# EDGAR Filing Document

**Accession Number:** 0001590717
**File Stem:** 0001628280-25-046319
**Filing Date:** 2025-10
**Character Count:** 119015
**Document Hash:** 22bf4b145c72dc15290de66fbaac7267
**Contains OCR:** False
**Source Format:** 

## Filing Content

## Filing Summary
**0001628280-25-046319.hdr.sgml**: 20251027

**ACCESSION NUMBER**: 0001628280-25-046319

**CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE**: 8-K

**PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT**: 15

**CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT**: 20251021

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers: Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Regulation FD Disclosure

**ITEM INFORMATION**: Financial Statements and Exhibits

**FILED AS OF DATE**: 20251027

**DATE AS OF CHANGE**: 20251027

**FILER**: 

**COMPANY DATA:**
- **COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:** CareTrust REIT, Inc.
- **CENTRAL INDEX KEY:** 0001590717
- **STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:** REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS [6798]
- **ORGANIZATION NAME:** 05 Real Estate & Construction
- **EIN:** 463999490
- **STATE OF INCORPORATION:** MD
- **FISCAL YEAR END:** 1231

**FILING VALUES:**
- **FORM TYPE:** 8-K
- **SEC ACT:** 1934 Act
- **SEC FILE NUMBER:** 001-36181
- **FILM NUMBER:** 251417668

**BUSINESS ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 905 CALLE AMANECER, SUITE 300
- **CITY:** SAN CLEMENTE
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92673
- **BUSINESS PHONE:** (949) 542-3140

**MAIL ADDRESS:**
- **STREET 1:** 905 CALLE AMANECER, SUITE 300
- **CITY:** SAN CLEMENTE
- **STATE:** CA
- **ZIP:** 92673

?xml version='1.0' encoding='ASCII'? ctre-20251021

    

**UNITED STATES**

**SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION**

**Washington, D.C. 20549** 

**FORM 8-K** 

**CURRENT REPORT** 

**Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)** 

**of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934** 

**Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): October 21, 2025** 

**CareTrust REIT, Inc.** 

**(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)** 

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **Maryland** | **001-36181** | **46-3999490** |
| **(State or other jurisdiction<br>of incorporation)** | **(Commission<br>File Number)** | **(IRS Employer<br>Identification No.)** |

---

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **905 Calle Amanecer, Suite 300, San Clemente, CA** | **92673** |
| **(Address of principal executive offices)** | **(Zip Code)** |

---

**Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (949) 542-3130** 

**Not Applicable** 

**(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)** 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

☐&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| **<u>Title of each class</u>** | **<u>Trading Symbol(s)</u>** | **<u>Name of each exchange on which registered</u>** |
| Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share | CTRE | New York Stock Exchange |

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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company ☐

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐

    

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**Item 5.02. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.**

*Appointment of Director*

On October 21, 2025, the Board of Directors of CareTrust REIT, Inc. (the "Company"), unanimously increased the size of the Company's Board of Directors from five to six directors and appointed Mr. Gregory K. Stapley to the Board of Directors, effective as of January 1, 2026. Mr. Stapley is not expected to serve on any committee of the Board of Directors.

In connection with his service as a director, Mr. Stapley will receive an annual cash retainer of $85,000 per year and an annual grant of restricted stock awards, with a grant date value of $145,000 to be granted in conjunction with the Company's annual meeting of stockholders, which restricted stock award will vest in full on the earlier of the first anniversary of the grant date or the date of the following year's annual meeting of stockholders, subject to continued service through the vesting date. For the period of Mr. Stapley's service until the Company's 2026 annual meeting of stockholders, Mr. Stapley will be paid in cash on a prorated basis based on the remaining service period following his appointment to the Board.

Mr. Stapley will also enter into an indemnification agreement with the Company in the form previously approved by the Board of Directors and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission as Exhibit 10.11 to the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K on June 5, 2014.

There are no arrangements or understandings between Mr. Stapley and any other person pursuant to which he was appointed as a director. Mr. Stapley is the brother-in-law of Mr. David Sedgwick, who serves as the President, Chief Executive Officer and a director of the Company. Otherwise, there are no family relationships between Mr. Stapley and any director or executive officer of the Company. Mr. Stapley has no direct or indirect material interest in any related party transaction required to be disclosed pursuant to Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

**Item 5.03. Amendments to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.** 

On October 21, 2025, the Board approved an amendment and restatement of the Company's Amended and Restated Bylaws (as so amended and restated, the "Bylaws"), which became effective immediately. The amendments include the following principal changes:

*Advance Notice—Universal Proxy*. The amendments update various provisions of the Bylaws to require parties proposing a nominee for election as a director to comply with the universal proxy rules adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, and to provide that if a stockholder does not comply with such requirements, including soliciting 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors, the nomination may be disregarded.

*Advance Notice—General.* The amendments also update certain informational and other requirements in the advance notice provisions applicable to director nominations and other business to require, among other things, (i) certain representations with respect to the solicitation intentions of a proposing stockholder, (ii) additional representations regarding the willingness of a Proposed Nominee (as defined in the Bylaws) to serve on the Board, if elected, and that no additional consents from any third party are required for a Proposed Nominee to serve on the Board, if elected and (iii) the disclosure of certain information and the ongoing obligation to supplement such information related to a Proposed Nominee or proposed business which would otherwise be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filings pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The amendments clarify that a stockholder may not nominate more individuals than there are directors to be elected or substitute or replace a Proposed Nominee without compliance with the requirements for nomination in the Bylaws, including compliance with any applicable deadlines. The amendments also clarify that a Proposed Nominee or proposed business will not be presented at the meeting of stockholders if the stockholder or its qualified representative does not appear in-person at the meeting.

