SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(Amendment No. DEFR14A)
Filed by the Registrant [X]
Filed by a party other than the Registrant [ ]
Check the appropriate box:
[] Preliminary Proxy Statement
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Section
Rule 14a-12
Confidential, For Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by
Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Barbara A. Van Horn
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
Secretary
(Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if Other Than the Registrant)
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required. *Fee was paid in connection with the filing of
a registration statement on Form S-4 filed on May 10, 2000 to register the
shares of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc. to be issued in the share exchange
described in the accompanying proxy statement/prospectus.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i) and
0-11.
1) Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
_______________________________________________________
2) Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
________________________________________________________
3) Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction
computed pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount
on which the filing fee is calculated and state how it was
determined): (1)
________________________________________________________
4) Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
________________________________________________________
5) Total fee paid:
________________________________________________________
[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
________________________________________________________
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by
Exchange Act Rule 0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which
the offsetting fee was paid previously. Identify the previous
filing by registration statement number, or the form or schedule
and the date of its filing.
1) Amount previously paid:
_______________________________________________________
2) Form, schedule, or Registration Statement no.:
________________________________________________________
3) Filing party:
________________________________________________________
4) Date filed:
________________________________________________________
Proxy Statement/Prospectus
134,047,989 Shares
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
Common Stock
(par value $.20 per share)
This proxy statement/prospectus relates to the shares of the common
stock of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation, being offered in
connection with the proposed share exchange between Price Group and T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. If the share exchange is approved, Price Associates will
become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Price Group and the outstanding shares of
common stock of Price Associates will be exchanged for shares of common stock of
Price Group. Price Associates and Price Group expect that the share exchange
will have no federal income tax consequences for either company or their
stockholders.
This proxy statement/prospectus also constitutes a proxy statement for
the special meeting of the stockholders of Price Associates to be held on June
30, 2000 to:
(1) vote upon the proposed share exchange; and
(2) transact other business that may properly come before the meeting.
The share exchange is subject to the approval of the holders of a majority of
Price Associates' common stock eligible to vote and other conditions that must
be satisfied in order to complete the share exchange.
Price Group's principal executive office is located at 100 East Pratt
Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202, and its telephone number is (410) 345-2000.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities
commission has approved or disapproved of the securities to be issued under this
proxy statement/prospectus or determined that this proxy statement/prospectus is
accurate or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The date of this proxy statement/prospectus is May 24, 2000.
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
P.O. Box 89000
Baltimore, Maryland 21289-9999
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
410-345-2000
FROM THE CHAIRMAN
May 24, 2000
Dear Stockholders:
I cordially invite you to attend our special meeting of stockholders of T. Rowe
Price Associates, Inc. on June 30, 2000 at our offices at 100 East Pratt Street,
Conference Room 9D, Baltimore, MD, at 9:00 a.m.
As described in the enclosed proxy statement/prospectus, the special meeting is
being held to:
(1) consider and vote upon the proposed share exchange between Price
Associates and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., pursuant to which we will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Price Group and the outstanding shares of our common
stock will be exchanged for shares of common stock of Price Group; and
(2) transact such other business as may properly come before the meeting.
We formed Price Group to create a holding company structure for Price Associates
and its affiliated businesses.
We believe that the formation of a holding company should provide us greater
flexibility in organizing subsidiaries and conducting operations in the
future. The holders of a majority of our common stock eligible to vote at this
special meeting must approve the share exchange and other conditions that
must be satisfied in order to complete the share exchange.
Please read this proxy statement/prospectus carefully and vote your shares
promptly whether or not you are able to attend the special meeting. Stockholders
of record may use one of three voting methods: mail, telephone, or the Internet.
Instructions on all three methods are provided on the proxy card.
I look forward to seeing you on June 30.
Sincerely,
George A. Roche
Chairman of the Board and President
[T. Rowe Price logo]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS .....................................v
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION ..........................................vi
CERTAIN INFORMATION INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE ................................vi
SUMMARY .......................................................................1
PROXY VOTING INFORMATION ......................................................3
SHARE EXCHANGE PROPOSAL .......................................................5
Description of Price Associates and Price Group ...............................5
Description of The Plan .......................................................5
General information about the share exchange .........................5
Reasons for the proposed share exchange ..............................5
Recommendation of Price Associates' Board of Directors ...............5
Conditions to the plan of share exchange .............................6
Effective date of the share exchange .................................6
Nasdaq listing of Price Group's shares ...............................6
Procedures for exchange of your stock certificates ...................6
Federal income tax consequences of the share exchange on stockholders
of Price Associates ..................................................6
Accounting treatment of the share exchange ...........................7
Continuity of stock ownership of Price Associates and Price Group.....7
Treatment of Price Associates' employee benefit plans ................7
Treatment of Price Associates' employee stock purchase plan ..........8
Treatment of Price Associates' stock options, etc ....................8
Termination of the plan of share exchange ............................8
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and the Charter and By-Laws of Price Group 9
Description of Price Group's capital stock............................9
Special voting provisions............................................9
Interests of directors in a transaction .............................9
Business combinations........................................... ...10
Control share acquisitions..........................................10
Certain provisions of the charter of Price Group relating directors..11
Limited liability and indemnification of directors and officers
of Price Group....................................................... 11
Legal Matters ................................................................12
Stockholder Proposals for the 2001 Annual Meeting ....................12
Other Matters ........................................................12
[T. Rowe Price Logo]
T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
June 30, 2000
We will hold the special meeting of stockholders of T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc. at 100 East Pratt Street, Conference Room 9D, Baltimore,
Maryland, 21202, on Friday, June 30, 2000, at 9:00 a.m. At the meeting, we will
ask stockholders to:
(1) consider and vote upon a proposal to approve the Agreement and Plan of
Share Exchange by and between Price Associates and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., a
Maryland corporation. We have included copies of this agreement and the Articles
of Share Exchange as Exhibits A and B, respectively, to the proxy
statement/prospectus. The agreement provides that:
o Price Associates shall become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Price
Group, and
o each outstanding share of Price Associates' common stock shall be
exchanged for one shareof Price Group's common stock.
(2) vote on any other business that properly comes before the meeting.
Stockholders who owned shares of Price Associates' common stock as of
April 24, 2000, are entitled to attend and vote at the meeting or any
adjournments.
BY ORDER OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Barbara A. Van Horn
Secretary
Baltimore, Maryland
May 24, 2000
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
Price Associates files annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy
statements and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. You may read and copy this
information at the Security and Exchange Commission's Public Reference Room, 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may also obtain
copies of this information by mail from the Public Reference Section of the SEC,
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
You may obtain information on the operation of the Public Reference Room by
calling the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330. The SEC also maintains an Internet world wide
web site that contains reports, proxy statements and other information about
issuers, like Price Associates, who file electronically with the SEC. The
address of the site is http://www.sec.gov.
Price Associates' common stock is quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market,
where reports, proxy statements and other information concerning Price
Associates may also be inspected. Following completion of the proposed share
exchange, Price Group will file these reports and other information as required
under the Exchange Act and the rules of The Nasdaq Stock Market.
CERTAIN INFORMATION INCORPORATED BYREFERENCE
The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" information into this proxy
statement/ prospectus. This means that we can disclose important
information to you by referring you to another document filed separately with
the SEC. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be a part of
this proxy statement/prospectus, except for any information superseded by
information included directly in this proxy statement/prospectus.
This proxy statement/prospectus incorporates by reference Price
Associates' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 and
Price Associates' Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31,
2000, both of which have been filed with the SEC. They contain important
information about Price Associates and its financial condition.
This proxy statement/prospectus is accompanied by a copy of Price
Associates' 1999 Annual Report. The report for the quarter ended March 31, 2000
has been mailed to stockholders separately.
Price Group has filed with the SEC a Registration Statement on Form S-4
under the Securities Act of 1933 registering the shares of Price Group common
stock that will be issued in the share exchange. This proxy statement/prospectus
does not contain all the information set forth in the registration statement,
parts of which are omitted from this proxy statement/prospectus in accordance
with the rules and regulations of the SEC. Statements made in this proxy
statement/prospectus as to the contents of any contract, agreement or other
document may not be complete. You should refer to the copy of each contract,
agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the registration statement
for complete information. Items omitted from this proxy statement/prospectus but
contained in the registration statement may be inspected and copied as described
above.
Upon completion of the share exchange, Price Group's common stock will
be quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market and will continue to trade under Price
Associates' current ticker symbol "TROW." At that time, Price Associates' common
stock will be withdrawn from listing on The Nasdaq Stock Market and its
registration under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act will be terminated.
Additional documents that either company may file with the SEC between
the date of this proxy statement/prospectus and the date of the special meeting
will be incorporated by reference. These documents may include periodic reports
and current reports on Form 8-K.
<PAGE>
Documents incorporated by reference are available from Price Associates
without charge, excluding any exhibits to those documents unless the exhibit is
specifically incorporated by reference as an exhibit in this proxy
statement/prospectus. You can obtain documents incorporated by reference in this
proxy statement/prospectus by requesting them in writing or by telephone from:
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
100 East Pratt Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Attention: Barbara A. Van Horn
Telephone: (410) 345-2000
If you would like to request documents, please do so by June 9, 2000 to
receive them before the special meeting. If you request any incorporated
documents, we will mail them to you by first class mail, or another equally
prompt means, within one business day after we receive your request.
We have not authorized anyone to give any information or make any
representation about the share exchange or our companies that is different from,
or in addition to, that contained in this proxy statement/prospectus or in any
of the materials that have been incorporated into this proxy
statement/prospectus. Therefore, if anyone does give you information of this
sort, you should not rely on it. If you are in a jurisdiction where offers to
exchange or sell, or solicitations of offers to exchange or purchase, the
securities offered by this proxy statement/prospectus or the solicitation of
proxies is unlawful, or if you are a person to whom it is unlawful to direct
these types of activities, then the offer presented in this proxy
statement/prospectus does not extend to you. The information contained in this
proxy statement/prospectus speaks only as of the date of this proxy
statement/prospectus unless the information specifically indicates that another
date applies.
<PAGE>
SUMMARY
This summary highlights selected information from this proxy
statement/prospectus and may not contain all of the information that is
important to you. To understand the share exchange fully, you should read
carefully the entire proxy statement/prospectus and the other documents attached
to this proxy statement/prospectus. The Agreement and Plan of Share Exchange is
attached as Exhibit A.
