SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
FORM
8-K
Current
Report
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date
of Report: September 15, 2005
(Date
of
earliest event reported)
First
Northern Community Bancorp
(Exact
name of registrant as specified in its charter)
California
|
|
68-0450397
|
(State
of Incorporation)
|
|
(IRS
Employer ID Number)
|
000-30707
(Commission
File No.)
First
Northern Community Bancorp
|
|
|
195
North First Street, P.O. Box 547, Dixon, California
|
|
95620
|
(Address
of principal executive offices)
|
|
(Zip
Code)
|
(707)
678-3041
(Registrant’s
telephone number, including area code)
Check
the
appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously
satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following
provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):
Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR
230.425)
Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14d-2(b))
Pre-commencement
communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.13e-4(c))
Item
5.03 Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal
Year
Effective
September 15, 2005, the Board of Directors of First Northern Community Bancorp
(the “Company”) amended and restated the Company’s Bylaws to change the age of
mandatory retirement for directors of the Company from 65 to 70.
Item
9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits
(c) Exhibits:
3.1
Amended and Restated Bylaws of First Northern Community Bancorp
SIGNATURES
Pursuant
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant
has
duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto
duly authorized.
Date:
September 15, 2005 First
Northern Community Bancorp
(Registrant)
By: _/s/Louise
A. Walker________
Louise
A.
Walker
Senior
Executive Vice President
Chief
Financial Officer
EXHIBIT
INDEX
|
Exhibit
Number
|
Description
|
3.1
|
Amended
and Restated Bylaws of First Northern Community
Bancorp
|
Exhibit
3.1
AMENDED
AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
FIRST
NORTHERN COMMUNITY BANCORP
(As
of
September 15, 2005)
I
OFFICES
1. Principal
Office
The
Board
of Directors shall fix the location of the principal executive office of
this
Corporation at any place which is within Solano County, State of
California.
2. Other
Offices
The
Board
of Directors may at any time establish branch offices at any place or places
where the Corporation is qualified to do business.
II
MEETINGS
OF SHAREHOLDERS
3. Place
of Meetings
Meetings
of shareholders shall be held at any place within or outside Solano County,
but
within the State of California, designated by the Board of Directors. In
the
absence of any such designation, shareholders’ meetings shall be held at the
principal executive office of this Corporation.
4. Annual
Meetings
The
annual meeting of the shareholders shall be held each year on a date and
at a
time designated by the Board of Directors. The date designated by the Board
of
Directors shall be within five months after the end of this Corporation’s fiscal
year and within 15 months after the last annual meeting.
5. Special
Meetings
A
special
meeting of the shareholders may be called at any time by the Board of Directors,
or by the Chairman of the Board, or by the President, or by one or more
shareholders holding shares in the aggregate entitled to cast no less than
10%
of the votes at the meeting. If a special meeting is called by any person
or
persons other than the Board of Directors, the request shall be in writing,
specifying the time of the meeting and the general nature of the business
proposed to be transacted. The request shall be delivered personally or sent
by
registered mail or by telegraphic or other facsimile transmission to one
or more
of the Chairman of the Board, the President, any vice president, or the
Secretary of this Corporation. The officer receiving the request shall cause
notice to be given promptly to the shareholders entitled to vote, in accordance
with the provisions of sections 6 and 7 of these Bylaws, that a meeting will
be
held at the 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. If the notice
is
not given within 20 days after receipt of the request, the person or persons
requesting the meeting may give the notice. Nothing contained in this section
shall be construed as limiting, fixing or affecting the time when a meeting
of
shareholders called by action of the Board of Directors may be
held.
6. Notice
of Shareholders’ Meeting
All
notices of meetings of shareholders shall be sent or otherwise given in
accordance with section 7 of these Bylaws not less than 10 nor more than
60 days
before the date and hour of the meeting. The notice shall specify the place,
date and time of the meeting and (i) in the case of a special meeting, the
general nature of the business to be transacted, or (ii) in the case of the
annual meeting, those matters which the Board of Directors, at the time of
giving the notice, intends to present for action by the shareholders. The
notice
of any meeting at which directors are to be elected shall include the name
of
any nominee or nominees whom, at the time of the notice, management intends
to
present for election. If action is proposed to be taken at any meeting for
approval of (i) a contract or transaction in which a director has direct
or
indirect financial interest, pursuant to section 310 of the California
Corporations Code (the “Code”), (ii) an amendment of the Articles of
Incorporation of this Corporation, pursuant to section 902 of the Code, (iii)
a
reorganization of this Corporation, pursuant to section 1201 of the Code,
(iv) a
voluntary dissolution of this Corporation, pursuant to section 1900 of the
Code,
or (v) a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance with the rights
of
outstanding preferred shares, pursuant to section 2007 of the Code, the notice
shall also state the general nature of that proposal.
7. Manner
of Giving Notice
Notice
of
any meeting of shareholders shall be given either personally or by first-class
mail or telegraphic or other written communication, charges prepaid, addressed
to the shareholder at the address of that shareholder appearing on the books
of
this Corporation or given by the shareholder to the Corporation for the purpose
of notice. If no such address appears on the Corporation’s books or is given,
notice shall be deemed to have been given if sent to that shareholder by
first-class mail or telegraphic or other written communication to the
Corporation’s principal executive office, or if published at least once in a
newspaper of general circulation in the county where that office is located.
Notice shall be deemed to have been given at the time when delivered personally
or deposited in the mail or sent by telegram or other means of written
communication. If any notice addressed to a shareholder at the address of
that
shareholder appearing on the books of this 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 that address, all future notices or reports shall be deemed to have been
duly
given without further mailing if these shall be available to the shareholder
on
written demand of the shareholder at the principal executive office of this
Corporation for a period of one year from the date of the giving of the notice
or report.
8. Affidavit
of Notice
An
affidavit of the mailing or other means of giving any notice of any
shareholders’ meeting shall be executed by the Secretary, assistant secretary,
or any transfer agent of this Corporation giving the notice, and shall be
filed
and maintained in the records of this Corporation.
9. Agendas
for Annual Meetings of Shareholders
At
any
annual meeting of shareholders only such business shall be conducted as shall
have been properly brought before the meeting. To be properly brought before
an
annual meeting, business must be (i) specified in the notice of meeting (or
any
supplement thereto) given by, or at the direction of, the Board of Directors,
(ii) otherwise properly brought before the meeting by, or at the direction
of,
the chairman of the meeting, or (iii) otherwise properly brought before the
meeting by a shareholder entitled to vote at such meeting. For business to
be
properly brought before a meeting by a shareholder, the shareholder must
have
given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation
and
must have been a shareholder of record at the time such notice is given.
