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Exhibit 3(2)
AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
NORTH CAROLINA NATURAL GAS CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
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Stockholders
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Section 1.1. Annual Meetings. An annual meeting of stockholders shall
be held for the election of directors at such date, time and place, either
within or without the State of Delaware, as may be designated by resolution of
the Board of Directors from time to time. Any other proper business may be
transacted at the annual meeting.
Section 1.2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders for any
purpose or purposes may be called at any time by the Board of Directors, or by a
committee of the Board of Directors which has been duly designated by the Board
of Directors and whose powers and authority, as expressly provided in a
resolution of the Board of Directors, include the power to call such meetings,
but such special meetings may not be called by any other person or persons.
Section 1.3. Notice of Meetings. Whenever stockholders are required or
permitted to take any action at a meeting, a written notice of the meeting shall
be given which shall state the place, date and hour of the meeting, and, in the
case of a special meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
called. Unless otherwise provided by law, the certificate of incorporation or
these bylaws, the written notice of any meeting shall be given not less than ten
nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting to each stockholder
entitled to vote at such meeting. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be
given when deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, directed to the stockholder
at his address as it appears on the records of the corporation.
Section 1.4. Adjournments. Any meeting of stockholders, annual or
special, may adjourn from time to time to reconvene at the same or some other
place, and notice need not be given of any such adjourned meeting if the time
and place thereof are announced at the meeting at which the adjournment is
taken. At the adjourned meeting the corporation may transact any business which
might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the adjournment is for
more than thirty days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed
for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
Section 1.5. Quorum. Except as otherwise provided by law, the
certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, at each meeting of stockholders
the presence in person or by
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proxy of the holders of shares of stock having a majority of the votes which
could be cast by the holders of all outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote
at the meeting shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum. In the
absence of a quorum, the stockholders so present may, by majority vote, adjourn
the meeting from time to time in the manner provided in Section 1.4 of these
bylaws until a quorum shall attend. Shares of its own stock belonging to the
corporation or to another corporation, if a majority of the shares entitled to
vote in the election of directors of such other corporation is held, directly or
indirectly, by the corporation, shall neither be entitled to vote nor be counted
for quorum purposes; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not limit the
right of the corporation to vote stock, including but not limited to its own
stock, held by it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.6. Organization. Meetings of stockholders shall be presided
over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his absence by the Vice
Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his absence by the President, or in his
absence by a Vice President, or in the absence of the foregoing persons by a
chairman designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such
designation by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as
secretary of the meeting, but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may
appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 1.7. Voting; Proxies. Except as otherwise provided by the
certificate of incorporation, each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting
of stockholders shall be entitled to one vote for each share of stock held by
him which has voting power upon the matter in question. Each stockholder
entitled to vote at a meeting of stockholders may authorize another person or
persons to act for him by proxy, but no such proxy shall be voted or acted upon
after three years from its date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period.
A duly executed proxy shall be irrevocable if it states that it is irrevocable
and if, and only as long as, it is coupled with an interest sufficient in law to
support an irrevocable power. A stockholder may revoke any proxy which is not
irrevocable by attending the meeting and voting in person or by filing an
instrument in writing revoking the proxy or another duly executed proxy bearing
a later date with the Secretary of the corporation. Voting at meetings of
stockholders need not be by written ballot and need not be conducted by
inspectors of election unless so determined by the holders of shares of stock
having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the holders of all
outstanding shares of stock entitled to vote thereon which are present in person
or by proxy at such meeting. At all meetings of stockholders for the election of
directors a plurality of the votes cast shall be sufficient to elect. All other
elections and questions shall, unless otherwise provided by law, the certificate
of incorporation or these bylaws, be decided by the vote of the holders of
shares of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by the
holders of all shares of stock entitled to vote thereon which are present in
person or represented by proxy at the meeting.
Section 1.8. Fixing Date for Determination of Stockholders of Record.
