By-Laws
OF
MERCURY EQUITY INCOME FUND, INC.
ARTICLE I
Offices
Section 1. Principal Office. The principal office of Mercury Equity
Income Fund, Inc. (the "Corporation") shall be in the City of Baltimore, State
of Maryland.
Section 2. Principal Executive Office. The principal executive office
of the Corporation shall be at 800 Scudders Mill Road, Plainsboro, New Jersey
08536.
Section 3. Other Offices. The Corporation may have such other offices
in such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of Stockholders
Section 1. Annual Meeting. So long as the Corporation is registered as
an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (such
term to include the rules and regulations promulgated under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, (collectively, the "Investment Company Act")
unless otherwise specified or the context otherwise requires), annual meetings
of the stockholders shall not be held, except where required to be held by the
Investment Company Act or by the Maryland General Corporation Law or when called
by the Board of Directors or by an officer or officers of the Corporation
authorized to take such action by the Board of Directors. If in any calendar
year the Corporation is required or elects to hold an annual meeting, the
meeting shall be held on such day, not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday, as
the Board of Directors or the officer or officers calling the meeting may
prescribe. At each such annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect a Board of
Directors and transact such other business as may properly come before the
meeting. The provisions of these By-Laws which contemplate the holding of an
annual meeting of stockholders shall be suspended during any calendar year in
which no annual meeting of stockholders is held.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the stockholders,
unless otherwise provided by law, may be called for any purpose or purposes by a
majority of the Board of Directors, the President of the Corporation, or on the
written request of the holders of at least 10% of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote at such meeting if they comply
with the applicable requirements of the Maryland General Corporation Law.
Section 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the stockholders shall be
held at such place within the United States as the Board of Directors may from
time to time determine.
Section 4. Notice of Meetings; Waiver of Notice. Notice of the place,
date and time of the holding of each stockholders' meeting and, if the meeting
is a special meeting, the purpose or purposes of the special meeting, shall be
given personally or by mail, not less than ten nor more than ninety days before
the date of such meeting, to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting
and to each other stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting. Notice by mail
shall be deemed to be duly given when deposited in the United States mail
addressed to the stockholder at his address as it appears on the records of the
Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.
Notice of any meeting of stockholders shall be deemed waived by any
stockholder who shall attend such meeting in person or by proxy, or who shall,
either before or after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice which is
filed with the records of the meeting. When a meeting is adjourned to another
time and place, unless the Board of Directors, after the adjournment, shall fix
a new record date for an adjourned meeting, or the adjournment is for more than
one hundred and twenty days after the original record date, notice of such
adjourned meeting need not be given if the time and place to which the meeting
shall be adjourned were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken.
Section 5. Quorum. At all meetings of the stockholders, the holders of
shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to cast one-third of the votes
entitled to be cast, present in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum
for the transaction of any business, except with respect to any matter which
requires approval by a separate vote of one or more series or classes of stock,
in which case the presence in person or by proxy of the holders of shares
entitled to cast one-third of the votes entitled to be cast by each class
entitled to vote as a separate series or class shall constitute a quorum. In the
absence of a quorum no business may be transacted, except that the holders of a
majority of the shares of stock present in person or by proxy and entitled to
vote may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement thereat except as otherwise required by these By-Laws, until the
holders of the requisite amount of shares of stock shall be so present. At any
such adjourned meeting at which a quorum may be present any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
The absence from any meeting, in person or by proxy, of holders of the number of
shares of stock of the Corporation in excess of one-third thereof which may be
required by the Maryland General Corporation Law, the Investment Company Act, or
other applicable statute, the Articles of Incorporation, or these By-Laws, for
action upon any given matter shall not prevent action at such meeting upon any
other matter or matters which may properly come before the meeting, if there
shall be present thereat, in person or by proxy, holders of the number of shares
of stock of the Corporation required for action in respect of such other matter
or matters.
Section 6. Organization. At each meeting of the stockholders, the
Chairman of the Board (if one has been designated by the Board), or in his
absence or inability to act, the President of the Corporation, or in the absence
or inability to act of the Chairman of the Board and the President of the
Corporation, a Vice President of the Corporation, shall act as chairman of the
meeting. The Secretary of the Corporation, or in his absence or inability to
act, any person appointed by the chairman of the meeting, shall act as secretary
of the meeting and keep the
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minutes thereof.
