SECTION 1. Annual Meeting. . The annual meeting of shareholders of WGL Holdings,
Inc. (the "Company") shall be held at such time and place within or without the state of Virginia
as shall be determined by the Board of Directors and as shall be stated in the notice of the
meeting. The meeting shall be held for the purpose of electing directors and for the transaction
of such other business as properly may come before such meeting.
SECTION 2. Special Meetings. Special meetings of shareholders may be held upon
call by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Secretary, a majority of the Board of
Directors, or a majority of the Executive Committee, and shall be called by the Chairman of the
Board, the President or Secretary upon the request in writing of the holders of record of not less
than one-tenth of all the outstanding shares of stock entitled by its terms to vote at such
meeting, at such time and at such place within or without the state of Virginia as may be fixed in
the call and stated in the notice setting forth such call. Such request by the shareholders and
such notice shall state the purpose of the proposed meeting.
SECTION 3.Notice of Meetings. Notice of the time, place and purpose of every
meeting of the shareholders, shall, except as otherwise required by law, be delivered personally
or mailed at least ten (10) but not more than sixty (60) days prior to the date of such meeting to
each shareholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting at his or her address as it appears on
the records of the Company. Any meeting may be held without notice if all of the shareholders
entitled to vote thereat are present in person or by proxy at the meeting, or if notice is waived by
those not so present in person or by proxy.
SECTION 4.Quorum. At every meeting of the shareholders, the holders of record of
a majority of the shares entitled to vote at the meeting, represented in person or by proxy, shall
constitute a quorum. The vote of the majority of such quorum shall be necessary for the
transaction of any business, unless otherwise provided by law or the articles of incorporation. If
the meeting cannot be organized because a quorum has not attended, those present in person
or by proxy may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present when any
business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as originally called.
SECTION 5. Voting and Proxies. Unless otherwise provided by law or the articles of
incorporation, every shareholder of record entitled to vote at any meeting of shareholders shall
be entitled to one vote for every share of stock standing in his or her name on the records of the
Company on the record date fixed as provided in these Bylaws. In the election of directors, all
votes shall be cast by ballot and the persons having the greatest number of votes shall be the
directors. On matters other than election of directors, votes may be cast in such manner as the
Chairman of the meeting may designate.
Shareholders of record and entitled to vote may vote at any meeting held, in person or
by proxy, authorized by any means permitted by the Virginia Stock Corporation Act or other
applicable law.
SECTION 6. Inspectors. The Board of Directors shall annually appoint two or more
persons to act as inspectors or judges at any election of directors or vote conducted by ballot at
any meeting of shareholders. Such inspectors or judges of election shall take charge of the polls
and after the balloting shall make a certificate of the result of the vote taken. In case of a failure
to appoint inspectors, or in case an inspector shall fail to attend, or refuse or be unable to serve,
the Chairman of the meeting may appoint, or the shareholders may elect, an inspector or
inspectors to act at such meeting. Such inspector or inspectors shall make a certificate of the
result of the vote taken.
SECTION 7. Conduct of Shareholders' Meeting. The following persons, in the order
named, shall be entitled to call each shareholders' meeting to order: (1) the Chairman of the
Board, (2) the President of the Company, (3) a Vice President, or (4) any person elected by the
shareholders. The shareholders shall have the right to elect a Chairman of the meeting.
The Secretary of the Company, or in his or her absence any person appointed by the
Chairman, shall act as Secretary of the meeting for organization purposes. The shareholders
shall have the right to elect a secretary of the meeting.
SECTION 8. Record Date. In lieu of closing the stock transfer books, the Board of
Directors, in order to make a determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting, or to receive payment of any dividends or for any other proper purpose, may fix in
advance a date, but not more than seventy days in advance, as a record date for such
determination, and in such case only shareholders of record on the date so fixed shall be
entitled to notice of, and to vote at, such meeting, or to receive payment of such dividend, or to
exercise such other rights, as the case may be, notwithstanding any transfer of stock on the
books of the Company after such date. If the Board of Directors does not fix a record date as
aforesaid, such date shall be as provided by law.