In order that the corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to notice
of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to
express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, or entitled or
receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any
rights, or entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion
or exchange of stock or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of
Directors may fix a
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record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the
resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors and which
record date: (1) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to vote
at any meeting of stockholders or adjournment thereof, shall, unless otherwise
required by law, not be more than sixty nor less than ten days before the date
of such meeting; (2) in the case of determination of stockholders entitled to
express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting, shall not be
more than ten days from the date upon which the resolution fixing the record
date is adopted by the Board of Directors; and (3) in the case of any other
action, shall not be more than sixty days prior to such other action. If no
record date is fixed: (1) the record date for determining stockholders entitled
to notice of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which notice is given, or, if
notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on
which the meeting is held; (2) the record date for determining stockholders
entitled to express consent to corporate action in writing without a meeting
when no prior action of the Board of Directors is required by law, shall be the
first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or
proposed to be taken is delivered to the corporation in accordance with
applicable law, or, if prior action by the Board of Directors is required by
law, shall be at the close of business on the day on which the Board of
Directors adopts the resolution taking such prior action; and (3) the record
date for determining stockholders for any other purpose shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution
relating thereto. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice
of or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting.
Section 1.9. List of Stockholders Entitled to Vote. The Secretary
shall prepare and make, at least ten days before every meeting of stockholders,
a complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open to
the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to the meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least ten days prior to the
meeting, either at a place within the city where the meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of the meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where the meeting is to be held. The list shall also be
produced and kept at the time and place of the meeting during the whole time
thereof and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. Upon the willful
neglect or refusal of the directors to produce such a list at any meeting for
the election of directors, they shall be ineligible for election to any office
at such meeting. The stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the
stockholders entitled to examine the stock ledger, the list of stockholders or
the books of the corporation, or to vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of
stockholders.
Section 1.10. Action by Consent of Stockholders. Unless otherwise
restricted by the certificate of incorporation, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders may be taken
without a meeting, without prior notice and without a vote, if a consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the holders of
outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares
entitled to vote thereon were
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present and voted. Prompt notice of the taking of the corporate action without a
meeting by less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those
stockholders who have not consented in writing.
ARTICLE II
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Board of Directors
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Section 2.1. Number; Qualifications. The number constituting the Board
of Directors shall be not less than one (1) nor more than ten (10). The number
of directors within this variable range may be fixed or changed from time to
time by the shareholders or the Board of Directors. Directors need not be
stockholders.
Section 2.2. Election; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board of
Directors shall initially consist of the persons named as directors in the
certificate of incorporation, or if not so named, the persons named as directors
in an action by the incorporator, and each director so elected shall hold office
until the first annual meeting of stockholders or until his successor is elected
and qualified. At the first annual meeting of stockholders and at each annual
meeting thereafter, the stockholders shall elect directors each of whom shall
hold office for a term of one year or until his successor is elected and
qualified. Any director may resign at any time upon written notice to the
corporation. Any newly created directorship or any vacancy occurring in the
Board of Directors for any cause may be filled by a majority of the remaining
members of the Board of Directors, although such majority is less than a quorum,
or by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of stockholders, and each
director so elected shall hold office until the expiration of the term of office
of the director whom he has replaced or until his successor is elected and
qualified.
Section 2.3. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at such places within or without the State of Delaware and
at such times as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine, and if
so determined notices thereof need not be given.
Section 2.4. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at any time or place within or without the State of
Delaware whenever called by the President, any Vice President, the Secretary, or
by any member of the Board of Directors. Notice of a special meeting of the
Board of Directors shall be given by the person or persons calling the meeting
at least twenty-four hours before the special meeting.
Section 2.5. Telephonic Meetings Permitted. Members of the Board of
Directors, or any committee designated by the Board of Directors, may
participate in a meeting thereof by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment by means of which all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other, and participation in a meeting pursuant to this
by-law shall constitute presence in person at such meeting.
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Section 2.6. Quorum; Vote Required for Action. At all meetings of the
Board of Directors a majority of the whole Board of Directors shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business. Except in cases in which the certificate
of incorporation or these bylaws otherwise provide, the vote of a majority of
the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act
of the Board of Directors.
Section 2.7. Organization. Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be
presided over by the Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his absence by the
Vice Chairman of the Board, if any, or in his absence by the President, or in
their absence by a chairman chosen at the meeting. The Secretary shall act as
secretary of the meeting, but in his absence the chairman of the meeting may
appoint any person to act as secretary of the meeting.