General information about the share exchange
This proxy statement/prospectus serves as a proxy statement for Price
Associates issued on behalf of its Board of Directors to solicit proxies to be
voted at the special meeting of the stockholders of Price Associates to be held
at 9:00 a.m. on June 30, 2000 at 100 East Pratt Street, Conference Room 9D,
Baltimore, Maryland. One proposal only is being submitted to stockholders:
o vote upon the proposed share exchange between Price Associates and
Price Group.
This proxy statement/prospectus also serves as a prospectus for the shares of
Price Group that will be issued in the share exchange.
Price Associates is a Maryland corporation organized in 1947 which,
together with some of its subsidiaries, provides investment advisory services to
institutional and individual investors in the sponsored T. Rowe Price mutual
funds and other investment portfolios.
Price Group was organized on February 4, 2000. Prior to the completion
of the proposed share exchange, Price Group will not have engaged in any
business other than entering into the plan of share exchange, organizing and
owning certain subsidiaries, and complying with various corporate and securities
laws in connection with the plan of share exchange.
Price Associates has proposed the share exchange to create a holding
company for its business operations. Upon completion of the proposed share
exchange, you will own one share of common stock of Price Group for each share
of common stock of Price Associates owned by you. Price Associates will be a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Price Group and the former stockholders of Price
Associates will be stockholders of Price Group. In addition, each option to
purchase Price Associates' common stock will convert into an option to purchase
Price Group's common stock. The total number of Price Group's outstanding shares
will be the same as Price Associates' outstanding shares prior to the share
exchange. To approve the proposed share exchange, a majority of the outstanding
shares of Price Associates must be voted in favor of the proposal.
The executive offices of each of Price Associates and Price Group are
located at 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The telephone
number for each company is (410) 345-2000.
Reasons for the proposed share exchange
Price Associates' Board of Directors has determined that the proposed
share exchange is in your best interests as a stockholder of Price Associates.
The Board of Directors believes you should vote in favor of the proposed share
exchange in order to achieve the following corporate benefits:
o greater flexibility in conducting operations by separating businesses
from Price Associates;
o more flexibility in raising capital and making
acquisitions of other companies;
o separation of our international and
regulated businesses; and
o administrative efficiencies.
Conditions to the plan of share exchange
The obligation of Price Associates and Price Group to consummate the
proposed share exchange depends on the satisfaction of several conditions.
<PAGE>
Federal tax treatment of the share exchange on stockholders of Price Associates
The proposed share exchange will qualify as a tax-free transaction
under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. You will not recognize any
gain or loss upon the receipt of shares of Price Group in exchange for your
shares of Price Associates. The obligation of Price Associates to complete the
share exchange depends on the receipt of an opinion of its legal counsel
regarding the tax treatment of the share exchange.
Accounting treatment of the share exchange
Price Associates and Price Group expect the proposed share exchange
will be treated for accounting purposes similar to a pooling-of-interests
transaction.
Vote required to approve the share exchange
To approve the proposed share exchange, a majority of Price Associates'
outstanding shares must vote in favor of the proposal. As of April 24, 2000, the
directors and executive officers of Price Associates and their affiliates owned
beneficially, directly or indirectly, 14.4% of Price Associates' common stock.
Termination of the plan of share exchange
The Boards of Directors of Price Associates and Price Group may abandon
the plan of share exchange by mutual agreement at any time before the share
exchange is effective if the consummation of the plan of share exchange is
inadvisable (or by the Board of Directors of Price Associates if an unwaived
condition is not met).
Effective date of the share exchange
The proposed share exchange will become effective at the time specified
in the Articles of Share Exchange. We expected that the effective date will
occur as soon as practicable after the shareholder meeting and all other
required conditions are met or waived.
Anti-takeover effect of statutory, charter and by-law provisions
The charter and by-laws of Price Group will be substantially identical to
those of Price Associates. Provisions of Price Group's charter, by-laws and some
statutes and regulations may discourage a potential acquisition even if it might
be beneficial to Price Group or its stockholders. No changes to these provisions
are being made. We have attached the articles of amendment and restatement to be
filed by Price Group prior to the share exchange as Exhibit C and the by-laws of
Price Group as Exhibit D.
Forward-Looking Statements
This proxy statement/prospectus contains and incorporates by reference
statements that constitute forward-looking statements within the meaning of the
Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Among other things, these
statements relate to:
o information relating to anticipated growth in revenues or earnings;
o anticipated changes in the amount and composition of assets under
management;
o anticipated expense levels; and
o expectations regarding
financial market conditions.
These forward-looking statements generally may be identified by their
reference to a future period or periods or by the use of forward-looking
terminology such as "may," "will," "intend," "should," "expect," "anticipate,"
"believe," "estimate," "continue," or similar expressions. You should understand
that forward-looking statements are estimates reflecting the judgment of the
management of Price Associates and Price Group. These statements do not
guarantee future performance. Price Associates' 1999 Annual Report contains more
information about risks and other factors that could affect future results. If
any one of the risks or uncertainties associated with forward-looking statements
affects the business of Price Associates and Price Group, actual results and
performance of achievements in 2000 and beyond could be materially adversely
affected.
<PAGE>
PROXY VOTING INFORMATION
We are sending you this proxy statement/prospectus and the accompanying
proxy card in connection with the solicitation of proxies by Price Associates'
Board of Directors for the meeting described in the notice and at any
adjournments or postponements. The purpose of the meeting is to:
(1) consider and vote upon the proposed share exchange between Price
Associates and Price Group. The share exchange provides that Price Associates
will become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Price Group and the outstanding common
stock of Price Associates will be exchanged for common stock of Price Group.
(2) act upon any other matters properly brought to the meeting.
This proxy statement/prospectus, proxy card, and our 1999 Annual Report to
Stockholders, containing Price Associates' financial statements and other
financial information for the year ended December 31, 1999, form your meeting
package. We sent you this package on or about May 26, 2000.
At the close of business on April 24, 2000, the record date of the
special meeting, Price Associates had 120,748,550 shares of common stock
outstanding and entitled to vote at the meeting. Price Associates has
approximately 3,700 stockholders of record. To approve the proposed share
exchange, a majority of the outstanding shares of Price Associates must be voted
in favor of the proposal. Stockholders may cast one vote per share owned on the
share exchange proposal. Under Price Associates' charter, this "one share: one
vote" policy may be modified in the case of certain persons and groups owning in
excess of 15% of our common stock. We do not believe this provision will apply
to stockholders voting at this meeting.
Price Associates will pay for the costs of soliciting proxies and
preparing the meeting materials. Price Associates has retained Georgeson
Shareholder Communications Inc. to assist it in soliciting proxies for a fee of
$8,000 plus reimbursement of out-of-pocket expenses. We ask securities brokers,
custodians, nominees, and fiduciaries to forward meeting materials to our
beneficial stockholders as of the record date, and will reimburse them for the
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses they incur. Directors, officers, and employees
of Price Associates and its subsidiaries may solicit proxies personally or by
telephone or telegram, but will not receive additional compensation.
Price Associates' Board of Directors has selected James S. Riepe,
George A. Roche, and M. David Testa to act as proxies. When you sign and return
your proxy card or vote your shares using the telephone or Internet connections
to Norwest Shareowner Services, our transfer agent and proxy tabulator, you
appoint Messrs. Riepe, Roche, and Testa as your representatives at the meeting.
If you wish to change your vote before the meeting, deliver a letter revoking
the proxy to Price Associates' Secretary (Barbara A. Van Horn, c/o T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc., 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, MD 21202) or properly submit
another proxy with a later date. Even if you vote your proxy before the meeting,
you may still attend the meeting, file a notice revoking the previously
submitted proxy, and then vote again in person. The last proxy properly
submitted by you before the voting is closed at the meeting will be counted.
You will be able to vote your proxies in three ways:
(1) by mail - complete the enclosed proxy card and return it in the
envelope provided;
(2) by telephone - as prompted by the telephone voting menu, use the
keypad to enter a company number and control number, both of which are
found on your proxy card, to confirm your voting authority and
instruct the proxies on how to vote your shares; or
(3) by the Internet - as prompted by the menu found at
http://www.eproxy.com/trow/, use the keyboard to enter a company
number and control number to gain access to the voting site maintained
by Norwest.
Remember, no matter which voting method you use, you may revoke your
proxy and resubmit a new one at the meeting, or no later than 1 p.m. Eastern
Time on June 29, 2000 if you vote by telephone or access Norwest's Internet
voting site. Our counsel has advised us that these three voting methods are
permitted under the corporate law of Maryland, the state in which Price
Associates is incorporated.
If your shares are held in a brokerage account, you will receive a full
meeting package including a proxy card to vote your shares. Your brokerage firm
may also permit you to vote your proxy by telephone or the Internet. If you want
your shares voted on the share exchange proposal that will create a holding
company, you must direct your broker to vote on your behalf by returning your
proxy card or using alternative voting methods provided by the broker. We urge
you to respond to your brokerage firm so that your proxy vote will be cast.
<PAGE>
SHARE EXCHANGE PROPOSAL
Description of Price Associates and Price Group
Price Associates, together with its subsidiaries, provides investment
advisory services to institutional and individual investors in the sponsored T.
Rowe Price mutual funds and other investment portfolios.
Price Group was organized on February 4, 2000. Prior to the effective
date of the plan of share exchange, Price Group will not have engaged in any
business other than entering into the plan of share exchange, complying with
various corporate and securities laws in connection with the plan of share
exchange, and forming one or more subsidiaries.
Description of The Plan
General information about the share exchange
The plan of share exchange provides that each share of the issued and
outstanding common stock of Price Associates shall automatically be converted
into one share of common stock of Price Group. Following consummation of the
plan of share exchange, Price Associates will continue to operate as a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Price Group. The current directors and principal
officers of Price Associates shall be the initial directors and officers of
Price Group. The transaction with Price Group does not change Price Associates'
name, office locations, officers or staff. Certificates for Price Associates'
common stock shall be exchanged for certificates of Price Group's common stock
in the ordinary course, and pending that exchange, will evidence Price Group's
common stock. Price Group may elect to reduce the number of directors of Price
Associates, and the Board of Directors of Price Group will then act as the
ultimate governing body for the consolidated group.
