Exhibit 3.2
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED
BYLAWS
OF
COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.
(adopted on August 18, 2005)
ARTICLE I
OFFICES
Section 1. Registered Office. The registered Office of Commercial Net Lease
Realty, Inc. (the Corporation) shall be 300 East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202. The
registered agent of the Corporation at such address is The Corporation Trust Incorporated.
Section 2. Additional Offices. The Corporation may also have offices at such
other places, both within and without the State of Maryland, as the board of directors of the
Corporation (the Board of Directors) may from time to time determine or the business of the
Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
MEETING OF STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1. Time and Place. Meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation (the
Stockholders) shall be held at such places, either within or without the State of Maryland, as
shall be designated from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of the
meeting or in a duly executed waiver of notice thereof.
Section 2. Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting of Stockholders for the election of
directors and the transaction of other business shall be held, in each year, commencing with the
year 1995, after delivery of the annual report referred to in Section 12 of this Article II, on
such date and at such time and location as shall be designated from time to time by the Board of
Directors and stated in the notice of the meeting. Failure to hold the Annual Meeting does not
invalidate the Corporations existence or affect any otherwise valid acts of the Corporation.
Section 3. Special Meetings. The Chairman of the Board, the Chief Executive
Officer or a majority of the members of the Board of Directors may call a Special Meeting of the
Stockholders. A Special Meeting shall also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation upon the
written request of the Stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes
entitled to be cast at such meeting. The Secretary shall inform such Stockholders of the reasonably
estimated cost of preparing and mailing notice of the meeting and, upon payment by such
Stockholders to the Corporation of such costs, the Secretary shall give notice to each Stockholder
entitled to notice of the meeting. Unless requested by Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of
all votes entitled to be cast at such meeting, a Special Meeting need not be called to consider any
matter which is substantially the same as a matter voted on at any meeting of the Stockholders held
during the preceding twelve (12) months.
Section 4. Notice. Written notice of any meeting of Stockholders stating the
place, date and hour of the meeting shall be given to each Stockholder entitled to vote thereat,
either personally or by mail, not less than ten (10) nor more than ninety (90) days before the date
of the meeting, unless a greater period of notice is required by statute in a particular case. In
the case of a Special Meeting, the notice shall also state the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is
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called. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to have been given when deposited in the United
States mail, postage prepaid, directed to the Stockholder at the Stockholders address as it
appears on the records of the Corporation.
Section 5. Corporate Records and Stockholder Lists. The officer who has charge of
the stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and keep, or cause to have prepared and kept, as
part of the books and records of the Corporation, a list of the names and addresses of all
Stockholders of the Corporation. Inspection of all the books and records of the Corporation by
Stockholders shall be permitted to the extent provided by the Maryland General Corporation Law.
Section 6. Quorum; Adjournments. Unless otherwise provided by statute or the
Articles of Incorporation, at a meeting of Stockholders, the presence in person or by proxy of
Stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting of
Stockholders shall constitute a quorum. If, however, such quorum shall not be present or
represented at any meeting of the Stockholders, the Stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present
in person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting from time to time,
without further notice to a date not more than one hundred twenty (120) days after the original
record date. At such adjourned meeting at which a quorum shall be present, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally notified.
Section 7. Voting. A plurality of all votes cast at a meeting of Stockholders
duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to elect a Director. Each share of
stock may be voted for as many individuals as there are Directors to be elected and for whose
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election the shares of stock are entitled to be voted. When a quorum is present at any meeting, the
vote of the holders of a majority of the votes cast shall decide any other question brought before
such meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required herein or by statute or by
the Articles of Incorporation.
Section 8. Voting Procedure. Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of
Incorporation, each Stockholder shall, at every meeting of the Stockholders, regardless of class,
be entitled to one (1) vote in person or by proxy for each share of stock held by such Stockholder.
Section 9. Proxies. A Stockholder may cast the votes entitled to be cast by the
share of stock owned of record by the Stockholder either in person or by proxy executed by the
Stockholder or by the Stockholders duly authorized agent in any manner allowed by law. Such proxy
shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy
shall be valid after eleven (11) months from the date of its execution, unless otherwise provided
in the proxy.
Section 10. Voting of Stock By Certain Holders. Shares of stock of the
Corporation registered in the name of a corporation, partnership, limited liability company, trust
or other entity, if entitled to be voted, may be voted by the president or a vice president, a
general partner, a manager, a managing member or trustee thereof, as the case may be, or a proxy
appointed by any of the foregoing individuals, unless some other person who has been appointed to
vote such stock pursuant to a by-law or a resolution of the governing board of such corporation or
other entity or agreement of the partners of the partnership or agreement of the members of the
limited liability company presents a certified copy of such by-law, resolution or agreement, in
which case such person may vote such stock. Any trustee or other fiduciary may vote stock
registered in such persons name as such fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.