The amendments also include various conforming and technical changes, including (i) updates to provisions relating to remote communications, delivery of notices and other information by electronic transmission and virtual meetings to align with Maryland General Corporation Law statutory language, (ii) clarifications of the authority of the chair of a meeting of the stockholders and (iii) updates to provide for the office of Chief Investment Officer.

The foregoing description of the Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by, the full text of the Bylaws, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 3.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

**Item 7.01. Regulation FD Disclosure.** 

On October 27, 2025, the Company issued a press release announcing the appointment of Mr. Stapley to the Board of Directors as set forth in Item 5.02 of this Current Report on Form 8-K.

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A copy of the press release is furnished as Exhibit 99.1 hereto. This information shall not be deemed "filed" for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and is not incorporated by reference into any filing of the Company whether made before or after the date hereof, regardless of any general incorporation language in such filing.

**Item 9.01 Financial Statements and Exhibits.**

(d) Exhibits.

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| | |
|:---|:---|
| **<u>Exhibits</u>** | **<u>Description</u>** |
| <u>[3.1](ex31caretrust-amendedandre.htm)</u> | <u>[Amended and Restated Bylaws of CareTrust REIT, Inc.](ex31caretrust-amendedandre.htm)</u> |
| <u>[99.1](ex991pr-gregappointment.htm)</u> | <u>[Press Release dated October 27, 2025](ex991pr-gregappointment.htm)</u> |
| 104 | Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document) |

---

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**SIGNATURES** 

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

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| | | |
|:---|:---|:---|
| Date: October 27, 2025 | CARETRUST REIT, INC. | CARETRUST REIT, INC. |
|  | By: | /s/ William M. Wagner |
|  |  | William M. Wagner |
|  |  | Chief Financial Officer and Treasurer |

---

## Exhibit 3.1

**Exhibit 3.1**

**CARETRUST REIT, INC.**

**AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS**

**(As amended and restated through October 21, 2025)**

**Article I** <br>**OFFICES**

**Section 1.Principal Office.**

The principal office of CareTrust REIT, Inc. (the "Corporation") in the State of Maryland shall be located at such place as the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the "Board of Directors") may designate from time to time.

**Section 2.Additional Offices.**

The Corporation may have additional offices, including a principal executive office, at such places as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.

**Article II<br>MEETINGS OF STOCKHOLDERS**

**Section 1.Place.**

All meetings of stockholders shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation or at such other place as shall be set in accordance with these bylaws (these "Bylaws") and stated in the notice of the meeting.

**Section 2.Annual Meeting.**

An annual meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of any business as may properly be brought before the meeting and within the powers of the Corporation shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by the Board of Directors.

**Section 3.Special Meetings.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)*General*. Each of the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President and the Board of Directors may call a special meeting of stockholders. Except as provided in Section 3(b)(4), a special meeting of stockholders shall be held on the date and at the time and place set by whoever has called the meeting. Subject to Section 3(b), a special meeting of stockholders shall also be called by the Secretary of the Corporation to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a special meeting of stockholders upon the written request to the Secretary of stockholders entitled to cast not less than twenty-five percent (25%) of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting, and who have complied in full with the applicable requirements set forth in these Bylaws.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)*Stockholder-Requested Special Meetings*. (1) Any stockholder of record seeking to have stockholders request a special meeting shall, by sending written notice in proper form to the Secretary of the Corporation (the "Record Date Request Notice") at the principal executive

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office of the Corporation by registered mail, return receipt requested, request the Board of Directors to fix a record date to determine the stockholders entitled to request a special meeting (the "Request Record Date"). To be in proper form, the Record Date Request Notice shall (i) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it, (ii) be signed by one or more stockholders of record as of the date of signature (or his, her or their agent or agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the Record Date Request Notice), (iii) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) and (iv) set forth all information relating to each such stockholder and each matter proposed to be acted on at the special meeting that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the "Exchange Act"). Upon receiving the Record Date Request Notice, the Board of Directors may fix a Request Record Date. The Request Record Date shall not precede and shall not be more than 10 days after the close of business on the date on which the resolution fixing the Request Record Date is adopted by the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors, within 10 days after the date on which a valid Record Date Request Notice is received, fails to adopt a resolution fixing the Request Record Date, the Request Record Date shall be the close of business on the 10th day after the first date on which such Record Date Request Notice is received by the Secretary, or, if such 10th day is not a Business Day (as defined below), on the first succeeding Business Day.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)In order for any stockholder to request a special meeting to act on any matter that may properly be considered at a special meeting of stockholders, one or more written requests for a special meeting (collectively, the "Special Meeting Request") in proper form and signed by stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in a writing accompanying the request) as of the Request Record Date entitled to cast not less than twenty-five percent (25%)of all of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting (the "Special Meeting Percentage") shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation. To be in proper form, the Special Meeting Request shall (a) set forth the purpose of the meeting and the matters proposed to be acted on at it (which shall be limited to those lawful matters set forth in the Record Date Request Notice received by the Secretary), including the text of the proposal or business (including the text of any resolutions proposed for consideration), (b) bear the date of signature of each such stockholder (or such agent) signing the Special Meeting Request, (c) set forth (i) the name and address, as they appear in the Corporation's books, of each stockholder signing such request (or on whose behalf the Special Meeting Request is signed), (ii) the class, series and number of all shares of stock of the Corporation which are owned (beneficially or of record) by each such stockholder and (iii) the nominee holder for, and number of, shares of stock of the Corporation owned by each such stockholder beneficially but not of record, (d) be sent to the Secretary by registered mail, return receipt requested, and (e) be received by the Secretary within 60 days after the Request Record Date. Any requesting stockholder (or agent duly authorized in a writing accompanying the revocation of the Special Meeting Request) may revoke his, her or its request for a special meeting at any time by written revocation delivered to the Secretary.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)The Secretary shall inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and mailing or delivering the notice of the special meeting (including the Corporation's proxy materials). The Secretary shall not be required to call a special meeting upon stockholder request and such meeting shall not be held unless, in addition to the documents required by Section 3(b)(2), the Secretary receives payment of such reasonably estimated cost prior to the preparation and mailing or delivery of such notice of the meeting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)In the case of any special meeting called by the Secretary upon the request of stockholders (a "Stockholder-Requested Meeting"), such meeting shall be held at such place,

