Each Vice President shall have any other powers and perform any
other duties that are prescribed for him by the Board of Directors or the By-Laws.
Section 38. Secretary. The Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, and be available
at the principal office and any other place that the Board of Directors specifies, a book of
minutes of all directors and shareholders meeting. The minutes of each meeting shall state the
time and place that it was held; whether it was regular or special; if a special meeting, how it
was authorized; the notice given; the names of those present or represented at shareholders
meeting; and the proceedings of the meetings. A similar minute book shall be kept for any
committees, if required by the Board.
14
The Secretary shall keep, or cause to be kept, at the principal office or at the office of the
corporations transfer agent, a share register, or duplicate share register, showing the
shareholders names and addresses, the number and classes of shares held by each, the number and
date of each certificate issued for these shares, and the number and date of cancellation of each
certificate surrendered for cancellation.
The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all directors and shareholders
meetings required to be given under these By-Laws or by law, shall keep the corporate seal in safe
custody, and shall have any other powers and perform any other duties that are prescribed by the
Board of Directors or these By-Laws.
Section 39. Treasurer. Treasurer shall be the corporations chief financial officer
and shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained, adequate and correct accounts of
the corporations properties and business transactions, including accounts of its assets,
liabilities, receipts, disbursements, gains, losses, capital, retained earnings, and shares. The
books of account shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any director.
The Treasurer shall deposit all money and other valuables in the name and to the credit of the
corporation with the depositories designated by the Board of Directors. He shall disburse the
corporations funds as ordered by the Board of Directors; shall render to the President and
directors, whenever they request it, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer and of the
corporations financial condition; and shall have any other powers and perform any other duties
that are prescribed by the Board of Directors or By-Laws.
If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall give the corporation a bond in the
amount and with the surety or sureties specified by the Board for faithful performance of the
duties of his office and for restoration to the corporation of all its books, papers, vouchers,
money, and other property of every kind in his possession or under his control on his death,
resignation, retirement, or removal from office.
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ARTICLE V
General Corporate Matters
General Corporate Matters
Section 40. Record Date and Closing of Stockbooks. The Board of Directors may fix a
time in the future as a record date for determining shareholders entitled to notice of and to vote
at any shareholders meeting; to receive any dividend, distribution, or allotment of rights; or to
exercise rights in respect of any other lawful action, including change, conversion, or exchange of
shares. The record date shall not, however, be more than sixty (60) nor less than ten (10) days
prior to the date of such meeting nor more than 60 days prior to any other action. If a record
date is fixed for a particular meeting or event, only shareholders of record on that date are
entitled to notice and to vote and to receive the dividend, distribution, or allotment of rights or
to exercise the rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any shares on the books
of the corporation after the record date.
A determination of shareholders of record entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
shareholders shall apply to any adjournment of the meeting unless the Board fixes a new record date
for the adjourned meeting, but the Board shall fix a new record date if the meeting is adjourned
for more than 45 days.
Section 41. Corporate Records and Inspection by Shareholders and Directors. Books and
records of account and minutes of the proceedings of the shareholders, Board, and committees of the
Board shall be kept available for inspection at the principal office. A record of the
shareholders, giving the names and addresses of all shareholders and the number and class of shares
held by each, shall be kept available for inspection at the principal office or at the office of
the corporations transfer agent or registrar.
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A shareholder or shareholders holding at least five percent (5%) in the aggregate of the
outstanding voting shares of the corporation shall have an absolute right to do either or both of
the following: (1) inspect and copy the record of shareholders names and addresses and
shareholdings during usual business hours upon five business days prior written demand upon the
corporation, or (2) obtain from the transfer agent for the corporation, upon five business days
prior written demand and upon the tender of its usual charges for such a list (the amount of
which charges shall be stated to the shareholder by the transfer agent upon request), a list of the
shareholders names and addresses, who are entitled to vote for the election of directors, and
their shareholdings, as of the most recent record date for which it has been compiled or as of a
date specified by the shareholder subsequent to the date of demand. The record of shareholders
shall also be open to inspection and copying by any shareholder or holder of a voting trust
certificate at any time during usual business hours upon written demand on the corporation, for a
purpose reasonably related to such holders interests as a shareholder or holder of a voting trust
certificate. Inspection and copying may be made in person or by agent or attorney.
Every director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect and copy all
books, records and documents of every kind and to inspect the physical properties of the
corporation and its subsidiary corporations, domestic or foreign. Such inspection by a director
may be made in person or by agent or attorney and includes the right to copy and make extracts.