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Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by it shall not be voted at
any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares of stock
entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by it in a fiduciary capacity, in
which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding
shares of stock at any given time.
The Directors may adopt by resolution a procedure by which a Stockholder may certify in
writing to the Corporation that any shares of stock registered in the name of the Stockholder are
held for the account of a specified person other than the Stockholder. The resolution shall set
forth the class of Stockholders who may make the certification, the purpose for which the
certification may be made, the form of certification and the information to be contained in it; if
the certification is with respect to a record date or closing of the stock transfer books, the time
after the record date or closing of the stock transfer books within which the certification must be
received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the
Directors consider necessary or desirable. On receipt of such certification, the person specified
in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the
Stockholder of record of the specified shares of stock in place of the Stockholder who makes the certification.
Section 11. Inspectors. At any meeting of Stockholders, the Chairman of the
meeting may appoint one or more persons as inspectors for such meeting. Such inspectors shall
ascertain and report the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting based upon their
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determination of the validity and effect of proxies, count all votes, report the results and
perform such other acts as are proper to conduct the election and voting with impartiality and
fairness to all the Stockholders.
Each report of an inspector shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a
majority of them if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than
one inspector, the report of a majority shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the
inspector or inspectors on the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting and the results
of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.
Section 12. Reports to Stockholders. The Directors shall submit to the
Stockholders at or before the Annual Meeting of Stockholders a report of the business and
operations of the Corporation during such fiscal year, containing a balance sheet and a statement
of income and surplus of the Corporation, accompanied by the certification of an independent
certified public accountant, and such further information as the Directors may determine is
required pursuant to any law or regulation to which the Corporation is subject. Within the earlier
of twenty (20) days after the Annual Meeting of Stockholders or one hundred twenty (120) days after
the end of the fiscal year of the Corporation, the Directors shall place the annual report on file
at the principal office of the Corporation and with any governmental agencies as may be required by
law and as the Directors may deem appropriate.
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Section 13. Nominations and Proposals by Stockholders.
(a) Annual Meetings of Stockholders.
(i) Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of
business to be considered by the Stockholders may be made at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders: (A)
pursuant to the Corporations notice of meeting; (B) by or at the direction of the Directors; or
(C) by any Stockholder of the Corporation who was a Stockholder of record both at the time of
giving of notice provided for in this Section 13(a) and at the time of the annual meeting, who is entitled to
vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13(a).
(ii) For nominations or other business to be properly brought before an Annual Meeting by
a Stockholder pursuant to clause (C) of paragraph (a) (i) of this Section 13, the Stockholder must
have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and such other
business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by Stockholders. To be timely, a
Stockholders notice shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the
Corporation not later than the close of business on the 120 th calendar day
before the first anniversary of the date of the Corporations proxy statement released to
Stockholders in connection with the preceding years Annual Meeting; provided, however, that in the
event that the date of the current years Annual Meeting has been changed by more than thirty (30)
days from the date of the preceding years meeting or if the Corporation did not hold an Annual
Meeting the preceding year, notice by the Stockholder to be timely must be so delivered within a
reasonable time before the Annual Meeting begins to print and mail its
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proxy materials. In no event shall the public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an
Annual Meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period for the giving of a Stockholders
notice as described above. Such Stockholders notice shall set forth: (A) as to each person whom
the Stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a Director all information
relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for election
of Directors in an election contest, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to Regulation
14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the Exchange Act) (including such
persons written consent to being named in the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a
Director if elected); (B) as to any other business that the Stockholder proposes to bring before
the meeting, a brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the
reasons for conducting such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of
such Stockholder and of the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the proposal is made; and (C)
as to the Stockholder giving the notice and the beneficial owner, if any, on whose behalf the
nomination or proposal is made: (i) the name and address of such Stockholder, as it appears on the
Corporations books, and of such beneficial owner; and (ii) the number of each class of shares of
the Corporation which are owned beneficially and of record by such Stockholder and such beneficial owner.
(iii) Notwithstanding anything in the second sentence of paragraph (a) (ii) of this
Section 13 to the contrary, in the event that the number of Directors to be elected to the Board of
Directors is increased and there is no public announcement by the Corporation naming all of the
nominees for Director or specifying the size of the increased Board of Directors at least seventy
(70) days prior to the first anniversary of the preceding years annual meeting, a Stockholders
notice required by this Section 13(a) shall also be considered timely, but only with
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respect to nominees for any new positions created by such increase, if it shall be delivered to the
Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not later than the close of
business on the 10th day following the day on which such public announcement
is first made by the Corporation.