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date and time as may be designated by the Board of Directors; *provided*, *however*, that the date of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting shall be not more than 90 days after the record date for such meeting (the "Meeting Record Date"); and *provided further* that if the Board of Directors fails to designate, within 10 days after the date that a valid Special Meeting Request is actually received by the Secretary (the "Delivery Date"), a date and time for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, then such meeting shall be held at 2:00 p.m., local time, on the 90th day after the Meeting Record Date or, if such 90th day is not a Business Day, on the first preceding Business Day; and *provided further* that in the event that the Board of Directors fails to designate a place for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting within 10 days after the Delivery Date, then such meeting shall be held at the principal executive office of the Corporation. In fixing a date for a Stockholder-Requested Meeting, the Board of Directors may consider such factors as it deems relevant, including, without limitation, the nature of the matters to be considered, the facts and circumstances surrounding any request for the meeting and any plan of the Board of Directors to call an annual meeting or a special meeting. In the case of any Stockholder-Requested Meeting, if the Board of Directors fails to fix a Meeting Record Date that is a date within 30 days after the Delivery Date, then the close of business on the 30th day after the Delivery Date shall be the Meeting Record Date, or, if such 30th day is not a Business Day, on the first succeeding Business Day. The Board of Directors may revoke the notice for any Stockholder-Requested Meeting in the event that the requesting stockholders fail to comply with the provisions of Section 3(b)(3). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in these Bylaws, the Board of Directors may submit its own proposal or proposals for consideration at any such Stockholder-Requested Meeting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(5)If written revocations of the Special Meeting Request have been delivered to the Secretary and the result is that stockholders of record (or their agents duly authorized in writing), as of the Request Record Date, entitled to cast less than the Special Meeting Percentage have delivered, and not revoked, requests for a special meeting on the matter to the Secretary: (i) if the notice of meeting has not already been sent to the stockholders of the Corporation, the Secretary shall refrain from sending the notice of the meeting and shall send to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked such requests written notice of any revocation of a request for a special meeting on the matter, or (ii) if the notice of meeting has been sent to the stockholders of the Corporation, and if the Secretary first sends to all requesting stockholders who have not revoked requests for a special meeting on the matter written notice of any revocation of a request for the special meeting and written notice of the Corporation's intention to revoke the notice of and to cancel the meeting or for the chair of the meeting to adjourn the meeting without action on the matter, then (A) the Secretary may revoke the notice of and cancel the meeting at any time before 10 days before the commencement of the meeting or (B) the chair of the meeting may call the meeting to order and adjourn the meeting without acting on the matter. Any request for a special meeting received after a revocation by the Secretary of a notice of a meeting shall be considered a request for a new special meeting.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(6)The Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors may appoint independent inspectors of elections to act as the agent of the Corporation for the purpose of promptly performing a ministerial review of the validity of any purported Special Meeting Request received by the Secretary. For the purpose of permitting the inspectors to perform such review, no such purported Special Meeting Request shall be deemed to have been received by the Secretary until the earlier of (i) five Business Days after actual receipt by the Secretary of such purported request and (ii) such date as the independent inspectors certify to the Corporation that the valid requests received by the Secretary represent, as of the Request Record Date, stockholders of record entitled to cast not less than the Special Meeting Percentage. Nothing contained in this paragraph (6) shall in any way be construed to suggest or imply that the Corporation or any stockholder shall not be entitled to contest the validity of any request, whether during or after such five Business Day period, or to

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take any other action (including, without limitation, the commencement, prosecution or defense of any litigation with respect thereto, and the seeking of injunctive relief in such litigation).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(7)The Secretary shall not accept, and the Secretary and the Corporation shall consider ineffective, any request from any stockholder to hold a special meeting or to establish a Request Record Date or Meeting Record Date that (a) does not comply with this Section 3 or (b) proposes or includes an item of business to be transacted at such special meeting that is not a proper subject for stockholder action under the charter of the Corporation (the "Charter"), these Bylaws or applicable law.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(8)For purposes of these Bylaws, "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions in the State of New York or the State of Maryland are authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.

**Section 4.Notice.**

Not less than 10 nor more than 90 days before each meeting of stockholders, the Secretary shall give to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting and to each stockholder not entitled to vote who is entitled to notice of the meeting notice in writing or by electronic transmission stating the date, time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting or as otherwise may be required by any statute, the purpose for which the meeting is called, by mail, by presenting it to such stockholder personally, by leaving it at the stockholder's residence or usual place of business, by electronic transmission or by any other means permitted by applicable law. If mailed, such notice shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail addressed to the stockholder at the stockholder's address as it appears on the records of the Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid. If transmitted electronically, such notice shall be deemed to be given when transmitted to the stockholder by an electronic transmission to any address or number of the stockholder at which the stockholder receives electronic transmissions. The Corporation may give a single notice to all stockholders who share an address, which single notice shall be effective as to any stockholder at such address, unless a stockholder at such address objects to receiving such single notice or revokes a prior consent to receiving such single notice. Failure to give notice of any meeting to one or more stockholders, or any irregularity in such notice, shall not affect the validity of any meeting fixed in accordance with this Article II or the validity of any proceedings at any such meeting.