To be
timely, a shareholder’s notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received at
the principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 70 days
nor
more than 90 days prior to the first anniversary date of the preceding year’s
annual meeting; provided, however, that in the event that the date of the
annual
meeting is advanced by more than 20 days, or delayed by more than 70 days,
from
such anniversary date, notice by the shareholder to be timely must be so
delivered or mailed and received not earlier than 90 days prior to such annual
meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 70 days
prior to such annual meeting or the 10th day following the day on which public
announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. Such shareholder’s
notice to the Secretary shall set forth (i) as to each matter the shareholder
proposes to bring before the meeting, a brief description of the business
desired to be brought before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such
business at the meeting, and (ii) as to the shareholder giving the
notice
(a) the name and record address of the shareholder, (b) the class and the
number
of shares of capital stock of the Corporation which are beneficially owned
by
the shareholder, (c) any material interest of the shareholder in such business
and (d) whether the shareholder intends or is part of a group
which
intends to solicit proxies from other shareholders in support of such proposal
and if part of a group, the names and addresses of such group members. No
business shall be conducted at an annual meeting of shareholders unless proposed
in accordance with the procedures set forth herein. The chairman of the meeting
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that business
was not properly brought before the meeting in accordance with the foregoing
procedure and such business shall not be transacted. To the extent this section
9. shall be deemed by the Board of Directors or the United States Securities
and
Exchange Commission or any applicable bank regulatory authority, or finally
adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction, to be inconsistent with the
right
of shareholders to request inclusion of a proposal in the Corporation’s proxy
statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 promulgated under the Securities Exchange
Act
of 1934, as amended, such rule shall prevail.
10. Quorum
The
presence in person or by proxy of the holders of a majority of the shares
entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall constitute a quorum
for
the transaction of business. The shareholders present at a duly called or
held
meeting at which a quorum is 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
at
least a majority of the shares required to constitute a quorum.
11. Adjourned
Meeting
Any
shareholders’ meeting, annual or special, whether or not a quorum is present,
may be adjourned from time to time by the vote of the majority of the shares
represented at that meeting, either in person or by proxy, but in the absence
of
a quorum, no other business may be transacted at that meeting, except as
provided in section 10 of these Bylaws. When any meeting of shareholders,
either
annual or special, is adjourned to another time or place, notice need not
be
given of the adjourned meeting if the time and place are announced at a meeting
at which the adjournment is taken, unless a new record date for the adjourned
meeting is fixed, or unless the adjournment is for more than 45 days from
the
date set for the original meeting, in which case the Board of Directors shall
set a new record date. Notice of any such adjourned meeting shall be given
to
each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the adjourned meeting in
accordance with the provisions of sections 6 and 7 of these Bylaws. At any
adjourned meeting, the Corporation may transact any business which might
have
been transacted at the original meeting.
12. Voting
Generally
The
shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting shall be determined in accordance
with the provisions of section 17 of these Bylaws subject to the provisions
of
sections 702 to 704, inclusive, of the Code, which relate to voting shares
held
by a fiduciary, in the name of a corporation, or in joint ownership or subject
to a voting trust. In the discretion of the chairman of the meeting, the
shareholders vote may be by voice vote or by ballot; provided, however, that
any
election for directors must be by ballot if demanded by any shareholder before
the voting has begun. On any matter other than elections of directors, any
shareholder may vote part of the shares in favor of the proposal and refrain
from voting the remaining shares or vote them against the proposal, but,
if the
shareholder fails to specify the number of shares which the shareholder is
voting affirmatively, it will be conclusively presumed that the shareholder’s
approving vote is with respect to all shares that the shareholder is entitled
to
vote. If a quorum is present, the affirmative vote of the majority of the
shares
represented at the meeting and entitled to vote on any manner, other than
the
election of directors, shall be the act of the shareholders, unless the vote
of
a greater number or voting by classes is required by Code or by the Articles
of
Incorporation.
13. Cumulative
Voting for Directors
At
a
shareholders’ meeting at which directors are to be elected, no shareholder shall
be entitled to cumulate votes, that is, to cast for any one or more candidates
a
number of votes greater than the number of the shareholder’s shares, unless the
candidates’ names have been placed in nomination prior to commencement of the
voting and a shareholder has given notice prior to commencement of the voting
of
the shareholder’s intention to cumulate votes. If any shareholder has given such
a notice, then every shareholder entitled to vote may cumulate votes for
candidates in nomination 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
that shareholder’s shares are entitled, or distribute the shareholder’s votes on
the same principle among all of the candidates,
as
the
shareholder thinks fit. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes,
up
to the number of directors to be elected, shall be elected.
14. Waiver
of Notice or Consent by Absent Shareholders
The
transactions of any meeting of shareholders, either annual or special, however
called and noticed, and wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at
a
meeting duly held after regular call and notice, if a quorum be present either
in person or by proxy, and if, either before or after the meeting, each person
entitled to vote, who was not present in person or by proxy, signs a written
waiver of notice or a consent to a holding of the meeting, or an approval
of the
minutes. The waiver of notice or consent need not specify either the business
to
be transacted or the purpose of any annual or special meeting of shareholders,
except that if action is taken or proposed to be taken for approval of any
of
those matters specified in the last sentence of section 6 of these Bylaws,
the
waiver or consent shall state the general nature of the proposal. All such
waivers, consents or approvals shall be filed with the corporate records
or made
a part of the minutes of the meeting. Attendance by a person at a meeting
shall
also constitute a waiver of notice of that 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 not included in the notice of the meeting if that
objection is expressly made at the meeting.
15. Shareholder
Action by Written Consent without a 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, is signed by the holders of outstanding
shares having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be necessary
to authorize or take that action at a meeting at which all shares entitled
to
vote on that action were present and voted, provided that the Board of Directors
of this Corporation, by resolution, shall have previously approved any such
action. In the case of election of directors, a consent otherwise conforming
to
the requirements of the preceding sentence shall be effective only if signed
by
the holders of all outstanding shares entitled to vote for the election of
directors; provided, however, that a director may be elected at any time
to fill
a vacancy on the Board of Directors that has not been filled by the directors
and that was not created by the removal of a director by the written consent
of
the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote for
the
election of directors. All such consents shall be filed with the Secretary
of
this Corporation and shall be maintained in the corporate records. Any
shareholder giving a written consent, or the shareholder’s proxy holders, or a
transferee of the shares or a personal representative of the shareholder
or
their respective proxy holders, may revoke the consent by a writing received
by
the Secretary of this Corporation before written consents of the number of
shares required to authorize the proposed action have been filed with the
Secretary.
