<PAGE> 1
As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 1, 1995
Registration No. 33-
================================================================================
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
--------------------------
FORM S-8
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
--------------------------
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE 74-1677330
(State or other jurisdiction of (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
incorporation or organization)
1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056
(Address, including zip code, of
registrant's Principal Executive Offices)
--------------------------
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION 1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
(Full title of the plan)
MAX CRISP
VICE PRESIDENT - FINANCE, SECRETARY AND TREASURER
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
1980 POST OAK BOULEVARD
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056
(713) 625-8100
(Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
of agent for service)
--------------------------
Copy to:
FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P.
1301 MCKINNEY, SUITE 5100
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77010-3095
(713) 651-5151
ATTENTION: JOHN A. WATSON
--------------------------
CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=========================================================================================================================
PROPOSED PROPOSED MAXIMUM
TITLE OF SHARES TO AMOUNT MAXIMUM OFFERING AGGREGATE OFFERING AMOUNT OF
BE REGISTERED TO BE REGISTERED PRICE PER SHARE(1) PRICE(1) REGISTRATION FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S> <C> <C> <C> <C>
Common Stock,
$1.00 par value 100,000 shares $18.50 $1,850,000 $638
=========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
(1) Pursuant to Rule 457(h), the proposed maximum offering price is
estimated, solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee,
on the basis of the average high and low sales prices of a share of
Common Stock as reported by The New York Stock Exchange on May 30,
1995.
================================================================================
<PAGE> 2
PART II
INFORMATION REQUIRED IN THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ITEM 3. INCORPORATION OF DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE.
Stewart Information Services Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), hereby incorporates by reference in this
Registration Statement the following documents:
1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1994.
2. All other reports filed pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), since the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994.
3. The description of the Company's common stock, $1.00 par
value (the "Common Stock"), contained in a registration statement on
Form 8-A filed pursuant to the Exchange Act, including any amendment or
report filed for the purpose of updating such description.
All documents subsequently filed by the Company pursuant to
Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act, prior to the filing of
a post-effective amendment which indicates that all securities offered have been
sold or which deregisters all securities then remaining unsold, is hereby deemed
to be incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement and a part hereof
from the date of the filing of such documents.
ITEM 5. INTERESTS OF NAMED EXPERTS AND COUNSEL.
The financial statements and schedules of the Company as of
December 31, 1994 and 1993, and for each of the years in the three-year period
ended December 31, 1994, incorporated by reference in this Registration
Statement have been so incorporated in reliance upon the reports of the
following: KPMG Peat Marwick LLP; Price Waterhouse LLP; Perry-Smith & Co.; Ernst
& Young LLP; Doshier, Pickens & Francis, P.C.; Jim S. Walker; Denton Wolter &
Company, P.C.; Fancher & Company; M. Timothy O'Roark; Grant Bennett Accountants;
McGee, Haza & Co.; Aaronson, White & Company; Edgar, Kiker & Cross, L.L.P.; and
Ginny Sanders May, independent certified public accountants, incorporated by
reference herein, and given on the authority of said firms as experts in
accounting and auditing. The validity of the issuance of the shares of Common
Stock registered hereby will be passed upon by Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.,
counsel to the Company.
ITEM 6. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
Article Eleventh of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation
provides that no director of the Company will be personally liable to the
Company or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty by
such directors as a director; provided, however, that such article will not
eliminate or limit liability of a director to the extent provided by applicable
law (i) for any breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Company or its
stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve
intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (iii) under Section
174 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the "GCL"), or (iv)
for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal
benefit. The effect of this provision is to eliminate the personal
II-2
<PAGE> 3
liability of a director to the Company and its stockholders for monetary damages
for breach of his fiduciary duty as a director to the extent allowed under the
GCL. If a director were to breach such duty in performing his duties as a
director, neither the Company nor the stockholders could recover monetary
damages from the director, and the only course of action available to the
Company's stockholders would be equitable remedies such as an action to enjoin
or rescind a transaction involving a breach of fiduciary duty. To the extent
certain claims against directors are limited to equitable remedies, Article
Fourteenth may reduce the likelihood of derivative litigation and may discourage
stockholders or management from initiating litigation against directors for
breach of their fiduciary duty. Additionally, equitable remedies may not be
effective in many situations. If a stockholder's only remedy is to enjoin
completion of the Board of Directors' action, this remedy would be ineffective
if the stockholder does not become aware of a transaction until after it has
been completed. In such a situation, it is possible that the stockholders and
the Company would not have an effective remedy against the directors.
Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware empowers the Company to, and the By-Laws of the Company provide that it
shall, indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a
party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding by
reason of the fact that he is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company, or is or was serving at the request of the Company as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise, against expenses, judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Company, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful; except that, in the case
of an action or suit by or in the right of the Company, no indemnification may
be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been adjudged to be liable to the Company unless and only to the extent
that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit was brought
shall determine that such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity
for proper expenses.
Delaware corporations are also authorized to obtain insurance
to protect officers and directors from certain liabilities, including
liabilities against which the corporation cannot indemnify its directors and
officers. The Company currently has in effect a directors' and officers'
liability insurance policy providing coverage for each director and officer in
his capacity as such.
ITEM 8. EXHIBITS.
4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended
(Exhibit 3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 1987, is incorporated by reference
herein).
4.2 By-Laws of the Company, as amended.
4.3 Rights of Common and Class B Common Stockholders (contained in
Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 which are incorporated by reference
herein).
4.4 Stewart Information Services Corporation 1995 Stock Option
Plan.
5.1 Opinion of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. regarding the legality
of the securities being registered.
II-3
<PAGE> 4
23.1 Consents of independent accountants.
23.2 Consent of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit
5.1 hereto).
24.1 Power of attorney (contained on page II-6 hereof).
ITEM 9. UNDERTAKINGS.
A. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
(1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are
being made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
i. To include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Securities Act");
ii. To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events
arising after the effective date of this Registration Statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment hereof) which,
individually or in the aggregate, represent a fundamental
change in the information set forth in this Registration
Statement; and
iii. To include any material information with
respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in
this Registration Statement or any material change to such
information in this Registration Statement;
Provided, however, that paragraphs A(1)(i) and A(1)(ii) do not apply if
the information required to be included in a post-effective amendment
by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the
Company pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that are incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
(2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under
the Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be
deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
(3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective
amendment any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at
the termination of the offering.
B. The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's
Annual Report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
that is incorporated by reference into this Registration Statement shall be
deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
herein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.
C. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons
of the Company pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission
such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act
and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the
II-4
<PAGE> 5
payment by the Company of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of the Company in the successful defense of any action, suit
or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the
opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Securities
Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
II-5
<PAGE> 6
SIGNATURES
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-8 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on the 31st day of May,
1995.
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
By /s/ Max Crisp
---------------------------------------------------
Max Crisp
Vice President - Finance, Secretary and Treasurer
POWER OF ATTORNEY
KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each person whose
signature appears below constitutes and appoints Max Crisp and Tannie L.
Pizzitola, Jr., and each of them, to act as his true and lawful attorney-in-fact
and agent, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him and in
his name, place and stead, in any and all capacities, to sign any or all
post-effective amendments to this Registration Statement, and to file the same
with all exhibits thereto and other documents in connection therewith, with the
Securities and Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and
agents, and each of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and
every act and thing requisite and necessary to be done, as fully to all intents
and purposes as he might or could do in person, hereby ratifying and confirming
all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or his substitute or substitutes or
all of them may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933,
this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons, in the
capacities indicated on the 31st day of May, 1995.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature Title
--------- -----
<S> <C>
/s/ Carloss Morris Co-Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of
- ------------------------------------------------------ the Board (Principal Executive Officer)
Carloss Morris
/s/ Stewart Morris Co-Chief Executive Officer, President and
- ------------------------------------------------------ Director (Principal Executive Officer)
Stewart Morris
/s/ Max Crisp Vice President - Finance, Secretary,
- ------------------------------------------------------ Treasurer and Director (Principal Financial
Max Crisp Officer and Principal Accounting Officer)
</TABLE>
II-6
<PAGE> 7
<TABLE>
<S> <C>
/s/ E. Douglas Hodo Director
- ---------------------------------------------------------
E. Douglas Hodo
/s/ Nita B. Hanks Director
- ---------------------------------------------------------
Nita B. Hanks
Director
- ---------------------------------------------------------
Paul W. Hobby
Director
- ---------------------------------------------------------
C.M. Hudspeth
Director
- --------------------------------------------------------
W. Arthur Porter
Director
- --------------------------------------------------------
Lloyd M. Bentsen III
</TABLE>
II-7
<PAGE> 8
INDEX TO EXHIBITS
Number Exhibit
------ -------
4.1 Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (Exhibit
3.1 to the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1987, is incorporated by reference herein).
4.2 By-Laws of the Company, as amended.
4.3 Rights of Common and Class B Common Stockholders (contained in
Exhibits 4.1 and 4.2 which are incorporated by reference herein).