Section 7. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings of
the stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.
Section 8. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the
Articles of Incorporation, each holder of record of shares of stock of the
Corporation having voting power shall be entitled at each meeting of the
stockholders to one vote for every share of such stock standing in his name on
the record of stockholders of the Corporation as of the record date determined
pursuant to Section 9 of this Article or if such record date shall not have been
so fixed, then at the later of (i) the close of business on the day on which
notice of the meeting is mailed or (ii) the thirtieth day before the meeting.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may
authorize another person or persons to act for him by a proxy signed by such
stockholder or his attorney-in-fact. No proxy shall be valid after the
expiration of eleven months from the date thereof, unless otherwise provided in
the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the stockholder
executing it, except in those cases where such proxy states that it is
irrevocable and where an irrevocable proxy is permitted by law. Except as
otherwise provided by statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these By-Laws,
any corporate action to be taken by vote of the stockholders (other than the
election of directors, which shall be by plurality vote) may be authorized by a
majority of the total votes cast at a meeting of stockholders by the holders of
shares present in person or represented by proxy and entitled to vote on such
action.
If a vote shall be taken on any question other than the election of
directors, which shall be by written ballot, then unless required by statute or
these By-Laws, or determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, any
such vote need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be
signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if there be such proxy, and
shall state the number of shares voted.
Section 9. Fixing of Record Date. The Board of Directors may set a
record date for the purpose of determining stockholders entitled to vote at any
meeting of the stockholders. The record date, which may not be prior to the
close of business on the day the record date is fixed, shall be not more than
ninety nor less than ten days before the date of the meeting of the
stockholders. All persons who were holders of record of shares at such time, and
not others, shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and any adjournment
thereof.
Section 10. Inspectors. The Board may, in advance of any meeting of
stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such meeting or any
adjournment thereof. If the inspectors shall not be so appointed or if any of
them shall fail to appear or act, the chairman of the meeting may, and on the
request of any Stockholder entitled to vote thereto shall, appoint inspectors.
Each inspector, before entering upon the discharge of his duties, may be
required to take and sign an oath to execute faithfully the duties of inspector
at such meeting with strict
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impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors may be
empowered to determine the number of shares outstanding and the voting powers of
each, the number of shares represented at the meeting, the existence of a
quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall receive votes, ballots or
consents, hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection
with the right to vote, count and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents,
determine the result, and do such acts as are proper to conduct the election or
vote with fairness to all stockholders. On request of the chairman of the
meeting or any stockholder entitled to vote thereat, the inspectors shall make a
report in writing of any challenge, request or matter determined by them and
shall execute a certificate of any fact found by them. No director or candidate
for the office of director shall act as inspector of an election of directors.
Inspectors need not be stockholders.
Section 11. Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Except as
otherwise provided by statute or the Articles of Incorporation, any action
required to be taken at any meeting of stockholders, or any action which may be
taken at any meeting of such stockholders, may be taken without a meeting,
without prior notice and without a vote, if the following are filed with the
records of stockholders meetings: (i) a unanimous written consent which sets
forth the action and is signed by each stockholder entitled to vote on the
matter and (ii) a written waiver of any right to dissent signed by each
stockholder entitled to notice of the meeting but not entitled to vote thereat.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
Section 1. General Powers. Except as otherwise provided in the Articles
of Incorporation, the business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed
under the direction of the 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 law or by the Articles of Incorporation or
these By-Laws.
Section 2. Number of Directors. The number of directors shall be fixed
from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors adopted by a majority
of the entire Board of Directors; provided, however, that the number of
directors shall in no event be less than three nor more than fifteen. Any
vacancy created by an increase in Directors may be filled in accordance with
Section 6 of this Article III. No reduction in the number of directors shall
have the effect of removing any director from office prior to the expiration of
his term unless such director is specifically removed pursuant to Section 5 of
this Article III at the time of such decrease. Directors need not be
stockholders.