16. Notice
of Action Taken by Written Consent without a Meeting
If
the
consents of all shareholders entitled to vote have not been solicited in
writing, and if the unanimous written consent of all such shareholders shall
not
have been received, the Secretary of this Corporation shall give prompt notice
of the corporate action approved by the shareholders without a meeting. This
notice shall be given in the manner specified in section 7 of these Bylaws.
In
the case of approval of (i) contracts or transactions in which a director
has a
direct or indirect financial interest, pursuant to section 310 of the Code,
(ii)
indemnification of agents of this Corporation, pursuant to section 317 of
the
Code, (iii) a reorganization of this Corporation, pursuant to section 1201
of
the Code, and (iv) a distribution in dissolution other than in accordance
with
the rights of outstanding preferred shares, pursuant to section 2007 of the
Code, the notice shall be given at least 10 days before the consummation
of any
action authorized by that approval.
17. Record
Dates for Shareholder Notice, Voting, and Giving Consents
For
purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to notice of any meeting
or to
vote or entitled to give consent to corporate action without a meeting, the
Board of Directors may fix, in advance, a record date, which shall be not
more
than 60 days, nor less than 10 days, before the date of any such meeting
nor
more than 60 days before any such action without a meeting, and in this event
only shareholders of record on the date so fixed are entitled to notice and
to
vote or to give consents, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer
of
any shares on the books of this Corporation after the record date, except
as
otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation or in the Code. If the
Board
of Directors does not fix a record date:
(a) 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 preceding the day on which the meeting
is
held.
(b) The
record date for determining shareholders entitled to give consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, (i) when no prior action by the Board
of
Directors has been taken, shall be the day on which the first written consent
is
given, or (ii) when prior action of the Board of Directors has been taken,
shall
be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts
the resolution relating to that action, or the 60th day before the date of
such
other action, whichever is later.
18. Proxies
Every
person entitled to vote for directors or on any other matter shall have the
right to do so either in person or by one or more agents authorized by a
written
proxy signed by the person and filed with the Secretary of this Corporation.
A
proxy shall be deemed signed if the shareholder’s name is placed on the proxy,
whether by manual signature, typewriting, telegraphic transmission, or
otherwise, by the shareholder or the shareholder’s attorney in fact. A validly
executed proxy which does not state that it is irrevocable shall continue
in
full force and effect unless (i) revoked by the person executing it, before
the
vote pursuant to that proxy, by a writing delivered to the Corporation stating
that the proxy is revoked, or by a subsequent proxy executed by, or attendance
at the meeting and voting in person by, the person executing the proxy; or
(ii)
written notice of the death or incapacity of the maker of that proxy is received
by the Corporation before the vote pursuant to that proxy is counted; provided,
however that no proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from
the
date of the proxy, unless otherwise provided in the proxy. The revocability
of a
proxy that states on its face that it is irrevocable shall be governed by
the
provisions of sections 705(e) and 705(f) of the Code.
19. Inspectors
of Election
Before
any meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons
other than nominees for office to act as inspectors of election at the meeting
or its adjournment. If no inspectors of election are so appointed, the chairman
of the meeting may, and on the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s
proxy shall, appoint inspectors of election at the meeting. The number of
inspectors shall be either one or three. If inspectors are appointed at a
meeting on the request of one or more shareholders or proxies, the holders
of a
majority of shares or their proxies present at the meeting shall determine
whether one or three inspectors are to be appointed. If any person appointed
as
inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the chairman of the
meeting may, and upon the request of any shareholder or a shareholder’s proxy
shall, appoint a person to fill that vacancy. These inspectors
shall:
(a) Determine
the number of shares of 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;
(b) Receive
votes, ballots, or consents;
(c) Hear
and
determine all challenges and questions in any way arising in connection with
the
right to vote;
(d) Count
and
tabulate all votes or consents;
(e) Determine
the result; and
(f) Do
any
other acts that may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness
to
all shareholders.
20. Conduct
of Meetings
The
date
and time of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon
which
the shareholders will vote at a meeting shall be announced at the meeting
by the
person presiding over the meeting. The Board of Directors may adopt by
resolution such rules and regulations for the conduct of the meeting of
shareholders as it shall deem appropriate. Except to the extent inconsistent
with such rules and regulations as adopted by the Board of Directors, the
chairman of any meeting of shareholders shall have the right and authority
to
prescribe such rules, regulations and procedures and to do all such acts
as, in
the judgment of such chairman, are appropriate for the proper conduct of
the
meeting.
Such rules, regulations or procedures, whether adopted by the Board of Directors
or prescribed by the chairman of the meeting, may include, without limitation,
the following: (i) the establishment of an agenda or order of business for
the
meeting, (ii) rules and procedures for maintaining order at the meeting and
the
safety of those present, (iii) limitations on attendance at or participation
in
the meeting to shareholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized
and constituted proxies or such other persons as the chairman of the meeting
shall determine, (iv) restrictions on entry to the meeting after the time
fixed
for the commencement thereof, and (v) limitations on the time allotted to
questions or comments by participants. Unless and to the extent determined
by
the Board of Directors or the chairman of the meeting, meetings of shareholders
shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary
procedure.
III
DIRECTORS
21. Powers
Subject
to the provisions of the Code and any limitations in the Articles of
Incorporation and these Bylaws relating to action required to be approved
by the
shareholders or by the outstanding shares, the business and affairs of this
Corporation shall be managed and all corporate powers shall be exercised
by or
under the direction of the directors.