Reasons for the proposed share exchange
The Board of Directors believes that the proposed share exchange is in
the best interests of Price Associates and Price Associates' stockholders. The
plan of share exchange has been proposed by the Board of Directors to provide
greater flexibility of operations. Since Price Associates will be preserved as
an operating entity and will continue to engage in its current lines of
business, the holding company structure will enhance the delivery of our
investment advisory services to the public. Over time, this enhancement of
services will come from the following:
(1) Flexibility of Operations. The holding company will provide greater
flexibility in conducting operations in the future and allow for
various businesses and operations to be more clearly separated from
Price Associates.
(2) Raising Capital. A holding company provides a more flexible method of
raising capital should the operations of Price Associates or other
subsidiaries require additional capital.
(3) Subsidiaries. Certain subsidiaries of Price Associates may be
reorganized as wholly-owned subsidiaries of the holding company. This
may be particularly advantageous for international businesses or
subsidiaries such as our trust company and pending savings bank that
conduct business in regulated industries. Some activities now
conducted by Price Associates may eventually be transferred to
separate subsidiaries of the holding company.
(4) Acquisitions of Other Companies. A holding company could acquire other
companies that may remain separate corporate entities with distinct
boards of directors.
Recommendation of Price Associates' Board of Directors
Price Associates' Board of Directors approved the plan of share
exchange and recommended that Price Associates' stockholders vote for the plan
of share exchange. Price Group's Board of Directors has also approved the plan
of share exchange. To approve the proposed share exchange, a majority of the
outstanding shares of Price Associates must be voted "FOR" the proposal.
<PAGE>
Conditions to the plan of share exchange
The plan of share exchange is subject to the fulfillment or waiver of the
following conditions:
(1) approval of over 50% of the outstanding common stock of Price
Associates;
(2) receipt of a favorable tax opinion from our legal counsel; and
(3) receipt of any required regulatory approvals or consents.
Effective date of the share exchange
As soon as practicable after the satisfaction of all conditions to the
plan of share exchange not waived by Price Associates, Price Group and Price
Associates will execute and deliver articles of share exchange. We will then
file the articles of share exchange with the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of the State of Maryland. The share exchange becomes effective on the
date and time stated in the articles. The Boards of Directors of Price
Associates and Price Group may abandon the plan of share exchange by mutual
agreement at any time before the share exchange is effective if the consummation
of the plan of share exchange is inadvisable. The Board of Directors of Price
Associates may abandon the plan of share exchange if an unwaived condition is
not met.
Nasdaq listing of Price Group's shares
Price Group's common stock will be substituted for Price Associates'
common stock currently listed on The Nasdaq Stock Exchange's National Market
under the symbol "TROW." Price Group's common stock will trade on The Nasdaq's
National Market without interruption from the share exchange.
Procedures for exchange of your stock certificates
There is no need to exchange your stock certificates. Certificates
formerly representing shares of Price Associates' common stock will be deemed
for all corporate purposes to evidence Price Group's common stock. Certificates
of Price Group's common stock will be issued for all future stock issuances.
Certificates of Price Associates' common stock may be surrendered to Price
Associates' transfer agent, Norwest Shareowner Services, at any time after the
effective date and exchanged for new certificates representing the same number
of shares of Price Group's common stock. Stockholders of Price Associates should
not forward stock certificates or return stock certificates with the enclosed
proxy.
Federal income tax consequences of the share exchange on stockholders of
Price Associates
The following is a summary of the anticipated material Federal income tax
consequences of the plan. This summary is not a complete description of those
consequences. You should consult your tax advisor as to the particular
consequences of the share exchange to you.
(1) Price Group will not recognize any gain or loss upon the receipt of
shares of Price Associates' common stock in the share exchange;
(2) you will not recognize any gain or loss upon your receipt of Price
Group's common stock in exchange for your shares of Price Associates'
common stock;
(3) your basis in Price Group's common stock to be received pursuant to
the share exchange will be the same as your basis in Price Associates'
common stock exchanged; and
(4) your holding period of Price Group's common stock to be received
pursuant to the share exchange will be considered to include the
holding period of your Price Associates' common stock exchanged,
provided you hold Price Associates' shares as capital assets on the
effective date of the plan.
<PAGE>
The obligation of Price Associates and Price Group to consummate the
plan depends on the receipt of an opinion of Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP,
counsel to Price Associates and Price Group, with respect to the Federal income
tax consequences of the plan as described in prior paragraphs (1) through (4).
Neither Price Group nor Price Associates has requested a ruling from
the Internal Revenue Service on the tax treatment of the share exchange.
We have included this discussion of tax consequences for general
information only. It does not address the state or local tax aspects of the
share exchange. It does not discuss the Federal income tax considerations that
may be relevant to some stockholders and may not apply to stockholders subject
to special tax rules, including dealers in securities and foreign holders. This
discussion is based upon currently existing provisions of the Internal Revenue
Code, existing Treasury regulations thereunder and current administrative
rulings and court decisions. All of these provisions and rulings may change, and
any change could affect the continuing validity of this discussion.
You should consult your tax adviser with respect to the specific tax
consequences of the plan of share exchange to you, including the application and
effect of state and local tax laws.
Accounting treatment of the share exchange
Price Associates and Price Group expect that the share exchange will be
accounted for as if it were a pooling-of-interests transaction under generally
accepted accounting principles. Under the pooling-of-interest method of
accounting,
o the historical basis of the assets and liabilities of Price
Associates and Price Group will be carried forward at their previously
recorded amounts, and
o the stockholders' equity accounts of Price Associates will also be
carried forward on Price Group's consolidated balance sheet.
Because Price Group has had no prior operations, consolidated financial
information for prior periods will be identical to the consolidated financial
information of Price Associates.
Continuity of stock ownership of Price Associates and Price Group
The share exchange will not effect the proportionate ownership
interests of Price Associates' stockholders. Each share of Price Associates'
common stock will become one share of Price Group's common stock. The authorized
capital stock of Price Associates and the Price Group are as follows:
o Price Associates. 520,000,000 shares of capital stock (par value $.20
per share), of which 500,000,000 shares (par value $.20 per share) are
classified as common stock and 20,000,000 shares (par value $.20 per
share) are classified as preferred stock.
o Price Group. 520,000,000 shares of capital stock (par value $.20 per
share), of which 500,000,000 shares (par value $.20 per share) are
classified as common stock and 20,000,000 shares (par value $.20 per
share) are classified as preferred stock.
After consummation of the share exchange, Price Group will have approximately
380,000,000 shares of authorized and unissued common stock which may be issued
in the future to raise additional capital.
Treatment of Price Associates' employee benefit plans
Price Associates currently maintains the T. Rowe Price Associates
Retirement Program, a retirement program that is qualified under Section 401(a)
of the Internal Revenue Code, as well as other plans and arrangements providing
health, group life insurance, long term disability, incentive compensation and
other employee benefits. Price Group and Price Associates will continue these
benefits plans after the share exchange. These plans will be amended as
appropriate to permit adoption of the plans by Price Group and, where
appropriate, to substitute Price Group for Price Associates as plan sponsor.
<PAGE>
Treatment of Price Associates' Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Upon the effective date of the share exchange, shares of Price
Associates' common stock purchased through the Employee Stock Purchase Plan will
be exchanged for shares of Price Group's common stock in the same manner as
other shares of Price Associates' common stock. After the effective date of the
share exchange, shares purchased under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan will be
made of shares of Price Group's common stock.
Treatment of Price Associates' stock options, etc.
Upon the effective date of the share exchange, each stock option,
warrant or other right to acquire shares of Price Associates' common stock will
be converted into an identical option, warrant or other right to acquire shares
of Price Group's common stock. This means that any employee, director or other
person holding an option under one of Price Associates' stock option plans will
then have an option to acquire Price Group's common stock. Price Group will
assume each option plan of Price Associates. The proposed share exchange will
not accelerate the vesting of currently outstanding options. Any options granted
in the future will be for Price Group's common stock. A vote in favor of the
share exchange constitutes approval of the issuance of Price Group's common
stock instead of Price Associates' common stock under the stock option plans. It
also constitutes the approval of Price Group's assumption of these plans.
Termination of the plan of share exchange
The plan may be terminated and abandoned at any time prior to theeffective
date:
(1) even if approved by Price Associates' stockholders, by the mutual
consent of the Boards of Directors of Price Associates and Price
Group;
(2) by Price Associates if certain conditions set forth in the
plan have not been met or waived by Price Associates; and
(3) by Price Group or PriceAssociates if the plan is notconsummated
by December 31, 2000.
<PAGE>
Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and
the Charter and By-Laws of Price Group
The charter and by-laws of Price Group will be substantially identical
to those of Price Associates. We have attached a copy of the articles of
amendment and restatement to be filed by Price Group prior to the share
exchange, the Charter as Exhibit C, and the by-laws of Price Group as Exhibit D.
Description of Price Group's capital stock
Upon the completion of the share exchange, Price Group will be
authorized to issue 500,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $.20 per
share, and 20,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.20 per share.
The holders of Price Group's common stock will generally be entitled to
one vote per share on all matters to be voted on by stockholders, including the
election of directors. Price Group's stockholders do not have cumulative voting
rights in the election of directors. The voting rights of Price Group's capital
stock is discussed in more detail below under "Special Voting Provisions."
Subject to the rights of holders of Price Group's preferred stock, the holders
of Price Group's common stock are entitled to receive dividends that may be
declared from time to time by the Board of Directors of Price Group. The Board
of Directors of Price Group may declare dividends in its discretion from legally
available funds. Upon the liquidation or dissolution of Price Group, any
remaining assets of Price Group will be distributed ratably among the holders of
Price Group's common stock after payment of liabilities and the liquidation
preferences to any outstanding shares of Price Group's preferred stock. Price
Group's common stock has no preemptive or other subscription rights. There are
no conversion rights or redemption or sinking fund provisions for the common
stock.
Price Group's Board of Directors will have the authority to issue up to
20,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more series and to fix the price,
rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the preferred stock. Price
Group's Board of Directors can set the dividend rights, dividend rates,
conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption, redemption prices,
liquidation preferences and the number of shares constituting a series or the
designation of any series. Price Group's Board of Directors can set the terms of
the preferred stock without any further vote or action by stockholders. Any
issuance of preferred stock, while providing desirable flexibility in connection
with possible acquisitions and other corporate purposes, could have the effect
of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of Price Group without
further action by stockholders. In addition, any issuance of preferred stock may
adversely affect the market price of and the voting and other rights of the
holders of Price Group's common stock. Upon the closing of the share exchange,
there will be no shares of preferred stock outstanding and Price Group has no
current plans to issue any shares of preferred stock.