SECTION 9. Notice of Business. At any meeting of the shareholders, only such
business shall be conducted as shall have been brought before the meeting (1) by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or (2) by any shareholder of the Company who is a
shareholder of record at the time of giving of the notice as provided for in this Section 9, who
shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with the following procedures:
Requirement of Timely Notice. For business to be properly brought before a
meeting of shareholders by a shareholder, the business shall be a proper subject of
shareholder action and the shareholder shall have given timely notice thereof in writing
to the Secretary. To be timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and
received by the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Company not less than
sixty (60) days prior to the scheduled date of the meeting (regardless of any
postponements, deferrals or adjournments of the meeting to a later date); provided,
however, if no notice is given and no public announcement is made to the shareholders
regarding the date of the meeting at least 75 days prior to the meeting, the shareholder's
notice shall be valid if delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the
principal executive office of the Company not less than fifteen (15) days following the
day on which the notice or public announcement of the date of the meeting was given or
made.
Contents of Notice. Such shareholder's notice to the Secretary shall set forth
as to each item of business the shareholder proposes to bring before the meeting (1) a
brief description of the business desired to be brought before the meeting, the reasons
for conducting such business at the meeting and, in the event that such business
includes a proposal to amend either the articles of incorporation or these Bylaws, the
language of the proposed amendment, (2) the name and address, as they appear on the
Company's books, of the shareholder proposing such business, (3) the class and
number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are beneficially owned by such
shareholder, and (4) any material interest (financial or other) of such shareholder in such
business.
Compliance with Bylaws. Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the
contrary, no business shall be conducted at a shareholders' meeting except in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 9. The Chairman of the meeting
shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that the business was
not properly brought before the meeting and in accordance with the provisions of these
Bylaws, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so declare to the meeting
and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be transacted
at the meeting. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9, a shareholder
shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder with respect to the matters
set forth in this Section 9.
Effective Date of Shareholder Business. Notwithstanding anything in these
Bylaws to the contrary, no business brought before a meeting of the shareholders by a
shareholder shall become effective until the final termination of any proceeding which
may have been commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction for an adjudication of
any legal issues incident to determining the validity of such business and the procedure
pursuant to which it was brought before the shareholders, unless and until such court
shall have determined that such proceedings are not being pursued expeditiously and in
good faith.
ARTICLE II: Board of Directors.
SECTION 1. Number, Powers, Term of Office, Quorum, Lead Director. The Board
of Directors of the Company shall consist of one or more individuals as may be fixed from time
to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all the powers of the
Company and do all acts and things which are proper to be done by the Company which are not
by law or by these Bylaws directed or required to be exercised or done by the shareholders. The
members of the Board of Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of shareholders and
shall hold office until the next succeeding annual meeting, or until their successors shall be
elected and shall qualify. A majority of the number of directors shall constitute a quorum for the
transaction of business. The action of a majority of the directors present at any lawful meeting at
which there is a quorum shall, except as otherwise provided by law or by these Bylaws, be the
action of the Board. The Board of Directors shall have a Lead Director, who shall be an
independent director, not an employee of the Company. The powers and responsibilities of the
Lead Director shall be established by the Board of Directors and shall be set forth in the Corporate Governance Guidelines of the Company. The powers and responsibilities of the Lead
Director may be modified from time to time at the discretion of the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Election. Except as provided in Section 3 hereof, directors shall be
elected by the shareholders of the Company pursuant to the procedures enumerated below:
Eligible Persons. Only persons who are nominated in accordance with the
following procedures shall be eligible for election by the shareholders as directors of the
Company.
Nominations. Nominations of persons for election as directors of the Company
may be made at a meeting of shareholders (1) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, (2) by any committee or person appointed by the Board of Directors or (3) by
any shareholder of the Company entitled to vote for the election of directors at the
meeting who complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 2.
Nomination by Directors or Committee. Nominations made by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or the committee or person appointed by the Board of
Directors may be made at any time prior to the shareholders' meeting. The Board of
Directors must send notice of nominations to the shareholders together with the notice of
the meeting of the shareholders; provided, however, if the nominations are made after
the notice of the meeting has been mailed, the Board of Directors must send notice of its
nominations to the shareholders as soon as practicable.