Section 42. Checks, Drafts, Evidences of Indebtedness. All checks, drafts, or other
orders for payment of money, notes and all mortgages, or other evidences of indebtedness, issued in
the name of or payable to the corporation, and all assignments and endorsements of the foregoing,
shall be signed or endorsed by the person or persons and in the manner specified by the Board of
Directors.
Section 43. Corporate Contracts and Instruments; How Executed. Except as otherwise
provided in the By-Laws, officers, agents, or employees must be authorized by the Board of
Directors to enter into any contract or execute any instrument in the corporations name and on its
behalf. This authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
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Section 43A. Representation of Shares of Other Corporation. The chairman of the
board, the president, or any other person authorized by resolution of the board of directors or by
any of the foregoing designated officers, is authorized to vote on behalf of the corporation any
and all shares of any other corporation or corporations, foreign or domestic, standing in the name
of the corporation. The authority granted to these officers to vote or represent on behalf of the
corporation any and all shares held by the corporation in any other corporation or
corporations may be exercised by any of these officers in person or by any person authorized to do
so by a proxy duly executed by these officers.
Section 44. Stock Certificates. One or more certificates for shares of the
corporations capital stock shall be issued to each shareholder for any of his shares that are
fully paid up. The corporate seal or its facsimile may be fixed on certificates. All certificates
shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, President, or a Vice President and the Secretary,
Treasurer, or an Assistant Secretary. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be
facsimile signatures.
Section 45. Lost Certificates. No new share certificate that replaces an old one
shall be issued unless the old one is surrendered and canceled at the same time; provided, however,
that if any share certificate is lost, stolen, mutilated, or destroyed, the Board of Directors may
authorize issuance of a new certificate replacing the old one on any terms and conditions,
including a reasonable arrangement for indemnification of the corporation, that the Board may
specify.
Section 46. Reports to Shareholders. The requirement for the annual report to
shareholders referred to in Section 1501(a) of the California Corporations Code is hereby expressly
waived so long as there are less than 100 holders of record of the corporations shares. The Board
of Directors shall cause to be sent to the shareholders such annual or other periodic reports as
they consider appropriate or as otherwise required by law. In the event the corporation has 100 or
more holders of its shares, an annual report complying with Section 1501(a) and, when applicable,
Section 1501(b) of the Corporations Code shall be sent to the shareholders not later than 120 days
after the close of the fiscal year and at least fifteen (15) days prior to the annual meeting of
shareholders to be held during the next fiscal year.
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If no annual report for the last fiscal year has been sent to shareholders, the corporation
shall, upon the written request of any shareholder made more than 120 days after the close of such
fiscal year, deliver or mail to the person making the request within 30 days thereafter the
financial statements referred to in Section 1501(a) for such year.
A shareholder or shareholders holding at least five percent (5%) of the outstanding shares of
any class of a corporation may make a written request to the corporation for an income statement of
the corporation for the three-month, six-month, or nine-month period of the current fiscal year
ended more than 30 days prior to the date of the request and a balance sheet of the corporation as
of the end of such period and, in addition, if no annual report for the last fiscal year has been
sent to shareholders, the statements referred to in Section 1501(a) of the Corporations Code for
the last fiscal year. The statement shall be delivered or mailed to the person making the request
within 30 days thereafter. A copy of the statements shall be kept on file in the principal office
of the corporation for twelve (12) months and they shall be exhibited at all reasonable times to
any shareholder demanding an examination of them or a copy shall be mailed to such shareholder.
The income statements and balance sheets referred to shall be accompanied by the report thereon, if
any, of any independent accountants engaged by the corporation or the certificate of an authorized
officer of the corporation that such financial statements were prepared without audit from the
books and records of the corporation.
Section 47. Indemnity of Officers, Directors, Officers, Employees, and Other Agents.
(a) Agents, Proceedings, and Expenses. For the purposes of this Section 47, agent
means any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or other agent of the corporation or
is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer, employee, or agent of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or
was a director, officer, employee, or agent of a foreign or domestic corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of a
foreign or domestic corporation which was a predecessor corporation of the corporation or was
serving at the request of such predecessor corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another enterprise; proceeding means any threatened, pending or completed action or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative; and expenses includes, without
limitation, attorneys fees and any expenses of establishing a right to indemnification under
paragraph (c) or the last sentence of paragraph (d) of this Section 47.