Section 3. Election and Term of Directors. Directors shall be elected
annually at a meeting of stockholders held for that purpose; provided, however,
that if no meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation is required to be held
in a particular year pursuant to Section 1 of
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Article II of these By-Laws, directors shall be elected at the next meeting held
for that purpose. The term of office of each director shall be from the time of
his election and qualification until the election of directors next succeeding
his election and until his successor shall have been elected and shall have
qualified, or until his death, or until he shall have resigned or until December
31 of the year in which he shall have reached seventy-two years of age, or until
he shall have been removed as hereinafter provided in these By-Laws, or as
otherwise provided by statute or the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 4. Resignation. A director of the Corporation may resign at any
time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Board or the Chairman of
the Board or the President or Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation
shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall
become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon its receipt;
and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation
shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 5. Removal of Directors. Any director of the Corporation may be
removed, with or without cause, by the stockholders by a vote of a majority of
the votes entitled to be cast for the election of directors.
Section 6. Vacancies. Any vacancies in the Board, whether arising from
death, resignation, removal, an increase in the number of directors or any other
cause, may be filled by a vote of the majority of the Board of Directors then in
office even though such majority is less than a quorum, provided that no
vacancies shall be filled by action of the remaining directors, if after the
filling of said vacancy or vacancies, less than two-thirds of the directors then
holding office shall have been elected by the stockholders of the Corporation.
In the event that at any time there is a vacancy in any office of a director
which vacancy may not be filled by the remaining directors, a special meeting of
the stockholders shall be held as promptly as possible and in any event within
sixty days, for the purpose of filling said vacancy or vacancies.
Section 7. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board may be held at such
place as the Board may from time to time determine or as shall be specified in
the notice of such meeting.
Section 8. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board may be held
without notice at such time and place as may be determined by the Board of
Directors.
Section 9. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be
called by two or more directors of the Corporation or by the Chairman of the
Board or the President of the Corporation.
Section 10. Telephone Meetings. Members of the Board of Directors or of
any committee thereof 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. Subject to the provisions of
the Investment Company Act, participation in a meeting
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by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.
Section 11. Notice of Special Meetings. Notice of each special meeting
of the Board shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided, in which
notice shall be stated the time and place of the meeting. Notice of each such
meeting shall be delivered to each director, either personally or by telephone
or any standard form of telecommunication, at least twenty-four hours before the
time at which such meeting is to be held, or by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of business, at least
three days before the day on which such meeting is to be held.
Section 12. Waiver of Notice of Meetings. Notice of any special meeting
need not be given to any director who shall, either before or after the meeting,
sign a written waiver of notice which is filed with the records of the meeting
or who shall attend such meeting. Except as otherwise specifically required by
these By-Laws, a notice or waiver of notice of any meeting need not state the
purposes of such meeting.
Section 13. Quorum and Voting. One_third, but not less than two, of the
members of the entire Board shall be present in person at any meeting of the
Board in order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such
meeting, and except as otherwise expressly required by statute, the Articles of
Incorporation, these By-Laws, the Investment Company Act, or other applicable
statute, the act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which
a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board. In the absence of a quorum at
any meeting of the Board, a majority of the directors present thereat may
adjourn such meeting to another time and place until a quorum shall be present
thereat. Notice of the time and place of any such adjourned meeting shall be
given to the directors who were not present at the time of the adjournment and,
unless such time and place were announced at the meeting at which the
adjournment was taken, to the other directors. At any adjourned meeting at which
a quorum is present, any business may be transacted which might have been
transacted at the meeting as originally called.
Section 14. Organization. The Board may, by resolution adopted by a
majority of the entire Board, designate a Chairman of the Board, who shall
preside at each meeting of the Board. In the absence or inability of the
Chairman of the Board to preside at a meeting, the President of the Corporation
or, in his absence or inability to act, another director chosen by a majority of
the directors present, shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat.
The Secretary of the Corporation (or, in his absence or inability to act, any
person appointed by the Chairman) shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep
the minutes thereof.
Section 15. Written Consent of Directors in Lieu of a Meeting. Subject
to the provisions of the Investment Company Act, any action required or
permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors or of any
committee thereof may be taken without a meeting if all members of the Board or
committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and the writings or
writing are filed with the minutes of the proceedings of the Board or committee.