Nomination by Shareholders. Nominations, other than those made by or at the
direction of the Board of Directors or the committee or person appointed by the Board of
Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary. To be
timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered to or mailed and received by the
Secretary at the principal executive office of the Company not less than sixty (60) days
prior to the scheduled date of the meeting (regardless of any postponements, deferrals
or adjournments of the meeting to a later date); provided, however, if no notice is given
and no public announcement is made to the shareholders regarding the date of the
meeting at least 75 days prior to the meeting, the shareholder's notice shall be valid if
delivered to or mailed and received by the Secretary at the principal executive office of
the Company not less than fifteen (15) days following the day on which the notice or
public announcement of the date of the meeting was given or made.
Contents of Notice. Nominations, other than those made by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors or the committee or person appointed by the Board of
Directors, shall set forth:
(1) as to each person whom the shareholder proposes to nominate for
election or reelection as a director, (a) the name, age, business address and
residential address of the person, (b) the principal occupation or employment of
the person (c) the class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company
that are beneficially owned by the person, (d) written consent by the person,
agreeing to serve as director if elected, (e) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the person and the shareholder regarding the
nomination, (f) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the
person and any other person or persons (naming such persons) regarding the
nomination, (g) all information relating to the person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations for proxies for election of directors pursuant to Rule 14a
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and (h) such other
information as the Company may reasonably request to determine the eligibility
of such proposed nominee to serve as director of the Company; and
(2) as to the shareholder giving the notice, (a) the name, business
address and residential address of the shareholder giving the notice, (b) the
class and number of shares of capital stock of the Company that are beneficially
owned by such shareholder, (c) a description of all arrangements or
understandings between the shareholder and the nominee regarding the
nomination, and (d) a description of all arrangements or understandings between
the shareholder and any other person or persons (naming such persons)
regarding the nomination.
Compliance with Bylaws.No person shall be eligible for election by the
shareholders as a director of the Company unless nominated in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this section of the Bylaws. The Chairman of the Board of
Directors shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare prior to the meeting of
shareholders that the nomination was not made in accordance with the foregoing
procedure, and if he or she should so determine, he or she shall so inform the nominee
and the shareholder who nominated the nominee as soon as practicable and the
defective nomination shall be disregarded.
Effective Date of Election of Director. Notwithstanding anything in these
Bylaws to the contrary, no election of a director nominated by a shareholder shall
become effective until the final termination of any proceeding which may have been
commenced in any court of competent jurisdiction for an adjudication of any legal issues
incident to determining the procedure pursuant to which the nomination of such director
was brought before the shareholders, unless and until such court shall have determined
that such proceedings are not being pursued expeditiously and in good faith.
SECTION 3. Vacancies. If a vacancy occurs on the board of directors, including a
vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of directors:
(a) the shareholders may fill the vacancy;
(b) the board of directors may fill the vacancy; or
(c) if the directors remaining in office constitute fewer than a quorum
of the board, they may fill the vacancy by the affirmative vote of
a majority of directors remaining in office.
A vacancy that will occur at a specific later date, by reason of a resignation
effective at a later date, may be filled before the vacancy occurs
but the new director may not take office until the vacancy occurs.
A director elected to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired
term of his or her predecessor in office. A director filling a position
resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall hold office
until the next annual meeting of shareholders and until his or her
successor is elected and qualified.
SECTION 4. Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at such time and
place as provided by resolution of the Board of Directors or as stated in the notice of the
meeting.
Special meetings of the Board may be called by the Chairman of the Board, the
President of the Company, the Lead Director or by any two directors. The Lead Director may
call meetings of the independent directors, who shall not be employees of the Company. At
least two days' notice of all special meetings of the Board shall be given to each director
personally by telegraphic, electronic or written notice. Any meeting may be held without notice if
all of the directors are present, or if those not present waive notice of the meeting by telegram,
electronic communication or in writing. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be held
within or without the state of Virginia.