(b) Special Meetings of Stockholders. Only such business shall be conducted at a Special
Meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting pursuant to the Corporations
notice of meeting. Nominations of persons for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a
Special Meeting of Stockholders at which Directors are to be elected: (i) pursuant to the
Corporations notice of meeting; (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors; or (iii)
provided that the Board of Directors has determined that Directors shall be elected at such Special
Meeting, by any Stockholder of the Corporation who was a Stockholder of record both at the time of
giving of notice provided for in this Section 13(b) and at the time of the Special Meeting, who is
entitled to vote at the meeting and who complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 13(b). In the event the
Corporation calls a Special Meeting of Stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more
Directors to the Board of Directors, any such Stockholder may nominate a person or persons (as the
case may be) for election to such position as specified in the Corporations notice of meeting, if
the Stockholders notice containing the information required by paragraph (a) (ii) of this Section
13 shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not
earlier than the close of business on the 120th day prior to such Special
Meeting and not later than the close of business on the later of the 90th day
prior to such Special Meeting or the 10th day following the day on which
public announcement is first made of the date of the Special Meeting and of the nominees proposed
by the Directors to be elected at such meeting. In no event shall the public announcement of a
postponement or adjournment of a Special Meeting to a later date or time commence a new time period
for the giving of a Stockholders notice as described above.
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(c) General.
(i) Only such persons who are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section 13 shall be eligible to be elected as Directors and only such business shall be
conducted at a meeting of Stockholders as shall have been brought before the meeting in accordance
with the procedures set forth in this Section 13. The chairman of the meeting shall have the power
and duty to determine whether a nomination or any business proposed to be brought before the
meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section 13 and, if any proposed nomination or business is not in compliance with this Section
13, to declare that such nomination or proposal shall be disregarded.
(ii) For purposes of this Section 13, public announcement shall mean disclosure in a
press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press or comparable news service
or in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the Securities and Exchange Commission
pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
(iii) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 13, a Stockholder shall
also comply with all applicable requirements of state law and of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section 13. Nothing in this
Section 13 shall be deemed to affect any rights of Stockholders to request inclusion of proposals
in, nor the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporations proxy statement
pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act.
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Section 14. Informal Action by Stockholders.
(a) Any action by Stockholders may be taken without a meeting, if a majority of shares of
stock entitled to vote on the matter (or such larger proportion of shares of stock as shall be
required to take such action) consent to the action in writing and the written consents are filed
with the records of the meetings of Stockholders.
(b) In order that the Corporation may determine the Stockholders entitled to consent to
action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record
date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the
Board of Directors, and which date shall not be more than ten (10) days after the date upon which
the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board of Directors. Any Stockholder of
record seeking to have the Stockholders authorize or take action by written consent shall, by
written notice to the Secretary of the Corporation, request the Board of Directors to fix a record
date. The Board of Directors shall promptly, but in all events within ten (10) days of the date on
which such a request is received, adopt a resolution fixing the record
date. If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors within ten (10) days of the
date on which such a request is received and no prior action by the Board of Directors is required
by applicable law, the record date for determining Stockholders entitled to consent to action in
writing without a meeting shall be the first date on which a signed written consent setting forth
the action taken or proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its
registered office in the State of Maryland, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of
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the Corporation having custody of the book in which proceedings of Stockholders meetings are
recorded, in each case to the attention of the Secretary of Corporation. Delivery shall be by hand
or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no record date has been fixed by
the Board of Directors within ten (10) days of the date on which such a request is received and
prior action by the Board of Directors is required by applicable law, the record date for
determining Stockholders entitled to consent to action in writing without a meeting shall be at the
close of business on the date on which the Board of Directors adopts the resolution taking such
prior action.
Section 15. Voting by Ballot. Voting on any question or in any election may be by
voice unless the presiding officer shall order or any Stockholder shall demand that voting be by
ballot.
ARTICLE III
DIRECTORS
Section 1. Number. The number of directors (Directors) which shall constitute
the whole Board shall be no fewer than three (3) and no more than twelve (12). Such numbers may be
altered (but not to less than three (3)) by amendment to this By-law.
Section 2. Selection. The Directors shall be elected at the Annual Meeting of the
Stockholders, except as provided in Section 5 of this Article, and except that the first Directors
of the Corporation were named in the Articles of Incorporation, each Director elected shall hold
office until the next Annual Meeting of the Stockholders and until the Directors successor is
elected and qualified, or until the Directors earlier resignation or removal.
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Section 3. Composition. A majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall,
except during the period of a vacancy or vacancies therein, be Independent Directors, as such
term is defined or construed from time to time in the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission, the rules and regulations of any stock exchange or
automated interdealer quotation system on which any shares of stock of the Corporation are listed
or quoted, and other laws and regulations applicable to the Corporation.
Section 4. Resignation; Removal. Any Director may resign at any time upon written
notice to the Corporation. Any Director may be removed, with or without cause, by the vote or
written consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Common Stock then
entitled to vote for the election of Directors.