Subject to Section 11(a) of this Article II, any business of the Corporation may be transacted at an annual meeting of stockholders without being specifically designated in the notice, except such business as is required by any statute to be stated in such notice. No business shall be transacted at a special meeting of stockholders except as specifically designated in the notice of such special meeting. The Corporation may postpone or cancel a meeting of stockholders by making a public announcement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) of such postponement or cancellation prior to the meeting. Notice of the date, time and place to which the meeting is postponed shall be given not less than 10 days prior to such date and otherwise in the manner set forth in this section.

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**Section 5.Organization and Conduct.**

Every meeting of stockholders shall be conducted by an individual appointed by the Board of Directors to be chair of the meeting or, in the absence of such appointment or appointed individual, by the Chair of the Board of Directors or, in the case of a vacancy in the office or absence of the Chair of the Board of Directors, by one of the following officers present at the meeting in the following order: the Lead Independent Director of the Board of Directors, if there is one, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Vice Presidents in their order of rank and seniority, the Secretary, or, in the absence of such officers, a chair chosen by the stockholders by the vote of a majority of the votes cast by stockholders present in person or by proxy at such meeting. The Secretary, or, in the Secretary's absence, an Assistant Secretary, or, in the absence of both the Secretary and Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or, in the absence of such appointment, an individual appointed by the chair of the meeting shall act as secretary of the meeting. In the event that the Secretary presides at a meeting of stockholders, an Assistant Secretary, or, in the absence of all Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting, shall record the minutes of the meeting. Even if present at the meeting, the person holding the office named herein may delegate to another person the power to act as chair or secretary of the meeting.

The Board of Directors may adopt by resolution such rules, regulations and procedures for the conduct of any meeting of stockholders as the Board of Directors deems appropriate. Except to the extent not prohibited by any such rules, regulations and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, the chair of the meeting shall determine the order of business and all other matters of procedure at any meeting of stockholders and shall have the authority to adopt rules, regulations and procedures and take such other actions as, in the discretion of the chair and without any action by the stockholders, are appropriate for the proper conduct of the meeting, including, without limitation, (a) restricting admission to the time set for the commencement of the meeting; (b) limiting attendance at the meeting to stockholders of record of the Corporation, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chair of the meeting may determine; (c) limiting participation at the meeting on any matter to stockholders of record of the Corporation entitled to vote on such matter, their duly authorized proxies and such other individuals as the chair of the meeting may determine; (d) limiting the time allotted to questions or comments by participants; (e) determining when and for how long the polls should be opened and when the polls should be closed; (f) maintaining order and security at the meeting; (g) removing any stockholder or any other individual who refuses to comply with meeting procedures, rules or guidelines as set forth by the chair of the meeting; (h) concluding a meeting or recessing or adjourning the meeting, whether or not a quorum is present, to a later date not more than 120 days after the original record date and at a time and a place either (i) announced at the meeting or (ii) provided at a future time through means announced at the meeting; and (i) complying with any state and local laws and regulations concerning safety and security. Unless otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting, meetings of stockholders shall not be required to be held in accordance with the rules of parliamentary procedure.

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**Section 6.Quorum.**

At any 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 such meeting on any matter shall constitute a quorum; but this section shall not affect any requirement under any statute or the Charter for the vote necessary for the approval of any matter. If, however, such quorum is not established at any meeting of the stockholders, the chair of the meeting may adjourn the meeting from time to time to a date not more than 120 days after the original record date without notice other than announcement at the meeting. The date, time and place of the meeting, as reconvened, shall be either (i) announced at the meeting, or (b) provided at a future time through means announced at the meeting. 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. The stockholders present either in person or by proxy, at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established, may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough stockholders to leave fewer than would be required to establish a quorum.

**Section 7.Voting.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)A majority of the votes cast in favor of a matter (other than the election of directors) at a meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present shall be sufficient to approve any such matter which may properly come before the meeting, unless more than a majority of the votes cast is required by statute or by the Charter. Unless otherwise provided by statute or by the Charter, each outstanding share, regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote at a meeting of stockholders. Unless otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting, voting on any question or in any election may be by voice vote rather than by ballot.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(b)Except as may otherwise be provided in the Charter with respect to directors to be elected by the holders of any class or series of preferred stock of the Corporation and in the Charter and these Bylaws with respect to the filling of vacancies on the Board of Directors, each director shall be elected by a majority of the votes cast with respect to such director at any meeting of stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present and directors are to be elected; *provided*, *however*, that the directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of the stockholders duly called and at which a quorum is present and directors are to be elected if, in connection with such meeting (i) the Secretary of the Corporation shall have received one or more notices that a stockholder or group of stockholders has nominated or proposes to nominate a person or persons for election as a director, which notice(s) purports to be in compliance with the advance notice requirements set forth in Section 11 of Article II of these Bylaws, irrespective of whether the Board of Directors thereafter determines that any such notice(s) is not in compliance with such requirements, and (ii) as of the fourteenth (14th) day preceding the date on which notice of such meeting of the stockholders is first mailed or otherwise given in accordance with applicable law to the stockholders of the Corporation, such nomination or proposed nomination has not been withdrawn by such stockholder or group of stockholders and would thereby cause the number of nominees and proposed nominees to exceed the number of directors to be elected at such meeting, as determined by the Secretary of the Corporation, irrespective of whether such nomination or proposed nomination is thereafter withdrawn by such stockholder or group of stockholders (a "Contested Election"). If the directors are to be elected by a plurality of the votes cast pursuant to the provisions of the immediately preceding sentence, stockholders shall not be permitted to vote "against" any one or more nominees but shall only be permitted to vote "for" one or more nominees or withhold their