4.4 Stewart Information Services Corporation 1995 Stock Option Plan.
5.1 Opinion of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. regarding the legality of
the securities being registered.
23.1 Consents of independent accountants.
23.2 Consent of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P. (contained in Exhibit 5.1
hereto).
24.1 Power of attorney (contained on page II-6 hereof).
<PAGE> 1
Exhibit 4.2
BY-LAWS
OF
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
SECTION 1.1. Registered office. The registered office of the
corporation in the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington, County
of New Castle, and the name of its registered agent shall be The Corporation
Trust Company.
SECTION 1.2. Other offices. The corporation may also have
offices at such other places both within and without the State of Delaware as
the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the
corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS
SECTION 2.1. Place of Meeting. All meetings of stockholders for
the election of directors shall be held at such place, either within or without
the State of Delaware, as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 2.2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders
shall be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by
the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting.
SECTION 2.3. Voting List. The officer who has charge of
1
<PAGE> 2
stock ledger of the corporation 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,
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.
SECTION 2.4. Special Meeting. Special meetings of the
stockholders, for any purpose or purposes, unless otherwise prescribed by
statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation, may be called by the Chairman of
the Board or by the President or by the Board of Directors or by written order
of a majority of the directors and shall be called by the President or the
Secretary at the request in writing of stockholders owning a majority in amount
of the entire capital stock of the corporation issued and outstanding and
entitled to vote. Such request shall state the purpose of the proposed meeting.
The Chairman of the Board or the President or directors so calling, or the
stockholders so requesting, any such meeting shall fix the time and any place,
2
<PAGE> 3
either within or without the State of Delaware, as the place for holding such
meeting.
SECTION 2.5. Notice of Meeting. Written notice of the annual,
and each special meeting of stockholders, stating the time, place and purpose or
purposes thereof, shall be given to each stockholder entitled to vote thereat,
not less than ten nor more than 60 days before the meeting.
SECTION 2.6. Quorum. The holders of a majority of the stock
issued and outstanding and entitled to vote thereat, present in person or
represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders
for the transaction of business except at each election of directors and as
otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. At each
meeting for the election of directors the holders of a majority of the Common
Stock and the holders of a majority of the Class B Common Stock, issued and
outstanding of each such class, and entitled to vote thereat, present in person
or represented by proxy shall constitute a quorum. Notwithstanding the other
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, the holders of
a majority of the shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereat, present in
person or represented by proxy, whether or not a quorum is present, shall have
power to adjourn the meeting from time to time, without notice other than
announcement at the meeting, until a quorum shall be present or represented. If
the adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new
record date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, a notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be
3
<PAGE> 4
given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting. At such
adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present or represented any business
may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
notified.
SECTION 2.7. Voting.
(a) Unless express provision of applicable statute, of the
Certificate of Incorporation or of these by-laws shall provide to the contrary,
at each meeting of stockholders each holder of capital stock of the Corporation
shall be entitled to cast one vote for each share of capital stock registered in
his or its name on the books of the Corporation on the record date for
determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such
meeting on each matter properly submitted to stockholders at each meeting. If
any stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting shall be present at such meeting
and such stockholder shall abstain, whether in person or by proxy, from casting
the vote or votes which he or it is entitled to cast at such meeting, such
abstention shall not affect the determination of the presence of a quorum at
such meeting. For all purposes of these by-laws, an abstention from voting on
any matter properly submitted to stockholders at a meeting shall not be
considered a vote cast for or against such matter.
(b) Each stockholder having the right to vote shall be entitled
to vote in person or by proxy appointed by an instrument in writing subscribed
by stockholder, bearing a date not more than three years prior to voting, unless
such instrument provides for a
4
<PAGE> 5
longer period, and filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before, or at the
time of, the meeting. If such instrument shall designate two or more persons to
act as proxies, unless such instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority
of such persons present at any meeting at which their powers thereunder are to
be exercised shall have and may exercise all of the powers of voting or giving
consents thereby conferred, or if only one be present, then such powers may be
exercised by that one, or if any even number attend and a majority do not agree
on any particular issue, each proxy so attending shall be entitled to exercise
such powers in respect to the same portion of the shares as he is of the proxies
representing such shares.
(c) When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders, a
majority of the shares voted in person or by proxy shall decide any question
brought before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which, by express
provision of applicable statute, of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these
by-laws, a different vote is required, in which case such express provision
shall govern and control the decision of such question.
(d) When a quorum is present at any meeting of stockholders at
which the Board of Directors is to be elected, the stockholders shall elect such
directors by a plurality of the shares voted in person or by proxy. All votes
for election of directors that are cast in person shall be cast by written
ballot.
SECTION 2.8. Consent of Stockholders. Whenever the vote
5
<PAGE> 6
of stockholders at a meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken for or
in connection with any corporate action by any provision of the statutes, the
meeting and vote of stockholders may be dispensed with if all the stockholders
who would have been entitled to vote upon the action if such meeting were held
shall consent in writing to such corporate action being taken; or if the
Certificate of Incorporation authorizes the action to be taken with the written
consent of the holders of less than all the stock who would have been entitled
to vote upon the action if a meeting were held, then on the written consent of
the stockholders having not less than such percentage of the number of votes as
may be authorized in the Certificate of Incorporation; provided that in no case
shall the written consent be by the holders of stock having less than the
minimum percentage of the vote required by statute for the proposed corporate
action, and provided that prompt notice must be given to all stockholders of the
taking of corporate action without a meeting and by less than unanimous consent.
SECTION 2.9. Voting of Stock of Certain Holders. Shares
standing in the name of another corporation, domestic or foreign, 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 standing in the name of a deceased person
may be voted by the executor or administrator of such deceased person, either in
person or by proxy. Shares standing in the name of a guardian, conservator or
trustee may be voted by such fiduciary, either in
6
<PAGE> 7
person or by proxy, but no such fiduciary shall be entitled to vote shares held
in such fiduciary capacity without a transfer of such shares into the name of
such fiduciary. Shares standing in the name of a receiver may be voted by such
receiver. A stockholder whose shares are pledged shall be entitled to vote such
shares, unless in the transfer by the pledgor on the books of the corporation,
he has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote thereon, in which case only the
pledgee, or his proxy, may represent the stock and vote thereon.
SECTION 2.10. Treasury Stock. The corporation shall not vote,
directly or indirectly, shares of its own stock owned by it; and such shares
shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares.
SECTION 2.11. Fixing Record Date. The Board of Directors may
fix in advance a date, not exceeding 60 days preceding the date of any meeting
of stockholders, or the date for payment of any dividend or distribution, or the
date for the allotment of rights, or the date when any change, or conversion or
exchange of capital stock shall go into effect, or a date in connection with
obtaining a consent, as a record date for the determination of the stockholders
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting and any adjournment
thereof, or entitled to receive payment of any such dividend or distribution, or
to receive any such allotment of rights, or to exercise the rights in respect of
any such change, conversion or exchange of capital stock, or to give such
consent, and in such case such stockholders and only such
7
<PAGE> 8
stockholders as shall be stockholders of record on the date so fixed shall be
entitled to such notice of, and to vote at, any such meeting and any adjournment
thereof, or to receive payment of such dividend or distribution, or to receive
such allotment of rights, or to exercise such rights, or to give such consent,
as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of any stock on the books of
the corporation after any such record date fixed as aforesaid.
ARTICLE III
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 3.1. Powers. The business and affairs of the
corporation shall be managed by its Board of Directors, which may exercise all
such powers of the corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not
by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation or by these by-laws directed
or required to be exercised or done by the stockholders.
SECTION 3.2. Number, Election and Term. The number of directors
which shall constitute the whole Board shall be NINE. Unless such number if
fixed by express provision of the statutes or the Certificate of Incorporation,
in which case such express provision shall govern and control, the number of
directors shall from time to time be fixed and determined by the directors and
shall be set forth in the notice of any meeting of stockholders held for the
purpose of electing directors. The directors shall be elected at the annual
meeting of stockholders, except as provided in Section 3.3, and each director
elected shall hold office until his successor shall be elected and shall
qualify. Directors need
8
<PAGE> 9
not be residents of Delaware or stockholders of the corporation.
SECTION 3.3. Vacancies, Additional Directors and Removal From
Office. If any vacancy occurs in the members of the Board of Directors elected
by the holders of Common stock caused by death, resignation, retirement,
disqualification or removal from office of any such director, or otherwise, or
if any new directorship to be elected by the holders of Common stock is created
by an increase in the authorized number of directors, a majority of the
directors then in office elected by the holders of Common stock, though less
than a quorum, or a sole remaining such director, may choose a successor or fill
the newly created directorship; and a director so chosen shall hold office until
the next annual election and until his successor shall be duly elected and shall
qualify, unless sooner displaced. If any vacancy occurs in the members of the
Board of Directors elected by the holders of Class B Common stock caused by
death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office of any
such director, or otherwise, or if any new directorship to be elected by the
holders of Class B Common stock is created by an increase in the authorized
number of directors, a majority of the directors then in office elected by the
holders of Class B Common stock, though less than a quorum, or a sole remaining
such director, may choose a successor or fill the newly created directorship;
and a director so chosen shall hold office until the next annual election and
until his successor shall be duly elected and shall qualify, unless sooner
displaced. A director may be removed either for or without cause at any special
9
<PAGE> 10
meeting of stockholders duly called and held for such purpose except that only
the stockholders entitled to vote for any such director may vote for the removal
of such director.