Section 5. Vacancies. If for any reason any or all the Directors cease to be
Directors, such event shall not terminate the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of
the remaining Directors hereunder (even if fewer than three Directors remain). Subject to the
rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred shares then outstanding, any
vacancy on the Board of Directors (including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of
Directors) shall be filled by a majority of the remaining Directors or, if the remaining Directors
fail to act or there is no remaining Director, by the votes of holders of at least a
majority of the shares of stock entitled to vote thereon and present in person or by proxy at
any meeting of the Stockholders called for that purpose. Any individual so elected as Director
shall hold office for the unexpired term of the Director he or she is replacing.
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Section 6. Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may elect from among the
Directors a Chairman of the Board of Directors by affirmative vote of a majority of the full Board
of Directors taken at any regular or special meeting of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall
act as chairman at all meetings of the Stockholders at which the Chairman of the Board is present
and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors at which the Chairman of the Board is
present. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, the duties of the Chairman of the Board shall
be performed and the authority of the Chairman of the Board may be exercised by the Vice Chairman
of the Board.
Section 7. Vice Chairman of the Board. The Board of Directors may elect from
among the Directors a Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors by affirmative vote of a majority of
the full Board of Directors taken at any regular or special meeting of Directors. The Vice Chairman
of the Board shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board, act as chairman at all meetings of
the Stockholders at which the Vice Chairman of the Board is present and shall preside at all
meetings of the Board of Directors at which the Vice Chairman of the Board is present.
Section 8. General 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 Articles of Incorporation or by these
Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the Stockholders. A Director shall be an
individual at least twenty-one (21) years of age who is not under legal disability. In case of
failure to elect Directors at an Annual Meeting of Stockholders, the Directors holding over shall
continue to direct the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation until their
successors are elected and qualify.
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Section 9. Place of Meetings. The Board of Directors of the Corporation may hold
meetings, both regular and special, either within or without the State of Maryland at such place or
places as the Board may from time to time designate (in the case of regular meetings) or as shall
be specified in the notice of such meeting (in the case of special meetings).
Section 10. Regular Meetings. The Directors may provide, by resolution, the time
and place, either within or without the State of Maryland, for the holding of regular meetings of
the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.
Section 11. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board may be called by the
Chairman or the Chief Executive Officer; special meetings shall also be called by the Chairman or
Secretary pursuant to the written request of a majority of the Directors.
Section 12. Notice. Notice of any special meeting of the Board shall be given by
written notice delivered personally, telegraphed, facsimile-transmitted, mailed electronically or
mailed to each Director at the Directors business or residence address. Personally delivered or
telegraphed notices shall be given at least two (2) days prior to the meeting. Notice by mail shall
be given at least five (5) days prior to the meeting. Telephone, facsimile-transmitted or
electronically mailed notice shall be given at least twenty-four (24) hours prior to the meeting.
If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail
properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. If given by telegram, such notice shall be deemed
to be given when the telegram is delivered to the telegraph company. Telephone notice
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shall be deemed given when the Director is personally given such notice in a telephone call to
which the Director is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission
of the message to the electronic mail address previously given by the Director to, and on file
with, the Corporation. Facsimile-transmission notice shall be deemed given upon completion of the
transmission of the message to the number previously given by the Director to, and on file with,
the Corporation and receipt of a completed transmission report confirming delivery. Neither the
business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the
Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.
Section 13. Quorum; Voting.
(a) At all meetings of the Board, a majority of the total number of Directors shall
constitute a quorum for the transaction of business and the act of a majority of the Directors
present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board of Directors,
unless statute, the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws require a greater proportion.
(b) 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 of the time and place of the adjourned meeting, until a quorum shall be
present.
(c) The Directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and convened may
continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal of enough Directors
to leave less than a quorum.
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Section 14. Telephone Meetings. Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a
conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all persons participating in the
meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall
constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 15. Action by Written Consent. Unless otherwise restricted by the
Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted to be taken at any
meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting, if all members of the Board
consent thereto in writing, and if the writing or writings are filed with the minutes of
proceedings of the Board.
Section 16. Compensation; Financial Assistance. Directors shall not receive any
stated salary for their services as Directors but, by resolution of the Directors, may receive
compensation per year and/or per meeting and for any service or activity they performed or engaged
in as Directors. Directors may be reimbursed for expenses of attendance, if any, at each annual,
regular or special meeting of the Directors or of any committee thereof; and for their expenses, if
any, in connection with any other service or activity performed or engaged in as Directors; but
nothing herein contained shall be construed to preclude any Directors from serving the Corporation
in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.
Section 17. Loss of Deposits. No Director shall be liable for any loss which may
occur by reason of the failure of the bank, trust company, savings and loan association, or other
institution with whom moneys or shares have been deposited.
Section 18. Surety Bonds. Unless required by law, no Director shall be obligated
to give any bond or surety or other security for the performance of any of the Directors duties.