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Section 16. Compensation. Directors may receive compensation for
services to the Corporation in their capacities as directors or otherwise in
such manner and in such amounts as may be fixed from time to time by the Board.
Section 17. Investment Policies. It shall be the duty of the Board of
Directors to direct that the purchase, sale, retention and disposal of
securities and the other investment practices of the Corporation are at all
times consistent with the investment policies and restrictions with respect to
securities investments and otherwise of the Corporation, as recited in the
current Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information of the Corporation,
as filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission and as
required by the Investment Company Act. The Board however, may delegate the duty
of management of the assets and the administration of its day to day operations
to an individual or corporate management company and/or investment adviser
pursuant to a written contract or contracts which have obtained the requisite
approvals, including the requisite approvals of renewals thereof, of the Board
of Directors and/or the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with the
provisions of the Investment Company Act.
ARTICLE IV
Committees
Section 1. Executive Committee. The Board may, by resolution adopted by
a majority of the entire board, designate an Executive Committee consisting of
two or more of the directors of the corporation, which committee shall have and
may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board with respect to all
matters other than:
(a) the submission to stockholders of any action requiring
authorization of stockholders pursuant to statute or the Articles of
Incorporation;
(b) the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors;
(c) the fixing of compensation of the directors for serving on the
Board or on any committee of the Board, including the Executive Committee;
(d) the approval or termination of any contract with an investment
adviser or principal underwriter, as such terms are defined in the Investment
Company Act, or the taking of any other action required to be taken by the Board
of Directors by the Investment Company Act;
(e) the amendment or repeal of these By-Laws or the adoption of new
By-Laws;
(f) the amendment or repeal of any resolution of the Board unless by
its terms any such resolution may be amended or repealed by such Executive
Committee;
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(g) the declaration of dividends and the issuance of capital stock of
the Corporation; and
(h) the approval of any merger or share exchange which does not require
stockholder approval.
The Executive Committee shall keep written minutes of its proceedings
and shall report such minutes to the Board. All such proceedings shall be
subject to revision or alteration by the Board; provided, however, that third
parties shall not be prejudiced by such revision or alteration.
Section 2. Other Committees of the Board. The Board of Directors may
from time to time, by resolution adopted by a majority of the whole Board,
designate one or more other committees of the Board, each such committee to
consist of two or more directors and to have such powers and duties as the Board
of Directors may, by resolution, prescribe.
Section 3. General. One-third, but not less than two, of the members of
any committee shall be present in person at any meeting of such committee in
order to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at such meeting,
and the act of a majority present shall be the act of such committee. The Board
may designate a chairman of any committee and such chairman or any two members
of any committee may fix the time and place of its meetings unless the Board
shall otherwise provide. In the absence or disqualification of any member of any
committee, the member or members thereof present at any meeting and not
disqualified from voting, whether or not he or they constitute a quorum, may
unanimously appoint another member of the Board of Directors to act at the
meeting in the place of any such absent or disqualified member. The Board shall
have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee, to fill
all vacancies, to designate alternate members to replace any absent or
disqualified member, or to dissolve any such committee. Nothing herein shall be
deemed to prevent the Board from appointing one or more committees consisting in
whole or in part of persons who are not directors of the Corporation; provided,
however, that no such committee shall have or may exercise any authority or
power of the Board in the management of the business or affairs of the
Corporation, except as may be prescribed by the Board.
ARTICLE V
Officers, Agents and Employees
Section 1. Number, Qualification, Election and Tenure. The officers of
the Corporation shall be a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer, each of whom
shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may elect or
appoint one or more Vice Presidents and may also appoint such other officers,
agents and employees as it may deem necessary or proper. Any two or more offices
may be held by the same person, except the offices of President and Vice
President, but no officer shall execute, acknowledge or verify any instrument in
more than one capacity. Such officers shall be elected by the Board of Directors
each year at a meeting of the
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Board of Directors, each to hold office for the ensuing year and until his
successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified, or until his
death, or until he shall have resigned, or have been removed, as hereinafter
provided in these By-Laws. The Board may from time to time elect, or delegate to
the President the power to appoint, such officers (including one or more
Assistant Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more
Assistant Secretaries) and such agents, as may be necessary or desirable for the
business of the Corporation. Such officers and agents shall have such duties and
shall hold their offices for such terms as may be prescribed by the Board or by
the appointing authority.