Section 2.8. Informal Action by Directors. Unless otherwise restricted
by the certificate of incorporation or these bylaws, 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 of
Directors or such committee, as the case may be, consent thereto in writing, and
the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board
of Directors or such committee.
ARTICLE III
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Committees
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Section 3.1. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the whole Board of Directors, designate one or more
committees, each committee to consist of one or more of the directors of the
corporation. The Board of Directors may designate one or more directors as
alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified
member at any meeting of the committee. In the absence or disqualification of a
member of the 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 place of any such absent or disqualified member. Any such committee,
to the extent permitted by law and to the extent provided in the resolution of
the Board of Directors, shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority
of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the
corporation, and may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all
papers which may require it.
Section 3.2. Committee Rules. Unless the Board of Directors otherwise
provides, each committee designated by the Board of Directors may make, alter
and repeal rules for the conduct of its business. In the absence of such rules
each committee shall conduct its business in the same manner as the Board of
Directors conducts its business pursuant to Article III of these bylaws.
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ARTICLE IV
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Officers
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Section 4.1. Executive Officers; Election; Qualifications; Terms of
Office; Resignation; Removal; Vacancies. The Board of Directors shall elect a
President and Secretary, and it may, if it so determines, choose a Chairman of
the Board and a Vice Chairman of the Board from among its members. The Board of
Directors may also choose one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant
Secretaries, a Treasurer and one or more Assistant Treasurers. Each such officer
shall hold office until the first meeting of the Board of Directors after the
annual meeting of stockholders next succeeding his election, and until his
successor is elected and qualified or until his earlier resignation or removal.
Any officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the corporation. The
Board of Directors may remove any officer with or without cause at any time, but
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of such
officer, if any, with the corporation. Any number of offices may be held by the
same person. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the corporation by death,
resignation, removal or otherwise may be filled for the unexpired portion of the
term by the Board of Directors at any regular or special meeting.
Section 4.2. Powers and Duties of Executive Officers. The officers of
the corporation shall have such powers and duties in the management of the
corporation as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors and, to the extent
not so provided, as generally pertain to their respective offices, subject to
the control of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may require any
officer, agent or employee to give security for the faithful performance of his
duties.
ARTICLE V
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Stock
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Section 5.1. Certificates. Every holder of stock shall be entitled to
have a certificate signed by or in the name of the corporation by the Chairman
or Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, if any, or the President or a Vice
President, and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer, or the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary, of the corporation, certifying the number of shares
owned by him in the corporation. Any of or all the signatures on the certificate
may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent, or registrar who has
signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a certificate shall
have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent, or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same effect
as if he were such officer, transfer agent, or registrar at the date of issue.
Section 5.2. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Stock Certificates; Issuance of
New Certificates. The corporation may issue a new certificate of stock in the
place of any certificate theretofore issued by it, alleged to have been lost,
stolen or destroyed, and the corporation may require the owner of the lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate, or his legal representative, to give the
corporation a bond sufficient to indemnity it against any claim that may be made
against it on
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account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or the
issuance of such new certificate.
ARTICLE VI
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Indemnification
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Section 6.1. Persons Indemnified. Any person who at any time serves or
has served as a director or officer of the Corporation, or at the request of the
Corporation is or was serving as an officer, director, agent, partner, trustee,
administrator, or employee for any other foreign or domestic corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan, or other enterprise,
shall be indemnified by the Corporation to the fullest extent from time to time
permitted by law in the event he is made, or is threatened to be made, a party
to any threatened, pending or completed civil, criminal, administrative,
investigative or arbitration action, suit or proceeding and any appeal therein
(and any inquiry or investigation that could lead to such action, suit or
proceeding) seeking to hold him liable by reason of the fact that he is or was
acting in such capacity. In addition, the board may provide such indemnification
for the employees and agents of the Corporation as it deems appropriate.
Section 6.2. Scope of Indemnification. The rights of those receiving
indemnification hereunder shall, to the fullest extent from time to time
permitted by law, cover (i) reasonable expenses, including without limitation
all attorneys' fees actually and necessarily incurred by him in connection with
any such action, suit or proceeding, (ii) all reasonable payments made by him in
satisfaction of any judgment, money decree, fine (including an excise tax
assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan), penalty, or settlement for
which he may have become liable in such action, suit or proceeding; and (iii)
all reasonable expenses incurred in enforcing the indemnification rights
provided herein.