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ARTICLE IV
COMMITTEES
Section 1. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution passed by a
majority of the whole Board, designate one or more committees, each committee to consist of two or
more of the Directors of the Corporation and the Board may designate one or more Directors as
alternate members of any committee, who may replace any absent or disqualified member at any
meeting of the committee; provided, however, that the majority of the members of the Corporations
audit committee, and at least one (1) member of each and any other committee, except during the
period of a vacancy or vacancies therein, shall be Independent Directors. Any such committee, to
the extent provided in the resolution, and subject to any restrictions imposed by statute, shall
have and may exercise the powers of the Board of Directors in the management of the business and
affairs of the Corporation, except the power to (i) declare dividends or distributions of stock;
(ii) issue stock, except in accordance with resolution of the Board or by adoption of a stock
option or other plan; (iii) recommend to the Stockholders any action which requires Stockholder
approval; (iv) amend these Bylaws; (v) approve any merger or share exchange which does not require
Stockholder approval; or (vi) take such other action which may be from time to time prohibited by
the Maryland General Corporation Law. Such committee or committees may also authorize the seal of
the Corporation to be affixed to all papers which may require it.
Section 2. Meetings. Each committee may designate a chairman of such committee.
Meetings of any committee may be called by or at the request of the chairman of the committee, the
Chief Executive Officer or by a majority of the members of the committee. The person or
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persons authorized to call meetings of any committee may fix any place, either within or without
the State of Maryland, as the place for holding any meetings of the committee called by them. 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 the member
or members 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.
Section 3. Notice of Committee Meetings. Notice of committee meetings shall be
given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors.
Section 4. Quorum for Committee Meetings. The presence of a majority of the total
membership of any committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any
meeting of such committee and the act of a majority of those present shall be necessary and
sufficient for the taking of any action at such meeting.
Section 5. Vacancies, Removal and Dissolution. Subject to the provisions hereof,
the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership of any committee,
to fill all vacancies, to designate alternative members to replace any absent or disqualified
member, or to dissolve any such committee.
Section 6. Telephone Meetings. Members of a committee may participate in a
committee meeting by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment if all
persons participating in the committee meeting can hear each other at the same time. Participation
in a committee meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the committee meeting.
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Section 7. Informal Action by Committees. Any action required or permitted to be taken
at any committee meeting may be taken without a committee meeting, if a consent in writing to such
action is signed by each member of the committee and such written consent is filed with the minutes
of proceedings of the committee.
Section 8. Minutes of Committees. Each committee shall keep regular minutes of
its meetings and report the same to the Board of Directors when required.
ARTICLE V
WAIVER OF NOTICE
Section 1. Waiver. Whenever any notice is required to be given under the
provisions of any applicable statute or of the Articles of Incorporation or of these Bylaws, 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. Attendance of a person at a
meeting of Stockholders, Directors, or a committee of Directors, shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except where such person attends a meeting for the express purpose of
objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully called
or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any regular or special
meeting of the Stockholders, Directors, or members of a committee of Directors need to be specified
in any written waiver of notice unless so required by the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
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ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 1. Number; Qualification. The officers of the Corporation shall include a
Chief Executive Officer, a President, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. The officers of the Corporation
may also include the Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents, including Executive Vice
Presidents and Senior Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Treasurers or Assistant Secretaries,
and any other officers with such powers and duties as necessary or desirable. Any number of offices
may be held by the same person unless the Articles of Incorporation or these Bylaws provide
otherwise, but the President may not serve concurrently as Vice President.
Section 2. Election. The following officers of the Corporation shall be elected
annually by the Board of Directors: a Chief Executive Officer, a President, any Executive Vice
Presidents, a Treasurer, and a Secretary. The Chief Executive Officer or President may from time to
time appoint one or more Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents (not designated as Executive Vice
President), Assistant Treasurers, Assistant Secretaries, and any other officers. Each officer shall
hold office until the officers successor is elected and qualifies or until the officers death,
resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Election of an officer or agent shall
not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent.
Section 3. Compensation. The salaries of all officers and agents of the
Corporation shall be fixed by or in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.
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Section 4. Removal and Resignation. Any officer elected or appointed by the Board of
Directors may be removed at any time by the affirmative vote of a majority of the whole Board if,
in its judgment, the Board finds that the best interests of the Corporation will be served, but
such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual rights of any person so removed. Any
officer may resign at any time upon written notice to the Corporation. Any officer appointed by
either the Chief Executive Officer or the President may be removed by either the Chief Executive
Officer or the President if, in such officers judgment, the officer finds that the best interests
of the Corporation will be served, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contractual
rights of any person so removed. Any resignation shall take effect at any time subsequent to the
time specified therein or, if the time when it shall become effective is not specified therein,
immediately upon its receipt. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it
effective unless otherwise stated in resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to
the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.