Section 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at
any time by giving written notice of resignation to the Board, the Chairman of
the Board, the President or Secretary of the Corporation. Any such resignation
shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the time when it shall
become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately upon its receipt;
and, unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such resignation
shall be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3. Removal of Officer, Agent or Employee. Any officer, agent or
employee of the Corporation may be removed by the Board of Directors with or
without cause at any time, and the Board may delegate such power of removal as
to agents and employees not elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. Such
removal shall be without prejudice to such person's contract rights, if any, but
the appointment of any person as an officer, agent or employee of the
Corporation shall not of itself create contract rights.
Section 4. Vacancies. A vacancy in any office, whether arising from
death, resignation, removal or any other cause, may be filled for the unexpired
portion of the term of the office which shall be vacant, in the manner
prescribed in these By-Laws for the regular election or appointment to such
office.
Section 5. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the
Corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors, but this power may be
delegated to any officer in respect of other officers under his control.
Section 6. Bonds or Other Security. If required by the Board, any
officer, agent or employee of the Corporation shall give a bond or other
security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with
such surety or sureties as the Board may require.
Section 7. President. The President of the Corporation shall be the
chief executive officer of the Corporation. In the absence of the Chairman of
the Board (or if there be none), he shall preside at all meetings of the
stockholders and of the Board Directors. He shall have, subject to the control
of the Board of Directors, general charge of the business and affairs of the
Corporation. He may employ and discharge employees and agents of the
Corporation, except such as shall be appointed by the Board, and he may delegate
these powers.
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Section 8. Vice President. Each Vice President of the Corporation shall
have such powers and perform such duties as the Board of Directors or the
President of the Corporation may from time to time prescribe.
Section 9. Treasurer. The Treasurer of the Corporation shall
(a) have charge and custody of, and be responsible for, all the funds
and securities of the Corporation, except those which the Corporation has placed
in the custody of a bank or trust company or member of a national securities
exchange (as that term is defined in the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended) pursuant to a written agreement designating such bank or trust company
or member of a national securities exchange as custodian of the property of the
Corporation;
(b) keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in
books belonging to the Corporation;
(c) cause all moneys and other valuables of the Corporation to be
deposited to the credit of the Corporation;
(d) receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and payable, to the
Corporation from any source whatsoever;
(e) disburse the funds of the Corporation and supervise the investment
of its funds as ordered or authorized by the Board, taking proper vouchers
therefor; and
(f) in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of
Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the Board or the President of the Corporation.
Section 10. Secretary. The Secretary shall
(a) keep or cause to be kept in one or more books provided for the
purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board, the committees of the Board
and the stockholders;
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the
provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the records and the seal of the Corporation and
affix and attest the seal to all stock certificates of the Corporation (unless
the seal of the Corporation on such certificates shall be a facsimile, as
hereinafter provided) and affix and attest the seal to all other documents to be
executed on behalf of the Corporation under its seal;
(d) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates and other
documents and records
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required by law to be kept and filed are properly kept and filed; and
(e) in general, perform all the duties incident to the office of
Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by
the Board or the President of the Corporation.
Section 11. Delegation of Duties. In case of the absence of any officer
of the Corporation, or for any other reason that the Board may deem sufficient,
the Board may confer for the time being the powers or duties, or any of them, of
such officer upon any other officer or upon any director.