SECTION 5. Committees. The Board of Directors shall, by resolution or resolutions
passed by a majority of the whole Board, designate an Executive Committee, to consist of the
Chief Executive Officer of the Company who may be the Chairman of the Board, or the
President and three additional members, and not fewer than three alternates to serve at the call
of the Chief Executive Officer in case of the unavoidable absence of one of the regular
members, to be elected from the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall, when the
Board is not in session, have and may exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors in
the management of the business and affairs of the Company.
The Board of Directors may appoint other committees, standing or special, from time to
time, from among their own number, or otherwise, and confer powers on such committees, and
revoke such powers and terminate the existence of such committees at its pleasure.
A majority of the members of any such committee shall constitute a quorum for the
purpose of fixing the time and place of its meetings, unless the Board shall otherwise provide.
All action taken by any such committee shall be reported to the Board at its meeting next
succeeding such action.
SECTION 6. Compensation of Directors. The Board of Directors shall fix the fee to
be paid to each director for attendance at any meeting of the Board or of any committee thereof,
and may, in its discretion, authorize payment to directors of traveling expenses incurred in
attending any such meeting.
SECTION 7. Removal. Any director may be removed from office at any time, with or
without cause, and another be elected in his or her place, by the vote of the holders of record of
a majority of the outstanding shares of stock of the Company (of the class or classes by which
such director was elected) entitled to vote thereon, at a special meeting of shareholders called
for such purpose.
ARTICLE III: Officers
SECTION 1. Officers. The officers of the Company shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall consist of a Chairman of the Board, a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and one or more Vice Presidents, and such other officers as the Board from time to time shall elect, with such duties as the Board shall deem necessary to conduct the business of the Company. Any officer may hold two or more offices (including those of the Chairman of the Board and President) except that the offices of President and Secretary may not be held by the same person. The Chairman of the Board shall be a director; other officers, including any Vice Chairman and the President, may be, but are not required to be, Directors.
SECTION 2. Term of Office. Removal. In the absence of a special contract, all officers shall hold their respective offices for one year or until their successors shall have been duly elected and qualified, but they or any of them may be removed from their respective offices on a vote by a majority of the Board.
SECTION 3. Powers and Duties. The officers of the Company shall have such powers and duties as generally pertain to their offices, respectively, as well as such powers and duties as from time to time shall be conferred by the Board of Directors and/or by the Executive Committee. In the absence of the Chairman of the Board, if any, the Lead Director shall preside at the meetings of the Board of Directors. In the absence of both the Chairman of the Board and the Lead Director, and provided a quorum is present, the senior member of the Board present, in terms of service on the Board, shall serve as Chairman pro tem of the meeting.
SECTION 4. Salaries. The salaries of all executive officers of the Company shall be determined and fixed by the Board of Directors, or pursuant to such authority as the Board may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE IV: Indemnification of Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Any indemnification (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Company only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the circumstance because the person was not finally adjudged in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding (an "Action") to have knowingly violated criminal law or was not liable for willful misconduct in the performance of the person's duty to the Company. In the case of any director, such determination 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; or (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, by majority vote of a committee duly designated by the Board of Directors (in which designation directors who are parties may participate) consisting solely of two or more directors not at the time parties to the proceeding; or (3) by special legal counsel selected by the Board of Directors or its committee in the manner prescribed by clause (1) or (2) of this paragraph, or if such a quorum is not obtainable and such a committee cannot be designated, by majority vote of the Board of Directors, in which selection directors who are parties may participate; or (4) by vote of the shareholders, in which vote shares owned by or voted under the control of directors, officers and employees who are at the time parties to the Action may not be voted. In the case of any officer, employee, or agent other than a director, such determination may be made (i) by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof; (ii) by the Chairman of the Board of the Company or, if the Chairman is a party to such Action, the President of the Company, or (iii) such other officer of the Company, not a party to such Action, as such person specified in clause (i) or (ii) of this paragraph may designate. Authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made in the same manner as the determination that indemnification is permissible, except that if the determination is made by special legal counsel, authorization of indemnification and evaluation as to reasonableness of expenses shall be made by those entitled hereunder to select such legal counsel.