SECTION 3.4. Regular Meeting. A regular meeting of the Board of
Directors shall be held each year, without other notice than this by-law, at the
place of, and immediately following, the annual meeting of stockholders; and
other regular meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held each year, at
such time and place as the Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, either
within or without the State of Delaware, without other notice than such
resolution.
SECTION 3.5. Special Meeting. A special meeting of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board or by the President and
shall be called by the Secretary on the written request of any two directors.
The Chairman or President so calling, or the directors so requesting, any such
meeting shall fix the time and any place, either within or without the State of
Delaware, as the place for holding such meeting.
SECTION 3.6. Notice of Special Meeting. Written notice of
special meetings of the Board of Directors shall be given to each director at
least 48 hours prior to the time of such meeting; provided however, in instances
where notice of such meeting is given orally, by telephone or telegraph, such
notice need be given only 24 hours prior to such meeting. Any director may waive
notice of any meeting. The attendance of a director at any meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting for the purpose of
10
<PAGE> 11
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 special meeting of the Board of Directors need be specified in notice or
waiver of notice of such meeting, except that notice shall be given of any
proposed amendment to the by-laws if it is to be adopted at any special meeting
or with respect to any other matter where notice is required by statute.
SECTION 3.7. Quorum and Vote Required. Six of the nine members
of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, and the act of six of the
directors shall be the act of the Board of Directors, except as may be otherwise
specifically provided by statute, by the Certificate of Incorporation or by
these by-laws. If a quorum shall not be present at any meeting of the Board of
Directors, the directors present thereat may adjourn the meeting from time to
time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until a quorum
shall be present.
SECTION 3.8. Action Without Meeting. Unless otherwise
restricted by the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws, any action
required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or
of any committee thereof as provided in Article IV of these by-laws, may be
taken without a meeting, if a written consent thereto is signed by all members
of the Board or of such committee, as the case may be, and such written consent
is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board or committee.
11
<PAGE> 12
SECTION 3.9. Compensation. Directors, as such, shall not be
entitled to any stated salary for their services unless voted by the
stockholders or the Board of Directors; but by resolution of the Board of
Directors, a fixed sum and expenses of attendance, if any, may be allowed for
attendance at each regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors or any
meeting of a committee of directors. No provision of these by-laws shall be
construed to preclude any director from serving the corporation in any other
capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
SECTION 3.10. Nomination of Directors to be Elected by Holders
of Common Stock. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the following
procedures are eligible for election as directors by the holders of the Common
Stock of the corporation. Nominations of persons for election by the holders of
Common Stock to the Board of Directors of the corporation may be made at a
meeting of stockholders, by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, by
any nominating committee or person appointed to make nominations by the Board of
Directors, or by any holder of Common Stock of the corporation entitled to vote
for the election of directors at the meeting who complies with the notice
procedures set forth in this section. Nominations, if made by a stockholder of
the corporation shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing addressed to
the secretary of the corporation. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall be
delivered to or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not less than 60 days nor more than 120 days prior to the meeting at
12
<PAGE> 13
which directors are to be elected by the holders of Common Stock. In the event
that less than 30 days notice or prior public disclosure of the date of the
meeting is given or made to stockholders, notice by the stockholder to be timely
must be received no later than the close of business on the seventh day
following the day on which notice of the date of the meeting was mailed or
public disclosure was made. A stockholder's notice shall set forth: (a) as to
each person whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection
as a director (i) the name, age, business address and residence address of the
person, (ii) the principal occupation or employment of the person, (iii) the
class and number of shares of stock of the corporation which are beneficially
owned by the person and (iv) any other information relating to the person that
would be required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of
Directors pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, or any successor rule; and (b) as to the stockholder giving the
notice (i) the name and record address of the stockholder and (ii) the class and
number of shares of the corporation which are beneficially owned by the
stockholder. The corporation may require any proposed nominee to furnish
additional information as reasonably required by the corporation to determine
the eligibility of the proposed nominee to serve as a director of the
corporation. No person shall be eligible for election as a director of the
corporation by the holders of Common Stock of the corporation unless nominated
in accordance with the procedures set
13
<PAGE> 14
forth in this section.
The presiding officer at the meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not made in
accordance with the foregoing procedure, and following such determination, the
defective nomination shall be disregarded.
SECTION 3.11. Advisory Directors. The Board of Directors may
elect from one (1) to nine (9) (as it may decide) Advisory Members of the Board
of Directors who may meet with the Board of Directors at such Board Meeting to
which they are invited by the Chairman of the Board, or the President or
Executive Vice President (it being realized that there may be meetings not
deemed important enough to warrant time and travel expense of all or a part of
the Advisory Members), and give the Board of Directors the benefit of their
advice and counsel. The Advisory Members of the Board of Directors may be
elected at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors. The
Advisory Members of the Board of Directors shall receive the same fee for
attending a meeting that a Director receives and shall be paid their travel
expenses, if any, incurred in attending meetings of the Board of Directors. No
such payment shall preclude any Director from serving the corporation in any
other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEE OF DIRECTORS
SECTION 4.1. Designation, Powers and Name. The Board of
Directors may, by resolution passed by a majority of the whole
14
<PAGE> 15
Board, designate one or more committees, including, if they shall so determine,
an Executive Committee, each such committee to consist of two or more of the
directors of the corporation. The committee shall have and may exercise such of
the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the corporation as may be provided in such resolution. The committee
may authorize the seal of the corporation to be affixed to all papers which may
require it. 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 such committee. In the absence or disqualification of
any member of such committee or committees, 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. Such committee or committees shall have such name or names and such
limitations of authority as may be determined from time to time by resolution
adopted by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4.2. Minutes. Each committee of directors shall keep
regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors
when required.
SECTION 4.3. Compensation. Members of special or standing
committees may be allowed compensation for attending committee meetings, if the
Board of Directors shall so determine.
ARTICLE V
15
<PAGE> 16
NOTICE
SECTION 5.1. Methods of Giving Notice. Whenever under the
provisions of the statutes, the Certificate of Incorporation or these by-laws,
notice is required to be given to any director, member of any committee or
stockholder, such notice shall be in writing and delivered personally or mailed
to such director, member or stockholder; provided that in the case of a director
or a member of any committee such notice may be given orally or by telephone or
telegram. If mailed, notice to a director, member of a committee or stockholder
shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail first class
in a sealed envelope, with postage thereon prepaid, addressed, in the case of a
stockholder, to the stockholder at the stockholder's address as it appears on
the records of the corporation or, in the case of a director or a member of a
committee, to such person at his business address. If sent by telegraph, notice
to a director or member of a committee shall be deemed to be given when the
telegram, so addressed, is delivered to the telegraph company.
SECTION 5.2. Written Waiver. Whenever any notice is required to
be given under the provisions of the statutes, the Certificate of Incorporation
or these by-laws, a waiver thereof in writing, signed by the person or persons
entitled to said notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall
be deemed equivalent thereto.
ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
16
<PAGE> 17
SECTION 6.1. Officers. The officers of the corporation are
Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer, a President and Co-Chief
Executive Officer, a Senior Executive Vice President-Assistant Chairman, a
Senior Executive Vice President-Assistant President, one or more Vice
Presidents, any one or more which may be designated an Executive Vice President
and/or Senior Vice President, a Vice President-Finance, a Secretary, a Treasurer
and a Controller. The Board of Directors may by resolution create the office of
Vice Chairman of the Board and define the duties of such office. The Board of
Directors may appoint such other officers and agents including Assistant Vice
Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers, as it shall deem
necessary, who shall hold their offices for such terms and shall exercise such
powers and perform such duties as shall be determined by the Board. Any two or
more offices, other than the offices of President and Secretary, may be held by
the same person. No officer shall execute, acknowledge, verify or countersign
any instrument on behalf of the corporation in more than one capacity, if such
instrument is required by law, by these by-laws or by any act of the corporation
to be executed, acknowledged, verified or countersigned by two or more officers.
The Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer and the President and
Co-Chief Executive Officer shall be elected from among the directors. With the
foregoing exceptions, none of the other officers need be a director, and none of
the officers need be a stockholder of the corporation.
17
<PAGE> 18
SECTION 6.2. Election and Term of Office. The officers of the
corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors at its first
regular meeting held after the annual meeting of stockholders or as soon
thereafter as conveniently possible. Each officer shall hold office until his
successor shall have been chosen and shall have qualified or until his death or
the effective date of his resignation or removal, or until he shall cease to be
a director in the case of the Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive
Officer and the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 6.3. Removal and Resignation. Any officer or agent
elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed with cause by the
affirmative vote of the Board of Directors whenever, in its judgment, the best
interests of the corporation shall be served thereby, but such removal shall be
without prejudice to the contractual rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Any officer may resign at any time by giving written notice to the corporation.