22. Number
and Qualification of Directors
The
number of directors of this Corporation shall not be less than seven nor
more
than 13. The exact number of directors shall be fixed from time to time,
within
the limits specified in this Section 22 of these Bylaws, (i) by a resolution
duly adopted by the Board of Directors; or (ii) by a bylaw or amendment thereof
duly adopted by the vote of a majority of the shares entitled to vote
represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present, or by the
written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled
to vote; or (iii) by approval of the shareholders (as defined in Section
153 of
the Code). The indefinite number of directors may be changed by a duly adopted
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation and this bylaw adopted by the
vote of
a majority of the shares entitled to vote represented at a duly held meeting
at
which a quorum is present, or by the written consent of the holders of a
majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote, provided that no amendment
may change the stated maximum number of authorized directors to a number
greater
than two times the stated minimum number of directors minus one; and, further,
no amendment shall change the minimum number of directors to be less than
five
nor the maximum number to be more than 25 directors. Subject to the foregoing
provisions for changing the number of directors, the exact number of directors
of this Corporation has been fixed at 11. Each
director of this Corporation must hold in his or her individual name at least
350 shares of the common stock of this Corporation within one year following
the
date of election. No person shall be a member of the Board of Directors (a)
who
has not been a resident for a period of at least two years immediately prior
to
his or her election of a county in which any subsidiary of this Corporation
maintains a office unless the election of such person shall be approved by
the
affirmative vote of at least two-thirds (2/3’s) of the members of the Board of
Directors of this Corporation then in office, or (b) who owns, together with
his
or her family residing with him or her, directly or indirectly, more than
one
percent of the outstanding shares of any banking corporation, affiliate or
subsidiary thereof, bank holding company, industrial loan company, savings
bank
or association or finance company, other than this Corporation or any affiliate
or subsidiary of this Corporation, or (c) who is a director, officer, employee,
agent, nominee, or attorney of any banking corporation, affiliate, or subsidiary
thereof, bank holding company, industrial loan company, savings bank or
association or finance company, other than this Corporation or any affiliate
or
subsidiary of this Corporation, or (d) who has or is the nominee of anyone
who
has any contract, arrangement or understanding with any banking corporation,
or
affiliate or subsidiary thereof, bank holding company, industrial loan company,
savings bank or association or finance company, other than this Corporation
or
any affiliate or subsidiary of this Corporation, or with any officer, director,
employee, agent, nominee, attorney or other representative of such covered
entity, that he or she will reveal or in any way utilize information obtained
as
a director of this Corporation or that he or she will, directly or indirectly,
attempt to effect or encourage any action of this Corporation.
23. Nomination
of Directors
Nominations
for election 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. Nominations, other than those
made by the Board of Directors shall be made in writing and shall be delivered
or mailed to the President
of
the
Corporation not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days prior to any meeting
of
shareholders called for the election of directors, provided, however, that
if
less than 21 days’ notice of the meeting is given to shareholders, such
nomination shall be mailed or delivered to the President of the Corporation
not
later than the close of business on the seventh day following the day on
which
the notice of meeting was mailed. Such notification shall contain the following
information as to each proposed nominee and as to each person, acting alone
or
in conjunction with one or more other persons, in making such nomination
or in
organizing, directing or financing such nomination or solicitation of proxies
to
vote for the nominee: (a) the name, age, residence address and business address
of each proposed nominee and each such person and the date as of which such
nominee commenced residency at such residence address; (b) the principal
occupation or employment, the name, type of business and address of the
organization or other entity in which such employment is carried on of each
proposed nominee and of each such person; (c) if the proposed nominee is
an
attorney, a statement as to whether or not either he or she or any firm with
whom he or she has a relationship as partner, associate, of counsel, employee,
or otherwise, acts as legal counsel for any banking corporation, affiliate
or
subsidiary thereof, bank holding company, industrial loan company, savings
bank
or association or finance company, other than this Corporation or any affiliate
or subsidiary of this Corporation; (d) a statement as to each proposed nominee
and a statement as to each such person stating whether the nominee or person
concerned has been a participant in any proxy contest within the past ten
years,
and, if so, the statement shall indicate the principals involved, the subject
matter of the contest, the outcome thereof, and the relationship of the nominee
or person to the principals; (e) the amount of stock of the Corporation owned
beneficially, directly or indirectly, by each proposed nominee or by members
of
his or her family residing with him or her and the names of the registered
owners thereof; (f) the amount of stock of the Corporation owned of record
but
not beneficially by each proposed nominee or by members of his or her family
residing with him or her and by each such person or by members of his or
her
family residing with him or her and the names of the beneficial owners thereof;
(g) if any shares specified in (e) or (f) above were acquired in the
last
two years, a statement of the dates of acquisition and amounts acquired on
each
date; (h) a statement showing the extent of any borrowings to purchase shares
of
the Corporation specified in (e) or (f) above acquired within the preceding
two
years, and if funds were borrowed otherwise than pursuant to a margin account
or
bank loan in the regular course of business of a bank, the material provisions
of such borrowings and the names of the lenders; (i) the details of any
contract, arrangement or understanding relating to the securities of the
Corporation, to which each proposed nominee or to which each such person
is a
party, such as joint venture or option arrangements, puts or calls, guaranties
against loss, or guaranties of profit or arrangements as to the division
of
losses or profits or with respect to the giving or withholding of proxies,
and
the name or names of the persons with whom such contracts, arrangements or
understandings exist; (j) the details of any contract, arrangement, or
understanding to which each proposed nominee or to which such person is a
party
with any banking corporation, affiliate or subsidiary thereof, bank holding
company, industrial loan company, savings bank or association or finance
company, other than this Corporation or any affiliate or subsidiary of this
Corporation, or with any officer, director, employee, agent, nominee, attorney,
or other representative of such covered entity; (k) a description of any
arrangement or understanding of each proposed nominee and of each such person
with any person regarding future employment or with respect to any future
transaction to which the Corporation will or may be a party; (l) a statement
as
to each proposed nominee and a statement as to each such person as to whether
or
not the nominee or person concerned will bear any part of the expense incurred
in any proxy solicitation, and, if so, the amount thereof; (m) a statement
as to
each proposed nominee and a statement as to each such person describing any
conviction for a felony that occurred during the preceding ten years involving
the unlawful possession, conversion or appropriation of money or other property,
or the payment of taxes; (n) the total number of shares that will be voted
for
each proposed nominee; (o) the amount of stock, if any, owned, directly or
indirectly, by each proposed nominee or by members of his or her family residing
with him or her, in any banking corporation, affiliate or subsidiary thereof,
bank holding company, industrial loan company, savings bank or association
or
finance company, other than this Corporation or any affiliate or subsidiary
of
this Corporation; and (p) the identity of any banking corporation,
affiliate or subsidiary thereof, or bank holding company or industrial loan
company, savings bank or association or finance company, other than this
Corporation or any affiliate or subsidiary of this Corporation, as to which
such
nominee or any other such person serves as a director, officer, employee,
agent,
consultant, advisor, nominee or attorney, together with a description of
such
relationship.