It is the intention of the Company that the indemnification set forth in this Section of Article IV, shall be applied to no less extent than the maximum indemnification permitted by law. In the event that any right to indemnification or other right hereunder may be deemed to be unenforceable or invalid, in whole or in part, such unenforceability or invalidity shall not affect any other right hereunder, or any right to the extent that is not deemed to be unenforceable. The indemnification provided herein shall be in addition to, and not exclusive of, any other rights to which those indemnified may be entitled under the articles of incorporation, any Bylaw, agreement, vote of shareholders, or otherwise, and shall continue as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee, or agent and inure to the benefit of such person's heirs, executors, and administrators.
ARTICLE V: Checks, Notes, Etc.
SECTION 1. All checks and drafts on the Company's bank accounts and all bills of exchange and promissory notes, and all acceptances, obligations and other instruments for the payment of money, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents, as shall be thereunto authorized from time to time by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 2. Shares of stock and other interests in other corporations or associations shall be voted by such officer or officers as the Board of Directors may designate.
SECTION 3. Except as the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide, all contracts expressly approved by the Board shall be signed on behalf of the Company by the Chairman of the Board, the President, or a Vice President.
ARTICLE VI: Capital Stock
SECTION 1. Certificate for shares. Unless otherwise authorized by the Board of Directors, the interest of each stockholder of the Company shall be evidenced by a certificate or certificates for shares of stock in such form as required by law and as the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe. The Board of Directors may authorize the issue of some or all of the shares of any or all of its classes or series without certificates. The certificates of stock shall be signed by the President or a Vice President and the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary and sealed with the seal of the Company. Such seal may be a facsimile.
Where any such certificate is countersigned by a transfer agent other than the Company, or an employee of the Company, or is countersigned by a transfer clerk and is registered by a registrar, the signatures of the President or Vice President and the Secretary or Assistant Secretary may be facsimiles.
In case any officer who has signed, or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon such certificate, shall have ceased to be such officer before such certificate is issued, it may nevertheless be issued by the Company with the same effect as if such officer had not ceased to hold such office at the date of its issue.
SECTION 2. Transfer of Shares. The shares of stock of the Company shall be transferable on the books of the Company by the holders thereof in person or by duly authorized attorney, upon surrender and cancellation of certificates for a like number of shares, with duly executed assignment and power of transfer endorsed thereon or attached thereto, and with such proof of the authenticity of the signatures as the Company or its agents may reasonably require.
SECTION 3. Lost, Stolen or Destroyed Certificates. No certificate of stock claimed to have been lost, destroyed or stolen shall be replaced by the Company with a new certificate of stock until the holder thereof has produced evidence of such loss, destruction or theft, and has furnished indemnification to the Company and its agents to such extent and in such manner as the proper officers or the Board of Directors may from time to time prescribe.
ARTICLE VII: Corporate Records
SECTION 1. Records. The Company shall keep such books and records as may be required by applicable law.
SECTION 2.Inspection. Shareholders of the Company shall have the right to inspect the books and records of the Company as provided by the law of the state of Virginia.
ARTICLE VIII: Fiscal Year
The fiscal year of the Company shall begin on the 1st day of October in each year and shall end on the 30th day of September following.
ARTICLE IX: Corporate Seal
The seal of the Company shall be circular in form and there shall be inscribed thereon - WGL Holdings, Inc. - a Corporation of Virginia - 2000.
ARTICLE X: Amendments
The Board of Directors may amend or repeal the Company's Bylaws except to the extent that (i) The Company's articles of incorporation or Virginia state law reserves this power to the stockholders, or (ii) the shareholders in adopting or amending particular bylaws provide expressly that the board of directors may not amend or repeal that bylaw. The Company's shareholders may amend or repeal the Company's bylaws even though the bylaws may also be amended or repealed by the Board of Directors.
The documents attached to this web page may be changed from time to time by the Company, and those changes may not be reflected on the attached copies. These attached documents are not official copies of Company records, and should not be relied upon as complete and accurate copies of those documents.