Any such resignation shall take effect at the date of the receipt of such notice
or at any later time specified therein, and unless otherwise specified therein,
the acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 6.4. Vacancies. Any vacancy occurring in any office of
the corporation by death, resignation, removal or otherwise, may be filled by
the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of the term.
18
<PAGE> 19
SECTION 6.5. Salaries. The salaries of all officers and agents
of the corporation shall be fixed by the Board of Directors or pursuant to its
direction; and no officer shall be prevented from receiving such salary by
reason of his also being a director.
SECTION 6.6. Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive
Officer. The Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer shall preside
at all meetings of the Board of Directors or of the stockholders of the
corporation. In the Chairman's absence, or at the election of the President and
Co-Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive
Officer, such duties shall be attended to by the President and Co-Chief
Executive Officer. The Chairman of the Board and the President shall formulate
and submit to the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee matters of
general policy for the corporation and shall perform such other duties as
usually appertain to the office or as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors or the Executive Committee. The Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief
Executive Officer shall, with the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, be
the principal executive officer of the corporation and, subject to the control
of the Board of Directors, shall in general supervise and control the business
and affairs of the corporation. The Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive
Officer, acting with the President and Co-Chief Executive Officers shall have
the power to appoint and remove subordinate officers, agents and employees,
except those elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the
Board and Co-Chief Executive
19
<PAGE> 20
Officer, acting with the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, shall keep
the Board of Directors and the Executive Committee fully informed and shall
consult them concerning the business of the corporation. Either or both may sign
with the Secretary or any other officer of the corporation thereunto authorized
by the Board of Directors, certificates for shares of the corporation and any
deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts, checks, notes, drafts or other instruments
which the Board of Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases
where the signing and execution thereof has been expressly delegated by these
by-laws or by the Board of Directors to some other officer or agent of the
corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed. Either or
both the Chairman of the Board and the President shall vote, or give a proxy to
any other officer of the corporation to vote, all shares of stock of any other
corporation (except that the Board of Directors shall vote, or give a proxy to
one or more member(s) of the Board to vote, all shares of the stock of Stewart
Title Guaranty Company) standing in the name of the corporation and in general
they shall perform all other duties normally incident to the office of the
Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer and President and Co-Chief
Executive Officer, and such other duties as may be prescribed by the
stockholders, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee from time to
time. In the absence of the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, or in the
event such officer is unable or refuses to act, the Chairman of the Board and
Co-Chief Executive Officer shall perform the duties and
20
<PAGE> 21
exercise the powers of the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer. If the
office of the President is vacant, the Chairman of the Board shall be the Chief
Executive Officer.
SECTION 6.7. President and Co-Chief Executive Officer. The
President and Co-Chief Executive Officer shall, with the Chairman of the Board
and Co-Chief Executive Officer, be the principal executive officer of the
corporation and subject to the control of the Board of Directors, shall in
general supervise and control the business and affairs of the corporation. In
the absence of the Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer, the
President and Co-Chief Executive Officer shall preside at all meetings of the
Board of Directors and of the Stockholders. The President and Co-Chief Executive
Officer, acting with the Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer,
shall have the power to appoint and remove subordinate officers, agents and
employees, except those elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. The
President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, acting with the Chairman of the Board
and Co-Chief Executive Officer, shall keep the Board of Directors and the
Executive Committee fully informed and shall consult them concerning the
business of the corporation. Either or both may sign with the Secretary or any
other officer of the corporation thereunto authorized by the Board of Directors,
certificates for shares of the corporation and any deeds, bonds, mortgages,
contracts, checks, notes, drafts or other instruments which the Board of
Directors has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and
execution thereof
21
<PAGE> 22
has been expressly delegated by these by-laws or by the Board of Directors to
some other officer or agent of the corporation, or shall be required by law to
be otherwise executed. Either or both the Chairman of the Board and the
President shall vote, or give a proxy to any other officer of the corporation to
vote, all shares of stock of any other corporation (except that the Board of
Directors shall vote, or give a proxy to one or more member(s) of the Board to
vote, all shares of the stock of Stewart Title Guaranty Company) standing in the
name of the corporation and in general they shall perform all other duties
normally incident to the office of President and Co-Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as
may be prescribed by the stockholders, the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee from time to time. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board and
Co-Chief Executive Officer, or in the event such officer is unable or refuses to
act, the President and Co-Chief Executive Officer shall perform the duties and
exercise the powers of the Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief Executive Officer.
If the office of the Chairman of the Board is vacant, the President shall be the
Chief Executive Officer.
SECTION 6.8. Vice President. In the absence of the President
and Co-Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board and Co-Chief
Executive Officer, or in the event both are unable or refuse to act, either or
both the Senior Executive Vice President-Assistant Chairman and the Senior
Executive Vice President-Assistant President (or in the event both such offices
22
<PAGE> 23
are vacant or both such officers are unable or refuse to act, the Vice
President-Finance) shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the
President and Co-Chief Executive Officer and the Chairman of the Board and
Co-Chief Executive Officer. In the event the offices of both Chairman and
President are vacant, the Senior Executive Vice President-Assistant Chairman
shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chairman and Co-Chief
Executive Officer and the Senior Executive Vice President-Assistant President
shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President and Co-Chief
Executive Officer. Any Vice President may sign, with the Secretary or Assistant
Secretary, certificates for shares of the corporation. The Vice Presidents shall
perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to them by the
Chairman, the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee.
SECTION 6.9. Secretary. The Secretary shall (a) keep the
minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and
committees of directors; (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 corporate records and of the seal of the corporation, and see that the seal
of the corporation or a facsimile thereof is affixed to all certificates for
shares prior to the issue thereof and to all documents, the execution of which
on behalf of the corporation under its seal is duly authorized in accordance
with the provisions of these by-laws; (d) keep or cause to be kept a register of
the post office address
23
<PAGE> 24
of each stockholder which shall be furnished by such stockholder; (e) sign with
the President, or an Executive Vice President or Vice President, certificates
for shares of the corporation, the issue of which shall have been 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
normally incident to the office of Secretary and such other duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him by the President, the Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee.
SECTION 6.10. Treasurer. 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.
He shall have charge and custody of and be responsible for all funds and
securities of the corporation; 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 other
depositories as shall be selected in accordance with the provisions of Section
7.3 of these by-laws, and in general, perform all duties normally incident to
the office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to him by the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive
Committee.
SECTION 6.11. Controller. The Controller shall prepare, or
cause to be prepared, for submission at each regular meeting of the Board of
Directors, at each annual meeting of the stockholders,
24
<PAGE> 25
and at such other times as may be required by the Board of Directors, the
President or the Executive Committee, a statement of financial condition of the
corporation in such detail as may be required; and in general, perform all the
duties incident to the office of Controller and such other duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him by the President, the Board of Directors or the
Executive Committee.
SECTION 6.12. Assistant Secretary or Treasurer. The Assistant
Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers shall, in general, perform such duties as
shall be assigned to them by the Secretary or the Treasurer, respectively, or by
the President, the Board of Directors or the Executive Committee. The Assistant
Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers shall, in the absence of the Secretary or
Treasurer, respectively, perform all functions and duties which such absent
officers may delegate, but such delegation shall not relieve the absent officer
from the responsibilities and liabilities of his office. The Assistant
Secretaries may sign, with the President or a Vice President, certificates for
shares of the corporation, the issue of which shall have been authorized by a
resolution of the Board of Directors. The Assistant Treasurers shall
respectively, if required by the Board of Directors, give bonds for the faithful
discharge of their duties in such sums and with such sureties as the Board of
Directors shall determine.
ARTICLE VII
CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS
SECTION 7.1. Contracts. Subject to the provisions of
25
<PAGE> 26
Section 6.1, the Board of Directors may authorize any officer, officers, agent
or agents, to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in
the name of and on behalf of the corporation, and such authority may be general
or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 7.2. Checks, etc. All checks, demands, drafts or other
orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued
in the name of the corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers or
such agent or agents of the corporation, and in such manner, as shall be
determined by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 7.3. Deposits. All funds of the corporation not
otherwise employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the
corporation in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as the Board of
Directors may select.
ARTICLE VIII
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
SECTION 8.1. Issuance. Each stockholder of this corporation
shall be entitled to a certificate or certificates showing the number of shares
of stock registered in his name on the books of the corporation. The
certificates shall be in such form as may be determined by the Board of
Directors, shall be issued in numerical order and shall be entered in the books
of the corporation as they are issued. They shall exhibit the holder's name and
number of shares and shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and by
the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.