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(b) Right to Indemnification. The corporation shall indemnify each of its directors
and officers of vice president level or above and each director or officer of vice president level
or above of Tri Counties Bank (the Bank), a wholly-owned subsidiary of the corporation, who was
or is made a party or is threatened to be made a party to or is otherwise involved in any
proceeding against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other amounts actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with any such proceeding arising by reason of the fact any such
person is or was an agent of the corporation (hereinafter an indemnitee); provided, however, that
except as provided in paragraph (c) hereof with respect to proceedings to enforce rights to
indemnification, the corporation shall indemnify any such indemnitee in connection with a
proceeding (or part thereof) initiated by such indemnitee only if such proceeding (or part thereof)
was authorized by the Board of Directors of the corporation. The right to indemnification
conferred in this paragraph (b) shall be a contract right and shall include the right to be paid by
the corporation the expenses incurred in defending any such proceeding in advance of its final
disposition (hereinafter an advancement of expenses); provided however, that an advancement of
expenses incurred by an indemnitee in his or her capacity as an agent of the corporation (and not
in any capacity in which service was or is rendered by such indemnitee to an employee benefit plan)
shall be made only upon delivery to the corporation of an undertaking, by or on behalf of such
person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined by final judicial
decision from which there is no further right to appeal that such indemnitee is not entitled to
further right to be indemnified for such expenses under this paragraph (b) or otherwise
(hereinafter an undertaking). Notwithstanding the foregoing, no indemnification shall be made to
any indemnitee who was or is a party, or is threatened to be made a party, to any threatened,
pending or completed action by or in the right of the corporation or the Bank to procure a judgment
in its favor for any of the following:
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(i) In respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which the indemnitee shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the corporation (or the Bank, as the case may be) in the
performance of that persons duty to the corporation (or the Bank) and its
shareholders, unless and only to the extent that the court in which that proceeding is
or was pending shall determine upon application that, in view of all the circumstances of
the case, that person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for the expenses which
the court shall determine;
(ii) Of amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a pending action without
court approval; or
(iii) Of expenses incurred in defending a pending action which is settled or otherwise
disposed of without court approval.
(c) Right of Indemnitee to Bring Suit. Except as may otherwise be provided by an
agreement between the corporation and an indemnitee: If a claim under paragraph (b) of this
Section 47 is not paid in full by the corporation within sixty days after a written claim has been
received by the corporation, except in the case of a claim for an advancement of expenses, in which
case the applicable period shall be twenty days, the indemnitee may at any time thereafter bring
suit against the corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim. If successful in whole or
in part in any such suit or in a suit brought by the corporation to recover an advancement of
expenses pursuant to the terms of an undertaking, the indemnitee shall be entitled to be paid also
the expense of procuring or defending such suit. In any suit brought by the indemnitee to enforce
a right hereunder, or by the corporation to recover an advancement of expenses pursuant to the
terms of an undertaking, the burden of proving that the indemnitee is not entitled to be
indemnified or to such advancement of expenses under this paragraph or otherwise shall be on the
corporation.
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(d) Indemnification of Other Agents of the Corporation. The corporation may, to the
extend authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors, grant rights to indemnification and
to the advancement of expenses to any other agent of the corporation generally or as to any
specific legal action and/or instance, by a duly adopted resolution of the Board of Directors,
agreement or otherwise, up to the fullest extent of the provisions of this Section 47 with respect
to the indemnification and advancement of expenses for directors and
certain officers of the corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, to the extent that an
agent of the corporation has been successful on the merits in the defense of any proceeding arising
by reason of the fact such person is or was an agent of the corporation, or in the defense of any
claim, issue, or matter therein, the agent shall be indemnified against expenses actually and
reasonably incurred by the agent in connection therewith.
(e) Other Contractual Rights. The indemnification provided by this Section 47 shall
not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeking indemnification may be
entitled under any other bylaw provision, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise, both as to action in an official capacity and as to action in another
capacity while holding such office, to the extent such additional rights to indemnification are
authorized in the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation. The corporation is expressly
permitted to enter into agreements with its agents providing for indemnification beyond the
indemnification rights granted in this Section 47 to the extent such additional rights to
indemnification are authorized in the Articles of Incorporation of the corporation. The rights to
indemnity hereunder shall 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 that
person. Nothing contained in this Section 47 shall affect any right to indemnification to which
persons other than directors and officers of vice president level or above of the corporation or
the Bank may be entitled by contract or otherwise.
