AMENDED AND RESTATED BY-LAWS
OF
COMMERCIAL FEDERAL CORPORATION
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ARTICLE I
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SHAREHOLDERS
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Section 1. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the shareholders shall
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be held on the second Tuesday in May, or such other date as the Board of
Directors may determine, for the purpose of electing directors and for the
transaction of such other business as may come before the meeting. If the second
Tuesday in May shall be a legal holiday in the State of Nebraska, and the Board
of Directors shall not have fixed some other date, then such meeting shall be
held on the next succeeding business day. Annual meetings shall be held in the
office of the Corporation or at such other place, either within or without the
State of Nebraska, as shall be determined by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the shareholders may
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be called only as provided in the Articles of Incorporation. Special meetings
shall be held at such place, either within or without the State of Nebraska, as
shall be stated in the notice.
Section 3. Notice of Meeting. Written or printed notice stating the
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place, day, and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not less
than ten (10) nor more than fifty (50) days before the date of the meeting,
either personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, the
Secretary, or the officer or persons calling the meeting, to each shareholder of
record entitled to vote at such meeting.
Section 4. Closing of Transfer Books or Fixing of Record Date. For the
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purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or shareholders entitled to
receive payment of any dividend, or in order to make a determination of
shareholders for any other proper purpose, the Board of Directors of the
corporation may provide that the stock transfer books shall be closed for a
stated period but not to exceed, in any case, fifty (50) days. If the stock
transfer books shall be closed for the purpose of determining shareholders
entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of shareholders, such books shall
be closed for at least ten (10) days immediately preceding such meeting. In lieu
of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of Directors may fix in advance a
date as the record date for any such determination of shareholders, such date in
any case to be not more than fifty (50) days and, in the case of a meeting of
shareholders, not less than ten (10) days prior to the date on which the
particular action, requiring such determination of shareholders, is to be taken.
If the stock transfer books are not closed and no record date is fixed for the
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determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive payment of a dividend, the
date on which notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the
resolution of the Board of Directors declaring such dividend is adopted, as the
case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of shareholders.
When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
shareholders has been made as provided in this section, such determination shall
apply to any adjournment thereof.
Section 5. Voting Record. The officer or agent having charge of the
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stock transfer books for shares of the corporation shall make, at least ten (10)
days before each meeting of shareholders, a complete record of the shareholders
entitled to vote at such meeting, or any adjournment thereof, arranged in
alphabetical order with the address of and the number of shares held by each.
For a period of ten (10) days prior to such meeting, the list shall be kept on
file at the registered office of the corporation and shall be subject to
inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business hours. Such
record, or a duplicate thereof, shall also be produced and kept open at the time
and place of the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any
shareholder during the whole time of the meeting. The original stock transfer
book shall be prima facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to
examine such record or transfer books or to vote at any meeting of shareholders.
Section 6. Quorum. A majority of the outstanding shares entitled to
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vote, represented in person or by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at a meeting
of shareholders. The holders or their representatives of a majority of the
shares present at a meeting, even though less than a majority of the shares
outstanding, may adjourn the meeting from time to time without notice other an
announcement at the meeting, until such time as a quorum is present. At any such
adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present, any business may be transacted
which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If a quorum is
present, the affirmative vote of the majority of the shares represented at the
meeting and entitled to vote on the subject matter shall be the act of the
shareholders, unless the vote of a greater number is required by law, by the
Articles of Incorporation, or by these By-Laws.
Section 7. Proxies. At all meetings of the shareholders, a shareholder
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may vote either in person or by proxy executed in writing by a shareholder or
his duly authorized attorney-in-fact. Proxies solicited on behalf of the
management shall be voted as directed by the shareholder or, in the absence of
such direction, as determined by a majority of the Board of Directors. No proxy
shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless
otherwise provided in the proxy.
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Section 8. Voting of Shares. Subject to the provisions of Sections 9
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and 10 of this Article I, each shareholder entitled to vote shall be entitled to
one (1) vote for each share of stock held by him upon each matter submitted to a
vote at a meeting of shareholders.
Section 9. Voting of Shares by Certain Holders. Treasury shares shall
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not be voted at any meeting or counted in determining the total number of
outstanding shares at any given time.
Shares standing in the name of another corporation may be voted by such
officer, agent, or proxy as the By-Laws of such corporation may prescribe, or,
in the absence of such provision, as the Board of Directors of such corporation
may determine.