26
<PAGE> 27
If any certificate is countersigned (1) by a transfer agent other than the
corporation or any employee of the corporation, or (2) by a registrar other than
the corporation or any employee of the corporation, any other signature on the
certificate may be a facsimile. If the corporation shall be authorized to issue
more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the
designations, preferences and relative participating, optional or other special
rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and rights shall be set forth in
full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation
shall issue to represent such class of stock; provided that, except as otherwise
provided by statute, in lieu of the foregoing requirements there may be set
forth on the face or back of the certificate which the corporation shall issue
to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the corporation
will furnish to each stockholder who so requests the designations, preferences
and relative, participating, optional or other special rights of each class of
stock or series thereof and qualifications, limitations or restrictions of such
preferences and rights. All certificates surrendered to the corporation for
transfer shall be cancelled and no new certificate shall be issued until the
former certificate for a like number of shares shall have been surrendered and
cancelled, except that in the case of a lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated
certificate a new one may be issued therefor upon such terms and with such
indemnity, if any, to the corporation as the Board of
27
<PAGE> 28
Directors may prescribe. Certificates shall not be issued representing
fractional shares of stock.
SECTION 8.2. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may
direct a new certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any
certificate or certificates theretofore issued by the corporation alleged to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed, upon the making of an affidavit of that
fact by the person claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or
destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or certificates, the
Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to the
issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed
certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to advertise the same
in such manner as it shall require or to give the corporation a bond in such sum
as it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
corporation with respect to the certificate or certificates alleged to have been
lost, stolen or destroyed, or both.
SECTION 8.3. Transfers. Upon surrender to the corporation or
the transfer agent of the corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed
or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of the corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its books. Transfers of shares shall be made only on the books
of the corporation by the registered holder thereof, or by his attorney
thereunto authorized by power of
28
<PAGE> 29
attorney and filed with the Secretary of the corporation or the Transfer Agent.
SECTION 8.4. Registered Stockholders. The corporation shall be
entitled to treat the holder of record of any share or shares of stock as the
holder in fact thereof and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares on the part of
any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof,
except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE IX
DIVIDENDS
SECTION 9.1. Declaration. Dividends upon the capital stock of
the corporation, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation,
if any, may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special
meeting, pursuant to law. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in
shares of capital stock, subject to the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation.
SECTION 9.2. Reserve. Before payment of any dividend, there may
be set aside out of any funds of the corporation available for dividends such
sum or sums as the Board of Directors from time to time, in their absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
corporation, or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors shall think
conclusive to the interest of the corporation, and the
29
<PAGE> 30
Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was
created.
ARTICLE X
INDEMNIFICATION
SECTION 10.1. Third Party Actions. The corporation shall
indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party
to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in
the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he 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, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such
action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon
a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation, and with respect to any criminal action or
30
<PAGE> 31
proceeding, had reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
SECTION 10.2. Actions by or in the Right of the Corporation.
The corporation shall indemnify any person who was or is a party or is
threatened to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or
suit by or in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
reason of the fact that he 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, joint
venture, trust or other enterprise against expenses (including attorneys' fees)
actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or
settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
corporation and except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any
claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be
liable for misconduct in the performance of his duty to the corporation unless
and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such
action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case, such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which
the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.
SECTION 10.3. Determination of Conduct. The
31
<PAGE> 32
determination that an officer, director, employee or agent, has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in Sections 10.1 and 10.2 (unless
indemnification is ordered by a court) shall be made (1) by the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of Directors who were not
parties to such action, suit or proceeding, or (2) if such quorum is not
obtainable, or even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so
directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the
stockholders.
SECTION 10.4. Payment of Expenses in Advance. Expenses incurred
in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or proceeding shall be paid by the
corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action, suit or
proceeding as authorized by the Board of Directors upon receipt of an
undertaking by or on behalf of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay
such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to be
indemnified by the corporation as authorized in this Article X.
SECTION 10.5. Indemnity Not Exclusive. The indemnification and
advancement of expenses provided hereunder or granted pursuant hereto shall not
be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification
or the advancement of expenses may be entitled under any other by-law,
agreement, vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as
to action in his official capacity and as to action in another capacity while
holding such office. The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided
hereunder or granted pursuant
32
<PAGE> 33
hereto shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as
to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent and
shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a
person.
ARTICLE XI
MISCELLANEOUS
SECTION 11.1. Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed
thereon the name of the corporation, and the words "Corporate Seal, Delaware."
The seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or
affixed or otherwise reproduced.
SECTION 11.2. Books. The books of the corporation may be kept
(subject to any provision contained in the statutes) outside the State of
Delaware at the offices of the corporation at Houston, Texas, or at such other
place or places as may be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors.
ARTICLE XII
AMENDMENT
These by-laws may be altered, amended or repealed at any
regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors if (i) notice of such
alteration, amendment or repeal is contained in the notice of such meeting and
(ii) such alteration, amendment or repeal is approved by a majority vote of the
directors elected by the holders of the Common Stock and a majority vote of the
directors elected by the holders of Class B Common Stock; with each such class
of directors voting separately.
33
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 4.4
STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION
1995 STOCK OPTION PLAN
1. Purpose. The 1995 Stock Option Plan (the "Plan") of Stewart
Information Services Corporation (the "Company"), for certain key employees, is
intended to advance the best interest of the Company by providing those persons
who have substantial responsibility for its management and growth, with
additional incentive and by increasing their proprietary interest in the success
of the Company, thereby encouraging them to remain in its employ.
2. Administration. The Plan shall be administered by a committee to be
appointed by the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Committee"). The
Committee shall consist of not less than two members of the Board of Directors,
who have not, for a period of at least one year prior to being appointed to the
Committee, been eligible for selection as a person to whom stock may be
allocated or to whom stock options or stock appreciation rights may be granted
pursuant to the Plan or any other plan of the Company entitling the participant
therein to acquire stock, stock options or stock appreciation rights of the
Company. The Board of Directors of the Company shall have the power from time to
time to add or remove members of the Committee, and to fill vacancies arising
for any reason. The Committee shall designate a chairman from among its members,
who shall preside at all of its meetings, and shall designate a secretary,
without regard to whether that person is a member of the Committee, who shall
keep the minutes of the proceedings and all records, documents, and data
pertaining to its administration of the Plan. Meetings shall be held at any time
and place as it shall choose. A majority of the members of the Committee shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. The vote of a majority of
those members present at any meeting shall decide any question brought before
that meeting. In addition, the Committee may take any action otherwise proper
under the Plan by the affirmative vote, taken without a meeting, of a majority
of its members. No member of the Committee shall be liable for any act or
omission of any other member of the Committee or for any act or omission on his
own part, including but not limited to the exercise of any power or discretion
given to him under the Plan, except those resulting from his own gross
negligence or willful misconduct. All questions of interpretation and
application of the Plan, or as to options granted under it (the "Options"),
shall be subject to the determination of a majority of the Committee. The
Committee in exercising any power or authority granted under this Plan or in
making any determination under this Plan shall perform or refrain from
performing those acts using its sole discretion and judgment. Any decision made
by the Committee or any refraining to act or any act taken by the Committee in
good faith shall be final and binding on all parties. The Committee's decision
shall never be subject to de novo review. When appropriate the Plan shall be
administered in order to qualify certain of the Options granted under it as
"incentive stock options" described in Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
3. Option Shares. The stock subject to the Options and other provisions
of the Plan shall be shares of the Company's Common Stock, $1.00 par value (or
such other par value as may be designated by act of the Company's stockholders)
(the "Common Stock"). The amount of the Common Stock with respect to which
Options may be granted under this Plan shall not exceed 100,000 shares in the
aggregate and 40,000 shares to any one individual. The class and aggregate
number of shares which may be subject to the Options granted it under this Plan
shall be subject to adjustment under Section 15. The shares may be treasury
shares or authorized but unissued shares.
In the event that an outstanding Option shall expire or terminate for
any reason, the shares of Common Stock allocable to the unexercised portion of
that Option may again be subject to an Option under the Plan.
<PAGE> 2
4. Authority to Grant Options. The Committee may grant the following
options at any time during the term of this Plan to any eligible employee of the
Company that it chooses:
(a) "Incentive" Stock Options. The Committee may grant to an
eligible employee an Option, or Options, to buy a stated number of
shares of Common Stock under the terms and conditions of the Plan,
which Option or Options would be an "incentive stock option" within the
meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended.
(b) "Non-incentive" Stock Options. The Committee may grant to
an eligible employee an Option, or Options, to buy a stated number of
shares of Common Stock under the terms and conditions of the Plan,
which Option or Options would not constitute an "incentive stock
option" within the meaning of Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended.
Each option granted shall be approved by the Committee. Subject only to
any applicable limitations set forth in this Plan, the number of shares of
Common Stock to be covered by an Option shall be as determined by the Committee.
5. Eligibility. The individuals who shall be eligible to participate in
the Plan shall be the executive officers of the Company other than Carloss
Morris and Stewart Morris. However, no person who owns stock possessing more
than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company shall be eligible to receive an Option which is an incentive stock
option unless at the time that the Option is granted the option price is at
least 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock at the time the Option
is granted and the Option by its own terms is not exercisable after the
expiration of five years from the date the Option is granted. No individual
shall be eligible to receive an Option under the Plan while that individual is a
member of the Committee.