Special voting provisions
The charter of Price Associates and the charter of Price Group each
contain a provision relating to the voting of shares by stockholders owning more
than 15% of the voting stock. Under these provisions, any person or group that
beneficially owns more than 15% of any class of voting stock can not vote more
than 15% of the shares of that class. If any reduction in voting rights is
required under this provision, the number of shares required to approve a
proposal affected by the reduction will be reduced accordingly. This provision
will be removed from Price Associates' charter if the share exchange transaction
is consummated. This provision will remain in Price Group's charter.
Interests of directors in a transaction
Price Associates' charter contains a provision regarding the financial
interests of directors in transactions entered into by Price Associates. This
provision outlines the circumstances under which such a transaction, know as an
interested director transaction, will not be void or violable. The Maryland
General Corporation Law now contains a provision regarding interested director
transactions which is similar to the one contained in Price Associates' charter.
As a result, this provision was not incorporated in Price Group's charter.
<PAGE>
Business combinations
The Maryland General Corporation Law contains special provisions
relating to specified "business combinations" between a Maryland corporation and
an "interested stockholder." These business combinations include a merger,
consolidation, share exchange, an asset transfer or issuance or reclassification
of equity securities. Interested stockholders are either:
o anyone who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of the
corporation's shares; and
o an affiliate or associate of the corporation who was an interested
stockholder or an affiliate or an associate of the interested stockholder
at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question.
These business combinations are prohibited for five years after the most
recent date on which the stockholder became an interested stockholder. After
that time, any of these business combinations must be recommended by the board
of directors of the corporation and approved by the vote of
o at least 80%of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of voting
shares of the corporation's voting shares; and
o at least 66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders of the
corporation's voting shares other than voting shares held by the
interested stockholder or an affiliate or associate of the interested
stockholder.
However these special voting requirements do not apply if the corporation's
stockholders receive a minimum price for their shares (as specified in the
statute) and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form
previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.
This business combination statute does not apply to business
combinations that are approved or exempted by the corporation's board of
directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an
interested stockholder. A 10% or greater stockholder is not considered an
interested stockholder for the purposes of the statute if the Board of Directors
approved the transaction by which the stockholder became a 10% or greater
stockholder. A Maryland corporation may adopt an amendment to its charter
electing not to be subject to these special voting requirements. Any amendment
must be approved by at least 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by all holders
of outstanding shares of voting stock and 66 2/3% of the votes entitled to be
cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock who are not interested
stockholders. Neither Price Associates nor Price Group has adopted a provision
to its charter relating to the business combination statute.
Control share acquisitions
The Maryland General Corporation Law provides that "control shares" of
a Maryland corporation acquired in a "control share acquisition" have no voting
rights unless approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast
on the matter, excluding shares owned by the acquiror or by the corporation's
officers or directors who are employees of the corporation. Control shares
consist of shares of voting stock which, if aggregated with all other shares of
stock previously acquired, would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power
in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:
o 20% or more but less than 33 1/3%;
o 33 1/3% or more but less than a majority; or
o a majority of all voting power.
Control shares do not include shares of stock an acquiring person is
entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval.
A control share acquisition generally means the acquisition of, ownership of, or
the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to control shares.
<PAGE>
A person who had made or proposes to make a "control share acquisition"
under specified conditions, including an undertaking to pay expenses, may
require the board of directors to call a special stockholders' meeting to
consider the voting rights of the shares. The meeting must be held within 50
days of the demand. If no request for a meeting is made, the corporation may
itself present the question at any stockholders' meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring
person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as permitted by the
statute, the corporation generally may redeem any or all of the control shares,
except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. Any
redemption of shares must be for fair value. Fair value in this case must be
determined without regard to voting rights as of the date of the last control
share acquisition or of any stockholders' meeting at which the voting rights of
the shares are considered and not approved. If stockholders approve voting
rights for "control shares" and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority
of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal
rights. The fair value of the stock determined for purposes of appraisal rights
may not be less than the highest price per share paid in the control share
acquisition. The limitations and restrictions otherwise applicable to the
exercise of dissenters' rights do not apply in the context of a "control share
acquisition."
The control share acquisition statute does not apply to:
o stock acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the
corporation is a party to the transaction, or
o to acquisitions previously approved or exempted by a provision in the
charter or by-laws of the corporation.
Neither Price Associates nor Price Group had adopted a provision in its charter
or by-laws relating to control share acquisitions.
Certain provisions of the charter of Price Group relating to directors
The initial members of the Board of Directors of Price Group will be
identical to the current members of the Board of Directors of Price Associates.
Directors of Price Group will serve one-year terms just as the directors of
Price Associates serve one-year terms. The Maryland General Corporation Law
provides that directors of Price Group may be removed, with or without cause, by
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of votes entitled to be cast
in the election for directors. A vote in favor of the share exchange also
constitutes the ratification of the initial Board of Directors of Price Group.
Limited liability and indemnification of directors and officers of Price Group
As permitted by Maryland law, Price Group has charter provisions limiting
the personal liability of directors and officers for money damages to the
fullest extent permitted by Maryland law. These charter provisions do not limit
liability in the following circumstances:
(1) actual receipt of an improper benefit in money, property or services;
or
(2) any adjudication based upon a finding of active and deliberate
dishonesty which was material to the cause of action adjudicated.
These charter provisions do not affect potential liability of directors and
officers to third parties, including creditors of Price Group or Price
Associates.
As permitted by Maryland law, Price Group's charter obligates Price
Group to indemnify its directors and officers and to pay or reimburse expenses
for these individuals in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding as
permitted by Maryland law. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its
directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines,
settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with
any proceeding they may be made a party to by reason of their service in those
or other capacities, unless it is established that:
<PAGE>
(1) the act or omission of the direct or officer was material to the
matter giving rise to such proceeding and (a) was committed in bad
faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;
(2) the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit
in money, property or services; or
(3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had
reasonable cause to believe that the action or omission was unlawful.
Legal Matters
The validity of the issuance of the common stock of Price Group offered
pursuant to the plan and certain tax matters will be passed upon for Price
Associates and Price Group by Piper Marbury Rudnick & Wolfe LLP, Baltimore,
Maryland.
Stockholder Proposals for the 2001 Annual Meeting
If the share exchange is approved and completed, qualified stockholders
who want to have proposals presented at Price Group's 2001 annual meeting must
deliver them to Price Group by November 6, 2000 in order to be considered for
inclusion in next year's proxy statement and proxy.
If the share exchange is not approved or is not completed, qualified
stockholders who want to have proposals presented at price associates' 2001
annual meeting must deliver them to price associates by november 6, 2000 in
order to be considered for inclusion in next year's proxy statement and proxy.
Other matters
We know of no other matters to be presented to you at the meeting other
than the proposed share exchange and creation of a holding company structure.If
other matters are considered at the meeting, the proxies will vote on these
matters in accordance with their judgment of the best interests of price
associates.
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT A
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF EXCHANGE
AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF EXCHANGE (the "Plan"), dated as of April 30, 2000
(the "Plan"), between T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., a Maryland corporation
(the "Company"), and T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation ("Price
Group").
The Boards of Directors of the Company and Price Group desire to
establish a holding company structure whereby the Company will become a
wholly-owned subsidiary of Price Group. The Boards of Directors of the Company
and Price Group have deemed advisable an exchange of shares between the Company
and Price Group in order to establish the Company as a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Price Group in the manner and upon the terms and conditions herein set forth.
Accordingly, in consideration of the mutual agreements, covenants and
provisions herein contained, the Company and Price Group hereby agree as
follows:
1. Exchange of Shares. On the Effective Date (as hereinafter defined),
each of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, par
value $.20 per share (the "Company Shares"), shall be exchanged for one share of
Common Stock of Price Group, par value $.20 per share (the " Price Group
Shares"), in a statutory share exchange pursuant to Section 3-105 of the
Maryland General Corporation Law. As a result of such share exchange, Price
Group shall become the sole stockholder of the Company and the holders of all of
the issued and outstanding Company Shares shall become the holders of all of the
issued and outstanding Price Group Shares.
2. Effect on Other Securities. On the Effective Date, each outstanding
option, warrant or other right to acquire Company Shares shall be automatically
converted into an identical option, warrant or other right to acquire Price
Group Shares.
3. Effective Date. The Plan shall become effective at the date and time
at which the Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland
accepts the Articles of Share Exchange, annexed hereto as Exhibit I, (the
"Articles of Share Exchange") for record or at the time established under the
Articles of Share Exchange, not to exceed 30 days after the Articles of Share
Exchange are accepted for record.
4. Manner of Exchange. On the Effective Date, each Company Share
issued and outstanding at the Effective Date shall be exchanged for one Price
Group Share in the manner described in the Articles of Share Exchange.
5. Conditions. Consummation of the share exchange provided for herein
shall, except as may be waived by the Board of Directors of the Company, be
subject to the fulfillment of each of the following conditions:
(a) the Securities and Exchange Commission shall have declared effective
the Price Group's Registration Statement which registers the Common Stock of
Price Group to be issued in the share exchange;
(b) the Company and Price Group shall have received an opinion of counsel
as to the tax free character of the share exchange, which opinion shall be in
form and substance satisfactory to each of them;
(c) the stockholders of the Company shall have approved this Plan by the
requisite vote and in the manner required by the Company's charter and the
Maryland General Corporation Law; and
(d) the receipt of any required regulatory approvals or consents necessary
for the completion of the share exchange.
<PAGE>
6. Termination and Abandonment. The Plan may be terminated without
liability to either party hereto and the transactions abandoned at any time
prior to the Effective Date, whether before or after approval by the
stockholders of the Company:
(a) by the Board of Directors of the Company in the event that the
conditions referred to in Section 5 hereof have not been fulfilled or waived on
or prior to December 31, 2000; or
(b) by mutual agreement of the Boards of Directors of the Company and Price
Group if for any other reason consummation of the share exchange is inadvisable
in the opinions of the respective Boards.
7. Expenses. All of the expenses of carrying this Plan into effect and of
consummating the share exchange shall be paid by the Company.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Price Group have caused the Plan
to be duly executed and their corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested as of the date first above written.