Shares held by an administrator, executor, guardian, or conservator may
be voted by him, either in person or by proxy, without a transfer of such shares
into his name. Shares standing in the name of a trustee may be voted by him,
either in person or by proxy.
Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such
receiver, and shares held by or under the control of a receiver may be voted by
such receiver without the transfer thereof into his name if authority to do so
be contained in an appropriate order of the court by which such receiver was
appointed.
A shareholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such
shares until the shares have been transferred into the name of the pledgee, and
thereafter the pledgee shall be entitled to vote the shares so transferred.
Section 10. Cumulative Voting. At each election for directors, every
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shareholder entitled to vote at such election shall have the right to vote, in
person or by proxy, the number of shares owned by him for as many persons as
there are directors to be elected and for whose election he has a right to vote,
or to cumulate said shares and give one candidate as many votes as the number of
directors multiplied by the number of his shares shall equal, or to distribute
them upon the same principle among as many candidates as he shall think fit.
Section 11. Informal Action by Shareholders. Any action required to be
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taken at a meeting of the shareholders, or any action which may be taken at a
meeting of the shareholders, may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by all of the
shareholders entitled to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof. Such
consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote of the
shareholders and may be stated as such in any articles or document filed with
the Secretary of State under applicable state law.
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Section 12. Inspectors of Election. In advance of any meeting of
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shareholders, the Board of Directors may appoint any persons, other than
nominees for office, as inspectors of election to act at such meeting or any
adjournment thereof. The number of inspectors shall be either one (1) or three
(3). If the Board of Directors so appoints either one (1) or three (3)
inspectors, that appointment shall not be altered at the meeting. If inspectors
of election are not so appointed, the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the
President may make such appointment at the meeting. In case any person appointed
as inspector fails to appear or fails or refuses to act, the vacancy may be
filled by appointment by the Board of Directors in advance of the meeting or at
the meeting by the Chairman of the Board of Directors or the President.
Unless otherwise prescribed by applicable regulations, the duties of
such inspectors shall include: determining the number of shares of stock and the
voting power of each share, the shares of stock represented at the meeting, the
existence of a quorum, the authenticity, validity, and effect of proxies;
receiving votes, ballots, or consents; hearing and determining all challenges
and questions in any way arising in connection with the right to vote; counting
and tabulating all votes or consents; determining the result; and such acts as
may be proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all shareholders.
Section 13. Nominations. The Board of Directors shall act as a
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Nominating Committee for selecting the management nominees for election as
directors. Except in the case of a nominee substituted as a result of the death
or other incapacity of a management nominee, the Nominating Committee shall
deliver written nominations to the Secretary at least fifteen (15) days prior to
the date of the annual meeting. Provided such committee makes such nominations,
no nominations for directors except those made by the Nominating Committee shall
be voted upon at the annual meeting except those made in accordance with the
provisions of Section 14 of these By-Laws as amended.
Section 14. Notice for Nominations and Proposals. Nominations for the
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election of directors and proposals for any new business to be taken up at any
annual or special meeting of shareholders may be made by the Board of Directors
of the corporation or by any shareholder of the corporation entitled to vote
generally in the election of directors. In order for a shareholder of the
corporation to make any such nominations and/or proposals, he or she shall give
notice thereof in writing, delivered or mailed by first class United States
mail, postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the corporation not less than sixty
(60) days prior to any such meeting. Each such notice given by a shareholder
with respect to nominations for the election of directors shall set forth (i)
the name, age, business address and, if known, residence address of each nominee
proposed in such notice; (ii) the principal occupation or employment of each
such nominee; and (iii) the
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number of shares of stock of the corporation which are beneficially owned by
each such nominee. In addition, the shareholder making such nomination shall
promptly provide any other information reasonably requested by the corporation.
Each such notice given by a shareholder to the Secretary with respect
to business proposals to bring before a meeting shall set forth in writing as to
each matter: (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought
before the meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the meeting;
(ii) the name and address, as they appear on the corporation's books, of the
shareholder proposing such business; (iii) the class and number of shares of the
corporation which are beneficially owned by the shareholder; and (iv) any
material interest of the shareholder in such business. Notwithstanding anything
in the Articles of Incorporation to the contrary, no business shall be conducted
at the meeting except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this
Section 14.
The Chairman of the annual or special meeting of shareholders may, if
the facts warrant, determine and declare to such meeting that a nomination or
proposal was not made in accordance with the foregoing procedure, and, if he
should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.