A person will be considered as owning the stock owned, directly or
indirectly, by or for his brothers and sisters (whether by the whole or half
blood), spouse, ancestors, and lineal descendants. Stock owned, directly or
indirectly, by or for a corporation, partnership, estate or trust will be
considered as being owned proportionately by or for its shareholders, partners
or beneficiaries.
6. Option Price. The price at which shares may be purchased pursuant to
an Option that is an incentive stock option shall be not less than the fair
market value of the shares of Common Stock on the date the Option is granted.
The Committee in its discretion may provide that the price at which shares may
be purchased shall be more than the minimum price required. If an individual
owns stock possessing more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all
classes of stock of the Company, the option price at which shares may be
purchased under an Option which is an incentive stock option shall be not less
than 110% of the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date the Option is
granted.
7. Duration of Options. No Option which is an incentive stock option
shall be exercisable after the expiration of 10 years from the date the Option
is granted. The Committee in its discretion may provide that the Option shall be
exercisable throughout the 10 year period or during any lesser period of time
commencing on or after the date of grant of the Option and ending upon or before
the expiration of the 10 year period. If an individual owns stock possessing
more than 10% of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock of the
Company, no Option which is an incentive stock option shall be exercisable after
the expiration of five years from the date the Option is granted. No Option
which is a non-incentive stock option shall be exercisable after the expiration
of 10 years from the date
-2-
<PAGE> 3
the Option is granted. The Committee in its discretion may provide that the
Option shall be exercisable throughout the 10 year period or during any lesser
period of time commencing on or after the date of grant of the Option and ending
upon or before the expiration of the 10 year period.
8. Maximum Value of Stock Subject to Options Which are Incentive Stock
Options. To the extent that the aggregate fair market value (determined as of
the date the Option is granted) of the stock with respect to which incentive
stock options are exercisable for the first time by the optionee in any calendar
year (under this Plan and any other incentive stock option plan(s) of the
Company and any parent and subsidiary corporation) exceeds $100,000, the Options
shall be treated as non-incentive stock options. In making this determination,
Options shall be taken into account in the order in which they were granted.
9. Exercise of Options. An optionee may exercise such optionee's Option
by delivering to the Company a written notice stating (i) that such optionee
wishes to exercise such Option on the date such notice is so delivered, (ii) the
number of shares of stock with respect to which the Option is to be exercised
and (iii) the address to which the certificate representing such shares of stock
should be mailed. In order to be effective, such written notice shall be
accompanied by (i) payment of the Option Price of such shares of stock and (ii)
payment of an amount of money necessary to satisfy any withholding tax liability
that may result from the exercise of such Option. Each such payment shall be
made by cashier's check drawn on a national banking association and payable to
the order of the Company in United States dollars.
If, at the time of receipt by the Company of such written notice, (i)
the Company has unrestricted surplus in an amount not less than the Option Price
of such shares of stock, (ii) all accrued cumulative preferential dividends and
other current preferential dividends on all outstanding shares of preferred
stock of the Company have been fully paid, (iii) the acquisition by the Company
of its own shares of stock for the purpose of enabling such optionee to exercise
such Option is otherwise permitted by applicable law and without any vote or
consent of any stockholder of the Company, and (iv) there shall have been
adopted, and there shall be in full force and effect, a resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company authorizing the acquisition by the Company of its
own shares of stock for such purpose, then such optionee may deliver to the
Company, in payment of the Option Price of the shares of stock with respect to
which such Option is exercised, (x)(i) certificates registered in the name of
such optionee that represent a number of shares of stock legally and
beneficially owned by such optionee (free of all liens, claims and encumbrances
of every kind) and having a fair market value on the date of receipt by the
Company of such written notice that is not greater than the Option Price of the
shares of stock with respect to which such Option is to be exercised, such
certificates to be accompanied by stock powers duly endorsed in blank by the
record holder of the shares of stock represented by such certificates, with the
signature of such record holder guaranteed by a national banking association or
(ii) an assignment to the Company of a portion of the shares with respect to
which such Option is exercised, and (y) if the Option Price of the shares of
stock with respect to which such Option is to be exercised exceeds such fair
market value, a cashier's check drawn on a national banking association and
payable to the order of the Company in an amount, in United States dollars,
equal to the amount of such excess.
As promptly as practicable after the receipt by the Company of (i) such
written notice from the optionee, (ii) payment, in the form required by the
foregoing provisions of this Section 9 of the Option Price of the shares of
stock with respect to which such Option is to be exercised, and (iii) payment,
in the form required by the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, of an amount
of money necessary to satisfy any withholding tax liability that may result from
the exercise of such Option, a certificate representing the number of shares of
stock with
-3-
<PAGE> 4
respect to which such Option has been so exercised, such certificate to be
registered in the name of such optionee, provided that such delivery shall be
considered to have been made when such certificate shall have been mailed,
postage prepaid, to such optionee at the address specified for such purpose in
such written notice from the optionee to the Company.
For purposes of this Section 9, the "fair market value" of a share of
stock as of any particular date shall mean the closing price of a share of stock
on that date as reported in the New York Stock Exchange--Composite Transactions
listing, provided that if no closing price for the stock as so reported on that
date or if, in the discretion of the Committee, another means of determining the
fair market value of a share of stock at such date shall be necessary or
advisable, the Committee may provide for another means for determining such fair
market value.
10. Transferability of Options. Options shall not be transferable by
the optionee except by will or under the laws of descent and distribution, and
shall be exercisable, during his lifetime, only by him.
11. Termination of Employment or Death of Optionee. Except as may be
otherwise expressly provided herein, all Options (whether incentive or
non-incentive) shall terminate on the earlier of the date of the expiration of
the Option or one day less than three months after the date of severance, upon
severance of the employment relationship between the Company and the optionee,
whether with or without cause, for any reason other than the death, disability
or retirement of the optionee, during which period the optionee shall be
entitled to exercise the Option in respect of the number of shares that the
optionee would have been entitled to purchase had the optionee exercised the
Option on the date of such severance of employment. Whether authorized leave of
absence, or absence on military or government service, shall constitute
severance of the employment relationship between the Company and the optionee
shall be determined by the Committee at the time thereof. In the event of
severance because of the disability of the holder of any Option (whether
incentive or non-incentive) while in the employ of the Company and before the
date of expiration of such Option, such Option shall terminate on the earlier of
such date of expiration or one year following the date of such severance because
of disability, during which period the optionee shall be entitled to exercise
the Option in respect to the number of shares that the optionee would have been
entitled to purchase had the optionee exercised the Option on the date of such
severance because of disability. Disability for this purpose shall be such a
disability as would qualify the optionee for a disability benefit under the
Company's pension plan without regard to any age or service requirement in the
Plan. In the event of the death of the holder of any Option (whether incentive
or non-incentive) while in the employ of the Company and before the date of
expiration of such Option, such Option shall terminate on the earlier of such
date of expiration or one year following the date of death. After the death of
the optionee, his executors, administrators or any person or person to whom his
Option may be transferred by will or by the laws of descent and distribution,
shall have the right, at any time prior to the termination of an Option to
exercise the Option, in respect to the number of shares that the optionee would
have been entitled to exercise if he had exercised the Option on the date of his
death while in employment. In addition, in the event of the retirement of the
holder of any non-incentive stock option in accordance with the provisions of
the Company's pension plan, before the date of expiration of such Option, such
Option shall terminate on the earlier of such date of expiration or one year
following the date of such retirement, and, if such optionee should die within
the one year period any rights he may have to exercise the Option shall be
exercisable by his executor or administrator or the person or persons to whom
the Option shall have been transferred by his will or laws of descent or
distribution, as appropriate, for the remainder of the one year period.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, in the case of an
Option that is a non-incentive stock option, the Committee may provide for
-4-
<PAGE> 5
a different option termination date in the option agreement with respect to such
Option. For purposes of incentive stock options issued under this Plan, an
employment relationship between the Company and the optionee shall be deemed to
exist during any period in which the optionee is employed by the Company, by any
parent or subsidiary corporation, by a corporation issuing or assuming an option
in a transaction to which Section 424(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, applies, or by a parent or subsidiary corporation of such
corporation issuing or assuming an option. For this purpose, the phrase
"corporation issuing or assuming an option" shall be substituted for the word
"Company" in the definitions of parent and subsidiary corporations in Section 5
and the parent-subsidiary relationship shall be determined at the time of the
corporate action described in Section 424(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended. For purposes of non-incentive stock options issued under this
Plan, an employment relationship between the Company and the optionee will exist
under the circumstances described above for incentive stock options and will
also exist if the optionee is transferred to an affiliate corporation approved
by the Committee.