Section 6.3. Advance Payment. Expenses incurred by anyone entitled to
receive indemnification under this section in defending a proceeding may be paid
by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such proceeding as
authorized by the board of directors in the specific case or as authorized or
required under any provisions in the bylaws or by any applicable resolution or
contract upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of the claimant for
indemnity to repay such amount unless it shall ultimately be determined that he
is entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation against such expenses.
Section 6.4. Authorization of Payment. The board of directors of the
Corporation shall take all such action as may be necessary and appropriate to
authorize the Corporation to pay the indemnification required by this bylaw,
including without limitation, to the extent needed, making a good faith
evaluation of the manner in which the claimant for indemnity acted and of the
reasonable amount of indemnity due him.
Section 6.5. Right to Indemnification Benefits. Any person who at any
time serves or has served in any of the aforesaid capacities for or on behalf of
the Corporation shall be deemed
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to be doing or to have done so in reliance upon, and as consideration for, the
right of indemnification provided herein. Any repeal or modification of these
indemnification provisions shall not affect any rights or obligations existing
at the time of such repeal or modification. The rights provided for herein shall
inure to the benefit of the legal representatives of any such person and shall
not be exclusive of any other rights to which such person may be entitled apart
from the provisions of this bylaw.
Section 6.6. Discretionary Indemnification of Employees and Agents. The
Corporation may, in its sole discretion, wholly or partially indemnify and
advance expenses to any employee or agent of the Corporation to the same extent
as provided herein for officers and directors.
ARTICLE VII
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Miscellaneous
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Section 7.1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the corporation shall end
on December 31st of each year.
Section 7.2. Seal. The corporate seal shall have the name of the
corporation inscribed thereon and shall be in such form as may be approved from
time to time by the Board of Directors.
Section 7.3. Waiver of Notice of Meetings of Stockholders, Directors
and Committees. Any written waiver of notice, signed by the person entitled to
notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed
equivalent to notice. Attendance of a person at a meeting shall constitute a
waiver of notice of such meeting, except when the person attends a meeting for
the express purpose of objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the
transaction of any business because the meeting is not lawfully called or
convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of any
regular or special meeting of the stockholders, directors, or members of a
committee of directors need be specified in any written waiver of notice.
Section 7.4. Interested Directors; Quorum. No contract or transaction
between the corporation and one or more of its directors or officers, or between
the corporation and any other corporation, partnership, association, or other
organization in which one or more of its directors or officers are directors or
officers, or have a financial interest, shall be void or voidable solely for
this reason, or solely because the director or officer is present at or
participates in the meeting of the Board of Directors or committee thereof which
authorizes the contract or transaction, or solely because his or their votes are
counted for such purpose, if: (1) the material facts as to his relationship or
interest and as to the contract or transaction are disclosed or are known to the
Board of Directors or the committee, and the Board of Directors or committee in
good faith authorizes the contract or transaction by the affirmative votes of a
majority of the disinterested directors, even though the disinterested directors
be less than a quorum; or (2) the material facts
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as to his relationship or interest and as to the contract or transaction are
disclosed or are known to the stockholders entitled to vote thereon, and the
contract or transaction is specifically approved in good faith by vote of the
stockholders; or (3) the contract or transaction is fair as to the corporation
as of the time it is authorized, approved or ratified, by the Board of
Directors, a committee thereof, or the stockholders. Interested directors may be
counted in determining the presence of a quorum at a meeting of the Board of
Directors or of a committee which authorizes the contract or transaction.
Section 7.5. Form of Records. Any records maintained by the corporation
in the regular course of its business, including its stock ledger, books of
account, and minute books, may be kept on, or be in the form of, punch cards,
magnetic tape, photographs, micro-photographs, or any other information storage
device, provided that the records so kept can be converted into clearly legible
form within a reasonable time. The corporation shall so convert any records so
kept upon the request of any person entitled to inspect the same.
Section 7.6. Amendment of Bylaws. These bylaws may be altered or
repealed, and new bylaws made, by the Board of Directors, but the stockholders
may make additional bylaws and may alter and repeal any bylaws whether adopted
by them or otherwise.
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