ATTEST: T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
/s/ Barbara A. Van Horn By:/s/ George A. Roche
Name: Barbara A. Van Horn Name: George A. Roche
Secretary Title: President
ATTEST: T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
/s/ Barbara A. Van Horn By:/s/ George A. Roche
Name: Barbara A. Van Horn Name: George A. Roche
Secretary Title: President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT B
ARTICLES OF SHARE EXCHANGE
Articles of Share Exchange
between
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc.
(a Maryland corporation)
and
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
(a Maryland corporation)
T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. a corporation duly organized and existing
under the laws of the State of Maryland (the "Company"), and T. Rowe Price
Group, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Maryland ("Price Group"), do hereby certify that:
FIRST: Price Group agrees to acquire all of the issued and outstanding
stock of the Company, and the Company agrees to have such stock acquired by
Price Group, in a statutory share exchange.
SECOND: The name and place of incorporation of each party to these Articles
are T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and T. Rowe Price
Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation. Price Group is acquiring the stock of the
Company in the share exchange.
THIRD: The Company has its principal office in Baltimore City,
Maryland.Price Group (which is also the successor corporation in the share
exchange) has its principal office in Baltimore City, Maryland.
FOURTH: The terms and conditions of the transaction set forth in these
Articles were advised, authorized, and approved by each corporation party to
these Articles in the manner and by the vote required by its Charter and the
laws of Maryland. The manner of approval was as follows:
(a) The Board of Directors of the Company, at a meeting held
on April 13, 2000 adopted a resolution which declared that the proposed share
exchange was advisable on substantially the terms and conditions set forth or
referred to in the resolution and directed that the proposed share exchange be
submitted for consideration at a meeting of the stockholders of the Company.
(b) The Board of Directors of Price Group, by written consent
dated February 29, 2000 adopted a resolution approving the proposed share
exchange on substantially the terms and conditions set forth or referred to in
the resolution.
(c) Notice which stated that a purpose of the meeting was to
act on the proposed share exchange was given by the Company as required by law
to each of its stockholders entitled to vote on the proposed share exchange.
(d) The proposed share exchange was approved by the
stockholders of the Company at a meeting of stockholders held on June 30, 2000,
by the affirmative vote of a majority of all votes entitled to be cast on the
matter.
FIFTH: The total number of shares of stock of all classes which the
Company has authority to issue is 520,000,000 shares of capital stock (par value
$.20 per share) amounting in aggregate par value to $104,000,000, of which
500,000,000 shares (par value $.20 per share) amounting in aggregate par value
to $100,000,000 are classified as "Common Stock" and 20,000,000 shares (par
value $.20 per share) amounting in aggregate par value to $4,000,000 are
classified as "Preferred Stock."
SIXTH: The manner and basis of exchanging the stock of the Company to be
acquired for the stock to be issued by Price Group, the successor, is as
follows:
<PAGE>
On the Effective Date, each Company Share then issued and outstanding
shall, without any action on the part of the holder thereof, be converted into
one share of the Common Stock, par value $.20 per share, of Price Group ("Price
Group Share"); certificates representing Company Shares shall thereafter
represent the right to receive Price Group Shares in the aforementioned
proportions; such Company Share certificates may at any time thereafter be
exchanged by the holders thereof for new certificates for the appropriate number
of Price Group Shares. On the Effective Date, each Price Group Share held by the
Company shall be cancelled and extinguished.
SEVENTH: The share exchange shall become effective upon the filing of
these Articles of Share Exchange with the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of Maryland.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company and Price Group have caused these
Articles of Share Exchange to be duly executed and their corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested as of __________, 2000.
ATTEST: T. ROWE PRICE ASSOCIATES, INC.
_______________________________________ ______________________________
By
Name: Name:
Secretary Title:
ATTEST: T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
________________________________________ ______________________________
By
Name: Name:
Secretary Title:
THE UNDERSIGNED, the ___________ of T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc., who
executed on behalf of said corporation the foregoing Articles of Share Exchange,
of which this certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on
behalf of said corporation, the foregoing Articles of Share Exchange to be the
corporate act of said corporation, and further certifies that, to the best of
his knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth therein
with respect to the approval thereof by such corporation are true in all
material respects under the penalties of perjury.
______________________________
Name:
Title:
THE UNDERSIGNED, the ___________ of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., who
executed on behalf of said corporation the foregoing Articles of Share Exchange,
of which this certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on
behalf of said corporation, the foregoing Articles of Share Exchange to be the
corporate act of said corporation, and further certifies that, to the best of
his knowledge, information and belief, the matters and facts set forth therein
with respect to the approval thereof by such corporation are true in all
material respects under the penalties of perjury.
_____________________________
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT C
PRICE GROUP CHARTER
Articles of Amendment and Restatement
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., a Maryland corporation, having its principal
office in Baltimore City, Maryland (which is hereinafter called the
"Corporation"), hereby certifies to the State Department of Assessments and
Taxation of Maryland that:
FIRST: The Charter of the Corporation is hereby amended and restated in
its entirety to read as follows:
FIRST: THE UNDERSIGNED, Robye Shaw Margolius, whose address is 36 South
Charles Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21201, being at least eighteen years of age,
acting as incorporator, does hereby form a corporation under the General Laws of
the State of Maryland.
SECOND: The name of the corporation (which is hereinafter called the
"Corporation") is: T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
THIRD: (a) The purposes for which and any of which the Corporation is
formed and the business and objects to be carried on and promoted by it are:
(1) To engage in any one or more businesses or transactions,
or to acquire all or any portion of any entity engaged in any one or more
businesses or transactions which the Board of Directors may from time to time
authorize or approve, whether or not related to the business described elsewhere
in this Article or to any other business at the time or theretofore engaged in
by the Corporation.
The foregoing enumerated purposes and objects shall be in no way
limited or restricted by reference to, or inference from, the terms of any other
clause of this or any other Article of the charter of the Corporation, and each
shall be regarded as independent; and they are intended to be and shall be
construed as powers as well as purposes and objects of the Corporation and shall
be in addition to and not in limitation of the general powers of corporations
under the General Laws of the State of Maryland.
FOURTH: The present address of the principal office of the Corporation is
100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
FIFTH: The name and address of the resident agent of the Corporation in
this State are Barbara A. Van Horn, 100 East Pratt Street, Baltimore, Maryland
21202. Said resident agent is a citizen of the State of Maryland who resides
there.
SIXTH: The total number of shares of stock of all classes which the
Corporation has authority to issue is 520,000,000 shares of capital stock (par
value $.20 per share) amounting in aggregate par value to $104,000,000, of which
500,000,000 shares (par value $.20 per share) amounting in aggregate par value
to $100,000,000 are classified as "Common Stock" and 20,000,000 shares (par
value $.20 per share) amounting in aggregate par value to $4,000,000 are
classified as "Preferred Stock."
SEVENTH: The number of directors of the Corporation shall be 15, which
number may be increased or decreased pursuant to the By-Laws of the Corporation,
but shall never be less than the minimum number permitted by the General Laws of
the State of Maryland now or hereafter in force. The names of the directors who
will serve until the first annual meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and
until their successors are elected and qualify are as follows:
Edward C. Bernard John H. Laporte Brian C. Rogers
James E. Halbkat, Jr. Richard L. Menschel Robert L. Strickland
Donald B. Hebb, Jr. William T. Reynolds M. David Testa
Henry H. Hopkins James S. Riepe Martin G. Wade
James A.C. Kennedy George A. Roche Anne Marie Whittemore
<PAGE>
EIGHTH: The following provisions are hereby adopted for the purpose of
defining, limiting, and regulating the powers of the Corporation and of the
directors and stockholders:
(1) The Board of Directors is hereby empowered to authorize the
issuance from time to time of shares of its stock of any class, whether now or
hereafter authorized, or securities convertible into shares of its stock of any
class or classes, whether now or hereafter authorized, for such consideration as
may be deemed advisable by the Board of Directors and without any action by the
stockholders.
(2) No holder of any stock or any other securities of the Corporation,
whether now or hereafter authorized, shall have any preemptive right to
subscribe for or purchase any stock or any other securities of the Corporation
other than such, if any, as the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may
determine and at such price or prices and upon such other terms as the Board of
Directors, in its sole discretion, may fix; and any stock or other securities
which the Board of Directors may determine to offer for subscription may, as the
Board of Directors in its sole discretion shall determine, be offered to the
holders of any class, series or type of stock or other securities at the time
outstanding to the exclusion of the holders of any or all other classes, series,
or types of stock or other securities at the time outstanding.
(3) (a) For purposes of this Paragraph (3), the following words have the
meanings indicated:
(i) "Affiliate", including the term "affiliated person", means a person
that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, or is
controlled by, or is under common control with, a specified person.
(ii) "Associate", when used to indicate a relationship with any
person,means:
(A) Any corporation or organization, other than the Corporation or a
subsidiary of the Corporation, of which such person is an officer, director, or
partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial owner of 10% or more of
any class of equity securities;
(B) Any trust or other estate in which such person has a substantial
beneficial interest or as to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar
fiduciary capacity;
(C) Any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse,
who has the same home as such person; and
(D) Any relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse
who is a director or officer of the Corporation or any of its affiliates.
(iii) "Beneficial Owner", when used with respect to any Voting Stock,
means a person:
(A) That is the beneficial owner of Voting Stock, directly or indirectly;
(B) The Affiliate or Associate of which is the beneficial owner of Voting
Stock, directly or indirectly;
(C) That has, or whose Affiliate or Associate has,
(I) The right to acquire Voting Stock (whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to any agreement,
arrangement, or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise; or
(II) The right to vote Voting Stock pursuant to any agreement, arrangement,
or understanding; or
<PAGE>
(III) Any agreement, arrangement, or understanding for the purpose of
acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of Voting Stock with any other person
that beneficially owns, or whose Affiliates or Associates beneficially own,
directly or indirectly, such shares of Voting Stock; provided, that directors,
officers, and employees of the Corporation shall not be deemed to have any such
agreement, arrangement, or understanding on the basis of their status, or
actions taken in their capacities, as directors, officers, or employees of the
Corporation or any subsidiaries of the Corporation or as general or limited
partners of partnerships formed to make investments or on the basis of their
Voting Stock with respect to management proposals.