Section 5. Vacancy. Any vacancy occurring in any office of the Corporation shall
be filled by or in the manner prescribed by the Board of Directors.
Section 6. Chief Executive Officer. The Directors may designate a Chief Executive
Officer from among the elected officers. The Chief Executive Officer shall direct, coordinate and
control the Corporations business and activities and its operating expenses and capital
expenditures, and shall have general authority to exercise all the powers necessary for the chief
executive officer of the Corporation, all in accordance with basic policies established by and
subject to the control of the Board of Directors. The Chief Executive Officer may employ and
discharge employees and agents of the Corporation, except such as shall be appointed by the
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Board, and the Chief Executive Officer may delegate these powers. The Chief Executive Officer shall
have general authority to execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name and on behalf of the
Corporation.
Section 7. President. In the absence of a designation of a Chief Executive
Officer by the Directors, the President shall be the chief executive officer. The President shall
have general authority to execute bonds, deeds and contracts in the name and on behalf of the
Corporation, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the
Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the Corporation or shall be required
by law to be otherwise executed; and in general shall perform all duties incident to the office of
President and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Directors from time to time.
Section 8. Vice President. In the absence of the President, the Vice President
(or in the event there be more than one Vice President, the Vice Presidents in the order of
seniority designated at the time of their election or, in the absence of any designation, then in
the order of their election) shall perform the duties of the President, and when so acting, shall
have all the powers of and be subject to all the restrictions upon the president. The Vice
President shall generally assist the Chairman of the Board and the President and shall perform such
other duties and have such other powers as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
The Directors may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Executive Vice President, Senior Vice
President or as Vice President for particular areas of responsibility.
Section 9. Secretary. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Board of
Directors and meetings of the Stockholders and shall record all the proceedings of the meetings of
the Stockholders and of the Board of Directors in a book to be kept for that purpose. The
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Secretary shall give, or cause to be given, required notice of all meetings of the Stockholders and
the Board of Directors, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of
Directors. The Secretary shall have custody of the stock certificate books and Stockholder records and such other
books and records as the Board of Directors may direct. The Secretary shall have custody of the
corporate seal of the Corporation and shall have authority to affix the same to any instrument
requiring it and when so affixed, it may be attested by the Secretarys signature. The Board of
Directors may give general authority to any other officer to affix the seal of the Corporation and
to attest the affixing thereof by the Secretarys signature.
Section 10. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have custody of the corporate funds
and securities and shall keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books
belonging to the Corporation and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name
and to the credit of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the Board of
Directors and shall disburse the funds of the Corporation as may be ordered by the Board of
Directors, taking proper vouchers for such disbursements, and shall render to the Chairman of the
Board of Directors, at its regular meetings, or when the Board of Directors so requires, an account
of all the Treasurers transactions as treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.
If required by the Directors, the Treasurer shall give the trust a bond in such sum and with such
surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the Directors for the faithful performance of the
duties of the office and for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of the Treasurers death,
resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers, moneys and other
property of whatever kind in the Treasurers possession or under the Treasurers control belonging
to the Corporation. The Treasurer shall perform such other duties and have such other powers as the
Board of Directors or Chairman may from time to time prescribe.
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Section 11. Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers. The Assistant Secretaries
and Assistant Treasurers, in general, shall perform such duties as shall be assigned to them by the
Secretary or Treasurer, respectively, or by the Chief Executive Officer or the Directors. The
Assistant Treasurers shall, if required by the Directors, give bonds for the faithful performance
of their duties in such sums and with such surety or sureties as shall be satisfactory to the
Directors.
ARTICLE VII
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK
Section 1. Form and Number. Every holder of stock in the Corporation shall be
entitled to have a certificate signed by, or in the name of the Corporation by the Chairman of the
Board, the President or the Vice President and countersigned by the Treasurer, the Secretary or an
Assistant Treasurer or Assistant Secretary certifying the number of shares owned by the holder in
the Corporation. Any or all of the signatures on the certificate may be facsimile. In case any
officer, transfer agent or registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed
upon a certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar before such
certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation as if the officer, transfer agent or
registrar were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date of issue. Each certificate
representing shares of stock which are restricted as to their transferability or voting powers,
which are preferred or limited as to their dividends or as to their allocable portion of the assets
upon liquidation or which are redeemable at the option of the Corporation, shall have a statement
of such restriction, limitation, preference or redemption provision, or a summary thereof, plainly
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stated on the certificate. In lieu of such statement or summary, the Corporation may set forth upon
the face or back of the certificate a statement that the Corporation will furnish to any
Stockholder, upon request and without charge, a full statement of such information.