ARTICLE VI
Indemnification
Each officer and director of the Corporation shall be indemnified by
the Corporation to the full extent permitted under the Maryland General
Corporation Law, except that such indemnity shall not protect any such person
against any liability to the Corporation or any stockholder thereof to which
such person would otherwise be subject by reason of willful misfeasance, bad
faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties involved in the
conduct of his office. Absent a court determination that an officer or director
seeking indemnification was not liable on the merits or guilty of willful
misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard of the duties
involved in the conduct of his office, the decision by the Corporation to
indemnify such person must be based upon the reasonable determination by special
legal counsel in a written opinion or the vote of a majority of a quorum of the
directors who are neither "interested persons," as defined in Section 2(a)(19)
of the Investment Company Act, nor parties to the proceeding ("non_party
independent directors"), after review of the facts, that such officer or
director is not guilty of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or
reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
Each officer and director of the Corporation claiming indemnification
within the scope of this Article VI shall be entitled to advances from the
Corporation for payment of the reasonable expenses incurred by him in connection
with proceedings to which he is a party in the manner and to the full extent
permitted under the Maryland General Corporation Law without a preliminary
determination as to his or her ultimate entitlement to indemnification (except
as set forth below); provided, however, that the person seeking indemnification
shall provide to the Corporation a written affirmation of his good faith belief
that the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the Corporation
has been met and a written undertaking to repay any such advance, if it should
ultimately be determined that the standard of conduct has not been met, and
provided further that at least one of the following additional conditions is
met: (a) the person seeking indemnification shall provide a security in form and
amount acceptable to the Corporation for his undertaking; (b) the Corporation is
insured against losses arising by reason of the advance; (c) a majority of a
quorum of non-party independent directors, or independent legal
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counsel in a written opinion, shall determine, based on a review of facts
readily available to the Corporation at the time the advance is proposed to be
made, that there is reason to believe that the person seeking indemnification
will ultimately be found to be entitled to indemnification.
The Corporation may purchase insurance on behalf of an officer or
director protecting such person to the full extent permitted under the Maryland
General Corporation Law, from liability arising from his activities as officer
or director of the Corporation. The Corporation, however, may not purchase
insurance on behalf of any officer or director of the Corporation that protects
or purports to protect such person from liability to the Corporation or to its
stockholders to which such officer or director would otherwise be subject by
reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or reckless
disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of his office.
The Corporation may indemnify, make advances or purchase insurance to
the extent provided in this Article VI on behalf of an employee or agent who is
not an officer or director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE VII
Capital Stock
Section 1. Stock Certificates. The Corporation shall not issue stock
certificates.
Section 2. Books of Account and Record of Stockholders. There shall be
kept at the principal executive office of the Corporation correct and complete
books and records of account of all the business and transactions of the
Corporation. There shall be made available upon request of any stockholder, in
accordance with Maryland General Corporation Law, a record containing the number
of shares of stock issued during a specified period not to exceed twelve months
and the consideration received by the Corporation for each such share.
Section 3. Transfers of Shares. Transfers of shares of stock of the
Corporation shall be made on the stock records of the Corporation only by the
registered holder thereof, or by his attorney thereunto authorized by power of
attorney duly executed and filed with the Secretary or with a transfer agent or
transfer clerk, and on surrender of the certificate or certificates, if issued,
for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock
transfer power and the payment of all taxes thereon. Except as otherwise
provided by law, the Corporation shall be entitled to recognize the exclusive
right of a person in whose name any share or shares stand on the record of
stockholders as the owner of such share or shares for all purposes, including,
without limitation, the rights to receive dividends or other distributions, and
to vote as such owner, and the Corporation shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or legal claim to or interest in any such share or shares on the part
of any other person.
Section 4. Regulations. The Board may make such additional rules and
regulations, not
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inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it may deem expedient concerning the issue,
transfer and registration of certificates for shares of stock of the
Corporation. It may appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint,
one or more transfer agents or one or more transfer clerks and one or more
registrars and may require all certificates for shares of stock to bear the
signature or signatures of any of them.
Section 5. Lost, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates. The holder of any
certificates representing shares of stock of the Corporation shall immediately
notify the Corporation of any loss, destruction or mutilation of such
certificate, and the Corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate theretofore issued by it which the owner thereof shall
allege to have been lost or destroyed or which shall have been mutilated, and
the Board may, in its discretion, require such owner or his legal
representatives to give to the Corporation a bond in such sum, limited or
unlimited, and in such form and with such surety or sureties, as the Board in
its absolute discretion shall determine, to indemnify the Corporation against
any claim that may be made against it on account of the alleged loss or
destruction of any such certificate, or issuance of a new certificate. Anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding, the Board, in its absolute discretion,
may refuse to issue any such new certificate, except pursuant to legal
proceedings under the Maryland General Corporation Law.