24. Election
and Term of Office of Directors
The
chairman of the meeting may, in his or her discretion, determine and declare
to
the meeting that a nomination not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure shall be disregarded. The Directors shall be elected at each annual
meeting of the shareholders to hold office until the next annual meeting
or
until the director has reached the mandatory retirement age of 70 years (or,
if
approved by the Board of Directors by resolution, at the adjournment of the
first meeting of the Board of Directors following his or her 70th
birthday), died, resigned or been removed, whichever occurs
first.
25. Vacancies
Vacancies
in the Board of Directors may be filled by a majority of the remaining
directors, though less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director, except
that a vacancy created by the removal of a director by the vote or written
consent of the shareholders or by court order may be filled only by the vote
of
a majority of the shares entitled to vote represented at a meeting at which
a
quorum is present, or by the written consent of holders of all of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote. Each director so elected shall hold
office
until the next annual meeting of the shareholders and until a successor has
been
elected and qualified. A vacancy or vacancies in the Board of Directors shall
be
deemed to exist in the event of a director’s 70th
birthday, death, resignation, or removal, or if the Board of Directors by
resolution declares vacant the office of a director who has been declared
of
unsound mind by an order of court or convicted of a felony, or if the authorized
number of directors is increased, or if the shareholders fail, at any meeting
of
shareholders at which any director or directors are elected, to elect the
number
of directors to be voted for at that meeting. The shareholders may elect
a
director or directors at any time to fill any vacancy or vacancies not filled
by
the directors, but any such election by written consent and not involving
a
vacancy created by removal shall require the consent of a majority of the
outstanding shares entitled to vote.
26. Resignation
Any
director may resign effective on giving written notice to the Chairman of
the
Board, the President, the Secretary, or the Board of Directors, unless the
notice specifies a later time for that resignation to become effective. If
the
resignation of a director is effective at a future time, the Board of Directors
may elect a successor to take office when the resignation becomes effective.
No
reduction of the authorized number of directors shall have the effect of
removing any director before that director’s term of office
expires.
27. Place
of Meetings and Meetings by Telephone
Regular
meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any place within the State
of
California that has been designated from time to time by resolution of the
Board
of Directors. In the absence of such a designation, regular meetings shall
be
held at the principal executive office of this Corporation. Special meetings
of
the Board of Directors shall be held at any place within the State of California
that has been designated in the notice of the meeting or, if not stated in
the
notice or there is no notice, at the principal executive office of this
Corporation. Any meeting, regular or special, may be held by conference
telephone or similar communication equipment, so long as all directors
participating in the meeting can hear one another, and all such directors
shall
be deemed to be present in person at the meeting.
28. Annual
Meetings
Within
30
days after each annual meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors shall
hold a regular meeting for the purpose of organization and the transaction
of
other business. Notice of this meeting shall not be required.
29. Other
Regular Meetings
Other
regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held without call at
such
time as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors. Such
regular
meetings may be held without notice.
30. Special
Meetings
Special
meetings of the Board of Directors for any purpose may be called at any time
by
the Chairman of the Board or the President or the Secretary.
31. Notice
of Special Meetings
Notice
of
the time and place of special meetings shall be delivered personally or by
telephone (including a voice messaging system or other system or technology
designed to record and communicate messages), electronic mail or other
electronic means to each director or sent by first-class mail or telegram,
charges prepaid, addressed to each director at that director’s address as it is
shown on the records of this Corporation. In case the notice is mailed, it
shall
be deposited in the United States mail at least four days before the time
of the
holding of the meeting. In case the notice is delivered personally or by
telephone or telegram, it shall be delivered personally or by telephone
(including voice messaging or
other
system or technology), electronic mail or other electronic means or to the
telegraph company at least 24 hours before the time of the holding of the
meeting. Any oral notice given personally or by telephone (including voice
messaging or other system or technology), electronic mail or other electronic
means may be communicated either to the director or to a person at the office
of
the director who the person giving the notice has reason to believe will
promptly communicate it to the director. The notice need not specify the
purpose
of the meeting nor the place if the meeting is to be held at the principal
executive office of this Corporation.
32. Quorum
A
majority of the authorized number of directors shall constitute a quorum
for the
transaction of business, except to adjourn as provided in section 34 of these
Bylaws. Every act or decision done or made by a majority of the directors
present at a meeting held at which a quorum is present shall be regarded
as the
act of the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of section 310 of
the
Code as to approval of contracts or transactions in which a director has
a
direct or indirect material financial interest, section 311 of the Code as
to
appointment of committees, and section 317(e) of the Code as to indemnification
of directors. 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 at least a majority of the required quorum for that
meeting.
33. Waiver
of Notice
The
transactions of any meeting of the Board of Directors, however called and
noticed or wherever held, shall be as valid as though had at a meeting held
after regular call and notice if a quorum is present and if, either before
or
after the meeting, each of the directors not present signs a written waiver
of
notice, a consent to holding the meeting or an approval of the minutes. The
waiver of notice or consent need not specify the purpose of the meeting.
All
such waivers, consents, and approvals shall be filed with the corporate records
or made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Notice of the meeting shall
also
be deemed given to any director who attends the meeting without protesting
before or at its commencement the lack of notice to that director.
34. Adjournment
A
majority of the directors present, whether or not constituting a quorum,
may
adjourn any meeting to another time and place.
35. Notice
of Adjournment
Notice
of
the time and place of holding an adjourned meeting need not be given, unless
the
meeting is adjourned for more than 24 hours, in which case notice of the
time
and place shall be given before the time of the adjourned meeting in the
manner
specified in section 31 of these Bylaws, to the directors who were not present
at the time of the adjournment.
36. Action
without Meeting
Any
action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be
taken
without a meeting, if all members of the Board of Directors shall individually
or collectively consent in writing to that action. Such action by written
consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the Board
of
Directors. Such written consent or consents shall be filed with the minutes
of
the proceedings of the Board of Directors.
37. Fees
and Compensation of Directors
Directors
and members of committees may receive such compensation for their services,
and
such reimbursement of expenses, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors.
This
section shall not be construed to preclude any director from serving the
Corporation in any other capacity as an officer, agent, employee, or otherwise
and receiving compensation for those services.
COMMITTEES
38. Committees
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 of Directors. 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.