ARTICLE II
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DIRECTORS
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Section 1. Number and Qualification. The business and affairs of the
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corporation shall be managed by a Board of Directors, consisting of ten (10)
directors, divided into classes as specified in the Articles of Incorporation.
The directors need not be residents of the State of Nebraska, nor shareholders
of the corporation. All persons nominated for director, whether by the
Nominating Committee or otherwise, shall meet all requirements imposed by the
Federal Home Loan Bank Board, and shall not attain their seventieth (70th)
birthday during the term for which they are nominated, provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may waive such requirement by a two-thirds (2/3rds)
affirmative vote of all directors. Although the number and qualifications of the
directors may be changed from time to time by amendment to these By-Laws, no
change shall affect the incumbent directors during the terms for which they were
elected. Without limiting the foregoing, no person who is a controlling person
or management official of a federally insured depository organization (other
than affiliates of the Corporation) that operates branches in any market in
which the Corporation operates branches shall be eligible to be nominated for
service, or to serve, as a director of the Corporation.
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Section 2. Election and Tenure. The directors shall be divided into
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three (3) classes, as specified in the Articles of Incorporation, and the
members of each class shall be elected for a term of three (3) years and until
their successors are elected and qualified, except for the initial terms of some
class members as specified in the Articles of Incorporation. The members of one
(1) class shall be elected annually.
Section 3. Removal and Vacancies. The removal of directors and the
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filling of director vacancies, which may occur for any reason, shall be in
accordance with the provisions specified in the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 4. Quorum. A majority of the number of directors fixed by the
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By-Laws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at any
meeting of the Board of Directors. The act 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, unless a greater number is specified by the Articles of
Incorporation or these By-Laws. If less than a quorum is present at any meeting,
the majority of those present may adjourn the meeting from time to time, without
notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum is present.
Section 5. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Board of Directors
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shall be held without notice other than this By-Law immediately following
adjournment of the annual meeting of shareholders and shall be held at the same
place as the annual meeting of shareholders unless some other place is agreed
upon.
Section 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of Directors
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may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or a majority of the
Board of Directors, and shall be held at the office of the corporation or at
such other place, either within or without the State of Nebraska, as the notice
may state.
Section 7. Notice. Notice of special meetings shall be mailed to each
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director at his last known address at least five (5) days prior to the date of
holding said meetings. Any director may waive notice of any meeting. The
attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of
such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the express purpose
of objecting 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 Board of Directors need be
specified in the notice or waiver of notice of such meeting.
Section 8. Action Without a Meeting. Any action required to be taken at
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a meeting of the Board of Directors, or of any committee, may be taken without a
meeting, if a consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be
signed by all of the
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directors, or all of the members of the committee, as the case may be. Such
consent shall have the same effect as a unanimous vote. The consent may be
executed by the directors in counterparts.
Section 9. Voting. At all meetings of the Board of Directors, each
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director shall have one (1) vote irrespective of the number of shares he may
hold. Members of the Board of Directors may vote and participate in meetings by
means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by which all
persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Section 10. Presumption of Assent. A director of the corporation who is
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present at a meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate
matter is taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action taken unless
his dissent shall be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall
file his written dissent to such action with the person acting as the Secretary
of the meeting before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by
registered mail to the Secretary of the corporation immediately after the
adjournment of the meeting. Such right to dissent shall not apply to a director
who voted in favor of such action.
Section 11. Compensation. By resolution of the Board of Directors, the
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directors may be paid their expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of
the Board of Directors, and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at each
meeting of the Board of Directors or a stated salary as director. No such
payment shall preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 12. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution or
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resolutions passed by a majority of the whole Board, appoint an Executive
Committee, an Audit Committee, and one or more other committees, each committee
to consist of two (2) or more directors of the corporation, which committees
shall, to the extent permitted by law, have and may exercise such powers of the
Board of Directors in the management of the business and affairs of the
corporation as shall be delegated to them.
Section 13. Advisory Directors. The Board of Directors may, by
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resolution, appoint advisory directors to the Board, who shall serve as
directors emeritus, and shall have such authority and receive such compensation
and reimbursement as the Board of Directors shall provide. Advisory directors
shall not have the authority to participate by vote in the transaction of
business.
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ARTICLE III
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OFFICERS
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Section 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the corporation
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shall be a Chairman of the Board, a President, one or more Vice Presidents (as
the Board of Directors shall determine), a Secretary, and a Treasurer, and such
other officers and agents as may be deemed necessary by the Board of Directors.