(D) For purposes of subparagraph (a) (iii) of this Paragraph (3), (I) the
solicitation of revocable proxies and the voting thereof by proxy holders in
connection with annual or special meetings of stockholders prior to the time the
Corporation is subject to the proxy rules under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 or thereafter in accordance with such proxy rules, and (II) statements of
recommendations on matters to be submitted for stockholder approval or
intentions to vote Voting Stock of which such persons are the Beneficial Owners
prior to the time the Corporation is subject to the proxy rules under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or thereafter in accordance with such proxy
rules shall not constitute agreements, arrangements, or understandings for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting, or disposing of Voting Stock.
(iv) "Control", including the terms "controlling", "controlled by", and
"under common control with", means the possession, directly or indirectly, of
the power to vote or cause the direction of the management and policies of a
person, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract, or
otherwise, and the beneficial ownership of 10% or more of the votes entitled to
be cast by a corporation's voting stock creates a presumption of control.
(v) "Group", when used to indicate those additional persons whose Voting
Stock is Beneficially Owned by a person, shall include:
(A) the person,
(B) the Affiliates and Associates of the person; and
(C) any additional person whose stock is Beneficially Owned by the person
or an Affiliate or Associate of the person;
and shall include all persons that jointly file a statement of beneficial
ownership pursuant to Section 13(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
irrespective of any disclaimers of beneficial ownership.
(vi) "Voting Stock" means shares of capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.
(b) A person or Group that is the Beneficial Owner of more than 15% of any
class of Voting Stock shall have the right to vote not more than 15% of the
shares of such class, and the remaining shares Beneficially Owned by such person
or Group shall be deducted from the total number of shares of Voting Stock of
such class for purposes of determining the proportion of Voting Stock required
to approve a matter submitted for stockholder approval. In the case of a Group,
the votes of individual members of a Group shall be reduced on a pro rata basis
for purposes of determining which shares of such class of Voting Stock shall be
voted so that the Group shall have in the aggregate the right to vote not more
than 15% of the shares of such class of Voting Stock. A person that is a member
of more than one Group shall vote the least number of shares of a class of
voting stock that he may vote as a member of any such Group.
(c) The operation of this Paragraph (3) shall not create any presumptions
of control for purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(4) The Board of Directors shall have power from time to time and in
its sole discretion to determine in accordance with sound accounting practice,
what constitutes annual or other net profits, earnings, surplus, or net assets
in excess of capital; to fix and vary from time to time the amount to be
reserved as working capital, or determine that retained earnings or surplus
shall remain in the hands of the Corporation; to set apart out of any funds of
the Corporation such reserve or reserves in such amount or amounts and for such
proper purpose or purposes as it shall determine and to abolish any such reserve
or any part thereof; to distribute and pay distributions or dividends in stock,
cash or other securities or property, out of surplus or any other funds or
amounts legally available therefor, at such times and to the stockholders of
record on such dates as it may, from time to time, determine; and to determine
whether and to what extent and at what times and places and under what
conditions and regulations the books, accounts and documents of the Corporation,
or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of stockholders, except as
otherwise provided by statute or by the By-Laws, and, except as so provided, no
stockholder shall have any right to inspect any book, account, or document of
the Corporation unless authorized so to do by resolution of the Board of
Directors.
<PAGE>
(5) Notwithstanding any provision of law requiring the authorization of
any action by a greater proportion than a majority of the total number of shares
of all classes of capital stock, such action shall be valid and effective if
authorized by the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the total
number of shares of all classes outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, except
that the affirmative vote of the holders of two-thirds of the total number of
shares of all classes outstanding and entitled to vote thereon shall be required
to amend, repeal, or adopt any provision inconsistent with Article EIGHTH,
Section (3).
(6) The Corporation shall indemnify (a) its directors to the full
extent provided by the general laws of the State of Maryland now or hereafter in
force, including the advance of expenses under the procedures provided by such
laws; (b) its officers to the same extent it shall indemnify its directors; and
(c) its officers who are not directors to such further extent as shall be
authorized by the Board of Directors and be consistent with law. The foregoing
shall not limit the authority of the Corporation to indemnify other employees
and agents consistent with law.
(7) To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland statutory or decisional
law, as amended or interpreted, no director or officer of this Corporation shall
be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for money damages.
No amendment or repeal of any of its provisions shall limit or eliminate the
benefits provided to directors and officers under this provision with respect to
any act or omission which occurred prior to such amendment or repeal.
(8) The Corporation reserves the right from time to time to make any
amendments of its charter which may now or hereafter be authorized by law,
including any amendments changing the terms or contract rights, as expressly set
forth in its charter, of any of its outstanding stock by classification,
reclassification, or otherwise, but no such amendment which changes such terms
or contract rights of any of its outstanding stock shall be valid unless such
amendment shall have been authorized by not less than a majority of the
aggregate number of the votes entitled to be cast thereon. by a vote at a
meeting or in writing with or without a meeting.
The enumeration and definition of particular powers of the Board of
Directors included in the foregoing shall in no way be limited or restricted by
reference to or inference from the terms of any other clause of this or any
other Article of the charter of the Corporation, or construed as or deemed by
inference or otherwise in any manner to exclude or limit any powers conferred
upon the Board of Directors under the General Laws of the State of Maryland now
or hereafter in force.
NINTH: The duration of the Corporation shall be perpetual.
SECOND: (a) As of immediately before the amendment and restatement the
total number of shares of capital stock of all classes which the Corporation has
authority to issue is 100 shares of Common Stock (par value $.01 per share).
(b) As amended the total number of shares of capital stock of all classes
which the Corporation has authority to issue is 520,000,000 shares, of which
20,000,000 shares are Preferred Stock (par value $.20 per share) and 500,000,000
shares are Common Stock (par value $.20 per share).
<PAGE>
(c) The aggregate par value of all shares having a par value is $1.00
before the amendment and $104,000,000 as amended.
(d) The shares of capital stock of the Corporation are divided into
classes, and description, as amended, of each class, including the preferences,
conversion and other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to
dividends, qualifications, and terms and conditions of redemption is set forth
in Article SIXTH.
THIRD: The foregoing amendment and restatement to the Charter of the
Corporation has been advised by the Board of Directors and approved by the sole
stockholder of the Corporation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
has caused these presents to be signed in its name and on its behalf by its Vice
President and witnessed by its Secretary on __________, 2000.
T. Rowe Price Group, Inc.
By:____________________________
Vice President
WITNESS:
___________________________________________
Secretary
THE UNDERSIGNED, Vice President of T. Rowe Price Group, Inc., who executed on
behalf of the Corporation the foregoing Articles of Amendment and Restatement of
which this certificate is made a part, hereby acknowledges in the name and on
behalf of said Corporation the foregoing Articles of Amendment and Restatement
to be the corporate act of said Corporation and hereby certifies that to the
best of his knowledge, information, and belief the matters and facts set forth
therein with respect to the authorization and approval thereof are true in all
material respects under the penalties of perjury.
______________________________
Vice President
<PAGE>
EXHIBIT D
PRIC GROUP By-LAWS
T. ROWE PRICE GROUP, INC.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I.
STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 1.01. Annual Meeting. The Corporation shall hold an Annual Meeting
of its stockholders to elect directors and transact any other business within
its powers, either at 2:00 p.m. on the last Thursday of March in each year if
not a legal holiday, or at such other time on such other day falling on or
before the 30th day thereafter as shall be set by the Board of Directors. Except
as the Charter or statute provides otherwise, any business may be considered at
an Annual Meeting without the purpose of the meeting having been specified in
the notice. Failure to hold an Annual Meeting does not invalidate the
Corporation's existence or affect any otherwise valid corporate acts.
SECTION 1.02. Special Meeting. At any time in the interval between Annual
Meetings, a special meeting of the stockholders may be called by the Chairman of
the Board or the President or by a majority of the Board of Directors by vote at
a meeting or in writing (addressed to the Secretary of the Corporation) with or
without a meeting.
SECTION 1.03. Place of Meetings. Meetings of stockholders shall be held at
such place in the United States as is set from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 1.04. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice. Not less than ten nor
more than 90 days before each stockholders' meeting, the Secretary shall give
written notice of the meeting to each stockholder entitled to vote at the
meeting and each other stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting. The notice
shall state the time and place of the meeting and, if the meeting is a special
meeting or notice of the purpose is required by statute, the purpose of the
meeting. Notice is given to a stockholder when it is personally delivered to
him, left at his residence or usual place of business, or mailed to him at his
address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Notwithstanding the
foregoing provisions, each person who is entitled to notice waives notice if he
before or after the meeting signs a waiver of the notice which is filed with the
records of stockholders' meetings, or is present at the meeting in person or by
proxy.
SECTION 1.05. Quorum; Voting. Unless statute or the Charter provides
otherwise, at a meeting of stockholders the presence in person or by proxy of
stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at
the meeting constitutes a quorum, and a majority of all the votes cast at a
meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to approve any matter which
properly comes before the meeting, except that a plurality of all the votes cast
at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to elect a director.
SECTION 1.06. Adjournments. Whether or not a quorum is present, a meeting
of stockholders convened on the date for which it was called may be adjourned
from time to time by the stockholders present in person or by proxy by a
majority vote. Any business which might have been transacted at the meeting as
originally notified may be deferred and transacted at any such adjourned meeting
at which a quorum shall be present. No further notice of an adjourned meeting
other than by announcement shall be necessary if held on a date not more than
120 days after the original record date.
SECTION 1.07. General Right to Vote; Proxies. Unless the Charter provides
for a greater or lesser number of votes per share or limits or denies voting
rights, each outstanding share of stock, regardless of class, is entitled to one
vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. In all
elections for directors, each share of stock may be voted for as many
individuals as there are directors to be elected and for whose election the
share is entitled to be voted. A stockholder may vote the stock he owns of
record either in person or by written proxy signed by the stockholder or by his
duly authorized attorney in fact. Unless a proxy provides otherwise, it is not
valid more than 11 months after its date.
<PAGE>
SECTION 1.08. List of Stockholders. At each meeting of stockholders, a
full, true and complete list of all stockholders entitled to vote at such
meeting, showing the number and class of shares held by each and certified by
the transfer agent for such class or by the Secretary, shall be furnished by the
Secretary.