Any committee, to the extent provided in the resolution of the Board of
Directors, shall have all the authority of the Board of Directors, except
with
respect to:
(a) the
approval of any action which, under the Code, also requires shareholders’
approval or approval of the outstanding shares;
(b) the
filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors or on any committee;
(c) the
fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the Board of Directors
or
on any committee;
(d) the
amendment or repeal of Bylaws or the adoption of new Bylaws;
(e) the
amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board of Directors which by
its
express terms is not so amendable or repealable;
(f) a
distribution to the shareholders of this Corporation, except at a rate or
in a
periodic amount or within a price range determined by the Board of
Directors;
(g) the
appointment of any other committees of the Board of Directors or the members
of
these committees; or
(h) the
taking of any other action which cannot, by statute, be done without approval
of
the Board of Directors.
39. Meetings
and Action of Committees
Meetings
and action of committees shall be governed by and held and taken in accordance
with the provisions of section 27 of these Bylaws as to place of meetings,
section 29 of these Bylaws as to regular meetings, section 30 of these Bylaws
as
to special meetings, section 31 of these Bylaws as to notice of special
meetings, section 32 of these Bylaws as to quorum, section 33 of these Bylaws
as
to waiver of notice, section 34 of these Bylaws as to adjournment, and section
36 of these Bylaws as to action without a meeting, with such changes in the
context of those sections as are necessary to substitute the committee and
its
members for the Board of Directors and its members, except that the time
of
regular meetings of committees may be determined either by resolution of
the
Board of Directors or by resolution of the committee; special meetings of
committees may also be called by resolution of the Board of Directors; and
notice of special meetings of committees shall also be given to all alternate
members who shall have the right to attend all meetings of the committee.
The
Board of Directors may adopt rules for the government of any committee not
inconsistent with the provisions of these Bylaws.
V
OFFICERS
40. Officers
The
officers of this Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary, a Chief
Financial Officer and a Chairman of the Board. The Corporation may also have,
at
the discretion of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chairman, one or more vice
presidents, one or more assistant secretaries, one or more assistant treasurers,
and such other officers as may be appointed in accordance with the provisions
of
section 42 of these Bylaws. Any number of offices may be held by the same
person.
41. Election
of Officers
The
officers of this Corporation, except such officers as may be appointed in
accordance with the provisions of sections 42 or 44 of these Bylaws, shall
be
chosen by the Board of Directors and each shall serve at the pleasure of
the
Board of Directors, subject to the rights, if any, of an officer under any
contract of employment.
42. Subordinate
Officers
The
Board
of Directors may appoint, and may empower the President to appoint, such
other
officers as the business of this Corporation may require, each of whom shall
hold office for such period, have such authority and perform such duties
as are
provided in the Bylaws or as the Board of Directors may from time to time
determine.
43. Removal
and Resignation of Officers
Subject
to the rights, if any, of an officer under any contract of employment, any
officer may be removed, either with or without cause, by the Board of Directors,
at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, or, except in
case
of an officer chosen by the Board of Directors, by any officer upon whom
such
power of removal may be conferred by the Board of Directors. Any officer
may
resign at any time by giving written notice to the Corporation. Any resignation
shall take effect at the date of the receipt of that notice or at any later
time
specified in that notice; and, unless otherwise specified in that notice,
the
acceptance of the resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Any
resignation is without prejudice to the rights, if any, of this Corporation
under any contract to which the officer is a party.
44. Vacancies
in Offices
A
vacancy
in any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or
any
other cause shall be filled in the manner prescribed in these Bylaws for
regular
appointments to that office.
45. Chairman
of the Board
The
Chairman of the Board shall, if present, preside at meetings of the Board
of
Directors, and exercise and perform such other powers and duties as may be
from
time to time assigned to him or her by the Board of Directors or prescribed
by
the Bylaws.
46. Vice
Chairman
In
the
absence or disability of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, if any, shall perform
all the duties of the Chairman of the Board. The Vice Chairman shall have
such
other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or
these
Bylaws
47. President
Subject
to such supervisory powers, if any, as may be given by the Board of Directors
to
the Chairman of the Board, the President shall be the chief executive officer
of
this Corporation and shall, subject to the control of the Board of Directors,
have general supervision, direction and control of the business and the officers
of this Corporation. The President shall preside at all meetings of the
shareholders and, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, at all meetings
of the Board of Directors. The President shall have the general duties of
management usually vested in the office of the President of a Corporation,
and
shall have such other powers and duties as may be prescribed by the Board
of
Directors or these Bylaws.
48. Vice
Presidents
In
the
absence or disability of the President , the vice presidents, if any, in
order
of their rank as fixed by the Board of Directors or, if not ranked, a 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 upon, the President. The vice presidents shall have
such
other powers and perform such other duties as from time to time may be
prescribed for them respectively by the Board of Directors or the Bylaws,
and
the President, or the Chairman of the Boar
49. Secretary
The
Secretary shall keep or cause to be kept, at the principal executive office
or
such other place as the Board of Directors may direct, a book of minutes
of all
meetings and actions of directors, committees of directors, and shareholders,
with the time and place of holding, whether regular or special and, if special,
how authorized, the notice given, the names of those present at directors’
meetings or committee meetings, the number of shares present or represented
at
shareholders’ meetings, and the proceedings. The Secretary shall keep, or cause
to be kept, at the principal executive office or at the office of this
Corporation’s transfer agent or registrar, as determined by the resolution of
the Board of Directors, a share register, or a duplicate share register,
showing
the names of all shareholders and their addresses, the number and classes
of
shares held by each, the number and date of certificates issued for the same,
and the number and date of cancellation of every certificate surrendered
for
cancellation. The Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, notice of all
meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors required by the
Bylaws or by law to be given, and shall have such other powers and perform
such
other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the Bylaws,
the President or the Chairman of the Board.
50. Chief
Financial Officer
The
Chief
Financial Officer shall keep and maintain, or cause to be kept and maintained,
adequate and correct books and records of accounts of the properties and
business transactions of this Corporation, 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 Chief Financial Officer shall deposit all
moneys
and other valuables in the name and to the credit of this Corporation with
such
depositaries as may be designated by the Board of Directors. The Chief Financial
officer shall disburse the funds of this Corporation as may be ordered by
the
Board of Directors, shall render to the President and directors, whenever
they
request it, an account of all of his or her transactions as Chief Financial
Officer and of the financial condition of this Corporation, and shall have
other
powers and perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors or the Bylaws, the President or the Chairman of the
Board.
VI
INDEMNIFICATION
OF DIRECTORS, OFFICERS,
EMPLOYEES
AND OTHER AGENTS
51. Agents,
Proceedings and Expenses
For
the
purposes of the following eight sections, “agent” means any person who is or was
a director, officer, employee, or other agent of this Corporation, or is
or was
serving at the request of this 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 which was a predecessor corporation of this
Corporation or of another enterprise at the request of such predecessor
corporation; “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 this Article VI.