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votes with respect to one or more nominees. For purposes hereof, a majority of the votes cast means the number of votes cast "for" a director nominee must exceed the number of votes cast "against" that director nominee, with abstentions and broker non-votes not counted as a vote cast either "for" or "against" that director nominee.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)If, in any election of directors of the Corporation which is not a Contested Election, an incumbent director does not receive a majority of the votes cast and therefore is not re-elected, such incumbent director shall promptly tender his or her resignation as a director, subject to acceptance thereof by the Board, for consideration by the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee of the Board of Directors. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee will promptly consider any such tendered resignation and will make a recommendation to the Board of Directors as to whether such tendered resignation should be accepted or rejected, or whether other action should be taken with respect to such offer to resign. Any incumbent director whose tendered resignation is under consideration may not participate in any deliberation or vote of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee or the Board of Directors regarding such tendered resignation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, in the event that no nominee for director receives the vote required in paragraph (b) of this Section 7, the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee shall make a final determination as to whether to recommend to the Board of Directors whether to accept any or all resignations, including those resignations from members of the Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee, and any and all directors may participate in the deliberation and vote of the Board of Directors on such recommendation. The Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and the Board of Directors may consider any factors they deem relevant in deciding whether to accept, reject or take other action with respect to any such tendered resignation. Within ninety (90) days after the date on which certification of the stockholder vote on the election of directors is made, the Board of Directors will publicly disclose its decision and rationale regarding whether to accept, reject or take other action with respect to the tendered resignation in a press release, a periodic or current report filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") or by other public announcement. If any director's tendered resignation is not accepted by the Board of Directors, such director will continue to serve until the next annual meeting of stockholders and until his or her successor is elected and qualified or his or her earlier death, retirement, resignation or removal. If any director's tendered resignation is accepted by the Board of Directors, then such director will thereupon cease to be a director of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors, in its sole discretion, may fill the resulting vacancy under the provisions of the Charter, Section 11 of Article III of these Bylaws and applicable law or may decrease the size of the Board of Directors pursuant to the provisions of Section 2 of Article III of these Bylaws.

**Section 8.Proxies.**

A holder of record of shares of stock of the Corporation may cast votes in person or by proxy that is (a) executed or authorized by the stockholder or by the stockholder's duly authorized agent in any manner permitted by law, (b) compliant with Maryland law and these Bylaws and (c) filed in accordance with the procedures established by the Corporation. Such proxy or evidence of authorization of such proxy shall be filed with the Secretary of the Corporation before or at the meeting. No proxy shall be valid more than 11 months after its date, unless otherwise provided in the proxy.

Any stockholder directly or indirectly soliciting proxies from other stockholders of the Corporation must use a proxy card other than white, which is reserved for the exclusive use by the Board of Directors.

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**Section 9.Voting of Stock by Certain Holders.**

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, general partner, trustee or managing member 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 bylaw or a resolution of the governing body of such corporation or other entity or an agreement of the partners of a partnership, presents a certified copy of such bylaw, resolution or agreement, in which case such person may vote such stock. Any director or fiduciary may vote stock registered in the name of such person in the capacity of such director or fiduciary, either in person or by proxy.

Shares of stock of the Corporation directly or indirectly owned by the Corporation shall not be voted at any meeting and shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares entitled to be voted at any given time, unless they are held by the Corporation in a fiduciary capacity, in which case they may be voted and shall be counted in determining the total number of outstanding shares at any given time.

The Board of 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, the time after the record date within which the certification must be received by the Corporation; and any other provisions with respect to the procedure which the Board of Directors considers necessary or desirable. On receipt by the Corporation of such certification, the person specified in the certification shall be regarded as, for the purposes set forth in the certification, the holder of record of the specified stock in place of the stockholder who makes the certification.

**Section 10.Inspectors.**

The Board of Directors or the chair of the meeting may appoint, before or at the meeting, one or more inspectors for the meeting and any successor to the inspector. Except as otherwise provided by the chair of the meeting, the inspectors, if any, shall (i) determine the number of shares of stock represented at the meeting, in person or by proxy, and the validity and effect of proxies, (ii) receive and tabulate all votes, ballots or consents, (iii) report such tabulation to the chair of the meeting, (iv) hear and determine all challenges and questions arising in connection with the validity of any proxies of ballots, (v) perform such tasks as may be required by applicable law and (vi) do such acts as are proper to fairly conduct the election or vote. Each such report shall be in writing and signed by the inspector or by a majority of the inspectors if there is more than one inspector acting at such meeting. If there is more than one inspector, the report of a majority of the inspectors shall be the report of the inspectors. The report of the inspector or inspectors on the number of shares represented at the meeting and the results of the voting shall be prima facie evidence thereof.

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**Section 11.Advance Notice of Nominees for Director and Other Stockholder Proposals.**

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(a)*Annual Meetings of Stockholders*.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(1)Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors and the proposal of other business to be considered by the stockholders may only be made at an annual meeting of stockholders (i) pursuant to the Corporation's notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto), (ii) by or at the direction of the Board of Directors or (iii) by any stockholder of the Corporation who was a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder as provided for in this Section 11(a) and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjournment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with this Section 11(a). Clause (iii) of the immediately preceding sentence shall be the sole and exclusive means for a stockholder to make nominations or other business proposals before an annual meeting of stockholders (other than matters properly brought under, and to the extent required by, Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange Act and included in the Corporation's notice of meeting).