Any two (2) or more offices may be held by the same person.
Section 2. Election and Tenure. The officers of the corporation shall
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be elected by the Board of Directors at its annual meeting. Each officer shall
hold office for a term of one (1) year or until his successor shall have been
duly elected and shall have become qualified, unless his service is specified by
an employment contract of greater length or is terminated sooner because of
death, resignation, or otherwise. The Board of Directors may authorize the
corporation to enter into an employment contract with any officer in accordance
with state law.
Section 3. Removal. Any officer or agent of the corporation, elected,
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or appointed by the Board of Directors, may be removed by the Board of Directors
whenever in its judgment the best interests of the corporation should be served
thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if
any, of the person so moved. Election or appointment of an officer or agent
shall not of itself create contract rights.
Section 4. Vacancies. Vacancies occurring in any office by reason of
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death, resignation, or otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors at any
meeting.
Section 5. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board shall
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preside at all meetings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors at
which he is present. He shall, in general, perform all duties and have all
powers incident to the office of Chairman and shall perform such other duties
and have such other powers as from time to time may be assigned by the By-Laws
or by the Board of Directors. The Chairman shall be the Chief Executive Officer
of the corporation unless the Board of Directors designates the President to be
the Chief Executive Officer, and shall have general and active charge of the
business, affairs, and property of the corporation. He may appoint officers and
agents or employees other than those appointed by the Board of Directors and
shall have supervision and control over the officers, agents, and employees.
Section 6. The President. The President shall, in general, perform all
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duties and have all power incident to the office of President and shall perform
such other duties and
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have such other powers as from time to time may be assigned to him by these
By-Laws or by the Board of Directors or by the Chairman. Unless the Board of
Directors designates otherwise, the President shall be the Chief Operating
Officer of the corporation, and shall be responsible for carrying out the
operating policies incident to the business of the corporation and, subject to
the authority of the Chief Executive Officer, he shall have supervision over its
officers, agents, and employees. At the request of the Chairman or in the event
of his absence or his disability, the President shall perform all the duties of
the Chairman, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be subject to
all the restrictions on the Chairman.
Section 7. The Vice Presidents. In the absence of the President or in
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the event of his death, inability, or refusal to act, the Vice President (or in
the event there shall be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in
the order designated at the time of their election, or in the absence of any
such designation, then in the order of their election) shall perform the duties
of the President, and when so acting, shall have all the powers of and be
subject to all the restrictions upon the President. Any Vice President may sign
with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the corporation certificates
for shares of the corporation; and shall perform such other duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.
Section 8. Secretary. The Secretary shall: (a) keep minutes of the
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proceedings of the shareholders and of the Board of Directors in one or more
books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in
accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws or as required by law; (c) be
the custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the corporation and
see that the seal of the corporation is affixed to all documents, the execution
of which on behalf of the corporation under its seal is duly authorized; (d)
keep a register of the post office address of each shareholder; (e) sign with
the Chairman of the Board of Directors, President, or a Vice President
certificates for shares of the corporation, the issuance of which shall be
authorized by resolution of the Board of Directors; (f) have general charge of
the stock transfer books of the corporation; and (g) in general perform all
duties incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time to
time may be assigned to him by the President or by the Board of Directors.
Section 9. The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall: (a) have charge and
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custody of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the corporation;
(b) receive and give receipts for monies due and payable to the corporation from
any source whatsoever, and deposit all such monies in the name of the
corporation in such banks, trust companies, or in other depositories as shall be
selected in accordance with the provisions of these By-Laws; (c) and in general
perform all of the duties incident to the office of Treasurer
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and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned by the President or
by the Board of Directors. If required by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer
shall give a bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such sum and with
such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors shall determine.
Section 10. Salaries. The salaries of the officers shall be fixed from
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time to time by the Board of Directors, and no officer shall be prevented from
receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he is also a director of the
corporation.
ARTICLE IV
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SEAL
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The corporate seal of the corporation shall contain the name of the
corporation and shall be in such form as the Board of Directors shall prescribe.
ARTICLE V
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CERTIFICATES FOR SHARES AND THEIR TRANSFER
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Section 1. Certificates for Shares. The shares of the corporation shall
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be represented by certificates signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors
or by the President or a Vice President and by the Treasurer or by the Secretary
of the corporation, and may be sealed with the seal of the corporation or a
facsimile thereof. Any or all of the signatures upon a certificate may be
facsimiles if the certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent, or
registered by a registrar, other than the corporation itself, or an employee of
the corporation. If any officer who has signed or whose facsimile signature has
been placed upon such certificate shall have ceased to be such officer before
the certificate is issued, it may be issued by the corporation with the same
effect as if he were such officer at the date of its issue.