SECTION 1.09. Conduct of Voting. At all meetings of stockholders, unless
the voting is conducted by inspectors, the proxies and ballots shall be
received, and all questions touching the qualification of voters and the
validity of proxies and the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided,
by the chairman of the meeting. If demanded by stockholders, present in person
or by proxy, entitled to cast 10% in number of votes entitled to be cast, or if
ordered by the chairman, the vote upon any election or question shall be taken
by ballot and, upon like demand or order, the voting shall be conducted by two
inspectors, in which event the proxies and ballots shall be received, and all
questions touching the qualification of voters and the validity of proxies and
the acceptance or rejection of votes shall be decided, by such inspectors.
Unless so demanded or ordered, no vote need be by ballot and voting need not be
conducted by inspectors. The stockholders at any meeting may choose an inspector
or inspectors to act at such meeting, and in default of such election the
chairman of the meeting may appoint an inspector or inspectors. No candidate for
election as a director at a meeting shall serve as an inspector thereat.
SECTION 1.10. Informal Action by Stockholders. Any action required or
permitted to be taken at a meeting of stockholders may be taken without a
meeting if there is filed with the records of stockholders meetings an unanimous
written consent which sets forth the action and is signed by each stockholder
entitled to vote on the matter and a written waiver of any right to dissent
signed by each stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting but not
entitled to vote at it.
ARTICLE II.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 2.01. Function of Directors. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors. All
powers of the Corporation may be exercised by or under authority of the Board of
Directors, except as conferred on or reserved to the stockholders by statute or
by the Charter or By-Laws.
SECTION 2.02. Number of Directors. The Corporation shall have at least
three directors; provided that, if there is no stock outstanding, the number of
Directors may be less than three but not less than one, and, if there is stock
outstanding and so long as there are less than three stockholders, the number of
Directors may be less than three but not less than the number of stockholders.
The Corporation shall have the number of directors provided in the Charter until
changed as herein provided. A majority of the entire Board of Directors may
alter the number of directors set by the Charter to not exceeding 25 nor less
than the minimum number then permitted herein, but the action may not affect the
tenure of office of any director.
SECTION 2.03. Election and Tenure of Directors. At each Annual Meeting, the
stockholders shall elect directors to hold office until the next Annual Meeting
and until their successors are elected and qualify.
SECTION 2.04. Removal of Director. Unless statute or the Charter provides
otherwise, the stockholders may remove any director, with or without cause, by
the affirmative vote of a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast for the
election of directors.
SECTION 2.05. Vacancy on Board. The stockholders may elect a successor to
fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results from the removal of a
director. A director elected by the stockholders to fill a vacancy which results
from the removal of a director serves for the balance of the term of the removed
director. A majority of the remaining directors, whether or not sufficient to
constitute a quorum, may fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors which results
from any cause except an increase in the number of directors and a majority of
the entire Board of Directors may fill a vacancy which results from an increase
in the number of directors. A director elected by the Board of Directors to fill
a vacancy serves until the next Annual Meeting of stockholders and until his
successor is elected and qualifies.
<PAGE>
SECTION 2.06. Regular Meetings. After each meeting of stockholders at which
a Board of Directors shall have been elected, the Board of Directors so elected
shall meet as soon as practicable for the purpose of organization and the
transaction of other business; and in the event that no other time is designated
by the stockholders, the Board of Directors shall meet one hour after the time
for such stockholders' meeting or immediately following the close of such
meeting, whichever is later, on the day of such meeting. Such first regular
meeting shall be held at any place as may be designated by the stockholders, or
in default of such designation at the place designated by the Board of Directors
for such first regular meeting, or in default of such designation at the place
of the holding of the immediately preceding meeting of stockholders. No notice
of such first meeting shall be necessary if held as hereinabove provided. Any
other regular meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on such date and
at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2.07. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
may be called at any time by the Chairman of the Board or the President or by a
majority of the Board of Directors by vote at a meeting, or in writing with or
without a meeting. A special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held on
such date and at any place as may be designated from time to time by the Board
of Directors. In the absence of designation such meeting shall be held at such
place as may be designated in the call.
SECTION 2.08. Notice of Meeting. Except as provided in Section 2.06, the
Secretary shall give notice to each director of each regular and special meeting
of the Board of Directors. The notice shall state the time and place of the
meeting. Notice is given to a director when it is delivered personally to him,
left at his residence or usual place of business, or sent by telegraph or
telephone, at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting or, in the
alternative by mail to his address as it shall appear on the records of the
Corporation, at least 72 hours before the time of the meeting. Unless the
By-Laws or a resolution of the Board of Directors provides otherwise, the notice
need not state the business to be transacted at or the purposes of any regular
or special meeting of the Board of Directors. No notice of any meeting of the
Board of Directors need be given to any director who attends, or to any director
who, in writing executed and filed with the records of the meeting either before
or after the holding thereof, waives such notice. Any meeting of the Board of
Directors, regular or special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the
same or some other place, and no notice need be given of any such adjourned
meeting other than by announcement.
SECTION 2.09. Action by Directors. Unless statute or the Charter or By-Laws
requires a greater proportion, the action of a majority of the directors present
at a meeting at which a quorum is present is action of the Board of Directors. A
majority of the entire Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, the directors present by
majority vote and without notice other than by announcement may adjourn the
meeting from time to time until a quorum shall attend. At any such adjourned
meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be transacted which
might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified. Any action
required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors may be
taken without a meeting, if a unanimous written consent which sets forth the
action is signed by each member of the Board and filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board.
SECTION 2.10. Meeting by Conference Telephone. Members of the Board of
Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or
similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the meeting can
hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means
constitutes presence in person at a meeting.
SECTION 2.11. Compensation. By resolution of the Board of Directors a fixed
sum and expenses, if any, for attendance at each regular or special meeting of
the Board of Directors or of committees thereof, and other compensation for
their services as such or on committees of the Board of Directors, may be paid
to directors. A director who serves the Corporation in any other capacity also
may receive compensation for such other services, pursuant to a resolution of
the directors.
<PAGE>
ARTICLE III.
COMMITTEES
SECTION 3.01. Committees. The Board of Directors may appoint from among its
members an Executive Committee and other committees composed of two or more
directors and delegate to these committees any of the powers of the Board of
Directors, except the power to declare dividends or other distributions on
stock, elect directors, issue stock other than as provided in the next sentence,
recommend to the stockholders any action which requires stockholder approval,
amend the By-Laws, or approve any merger or share exchange which does not
require stockholder approval. If the Board of Directors has given general
authorization for the issuance of stock, a committee of the Board, in accordance
with a general formula or method specified by the Board by resolution or by
adoption of a stock option or other plan, may fix the terms of stock subject to
classification or reclassification and the terms on which any stock may be
issued, including all terms and conditions required or permitted to be
established or authorized by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 3.02. Committee Procedure. Each committee may fix rules of
procedure for its business. A majority of the members of a committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of
those present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the
committee. The members of a committee present at any meeting, whether or not
they constitute a quorum, may appoint a director to act in the place of an
absent member. Any action required or permitted to be taken at a meeting of a
committee may be taken without a meeting, if a unanimous written consent which
sets forth the action is signed by each member of the committee and filed with
the minutes of the committee. The members of a committee may conduct any meeting
thereof by conference telephone in accordance with the provisions of Section
2.10.
SECTION 3.03. Emergency. In the event of a state of disaster of sufficient
severity to prevent the conduct and management of the affairs and business of
the Corporation by its directors and officers as contemplated by the Charter and
the By-Laws, any two or more available members of the then incumbent Executive
Committee shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the full conduct and
management of the affairs and business of the Corporation in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3.01. In the event of the unavailability, at such time, of
a minimum of two members of the then incumbent Executive Committee, the
available directors shall elect an Executive Committee consisting of any two
members of the Board of Directors, whether or not they be officers of the
Corporation, which two members shall constitute the Executive Committee for the
full conduct and management of the affairs of the Corporation in accordance with
the foregoing provisions of this Section. This Section shall be subject to
implementation by resolution of the Board of Directors passed from time to time
for that purpose, and any provisions of the By-Laws (other than this Section)
and any resolutions which are contrary to the provisions of this Section or to
the provisions of any such implementary resolutions shall be suspended until it
shall be determined by any interim Executive Committee acting under this Section
that it shall be to the advantage of the Corporation to resume the conduct and
management of its affairs and business under all the other provisions of the
By-Laws.
ARTICLE IV.
OFFICERS
SECTION 4.01 Executive and Other Officers; Operating Committees. The
Corporation shall have a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer who shall be
executive officers of the Corporation. It may also have a Chairman of the Board,
who shall be an executive officer of the Corporation if designated as an officer
by the Board of Directors. The other officers shall be executive officers to the
extent designated by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may
designate who shall serve as chief executive officer, having general supervision
of the business and affairs of the Corporation, or as chief operating officer,
having supervision of the operations of the Corporation; in the absence of
designation the President shall serve as chief executive officer and chief
operating officer. It may also have one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board,
Managing Directors, Vice Presidents, assistant officers, and subordinate
officers as may be established by the Board of Directors and may provide
additional descriptive titles, such as chief financial officer or chief
investment officer, as the Board shall deem appropriate. A person may hold more
than one office in the Corporation. The Chairman of the Board, the President,
and any Vice Chairmen of the Board shall be directors; the other officers may be
directors. The officers of the Corporation may also act through one or more
committees appointed by the Board of Directors or appointed by a committee
appointed by the Board of Directors.
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.02. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one be
elected, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the
stockholders at which he shall be present; and, in general, he shall perform all
such duties as are from time to time assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.03. President. The President, in the absence of the Chairman of
the Board, shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the
stockholders at which he shall be present; he may sign and execute, in the name
of the Corporation, all authorized deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other
instruments, except in cases in which the signing and execution thereof shall
have been expressly delegated to some other officer or agent of the Corporation;
and, in general, he shall perform all duties usually performed by a president of
a corporation and such other duties as are from time to time assigned to him by
the Board of Directors or the chief executive officer of the Corporation.
SECTION 4.04. Vice Chairmen of the Board. The Board of Directors may elect
one or more Vice Chairmen of the Board, who shall have the powers and perform
the duties of Managing Directors of the Corporation and shall have such
additional powers and perform such additional duties as are from time to time
assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the
President, or any committee appointed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.05. Managing Directors. The Managing Directors shall be elected
by the Board of Directors and shall have the powers and perform the duties of
Vice Presidents of the Corporation and shall have such additional powers and
perform such additional duties as are from time to time assigned to them by the
Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the President, or any committee
appointed by the Board of Directors. In addition, the President, the Chairman of
the Board (if an executive officer) and the Vice Chairmen of the Board and the
chief executive officer (if any are elected) shall have the additional title of
Managing Director.