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)Without qualification or limitation, subject to Section 11(c)(4), for any nomination or other business to be properly brought before an annual meeting of stockholders by a stockholder pursuant to Section 11(a)(1)(iii), the stockholder must have given timely notice thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation and any such other business must otherwise be a proper matter for action by the stockholders. To be timely, a stockholder's notice shall set forth all information and certifications required under this Section 11 and shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 150th day nor later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the 120th day prior to the first anniversary of the date of the proxy statement (as defined in Section 11(c)(3) of this Article II) for the preceding year's annual meeting; *provided*, *however*, that in the event that the date of the annual meeting is advanced or delayed by more than 30 days from the first anniversary of the date of the preceding year's annual meeting, in order for notice by the stockholder to be timely, such notice must be so delivered not earlier than the 150th day prior to the date of such annual meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the later of the 120th day prior to the date of such annual meeting, as originally convened, or the 10th day following the day on which public announcement of the date of such meeting is first made. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of an annual meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)A stockholder's notice described in Section 11(a)(2) shall set forth:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)as to each individual whom the stockholder proposes to nominate for election or reelection as a director (each, a "Proposed Nominee"), all information relating to the Proposed Nominee that would be required to be disclosed in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of the Proposed Nominee as a director in an election contest (even if an election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act or the rules thereunder;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)as to any other business that the stockholder proposes to bring before the meeting, (A) a description of such business (including the text of any proposal), the stockholder's reasons for proposing such business at the meeting and any material interest in such business of such stockholder or any Stockholder Associated Person (as defined below), individually or in the aggregate, including any anticipated benefit to the stockholder or the Stockholder Associated Person therefrom, and (B) any other information relating to such item of business that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy statement or other filing required to be made in connection with solicitations of proxies in support of the business proposed to be

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brought before the meeting pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act and the rules thereunder;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iii)as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Proposed Nominee and any Stockholder Associated Person: (A) the class, series and number of all shares of stock or other securities of the Corporation or any affiliate thereof (collectively, the "Company Securities"), if any, which are owned (beneficially or of record) by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the date on which each such Company Security was acquired and the investment intent of such acquisition, and any short interest (including any opportunity to profit or share in any benefit from any decrease in the price of such stock or other security) in any Company Securities of any such person; (B) any derivative, swap or other transaction or series of transactions engaged in, directly or indirectly, by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, the purpose or effect of which is to give such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person economic risk similar to ownership of shares of any class or series of the Corporation, including due to the fact that the value of such derivative, swap, or other transactions are determined by reference to the price, value or volatility of any shares of any class or series of the Corporation, or which derivative, swap or other transactions provide, directly or indirectly, the opportunity to profit from any increase in the price or value of shares of any class or series of the Corporation ("Synthetic Equity Interests"), which Synthetic Equity Interests shall be disclosed without regard to whether (x) the derivative, swap or other transactions convey any voting rights in such shares to such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, (y) the derivative, swap or other transactions are required to be, or are capable of being, settled through delivery of such shares or (z) such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person may have entered into other transactions that hedge or mitigate the economic effect of such derivative, swap or other transactions; (C) any proxy, contract, arrangement, understanding or other relationship pursuant to which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person has a right to vote any shares of any security of the Corporation; (D) any short interest in any security of the Corporation (for purposes of these Bylaws, a person shall be deemed to have a short interest in a security if such person directly or indirectly, through any contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise, has the opportunity to profit or share in any profit derived from any decrease in the value of the subject security); (E) any rights to dividends on the shares of the Corporation owned beneficially by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person that are separated or separable from the underlying shares of the Corporation; (F) any proportionate interest in shares of the Corporation or Synthetic Equity Interests held, directly or indirectly, by a general or limited partnership in which such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person is a general partner or, directly or indirectly, beneficially owns an interest in a general partner; (G) any performance-related fees (other than an asset-based fee) that such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person is entitled to based on any increase or decrease in the value of shares of the Corporation, if any, as of the date of such notice, including, without limitation, any such interests held by members of such stockholder's, Proposed Nominee's or Stockholder Associated Person's immediate family sharing the same household (which information required by this subsection (iii) shall be supplemented by such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person and beneficial owner, if any, not later than 10 days after the record date for the meeting to disclose such ownership as of the record date); (H) any substantial interest, direct or indirect (including, without limitation, any existing or prospective commercial, business or contractual relationship with the Corporation), by security holdings or otherwise, of such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person, in the Corporation or any affiliate thereof, other than an interest arising from the ownership of Company Securities where such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person receives no extra or special benefit not shared on a pro rata basis by all other holders of the same class or series; and (I) any other information relating to such stockholder, Proposed Nominee or Stockholder Associated Person and beneficial owner, if any, that would be required to be disclosed in a proxy

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statement or other filings required to be made in connection with solicitation of proxies for, as applicable, the proposal and/or for the election of directors in a contested election pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) of the Exchange Act;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(iv)as to the stockholder giving the notice, any Stockholder Associated Person with an interest or ownership referred to in clauses (ii) or (iii) of this Section 11(a)(3) and any Proposed Nominee: (A) the name and address of such stockholder, as they appear on the Corporation's stock ledger, and the current name and business address, if different, of each such Stockholder Associated Person and any Proposed Nominee; and (B) the investment strategy or objective, if any, of such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person who is not an individual and a copy of the prospectus, offering memorandum or similar document, if any, provided to investors or potential investors in such stockholder and each such Stockholder Associated Person;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(v)the name and address of any person who contacted or was contacted by the stockholder giving the notice or any Stockholder Associated Person about the Proposed Nominee or other business proposal prior to the date of such stockholder's notice;

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vi)to the extent known by the stockholder giving the notice, the name and address of any other person supporting the nominee for election or reelection as a director or the proposal of other business on the date of such stockholder's notice