12. Requirements of Law. The Company shall not be required to sell or
issue any shares under any Option if issuing the shares shall constitute a
violation by the optionee or the Company of any provisions of any law or
regulation of any governmental authority. Each Option granted under this Plan
shall be subject to the requirements that, if at any time the Board of Directors
of the Company or the Committee shall determine that the listing, registration
or qualification of the shares upon any securities exchange or under any state
or federal law of the United states or of any other country or governmental
subdivision, or the consent or approval of any governmental regulatory body, or
investment or other representations, are necessary or desirable in connection
with the issue or purchase of shares subject to an Option, that Option shall not
be exercised in whole or in part unless the listing, registration,
qualification, consent, approval or representations shall have been effected or
obtained free of any conditions not acceptable to the Board of Directors. Any
determination in this connection by the Committee shall be final. In the event
the shares issuable on exercise of an Option are not registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, the Company may imprint on the certificate for those
shares the following legend or any other legend which counsel for the Company
considers necessary or advisable to comply with the Securities Act of 1933:
"The shares of stock represented by this certificate have not been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933 or under the securities
laws of any state and may not be sold or transferred except upon
registration or upon receipt by the Corporation of an opinion of
counsel satisfactory to the Corporation, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Corporation, that registration is not required for
a sale or transfer."
The Company may, but shall in no event be obligated to, register any securities
covered by this Plan under the Securities Act of 1933 (as now in effect or as
later amended) and, in the event any shares are registered, the Company may
remove any legend on certificates representing those shares. The Company shall
not be obligated to take any other affirmative action in order to cause the
exercise of an Option or the issuance of shares under the Option to comply with
any law or regulation or any governmental authority.
13. No Rights as Stockholder. No optionee shall have rights as a
stockholder with respect to shares covered by his Option until the date a stock
certificate is issued for the shares. Except as provided in Section 15, no
adjustment for dividends, or other matters shall be made if the record date is
prior to the date the certificate is issued.
14. Employment Obligation. The granting of any Option shall not
impose upon the Company any obligation to employ or continue to employ any
optionee. The right of the
-5-
<PAGE> 6
Company to terminate the employment of any officer or other employee shall not
be diminished or affected by reason of the fact that an Option has been granted
to him.
15. Changes in the Company's Capital Structure. The existence of
outstanding Options shall not affect in any way the right or power of the
Company or its stockholders to make or authorize any or all adjustments,
recapitalizations, reorganizations or other changes in the Company's capital
structure or its business, or any merger or consolidation of the Company, or any
issue of bonds, debentures, preferred or prior preference stock ahead of or
affecting the Common Stock or the rights thereof, or the dissolution or
liquidation of the Company, or any sale or transfer of all or any part of its
assets or business, or any other corporate act or proceeding, whether of a
similar character or otherwise.
If the Company shall effect a subdivision or consolidation of shares or
other capital adjustment of, or the payment of a dividend in capital stock or
other equity securities of the Company on, its Common Stock, or other increase
or reduction of the number of shares of the Common Stock outstanding without
receiving consideration therefor in money, services, or property, or the
reclassification of its Common Stock, in whole or in part, into other equity
securities of the Company, then (a) the number, class and per share price of
shares of stock subject to outstanding Options hereunder shall be appropriately
adjusted (or in the case of the issuance of other equity securities as a
dividend on, or in a reclassification of, the Common Stock, the Options shall
extend to such other securities) in such a manner as to entitle an optionee to
receive, upon exercise of an Option, for the same aggregate cash compensation,
the same total number and class or classes of shares (or in the case of a
dividend of, or reclassification into, other equity securities, such other
securities) he would have held after such adjustment if he had exercised his
Option in full immediately prior to the event requiring the adjustment, or, if
applicable, the record date for determining shareholders to be affected by such
adjustment; and (b) the number and class of shares then reserved for issuance
under the Plan (or in the case of a dividend of, or reclassification into, other
equity securities, such other securities) shall be adjusted by substituting for
the total number and class of shares of stock then received, the number and
class or classes of shares of stock (or in the case of a dividend on, or
reclassification into, other equity securities, such other securities) that
would have been received by the owner of an equal number of outstanding shares
of Common Stock as the result of the event requiring the adjustment. Comparable
rights shall accrue to each optionee in the event of successive subdivisions,
consolidations, capital adjustment, dividends or reclassifications of the
character described above.
If the Company shall make a tender offer for, or grant to all of its
holders of its shares of Common Stock the right to require the Company or any
subsidiary of the Company to acquire from such stockholders shares of, Common
Stock, at a price in excess of the Current Market Price (a "Put Right") or the
Company shall grant to all of its holders for its shares of Common Stock the
right to acquire shares of Common Stock for less than the Current Market Price
(a "Purchase Right") then, in the case of a Put Right, the Option Price shall be
adjusted by multiplying the Option Price in effect immediately prior to the
record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive such Put
Right by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of shares of
Common Stock then outstanding minus the number of shares of Common Stock which
could be purchased at the Current Market Price for the aggregate amount which
would be paid if all Put Rights are exercised and the denominator of which is
the number of shares of Common Stock which would be outstanding if all Put
Rights are exercised; and, in the case of a Purchase Right, the Option Price
shall be adjusted by multiplying the Option Price in effect immediately prior to
the record date for the determination of the stockholders entitled to receive
such Purchase Right by a fraction, the numerator of which shall be the number of
shares of Common Stock then outstanding plus the number of shares of Common
Stock which could be purchased at the Current Market Price for
-6-
<PAGE> 7
the aggregate amount which would be paid if all Purchase Rights are exercised
and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock which would
be outstanding if all Purchase Rights are exercised. In addition, the number of
shares subject to the option shall be increased by multiplying the number of
shares then subject to the Option by a fraction which is the inverse of the
fraction used to adjust the Option Price. Notwithstanding the foregoing if any
such Put Rights or Purchase Rights shall terminate without being exercised, the
Option Price and number of shares subject to Option shall be appropriately
readjusted to reflect the Option Price and number of shares subject to the
Option which would have been in effect if such unexercised Rights had never
existed Comparable adjustments shall be made in the event of successive
transactions of the character described above.
After the merger of one or more corporations into the Company, after
any consolidation of the Company and one or more corporations, or after any
other corporate transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code in which the
Company shall be the surviving corporation, each optionee, at no additional
cost, shall be entitled to receive, upon any exercise of his Option, in lieu of
the number of shares as to which the Option shall then be so exercised, the
number and class of shares of stock or other equity securities to which the
optionee would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of
merger or consolidation if at the time of such merger or consolidation such
optionee had been a holder of a number of shares of Common Stock equal to the
number of shares as to which the Option shall then be so exercised and, if as a
result of such merger, consolidation or other transaction, the holders of Common
Stock are not entitled to receive any shares of Common Stock pursuant to the
terms thereof, each optionee, at no additional cost shall be entitled to
receive, upon exercise of his Option, such other assets and property, including
cash to which he would have been entitled if at the time of such merger,
consolidation or other transaction he had been the holder of the number of
shares of Common Stock equal to the number of shares as to which the Option
shall then be so exercised. Comparable rights shall accrue to each optionee in
the event of successive mergers or consolidations of the character described
above.
After a merger of the Company into one or more corporations, after a
consolidation of the Company and one or more corporations, or after any other
corporate transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code in which the
Company is not the surviving corporation, each optionee shall, at no additional
cost, be entitled at the option of the surviving corporation (i) to have his
then existing Option assumed or have a new option substituted for the existing
Option by the surviving corporation to the transaction which is then employing
him, or a parent or subsidiary of such corporation, on a basis where the excess
of the aggregate fair market value of the shares subject to the option
immediately after the substitution or assumption over the aggregate option price
of such option is equal to the excess of the aggregate fair market value of all
shares subject to the option immediately before such substitution or assumption
over the aggregate option price of such shares, provided that the shares subject
to the new option must be traded on the New York or American Stock Exchange or
quoted on the National Association of Securities Dealers Automated Quotation
System, or (ii) to receive, upon any exercise of his Option, in lieu of the
number of shares as to which the Option shall then be so exercised, the
securities, property and other assets, including cash, to which the Optionee
would have been entitled pursuant to the terms of the agreement of merger or
consolidation or the agreement giving rise to the other corporate transaction if
at the time of such merger, consolidation or other transaction such optionee had
been the holder of the number of shares of Common Stock equal to the number of
shares as to which the Option shall then be so exercised.
If a corporate transaction described in Section 424(a) of the Code
which involves the Company is to take place and there is to be no surviving
corporation while an Option remains in whole or in part unexercised, it shall be
canceled by the Board of Directors as of the effective
-7-
<PAGE> 8
date of any such corporate transaction but before that date each optionee shall
be provided with a notice of such cancellation and each optionee shall have the
right to exercise such Option in full to the extent it is then still unexercised
during a 30-day period preceding the effective date of such corporate
transaction.
For purposes of this Section 15, Current Market Price per share of
Common Stock shall mean the last reported price for the Common Stock in the New
York Stock Exchange--Composite Transaction listing on the trading day
immediately preceding the first trading day on which, as a result of the
establishment of a record date or otherwise, the trading price reflects that an
acquiror of Common Stock in the public market will not participate in or receive
the payment of any applicable dividend or distribution.