52. Actions
Other Than by the Corporation
This
Corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party, or is threatened
to be made a party, to any proceeding, other than an action by or in the
right
of this Corporation, by reason of the fact that the person is or was an agent
of
this Corporation, against expenses, judgments, fines, settlements and other
amounts actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such proceeding
if
that person acted in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be
in the
best interests of this Corporation and, in the case of a criminal proceeding,
had no reasonable cause to believe the conduct was unlawful. The termination
of
any proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea
of
nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a presumption
that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed
to
be in the best interests of this Corporation or that the person had reasonable
cause to believe that the conduct was unlawful.
53. Actions
by the Corporation
This
Corporation 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 by or
in the
right of this Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of
the
fact that that person is or was an agent of this Corporation, against expenses
actually and reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement
of
that action if that person acted in good faith, in a manner believed to be
in
the best interests of this Corporation and with such care, including reasonable
inquiry, as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under
similar circumstances. No indemnification shall be made under this
section:
(a) in
respect of any claim, issue, or matter as to which that person shall have
been
adjudged to be liable to this Corporation in the performance of duty to this
Corporation, unless and only to the extent that the court in which that action
was brought 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; or
(b) of
amounts paid in settling or otherwise disposing of a threatened or pending
action, with or without court approval; or
(c) of
expenses incurred in defending a threatened or pending action which is settled
or otherwise disposed of without court approval.
54. Successful
Defense by Agent
To
the
extent that an agent of this Corporation has been successful on the merits
in
defense of any proceeding referred to in sections 52 or 53 of these Bylaws,
or
in 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.
55. Required
Approval
Except
as
provided in section 54 of these Bylaws, indemnification shall be made by
this
Corporation only if authorized in the specific case on a determination that
indemnification of the agent is proper in the circumstances because the agent
has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth in sections 52 or 53
of
these Bylaws by:
(a) a
majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who are not parties to
the
proceeding;
(b) approval
by the affirmative vote of a majority of the shares of this Corporation entitled
to vote represented at a duly held meeting at which a quorum is present or
by
the written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled
to vote. For this purpose, the shares owned by the person to be indemnified
shall not be considered outstanding or entitled to vote thereon; or
(c) the
court
in which the proceeding is or was pending on application made by this
Corporation or the agent or the attorney or other person rendering services
in
connection with the defense, whether or not such application by the agent,
attorney, or other person is opposed by this Corporation.
56. Advance
of Expenses
Expenses
incurred by any agent in defending any proceeding for which indemnification
is
required by this Article VI shall be advanced by this Corporation before
the
final disposition of the proceeding on receipt of an undertaking by or on
behalf
of the agent to repay that amount unless it shall ultimately be determined
that
the agent is entitled to be indemnified under this Article VI.
57. Other
Contractual Rights
Nothing
contained herein shall affect any right to indemnification to which persons
other than directors and officers of this Corporation or any subsidiary hereof
may be entitled by contract or otherwise.
58. Limitations
No
indemnification or advance shall be made, except as provided in section 54
or
section 55(c), in any circumstance where it appears:
(a) that
it
would be inconsistent with a provision of the articles, a resolution of the
shareholders, 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
(b) that
it
would be inconsistent with any condition expressly imposed by a court in
approving a settlement.
59. Insurance
The
Board
of Directors of this Corporation may purchase and maintain insurance on behalf
of any agent of this Corporation against any liability asserted against or
incurred by the agent in such capacity or arising out of the agent’s status as
such whether or not this Corporation would have the power to indemnify the
agent
against that liability under the provisions of this section.
60. Fiduciaries
of Corporate Employee Benefit Plans
The
foregoing indemnification provisions do not apply to any proceeding against
any
trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary of an employee benefit plan
in
that person’s capacity as such, even though that person may also be an agent of
this Corporation as above. Nothing contained herein shall limit any right
to
indemnification to which such a trustee, investment manager, or other fiduciary
may be entitled by contract or otherwise, which shall be enforceable to the
extent permitted by applicable law.
VII
RECORDS
AND REPORTS
61. Maintenance
and Inspection of Share Register
The
Corporation shall keep at its principal executive office, or at the office
of
its transfer agent or registrar, if either be appointed, a record of its
shareholders, giving names and addresses of all shareholders and the number
and
class of shares held by each shareholder. A shareholder or shareholders of
this
Corporation holding at least five percent in the aggregate of the outstanding
voting shares of this Corporation may (i) inspect and copy the records of
shareholders’ names and addresses and shareholdings during usual business hours
on five days prior written demand on the Corporation, and (ii) obtain, on
written demand and on the tender of the usual charges for such list, 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 dates
for
which that list has been compiled or as of a date specified by the shareholder
after the date of demand. This list shall be made available to any such
shareholder on or before the later of five days after the demand is received,
or
the date specified in the demand as the date as of which the list is to be
compiled. The record of shareholders shall also be open to inspection on
the
written demand of any shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate,
at
any time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to
the
holder’s interests as a shareholder or as the holder of a voting trust
certificate. Any inspection and copying under this section may be made in
person
or by an agent or attorney of the shareholder or holder of a voting trust
certificate making the demand.
62. Maintenance
and Inspection of Bylaws
The
Corporation shall keep at its principal executive office the original or
a copy
of the Bylaws as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the
shareholders at all reasonable times during office hours.
63. Maintenance
and Inspection of Other Corporate Records
The
accounting books and records and minutes of proceedings of the shareholders
and
the Board of Directors and any committee or committees of the Board of Directors
shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board of
Directors
or, in the absence of such designation, at the principal executive office
of
this Corporation. The minutes shall be kept in written form and the accounting
books and records shall be kept in either written form or in any other form
capable of being converted into written form. The minutes and accounting
books
and records shall be open to inspection upon the written demand of any
shareholder or holder of a voting trust certificate, at any reasonable time
during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to the holder’s
interests as a shareholder or as the holder of a voting trust certificate.
The
inspection may be made in person or by an agent or attorney, and shall include
the right to copy and make extracts. No such right of inspection shall extend
to
any confidential information relating to the depositors, borrowers or other
customers of this Corporation or other information which the Corporation
may not
disclose under applicable law or lawful agreements with third
parties.
64. Inspection
by Directors
Every
director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect
all
books, records and documents of every kind and the physical properties of
this
Corporation. This inspection by a director may be made in person or by an
agent
or attorney and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make
extracts of documents.