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(f) Limitations. No indemnification or advance shall be made under this Section 47,
except as provided in the last sentence of paragraph (d) above or by a court in which any
proceeding is or was pending upon application made by the corporation or the indemnitee or the
attorney or other person rendering services in connection with such defense, in any circumstance
which exceeds the limits set forth in Section 204 of California General Corporation Law or where it
appears:
(i) | That it would be inconsistent with a provision of the Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws of the corporation, a resolution of the shareholders of the corporation or an agreement in effect at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted in the proceeding in which the expenses were incurred or other amounts were paid, which prohibits or otherwise limits indemnification; or | ||
(ii) | That it would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in approving a settlement. |
Any other provision herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the corporation shall not be obligated
to indemnify an indemnitee for any expenses and/or the payment of profits arising from the purchase
and sale by indemnitee of securities in violation of Section 16(b) of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended, or any similar successor statute.
(g) Insurance. Upon and in the event of a determination by the Board of Directors of
the corporation to purchase such insurance, the corporation shall purchase and maintain insurance
on behalf of any agent of the corporation against any liability asserted against or incurred by the
agent in such capacity or arising out of the agents status as such whether or not the corporation
would have the power to indemnify the agent against that liability under the provision of this
Section 47.
(h) Fiduciaries of Corporate Employee Benefit Plan. This Section 47 does not apply to
any proceeding against any trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary of an employee benefit
plan in that persons capacity as such, even though that person may also be an agent of the
corporation as defined in paragraph (a) of this Section 47. The corporation shall have power to
indemnify such a trustee, investment manager or other fiduciary to the extent permitted by Section
207(f) of the California General Corporation Law.
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(i) Amendment to Provisions of Section 47. No amendment of any provision of this
Section 47 shall reduce the rights to indemnification of any director or officer of vice president
level or above of the corporation or the Bank from the rights to indemnification which were set
forth in this Section 47 at the time of the accrual of the alleged cause of action asserted
in any proceeding for which such director or officer is seeking indemnification or an advance
of expenses.
ARTICLE VI
Amendments
Amendments
Section 48. Amendments by Shareholders. By-Laws may be adopted, amended or repealed
by the affirmative vote or written consent of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to
vote; provided, however, that an amendment to Section 15 reducing the number of directors on a
fixed-number board or the minimum number of directors on a variable-number board to a number less
than five cannot be adopted if the votes cast against its adoption at a meeting or the shares not
consenting, in the case of action by written consent, are equal to more than 16-2/3 percent of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote.
Section 49. Amendment by Directors. Subject to the right of shareholders under the
preceding Section 48, by-laws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors,
except that only the shareholders can adopt a by-law or amendment thereto which specifies or
changes the number of directors on a fixed-number board, or the minimum or maximum number of
directors on a variable-number Board, or which changes from a fixed-number Board to a
variable-number Board or vice versa.
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ARTICLE VII
Committees of the Board of Directors
Committees of the Board of Directors
Section 50. Committees of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may, by
resolution adopted by a majority of the authorized number of directors, designate one or more
committees, each consisting of two or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board and
with such authority and organization as the Board may from time to time determine. The Board of
Directors may designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent member at any meeting of the committee. The appointment of members or alternate
members of a committee requires the vote of a majority of the authorized number of
directors. Any such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board shall
have all the authority of the Board, except with respect to:
(1) | The approval of any action for which shareholder approval is also required. | ||
(2) | The filling of vacancies on the Board or in any committee. | ||
(3) | The fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board or on any committee. | ||
(4) | The amendment or repeal of by-laws or the adoption of new by-laws. | ||
(5) | The amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board which by its express terms is not so amendable or repealable. | ||
(6) | A distribution to the shareholders of the corporation as defined in Section 166 of the Corporations Code, except at rate or in a periodic amount or within a price range determined by the Board. | ||
(7) | The appointment of other committees of the Board or the members thereof. |
The Board of Directors shall designate a chairman for each committee who shall have the sole
power to call any committee meeting other than a meeting set by the Board. Except as otherwise
established by the Board of Directors, Article III of these By-Laws shall apply to committees of
the Board and action by such committees, mutatis mutandis.
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Section 51. Loans or Guaranties to Officers. The Board of Directors alone may
approve, without counting the vote of any interested director or directors, loans to or guaranties
of the obligations of officers of the corporation, whether or not the officers are directors of the
corporation, or any employee benefit plan authorizing such loans or guaranties to officers, if the
Board of Directors determines that such loan or guaranty or plan may reasonably be expected to
benefit the corporation and if, on the date of approval, the corporation has outstanding shares
held on record by 100 or more persons.
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