Section 2. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct that a new stock
certificate or certificates 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 owner claiming the certificate of stock to be lost, stolen or
destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate, the Board of Directors may, in its
discretion and a condition precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost,
stolen or destroyed certificate or certificates, or the owners legal representative, 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 alleged to have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
Section 3. Transfer of Shares. Certificates shall be treated as negotiable, and
title thereto and to the shares they represent shall be transferred by delivery thereof to the same
extent as those of a Maryland stock corporation. No transfers of shares of the Company shall be
made if (i) void ab initio pursuant to any provision of the Articles of Incorporation, (ii) the
Board of Directors, pursuant to any provision of the Articles of Incorporation or other written
agreement between or among any Stockholder(s) and the Corporation, shall have refused to permit the
transfer of such shares, or (iii) the shares have not been registered under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the Act), or under applicable state blue-sky or securities laws, unless
exemptions from the registration requirements of the Act and applicable state blue-sky or
securities laws are, in the opinion of counsel, satisfactory to the Corporation, for the transferor,
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available. Permitted transfers of shares of the Corporation shall be made on the stock records of
the Corporation only upon the instruction of the registered holder thereof, or by the registered
holders attorney thereunto authorized by power of attorney duly executed and filed with the
Secretary or with a transfer agent or transfer clerk, and upon surrender of the certificate or
certificates, if issued, for such shares properly endorsed or accompanied by a duly executed stock
transfer power and the payment of all taxes thereon. Upon surrender to the Corporation or the
transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares accompanied by proper evidence of
authority to transfer, as to any transfers not prohibited by any provision of the Articles of
Incorporation or by action of the Board of Directors thereunder, the Corporation shall issue a new
certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction
upon its books.
Section 4. Fixing Record Date. In order that the Corporation may determine the
Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of Stockholders or any adjournment
thereof, to receive payment of any dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock or for the purpose of
any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which shall not be more than
ninety (90) nor less than ten (10) days before the date of a Stockholders meeting, nor more than
ninety (90) days prior to the payment of such dividends, the distribution or exercise of such
rights or the taking of any other lawful action.
In lieu of fixing a record date, the Directors may provide that the stock transfer books
shall be closed for a stated period but not longer than twenty (20) days. If the stock transfer
books are closed for the purpose of determining Stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a
meeting of Stockholders, such books shall be closed for at least ten (10) days before the date of
such meeting.
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If no record date is fixed and the stock transfer books are not closed for the determination
of Stockholders, (a) the record date for the determination of Stockholders entitled to notice of or
to vote at a meeting of Stockholders shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
notice of meeting is mailed or the 30th day before the meeting, whichever is
the closer date to the meeting; and (b) the record date for the determination of Stockholders
entitled to receive payment of a dividend or an allotment of any other rights shall be the close of
business on the day on which the resolution of the Directors, declaring the
dividend or allotment of rights, is adopted, but the payment or allotment may not be made more
than sixty (60) days after the date on which the resolution is adopted.
When a determination of Stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of Stockholders has
been made as provided in this section, such determination shall apply to any adjournment thereof,
except when (i) the determination has been made through the closing of the transfer books and the
stated period of closing has expired or (ii) the meeting is adjourned to a date more than one
hundred twenty (120) days after the record date fixed for the original meeting, in either of which
case a new record date shall be determined set forth herein.
Section 5. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled to treat
the record holder of any shares of stock of the Corporation as the owner thereof for all purposes,
including all rights deriving from such shares, and except as required by law shall not be bound to
recognize any equitable or other claim to, or interest in, such shares or rights deriving from such
shares, on the part of any other person, including, but without limiting the generality
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thereof, a purchaser, assignee or transferee of such shares or rights deriving from such shares,
unless and until such purchaser, assignee, transferee or other person becomes the record holder of
such shares, whether or not the Corporation shall have either actual or constructive notice of the
interest of such purchaser, assignee, transferee or other person. Except as required by law, no
such purchaser, assignee, transferee or other person shall be entitled to receive notice of the
meetings of Stockholders, to vote at such meetings, to examine a complete list of the Stockholders
entitled to vote at meetings, or to own, enjoy, and exercise any other property or rights deriving
from such shares against the Corporation, until such purchaser, assignee, transferee or other
person has become the record holder of such shares.
Section 6. Fractional Shares; Issuance of Units. The Directors may issue
fractional shares or provide for the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions
as they may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Articles of Incorporation or
these Bylaws, the Directors may issue units consisting of different securities of the Corporation.
Any security issued in a unit shall have the same characteristics as any identical securities
issued by the Corporation, except that the Directors may provide that for a specified period
securities of the Corporation issued in such units may be transferred on the books of the
Corporation only in such units.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS
Section 1. Right to Indemnification. To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland
law in effect from time to time, the Corporation shall indemnify and, without requiring a
preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, shall pay or reimburse
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reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding to (a) any individual who is a
present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who is made a party to the proceeding
by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director of the
Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer,
partner or trustee of such corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, joint venture,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who is made a party to the proceeding by
reason of his or her service in that capacity. To the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in
effect from time to time, the Corporation shall provide such indemnification and advance for
expenses to a person who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities
described in (a) or (b) above and to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of
the Corporation.
Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article, nor the adoption or amendment of any
other provision of the Bylaws or Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation inconsistent with
this Article, shall apply to or affect in any respect the applicability of the preceding paragraph
with respect to any act or failure to act which occurred prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
Section 2. Indemnification of Employees and Agents of the Corporation. With the
approval of the Board of Directors, the Corporation shall, to the maximum extent permitted by the
Maryland law in effect from time to time, and to such further extent as it shall deem appropriate
under the circumstances, provide such indemnification and advancement of expenses as described in
Section 1 above, to any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.
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Section 3. Insurance. The Corporation shall have the power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
partner, manager, member, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited
liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise, against any
liability asserted against such person and incurred by such person in any such capacity, or arising
out of such persons status as such, whether or not the Corporation would have the power to
indemnify such person against such liability under the specified statutory authority, the Articles
of Incorporation or the provisions of this Article.
Section 4. Reliance on Certain Information. In performing a Directors duties, a
Director shall be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any
financial statement or other financial data, in each case prepared or presented by any of the
following:
(a) One or more officers or employees of the Corporation whom the Director reasonably
believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented.
(b) A lawyer, certified public accountant, or other person as to matters which a Director
reasonably believes to be within the persons professional or expert competence.
(c) A committee of the Board of Directors upon which the Director does not serve, as to
matters within its designated authority, which the Director reasonably believes to merit
confidence; provided however that a Director shall not be considered to be acting in good faith if
the Director has any knowledge concerning the matter in question that would cause the Directors
reliance to be unwarranted.
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ARTICLE IX
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 1. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be from January
1 through December 31.
Section 2. Deposits; Checks. The Corporation shall establish a bank account for
deposit of the funds of the Corporation and the drawing of checks or drafts thereon. All checks or
drafts drawn on such account shall require the signature of such officer or officers, agent or
agents of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Directors.
The appointment of additional signatories of the
bank account and the opening of additional bank accounts shall require the approval of the
Board of Directors or such officers of the Corporation as shall from time to time be determined by
the Directors.
Section 3. Contracts. The Directors may authorize any officer or agent to enter
into any contract or to 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. Any agreement,
deed, mortgage, lease or other document executed by one or more of the Directors or by an
authorized person shall be valid and binding upon the Directors and upon the Corporation when
authorized or ratified by action of the Directors.
Section 4. Corporate Seal. The corporate seal shall have inscribed thereon the
name of the Corporation, the year of its organization and the words Corporate Seal, Maryland. The
seal may be used by causing it or a facsimile thereof to be impressed or affixed or reproduced or
otherwise.
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ARTICLE X
[Reserved]
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Section 1. Articles of Incorporation. Subject to the terms of the Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation, these Bylaws may be repealed or amended, or new Bylaws adopted,
by the Board of Directors; provided, however that the Board of Directors shall have no power or
authority to modify, alter or repeal Section 3 or Section 5(a) of Article III, Section 1 of Article
IV or this Article XI, and that the affirmative vote of that portion of the then outstanding Common
Stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors necessary to approve an amendment to
the Corporations Articles of Incorporation pursuant to the Maryland General Corporation Law shall
be required to approve such modification, alteration or repeal.
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CERTIFICATION
OF
FIRST AMENDMENT TO
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS
OF
COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.
I, Julian E. Whitehurst, certify that I am the Executive Vice President, Chief Operating
Officer and Secretary of Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the
Corporation), that I am duly authorized to make and deliver this certification, and that the
attached Exhibit A reflects a true and correct copy of the First Amendment to the Third
Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Corporation adopted by the Corporations Board of Directors on
April 28, 2006, and effective as of May 1, 2006.
Dated: April 28, 2006
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/s/ Julian E. Whitehurst
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Julian E. Whitehurst |
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Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer and Secretary |
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FIRST AMENDMENT TO THE
THIRD AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS OF
COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.
1. This First Amendment to the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of Commercial Net Lease
Realty, Inc. (the Bylaws) shall be effective as of May 1, 2006.
2. Article I, Section 1. is hereby amended by striking the first sentence and inserting in
lieu thereof the following:
The registered office of National Retail Properties, Inc. (the Corporation) shall be 300
East Lombard Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21202.
3. All references in the Bylaws to the Corporation shall mean National Retail Properties,
Inc.
In Witness Whereof, this First Amendment is executed as of the 28th day of April,
2006.
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COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.,
a Maryland corporation
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By: |
/s/ Julian E. Whitehurst
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Julian E. Whitehurst |
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Executive Vice President,
Chief Operating Officer and Secretary |
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