SECTION 4.06. Vice Presidents. The Vice President or Vice Presidents, at
the request of the chief executive officer or the President, or in the
President's absence or during his inability to act, shall perform the duties and
exercise the functions of the President, and when so acting shall have the
powers of the President. If there be more than one Vice President, the Board of
Directors, or any committee appointed by the Board of Directors may determine
which one or more of the Vice Presidents shall perform any of such duties or
exercise any of such functions, or if such determination is not made by the
Board of Directors or such committee, the chief executive officer, or the
President may make such determination; otherwise any of the Vice Presidents may
perform any of such duties or exercise any of such functions. The Vice President
or Vice Presidents shall have such other powers and perform such other duties,
and have such additional descriptive designations in their titles (if any), as
are from time to time assigned to them by the Board of Directors, the chief
executive officer, or the President.
SECTION 4.07 Secretary. The Secretary shall keep the minutes of the
meetings of the stockholders, of the Board of Directors and of any committees of
the Board of Directors, in books provided for the purpose; shall see that all
notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of the By-Laws or as
required by law; shall be custodian of the records of the Corporation; may
witness any document on behalf of the Corporation, the execution of which is
duly authorized, see that the corporate seal is affixed where such document is
required or desired to be under its seal, and, when so affixed, may attest the
same; and, in general, shall perform all duties incident to the office of a
secretary of a corporation, and such other duties as are from time to time
assigned by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the President,
or any committee appointed by the Board of Directors.
<PAGE>
SECTION 4.08. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge of and be
responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the
Corporation, and shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, in the name of the
Corporation, all moneys or other valuable effects in such banks, trust companies
or other depositories as shall, from time to time, be selected by the Board of
Directors; in the absence of designation shall serve as the Corporation's
principal accounting officer and shall render to the President and to the Board
of Directors, whenever requested, an account of the financial condition of the
Corporation; and, in general, shall perform all the duties incident to the
office of a treasurer of a corporation, and such other duties as are from time
to time assigned by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the
President, or any committee appointed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.09. Assistant and Subordinate Officers. The assistant and
subordinate officers of the Corporation are all officers below the offices of
Managing Director, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The assistant or
subordinate officers shall have such duties as are from time to time assigned to
them by the Board of Directors, the chief executive officer, the President, any
committee appointed by the Board of Directors, or any committee appointed by a
committee appointed by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.10. Election, Tenure and Removal of Officers. The Board of
Directors shall elect the officers. The Board of Directors may from time to time
authorize any committee appointed by the Board, the president, or the chief
executive officer, to appoint vice presidents and assistant and subordinate
officers. Any committee appointed by the Board of Directors may delegate its
power to appoint assistant and subordinate officers to one or more other
committees of officers. The President serves for one year. All other officers
shall be appointed to hold their offices, respectively, during the pleasure of
the Board. The Board of Directors (or, as to any vice president or assistant or
subordinate officer, any committee appointed by the Board of Directors, or any
officer authorized by the Board) may remove an officer at any time. The removal
of an officer does not prejudice any of the former officer's contract rights.
The Board of Directors (or, as to any assistant or subordinate officer, any
committee appointed by the Board of Directors or any committee appointed by a
committee appointed by the Board of Directors or officer authorized by the
Board) may fill a vacancy which occurs in any office for the unexpired portion
of the term.
SECTION 4.11. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have power to fix
the salaries and other compensation and remuneration, of whatever kind, of all
officers of the Corporation. It may authorize one or more committees comprised
of directors or officers to fix the salaries, compensation, and remuneration of
managing directors and the other officers of the Corporation. Any committee
appointed by the Board of Directors may fix, or authorize one or more other
committees to fix, the salaries, compensation, and remuneration of the vice
presidents and assistant and subordinate officers.
ARTICLE V.
STOCK
SECTION 5.01. Certificates for Stock. Each stockholder is entitled to
certificates which represent and certify the shares of stock he holds in the
Corporation. Each stock certificate shall include on its face the name of the
corporation that issues it, the name of the stockholder or other person to whom
it is issued, and the class of stock and number of shares it represents. It
shall be in such form, not inconsistent with law or with the Charter, as shall
be approved by the Board of Directors or any officer or officers designated for
such purpose by resolution of the Board of Directors. Each stock certificate
shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or a Vice
President, and countersigned by the Secretary, an Assistant Secretary, the
Treasurer, or an Assistant Treasurer. Each certificate may be sealed with the
actual corporate seal or a facsimile of it or in any other form and the
signatures may be either manual or facsimile signatures. A certificate is valid
and may be issued whether or not an officer who signed it is still an officer
when it is issued.
SECTION 5.02. Transfers. The Board of Directors shall have power and
authority to make such rules and regulations as it may deem expedient concerning
the issue, transfer and registration of certificates of stock; and may appoint
transfer agents and registrars thereof. The duties of transfer agent and
registrar may be combined.
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SECTION 5.03. Record Date and Closing of Transfer Books. The Board of
Directors may set a record date or direct that the stock transfer books be
closed for a stated period for the purpose of making any proper determination
with respect to stockholders, including which stockholders are entitled to
notice of a meeting, vote at a meeting, receive a dividend, or be allotted other
rights. The record date may not be more than 90 days before the date on which
the action requiring the determination will be taken; the transfer books may not
be closed for a period longer than 20 days; and, in the case of a meeting of
stockholders, the record date or the closing of the transfer books shall be at
least ten days before the date of the meeting.
SECTION 5.04. Stock Ledger. The Corporation shall maintain a stock ledger
which contains the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares
of stock of each class which the stockholder holds. The stock ledger may be in
written form or in any other form which can be converted within a reasonable
time into written form for visual inspection. The original or a duplicate of the
stock ledger shall be kept at the offices of a transfer agent for the particular
class of stock, or, if none, at the principal office in the State of Maryland or
the principal executive offices of the Corporation.
SECTION 5.05. Certification of Beneficial Owners. The Board of Directors
may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a stockholder of the Corporation
may certify in writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in
the name of the stockholder are held for the account of a specified person other
than the stockholder. The resolution shall set forth the class of stockholders
who may certify; the purpose for which the certification may be made; the form
of certification and the information to be contained in it; if the certification
is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock transfer books, the
time after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which
the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions
with respect to the procedure which the Board considers necessary or desirable.
On receipt of a certification which complies with the procedure adopted by the
Board in accordance with this Section, the person specified in the certification
is, for the purpose set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the
specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.
SECTION 5.06. Lost Stock Certificates. The Board of Directors of the
Corporation may determine the conditions for issuing a new stock certificate in
place of one which is alleged to have been lost, stolen, or destroyed, or the
Board of Directors may delegate such power to any officer or officers of the
Corporation. In their discretion, the Board of Directors or such officer or
officers may refuse to issue such new certificate save upon the order of some
court having jurisdiction in the premises.
ARTICLE VI.
FINANCE
SECTION 6.01. Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts and orders for the
payment of money, notes and other evidences of indebtedness, issued in the name
of the Corporation, shall, unless otherwise provided by resolution of the Board
of Directors, be signed by the President, the Treasurer or an Assistant
Treasurer, a Managing Director, a Vice President or an Assistant Vice President.
SECTION 6.02. Annual Statement of Affairs. The President shall prepare
annually a full and correct statement of the affairs of the Corporation, to
include a balance sheet and a financial statement of operations for the
preceding fiscal year. The statement of affairs shall be submitted at the Annual
Meeting of the stockholders and, within 20 days after the meeting, placed on
file at the Corporation's principal office.
SECTION 6.03. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be the
twelve calendar months period ending December 31 in each year, unless otherwise
provided by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 6.04. Dividends. If declared by the Board of Directors at any
meeting thereof, the Corporation may pay dividends on its shares in cash,
property, or in shares of the capital stock of the Corporation, unless such
dividend is contrary to law or to a restriction contained in the Charter.
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ARTICLE VII.
SUNDRY PROVISIONS
SECTION 7.01. Books and Records. The Corporation shall keep correct and
complete books and records of its accounts and transactions and minutes of the
proceedings of its stockholders and Board of Directors and of any executive or
other committee when exercising any of the powers of the Board of Directors. The
books and records of a Corporation may be in written form or in any other form
which can be converted within a reasonable time into written form for visual
inspection. Minutes shall be recorded in written form but may be maintained in
the form of a reproduction. The original or a certified copy of the By-Laws
shall be kept at the principal office of the Corporation.
SECTION 7.02. Corporate Seal. The Board of Directors shall provide a
suitable seal, bearing the name of the Corporation, which shall be in the charge
of the Secretary. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate
seals and providefor the custody thereof. If the Corporation is required to
of any law, rule, or regulation relating to a corporate seal to place the word
"Seal" adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to sign the document
on behalf of the Corporation.
SECTION 7.03. Bonds. The Board of Directors may require any officer, agent
or employee of the Corporation to give a bond to the Corporation, conditioned
upon the faithful discharge of his duties, with one or more sureties and in such
amount as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7.04. Voting Upon Shares in Other Corporations. Stock of other
corporations or associations, registered in the name of the Corporation, may be
voted by the President, a Managing Director, a Vice President, or a proxy
appointed by any of them. The Board of Directors, however, may by resolution
appoint some other person to vote such shares, in which case such person shall
be entitled to vote such shares upon the production of a certified copy of such
resolution.
SECTION 7.05. Mail. Any notice or other document which is required by these
By-Laws to be mailed shall be deposited in the United States mails, postage
prepaid.
SECTION 7.06. Execution of Documents. A person who holds more than one
office in the Corporation may not act in more than one capacity to execute,
acknowledge, or verify an instrument required by law to be executed,
acknowledged, or verified by more than one officer.
SECTION 7.07. Amendments. Subject to the special provisions of Section
2.02, (a) any and all provisions of these By-Laws may be altered or repealed and
new by-laws may be adopted at any Special Meeting of the stockholders, or at any
special meeting called for that purpose, and (b) the Board of Directors shall
have the power, at any regular or special meeting thereof, to make and adopt new
by-laws, or to amend, alter or repeal any of the By-Laws of the Corporation.