65. Annual
Report to Shareholders
The
Board
of Directors shall cause an annual report to be sent to the shareholders
not
later than 120 days after the close of the fiscal year adopted by the
Corporation. This report shall be sent at least 15 days before the annual
meeting of shareholders to be held during the next fiscal year and in the
manner
specified for giving notice to shareholders of this Corporation. The annual
report shall contain a balance sheet as of the end of the fiscal year and
an
income statement and statement of changes in financial position for the fiscal
year, accompanied by any report of independent accountants or, if there is
no
such report, the certificate of an authorized officer of this Corporation
that
the statements were prepared without audit from the books and records of
this
Corporation.
66. Financial
Statements
A
copy of
any annual financial statement and any income statement of this Corporation
for
each quarterly period of each fiscal year, and any accompanying balance sheet
of
this Corporation as of the end of each such period, that has been prepared
by
the Corporation shall be kept in the principal executive office of this
Corporation for 12 months and each such statement shall be exhibited at all
reasonable times to any shareholder demanding an examination of any such
statement or a copy shall be mailed to any such shareholder. If a shareholder
or
shareholders holding at least five percent of the outstanding shares of any
class of stock of this Corporation makes a written request to the Corporation
for an income statement of this Corporation for the three-month, six-month
or
nine-month period of the then current fiscal year ended more than 30 days
before
the date of the request, and a balance sheet of this Corporation as of the
end
of that period, the Chief Financial Officer shall cause that statement to
be
prepared, if not already prepared, and shall deliver personally or mail that
statement or statements to the person making the request within 30 days after
the receipt of the request. If the Corporation has not sent to the shareholders
its annual report for the last fiscal year, this report shall likewise be
delivered or mailed to the shareholder or shareholders within 30 days after
the
request. The Corporation shall also, on the written request of any shareholder,
mail to the shareholder a copy of the last annual, semi-annual, or quarterly
income statement which it has prepared, and a balance sheet as of the end
of
that period. The quarterly income statements and balance sheets referred
to in
this section shall be accompanied by the report, if any, of any independent
accountants engaged by the Corporation or the certificate of an authorized
officer of this Corporation that the financial statements were prepared without
audit from the books and records of this Corporation.
67. Annual
Statement of General Information
The
Corporation shall each year file with the Secretary of the State of California,
on the prescribed form, a statement setting forth the authorized number of
directors, the names and complete business or residence addresses of all
incumbent directors, the number of vacancies on the Board of Directors, if
any,
the names and complete business or residence addresses of the chief executive
officer, Secretary, and Chief Financial Officer, the street address of its
principal executive office or principal business office in this state, and
the
general type of business constituting the principal business activity of
this
Corporation, together with a designation of the agent of this Corporation
for
the purpose of service of process, all in compliance with section 1502 of
the
Code.
VIII
GENERAL
CORPORATE MATTERS
68. Record
Date for Purposes Other Than Notice and Voting
For
purposes of determining the shareholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any other action, other than action by
shareholders by written consent without a meeting, the Board of Directors
may
fix, in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than 60 days before
any
such action, and in that case only shareholders of record on the date so
fixed
are entitled 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 this Corporation after the record date as fixed, except
as otherwise provided in the Code. If the Board of Directors does not fix
a
record date, the record date for determining shareholders for any such purpose
shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of Directors
adopts the applicable resolution or the 60th day before the date of that
action,
whichever is later.
69. Checks,
Drafts, Evidences of Indebtedness
All
checks, drafts, or other orders for payment of money, notes, or other evidences
of indebtedness, issued in the name of or payable to the Corporation, shall
be
signed or endorsed by such person or persons and in such manner as, from
time to
time, shall be determined by resolution of the Board of Directors.
70. Corporate
Contracts and Instruments, Execution of
The
Board
of Directors, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws, may authorize
any
officer or officers, agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute
any
instrument in the name of and on behalf of this Corporation and this authority
may be general or confined to specific instances; and, unless so authorized
or
ratified by the Board of Directors, or within the agency power of an officer,
no
officer, agent, or employee shall have any power or authority to bind the
Corporation by any contract or engagement or to pledge its credit or to render
it liable for any purpose or for any amount.
71. Certificate
for Shares
A
certificate or certificates for shares of the capital stock of this Corporation
shall be issued to each shareholder when any of these shares are fully paid.
All
certificates shall be signed in the name of this Corporation by the Chairman
of
the Board, or the President or vice president, and by the Chief Financial
Officer or the Secretary or an assistant secretary, certifying the number
of
shares and the class or series of shares owned by the shareholder. Any or
all of
the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any officer,
transfer agent, or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature
has
been placed on a certificate shall have ceased to be that officer, transfer
agent, or registrar before that certificate is issued, it may be issued by
the
Corporation with the same effect as if that person were an officer, transfer
agent, or registrar at the date of issue.
72. Lost
Certificates
Except
as
provided in this section, no new certificates for shares shall be issued
to
replace an old certificate unless the latter is surrendered to the Corporation
and cancelled at the same time. The Board of Directors may, in case any share
certificate or certificate for any other security is lost, stolen, or destroyed,
authorize the issuance of a replacement certificate on such terms and conditions
as the Board of Directors may require, including provision for indemnification
of this Corporation secured by a bond or other adequate security sufficient
to
protect the Corporation against any claim that may be made against it, including
any expense or liability, on account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction
of the certificate or the issuance of the replacement certificate.
73. Representation
of Shares of Other Corporations
The
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial Officer 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 this
Corporation any and all shares of any other corporation or corporations,
foreign
or domestic, standing in the name of this
Corporation.
The authority granted to these officers to vote or represent on behalf of
this
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.
74. Construction
and Definitions
Unless
the context requires otherwise, the general provisions, rules of construction
and definitions in the Code shall govern the construction of these
Bylaws.
IX
AMENDMENTS
75. Amendment
by Shareholders
New
Bylaws may be adopted or these Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the vote
or
written consent of holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled
to
vote.
76. Amendment
by Directors
Subject
to the rights of the shareholders as provided in section 75 of these Bylaws,
Bylaws may be adopted, amended, or repealed by the Board of Directors; provided,
however, that the Board of Directors may adopt a bylaw or amendment of a
bylaw
changing the authorized number of directors only for the purpose of fixing
the
exact number of directors within the limits specified in the Articles of
Incorporation or in section 22 of these Bylaws.