Section 2. Form of Share Certificate. Each certificate representing
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shares shall state upon the face thereof: that the corporation is organized
under the laws of the State of Nebraska; the name of the person to whom issued;
the number and class of shares; the designation of the series, if any, which
such certificate represents; the par value of each share represented by such
certificate, or a statement that the shares are without par value. Other matters
in regard to the form of the certificates shall be determined by the Board of
Directors.
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Section 3. Loss or Destruction. In case of loss or destruction of a
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certificate of stock, no new certificate shall be issued in lieu thereof except
upon satisfactory proof to the Board of Directors of such loss or destruction,
and upon the giving of satisfactory security by bond or otherwise against loss
to the corporation.
Section 4. Transfer of Shares. Transfer of shares of capital stock of
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the corporation shall be made only on its stock transfer books. Authority for
such transfer shall be given only by the holder of record thereof or by his
legal representative, who shall furnish proper evidence of such authority, or by
his attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed
with the corporation. Such transfer shall be made only on surrender for
cancellation of the certificate for such shares. The person in whose name shares
of capital stock stand on the books of the corporation shall be deemed by the
corporation to be the owner thereof for all purposes.
ARTICLE VI
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DIVIDENDS AND BANK ACCOUNT
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Section 1. Dividends. In addition to other dividends authorized by law,
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the Board of Directors, by resolution, may from time to time declare dividends
to be paid out of the unreserved and unrestricted earned surplus of the
corporation, but no dividend shall be paid when the corporation is insolvent,
when the payment thereof would render the corporation insolvent, or when
otherwise prohibited by law.
Section 2. Bank Account. The funds of the corporation shall be
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deposited in such banks, trust funds, or depositories as the Board of Directors
may designate and shall be withdrawn upon the signature of the President and
upon the signatures of such other person or persons as the directors may by
resolution authorize.
ARTICLE VII
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AMENDMENTS
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Except as otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of
Incorporation, these By-Laws may be amended or repealed by the Board of
Directors at any annual or special meeting of the Board of Directors or by the
affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of
all outstanding shares of stock of the corporation entitled to vote in the
election for directors.
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ARTICLE VIII
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WAIVER OF NOTICE
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Whenever any notice is required to be given to any shareholder or
director of the corporation under the provisions of the Articles of
Incorporation or under the provisions of applicable state law, a waiver thereof
in writing, signed by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether
before or after the time stated therein, shall be equivalent to the giving of
such notice.
ARTICLE IX
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INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,
OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES, AND AGENTS
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At the discretion of the Board of Directors, and subject to the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation, the corporation may indemnify any
person who is or was a director, officer, employee, or agent of the corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee, or agent of another corporation, partnership, trust, or other
enterprise as permitted by the Nebraska Business Corporation Act, as amended
from time to time.
ARTICLE X
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DIRECTORS' INTEREST IN CONTRACTS
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In the absence of fraud, no contract or other transaction between the
corporation and any other person, corporation, firm, syndicate, association,
partnership, or joint venture shall be either void or voidable or otherwise
affected by reason of the fact that one or more directors of the corporation are
or become directors or officers of such other corporation, firm, syndicate, or
association, or members of such partnership or joint venture, or are pecuniarily
or otherwise interested in such contract or transaction, provided that (1) the
fact such director or directors of the corporation are so situated or so
interested, or both, if disclosed or known to the Board of Directors or
committee which authorizes, approves, or ratifies the contract or transaction by
a vote or consent sufficient for the purpose without counting the votes or
consents of such interested directors; (2) that such fact is disclosed or known
to the shareholders entitled to vote and they authorize, approve, or ratify such
contract or transaction by vote or written consent; or (3) the contract or
transaction is fair and reasonable to the corporation. Any director of the
corporation who is also a director or officer of such other corporation, firm,
syndicate, or
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association, or a member of such partnership or joint venture or is pecuniarily
or otherwise interested in such contract or transaction, may be counted for the
purpose of determining the presence of a quorum at any meeting of the Board of
Directors which shall authorize any such contract or transaction.
ARTICLE XI
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FISCAL YEAR
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Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin
on the first day of January in each year, or at such other time as may be
determined by the Board of Directors.
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