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(vii)if the stockholder is proposing one or more Proposed Nominees, the information required to be included in a notice to the Corporation required by paragraph (b) of Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including a representation that such stockholder intends to solicit the holders of shares representing at least 67% of the voting power of shares entitled to vote on the election of directors in support of director nominees other than the Corporation's nominees; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(viii)all other information regarding the stockholder giving the notice and each Stockholder Associated Person that would be required to be disclosed by the stockholder in connection with the solicitation of proxies for the election of directors in an election contest (even if any election contest is not involved), or would otherwise be required in connection with such a solicitation, in each case pursuant to Regulation 14A (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)A stockholder's notice described in Section 11(a)(2) or Section 11(b), as the case may be, shall, with respect to any Proposed Nominee, be accompanied by:

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(i)a certificate executed by the Proposed Nominee (A) certifying that such Proposed Nominee (I) is not, and will not become a party to, (x) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity other than the Corporation in connection with service or action as a director of the Corporation that has not been disclosed to the Corporation in writing, (y) any agreement, arrangement or understanding with any person or entity as to how the Proposed Nominee would vote or act on any issue or question as a director (a "Voting Commitment") that has not been disclosed to the Corporation in writing, or (z) any Voting Commitment that would limit or interfere with the Proposed Nominee's ability to comply, if elected as a director of the Corporation, with its fiduciary duties under applicable law or with the Corporation's Corporate Governance Guidelines and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors generally, (II) has read and, if elected as a director of the Corporation, agrees to adhere to the Corporation's Corporate Governance Guidelines and any other Corporation policies and guidelines applicable to directors generally (and, upon request by any Proposed Nominee, the Secretary of the Corporation shall provide to such Proposed Nominee all such policies and guidelines then in effect), (III) if elected as a director of the

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Corporation, intends to serve as a director of the Corporation for the entire term until the next annual meeting of stockholders at which such candidate would face re-election and will notify the Corporation simultaneously with the notification to the stockholder of the Proposed Nominee's actual or potential unwillingness or inability to serve as a director, and (IV) does not need any permission or consent from any third party to serve as a director of the Corporation, if elected, that has not been obtained, including any employer or any other board or governing body on which such Proposed Nominee serves; (B) attaching copies of any and all requisite permissions or consents (including those obtained pursuant to the foregoing clause (A)(IV); and (C) attaching a completed written questionnaire (in the form provided by the Corporation upon written request) with respect to the background, qualifications, stock ownership and independence of such Proposed Nominee; and

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(ii)a certificate executed by the stockholder certifying that such stockholder will (A) comply with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act in connection with such stockholder's solicitation of proxies in support of any Proposed Nominee; (B) notify the Corporation as promptly as practicable of any determination by the stockholder to no longer solicit proxies for the election of any Proposed Nominee as a director at the annual meeting of stockholders; (C) furnish such other or additional information as the Corporation may request for the purpose of determining whether the requirements of this Section 11 have been complied with and of evaluating any nomination or other business described in the stockholder's notice; and (D) appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate any Proposed Nominees or to bring such business before the meeting, as applicable, and acknowledges that if the stockholder does not so appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to nominate such Proposed Nominees or bring such business before the meeting, as applicable, the Corporation need not bring such Proposed Nominee or such business for a vote at such meeting and any proxies or votes cast in favor of the election of any such Proposed Nominee or of any proposal related to such other business need not be counted or considered.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(6)For purposes of these Bylaws, "Stockholder Associated Person" of any stockholder shall mean (i) any person acting in concert with such stockholder or another Stockholder Associated Person or who is otherwise a participant (as defined in Instruction 3 to Item 4 of Schedule 14A under the Exchange Act) in the solicitation, (ii) any beneficial owner of shares of stock of the Corporation owned of record or beneficially by such stockholder (other than a stockholder that is a depositary) and (iii) any person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under common control with, such stockholder or such Stockholder Associated Person.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(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 Corporation's notice of meeting and, except as contemplated by and in accordance with the next two sentences of this Section 11(b), no stockholder may nominate an individual for election to the Board of Directors or make a proposal of other business to be considered at a special meeting of stockholders. Nominations of individuals for election to the Board of Directors may be made at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected only (i) by or at the

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direction of the Board of Directors or (ii) *provided* that the special meeting has been called in accordance with Section 3 of this Article II for the purpose of electing directors, by any stockholder of the Corporation who is a stockholder of record both at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section 11 and at the time of the special meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 11. Section 11(a)(1)(iii) above shall be the exclusive means for a stockholder to propose business to be brought before a special meeting of the stockholders. In the event the Corporation calls a special meeting of stockholders for the purpose of electing one or more individuals to the Board of Directors, any stockholder may nominate an individual or individuals (as the case may be) for election as a director as specified in the Corporation's notice of meeting, if the stockholder's notice, containing the information and certifications required by Section 11(a)(3) and (4), is delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation not earlier than the 120th day prior to such special meeting and not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, 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. The public announcement of a postponement or adjournment of a special meeting shall not commence a new time period for the giving of a stockholder's notice as described above.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(c)*General*. (1) If any information or certification submitted pursuant to this Section 11 by any stockholder proposing a nominee for election as a director or any proposal for other business at a meeting of stockholders, including any certification from a Proposed Nominee, shall be inaccurate in any material respect, such information may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11. Any such stockholder shall (A) notify the Corporation of any inaccuracy or change (within two Business Days of becoming aware of such inaccuracy or change) in any such information or certification and (B) promptly update and supplement the information previously provided to the Corporation pursuant to this Section 11, if necessary, so that the information provided or required to be provided shall be true and correct as of the record date for the meeting and as of the date that is 10 Business Days prior to the meeting or any adjournment or postponement thereof, and such update and supplement shall be delivered to the Secretary at the principal executive office of the Corporation. Without limiting the foregoing, upon written request by the Secretary or the Board of Directors, any such stockholder or Proposed Nominee shall provide, within five Business Days of delivery of such request (or such other period as may be specified in such request), (x) written verification, satisfactory, in the discretion of the Board of Directors or any authorized officer of the Corporation, to demonstrate the accuracy of any information submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11, (y) a written update of any information (including, if requested by the Corporation, written confirmation by such stockholder that it continues to intend to bring such nomination or other business proposal before the meeting and, if applicable, satisfy the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3)) submitted by the stockholder pursuant to this Section 11 as of an earlier date and (z) an updated certification by each Proposed Nominee that such individual will serve as a director of the Corporation if elected and any other information requested by the Corporation as may reasonably be required to determine the eligibility of any Proposed Nominee to serve as an independent director of the Corporation or that would be material to a reasonable stockholder's understanding of the independence, or lack thereof, of such Proposed Nominee. If a stockholder or any Proposed Nominee, as applicable, fails to provide such written verification, update or certification within such period, the information as to which such written verification, update or certification was requested may be deemed not to have been provided in accordance with this Section 11.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(2)Only such individuals who are nominated in accordance with this Section 11 shall be eligible for election by stockholders 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 this Section 11 except as required pursuant to Rule 14a-8 under the Exchange