Except as hereinbefore expressly provided, the issue by the Company of
shares of stock of any class, or securities convertible into shares of stock of
any class, for cash or property, or for labor or services either upon direct
sale or upon the exercise of rights or warrants to subscribe therefor, or upon
conversion of shares or obligations of the Company convertible into such shares
or other securities, shall not affect, and no adjustment by reason thereof shall
be made with respect to, the number or price of shares of Common Stock then
subject to outstanding Options.
16. Amendment or Termination of Plan. The Board of Directors may
modify, revise or terminate this Plan at any time and from time to time.
However, without the further Company stockholder approval by a majority of the
votes cast at a duly held stockholders' meeting at which a quorum representing a
majority of all outstanding voting stock is, either in person or by proxy,
present and voting on the issue, the Board of Directors may not (a) change the
aggregate number of shares which may be issued under Options pursuant to the
provisions of this Plan; (b) reduce the Option price permitted for the incentive
stock options; (c) extend the term during which an incentive stock option may be
exercised or the termination date of this Plan; or (d) change the class of
employees eligible to receive incentive stock options. But, the Board shall have
the power to make all changes in the Plan and in the regulations and
administrative provisions under the Plan or in any outstanding Option as in the
opinion of counsel for the Company may be necessary or appropriate from time to
time to enable any Option granted pursuant to the Plan to qualify as an
incentive stock option under Section 422 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986,
as amended, and the regulations which may be issued under that Section as in
existence from time to time.
17. Written Agreement. Each Option granted under this Plan shall be
embodied in a written option agreement, which shall be subject to the terms and
conditions prescribed above, and shall be signed by the optionee and by the
appropriate officer of the Company for and in the name and on behalf of the
Company. Each option agreement shall contain any other provisions that the
Committee in its discretion shall deem advisable.
18. Indemnification of the Committee. The Company shall indemnify each
present and future member of the Committee against, and each member of the
Committee shall be entitled without further act on his part to indemnity from
the Company for, all expenses (including the amount of judgments and the amount
of approved settlements made with a view to the curtailment of costs of
litigation, other than amounts paid to the Company itself) reasonably incurred
by him in connection with or arising out of any action, suit or proceeding in
which he may be involved by reason of his being or having been a member of the
Committee, whether or not he continues to be such member of the Committee at the
time of incurring such expenses; provided, however, that such indemnity shall
not include any expenses incurred by any such member of the Committee (a) in
respect of matters as to which he shall be finally adjudged in any such action,
suit or proceeding to have been guilty of gross negligence or
-8-
<PAGE> 9
willful misconduct in the performance of his duty as such member of the
Committee, or (b) in respect of any matter in which any settlement is effected,
to an amount in excess of the amount approved by the Company on the advice of
its legal counsel; and provided further, that no right of indemnification under
the provisions set forth herein shall be available to or enforceable by any such
member of the Committee unless, within sixty (60) days after institution of any
such action, suit or proceeding, he shall have offered the Company, in writing,
the opportunity to handle and defend same at its own expense. The foregoing
right of indemnification shall inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors or
administrators of each such member of the Committee and shall be in addition to
all other rights to which such member of the Committee may be entitled to as a
matter of law, contract or otherwise. Nothing in this Section 18 shall be
construed to limit or otherwise affect any right to indemnification or payment
of expense, or any provisions limiting the liability of any officer or director
of the Company or any member of the Committee, provided by law, the Certificate
of Incorporation of the Company or otherwise.
19. Effective Date of Plan. The Plan shall become effective and shall
be deemed to have been adopted on March 13, 1995, if within one year of that
date it has been approved by the Company stockholders by a majority of the votes
cast at a duly held stockholders' meeting at which a quorum representing a
majority of all outstanding voting stock is, either in person or by proxy,
present and voting on the Plan. No Options shall be granted pursuant to the Plan
after December 1, 2005.
-9-
<PAGE> 1
EXHIBIT 5.1
[FULBRIGHT & JAWORSKI L.L.P. LETTERHEAD]
May 31, 1995
Stewart Information Services Corporation
1980 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas 77056
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Stewart Information Services
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of 100,000 shares of the Company's
common stock, $1.00 par value (the "Shares"), to be offered upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in the Company's 1995 Stock Option Plan (the
"Plan").
In connection therewith, we have examined originals or copies,
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the Certificate of
Incorporation of the Company, as amended, the By-Laws of the Company, as
amended, the Plan, records of relevant corporate proceedings with respect to the
offering of the Shares and such other documents and instruments as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate for the expression of the opinions contained
herein. We have also reviewed the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-8
to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
Shares (the "Registration Statement").
We have assumed the authenticity and completeness of all records,
certificates and other instruments submitted to us as originals, the conformity
to original documents of all records, certificates and other instruments
submitted to us as copies, the authenticity and completeness of the originals of
those records, certificates and other instruments submitted to us as copies and
the correctness of all statements of fact contained in all records, certificates
and other instruments that we have examined.
Based on the foregoing and having regard for such legal
considerations as we have deemed relevant, we are of the opinion that the Shares
have been duly authorized and, when issued in accordance with the terms of the
Plan, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions expressed herein are limited exclusively to the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
<PAGE> 2
June 1, 1995
Page 2
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement.
Very truly yours,
Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P.
<PAGE> 1
Ex. 23.1
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and
Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
--------------------------
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Houston, Texas
May 31, 1995
<PAGE> 2
CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration
Statement of Form S-8 of Stewart Information Services Corporation of our report
dated January 20, 1995 on the consolidated financial statements of Stewart Title
& Trust of Phoenix, Inc. appearing in the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
year ended December 31, 1994. We also consent to the reference to us under the
heading "Interests of Named Experts and Counsel" appearing in such Registration
Statement.
/s/ PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
- -------------------------
Price Waterhouse LLP
Phoenix, Arizona
May 25, 1995
<PAGE> 3
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Interests of Named
Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) pertaining to the
1995 Stock Option Plan and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
reports dated January 19, 1993 with respect to the financial statements of
Steward Title of Central California, California, Fresno County, Modesto and
Monterey County consolidated in Stewart Information Services Corporation Annual
Report (Form 10K) for the year ended December 31, 1994 filed with Securities
and Exchange Commission.
/s/ PERRY-SMITH & CO.
------------------------------
Perry-Smith & Co.
Certified Public Accountants
Sacramento, California
<PAGE> 4
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Interests of Named
Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) and related
Prospectus pertaining to the 1995 Stock Option Plan of Stewart Information
Services Corporation and to the incorporation by reference therein of our
report dated January 20, 1995 with respect to the financial statements of
Stewart Title (not presented separately therein) included in Stewart
Information Services Corporation's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended
December 31, 1994, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
/s/ ERNST & YOUNG LLP
----------------------
Ernst & Young LLP
Los Angeles, California
May 25, 1995
<PAGE> 5
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference
and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts
and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ DOSHIER, PICKENS, & FRANCIS, P.C.
--------------------------------------
Doshier, Pickens, & Francis, P.C.
Amarillo, Texas
<PAGE> 6
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
I consent to the use of my reports incorporated herein by reference and
to the reference to me under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and
Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ JIM S. WALKER
--------------------
Jim S. Walker
Beaumont, Texas
<PAGE> 7
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference
and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts
and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ DENTON WOLTER & COMPANY, P.C.
------------------------------------
Denton Wolter & Company, P.C.
Dallas, Texas
<PAGE> 8
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and
to the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and
Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ FANCHER AND COMPANY
------------------------
Fancher and Company
Corpus Christi, Texas
<PAGE> 9
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
I consent to the use of my reports incorporated herein by reference and
to the reference to me under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and
Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ M. TIMOTHY O'ROARK
-----------------------------------
M. Timothy O'Roark
El Paso, Texas
<PAGE> 10
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Interests of Named
Experts and Counsel" in the Registration Statement (Form S-8) and related
Prospectus pertaining to the 1995 Stock Option Plan of Stewart Information
Services Corporation and to the incorporation by reference of our reports
relating to the financial statements of Stewart Title (not presented separately
therein) included in Stewart Information Services Corporation's Annual Report
(Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1994, filed with the Securities and
Exchange commission.
/s/ GRANT BENNETT ACCOUNTANTS
---------------------------------
Grant Bennett Accountants
A Professional Corporation
Certified Public Accountants
Sacramento, California
<PAGE> 11
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference
and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts
and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ McGEE, HAZA & CO.
----------------------
McGee, Haza & Co.
Dallas, Texas
<PAGE> 12
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference
and to the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts
and Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ AARONSON, WHITE & COMPANY
------------------------------
Aaronson, White & Company
Houston, Texas
<PAGE> 13
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and
to the reference to our firm under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and
Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ EDGAR, KIKER & CROSS, L.L.P.
----------------------------------
Edgar, Kiker & Cross, L.L.P.
Certified Public Accountants
Beaumont, Texas
<PAGE> 14
The Board of Directors
Stewart Information Services Corporation
I consent to the use of my reports incorporated herein by reference and
to the reference to me under the heading "Interests of Named Experts and
Counsel" in the Registration Statement.
/s/ GINNY SANDERS MAY
----------------------
Ginny Sanders May
Lake Jackson, Texas