Section 6. Fixing of a Record Date for Dividends and Distributions. The
Board may fix, in advance, a date not more than ninety days preceding the date
fixed for the payment of any dividend or the making of any distribution or the
allotment of rights to subscribe for securities of the Corporation, or for the
delivery of evidences of rights or evidences of interests arising out of any
change, conversion or exchange of common stock or other securities, as the
record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive any
such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests, and in such case
only the stockholders of record at the time so fixed shall be entitled to
receive such dividend, distribution, allotment, rights or interests.
Section 7. Information to Stockholders and Others. Any stockholder of
the Corporation or his agent may inspect and copy during usual business hours
the Corporation's By-Laws, minutes of the proceedings of its stockholders,
annual statements of its affairs, and voting trust agreements on file at its
principal office.
ARTICLE VIII
Seal
The seal of the Corporation shall be circular in form and shall bear,
in addition to any other emblem or device approved by the Board of Directors,
the name of the Corporation, the year of its incorporation and the words
"Corporate Seal" and "Maryland." Said seal may be used by causing it or a
facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or in any other manner reproduced.
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ARTICLE IX
Fiscal Year
Unless otherwise determined by the Board, the fiscal year of the
Corporation shall be as determined by the Board of Directors from time to time.
ARTICLE X
Depositories and Custodians
Section 1. Depositories. The funds of the Corporation shall be
deposited with such banks or other depositories as the Board of Directors of the
Corporation may from time to time determine.
Section 2. Custodians. All securities and other investments shall be
deposited in the safe keeping of such banks or other companies as the Board of
Directors of the Corporation may from time to time determine. Every arrangement
entered into with any bank or other company for the safe keeping of the
securities and investments of the Corporation shall contain provisions complying
with the Investment Company Act.
ARTICLE XI
Execution of Instruments
Section 1. Checks, Notes, Drafts, etc. Checks, notes, drafts,
acceptances, bills of exchange and other orders or obligations for the payment
of money shall be signed by such officer or officers or person or persons as the
Board of Directors by resolution shall from time to time designate.
Section 2. Sale or Transfer of Securities. Stock certificates, bonds or
other securities at any time owned by the Corporation may be held on behalf of
the Corporation or sold, transferred or otherwise disposed of subject to any
limits imposed by these By-Laws and pursuant to authorization by the Board and,
when so authorized to be held on behalf of the Corporation or sold, transferred
or otherwise disposed of, may be transferred from the name of the Corporation by
the signature of the President or a Vice President or the Treasurer of the
Corporation or pursuant to any procedure approved by the Board of Directors,
subject to applicable law.
ARTICLE XII
Independent Public Accountants
The firm of independent public accountants which shall sign or certify
the financial statements of the Corporation which are filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission
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shall be selected annually by the Board of Directors and, if required by the
provisions of the Investment Company Act, ratified by the stockholders.
ARTICLE XIII
Annual Statement
The books of account of the Corporation shall be examined by an
independent firm of public accountants at the close of each annual period of the
Corporation and at such other times as may be directed by the Board. A report to
the stockholders based upon each such examination shall be mailed to each
stockholder of the Corporation of record on such date with respect to each
report as may be determined by the Board, at his address as the same appears on
the books of the Corporation. Such annual statement shall also be available at
the annual meeting of stockholders, if any, and, within 20 days after the
meeting (or, in the absence of an annual meeting, within 120 days after the end
of the fiscal year), be placed on file at the Corporation's principal office.
Each such report shall show the assets and liabilities of the Corporation as of
the close of the annual or quarterly period covered by the report and the
securities in which the funds of the Corporation were then invested. Such report
shall also show the Corporation's income and expenses for the period from the
end of the Corporation's preceding fiscal year to the close of the annual or
quarterly period covered by the report and any other information required by the
Investment Company Act, and shall set forth such other matters as the Board or
such firm of independent public accountants shall determine.
ARTICLE XIV
Amendments
These By-Laws or any of them may be amended, altered or repealed by the
Board of Directors. The stockholders shall have no power to make, amend, alter
or repeal By-Laws.
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