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Act or such similar rule promulgated by the SEC that governs the inclusion of stockholder proposals in proxy materials or consideration at a stockholders' meeting. A stockholder proposing a Proposed Nominee shall have no right to (i) nominate a number of Proposed Nominees that exceeds the number of directors to be elected at the meeting or (ii) substitute or replace any Proposed Nominee unless such substitute or replacement is nominated in accordance with this Section 11 (including the timely provision of all information and certifications with respect to such substitute or replacement Proposed Nominee in accordance with the deadlines set forth in this Section 11). If the Corporation provides notice to a stockholder that the number of Proposed Nominees proposed by such stockholder exceeds the number of directors to be elected at a meeting, the stockholder must provide written notice to the Corporation within five Business Days stating the names of the Proposed Nominees that have been withdrawn so that the number of Proposed Nominees proposed by such stockholder no longer exceeds the number of directors to be elected at a meeting. If any individual who is nominated in accordance with this Section 11 becomes unwilling or unable to serve on the Board of Directors, then the nomination with respect to such individual shall no longer be valid and no votes may validly be cast for such individual. The chair of the meeting shall have the power to determine whether a nomination or any other business proposed to be brought before the meeting was made or proposed, as the case may be, in accordance with these Bylaws and, if any proposed nomination or other business is not in compliance with these Bylaws, to declare that no action shall be taken on such nomination or other proposal, and such nomination or other proposal shall be disregarded.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(3)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, the Corporation shall disregard any proxy authority granted in favor of, or votes for, director nominees other than the Corporation's nominees if the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person (each, a "Soliciting Stockholder") soliciting proxies in support of such director nominees abandons the solicitation or does not (i) comply with Rule 14a-19 promulgated under the Exchange Act, including any failure by the Soliciting Stockholder to (A) provide the Corporation with any notices required thereunder in a timely manner or (B) comply with the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(2) and Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act or (ii) timely provide sufficient evidence in the determination of the Board of Directors to satisfy the Corporation that such Soliciting Stockholder has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act in accordance with the following sentence. Upon request by the Corporation, such Soliciting Stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation, no later than five Business Days prior to the applicable meeting, sufficient evidence in the judgment of the Board of Directors that it has met the requirements of Rule 14a-19(a)(3) promulgated under the Exchange Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(4)For purposes of this Section 11: (i) "the date of the proxy statement" shall have the same meaning as "the date of the company's proxy statement released to shareholders" as used in Rule 14a-8(e) promulgated under the Exchange Act, as interpreted by the SEC from time to time; and (ii) "public announcement" shall mean disclosure (A) in a press release reported by the Dow Jones News Service, Associated Press, Business Wire, PR Newswire or other widely circulated news or wire service or (B) in a document publicly filed by the Corporation with the SEC pursuant to the Exchange Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(5)Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11, 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 11. Nothing in this Section 11 shall be deemed to affect any right of a stockholder to request inclusion of a proposal in, or the right of the Corporation to omit a proposal from, the Corporation's proxy statement pursuant to Rule 14a-8 (or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act. Nothing in this Section 11 shall require disclosure of revocable proxies received by, or routine solicitation contacts made by or on behalf of, the stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person pursuant to a

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solicitation of proxies after the filing of an effective Schedule 14A by such stockholder or Stockholder Associated Person under Section 14(a) of the Exchange Act.

&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;(6)Notwithstanding anything in these Bylaws to the contrary, except as otherwise determined by the chair of the meeting, if the stockholder giving notice as provided for in this Section 11 (or a qualified representative thereof) does not appear in person at such annual or special meeting to present each nominee for election as a director or the proposed business, as applicable, such matter shall not be considered at the meeting. For purposes of this Section 11, to be a qualified representative of the stockholder, a person must be a duly authorized officer, manager or partner of such stockholder or must be authorized by a writing executed by such stockholder or an electronic transmission delivered by such stockholder to act for such stockholder as proxy at the meeting of stockholders and such person must produce such writing or electronic transmission, or a reliable reproduction of the writing or electronic transmission, at the meeting of stockholders.

**Section 12.Control Share Acquisition Act.**

Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, Title 3, Subtitle 7 of the Maryland General Corporation Law (or any successor statute) (the "MGCL") shall not apply to any acquisition by any person of shares of stock of the Corporation. This section may be repealed, in whole or in part, at any time, whether before or after an acquisition of control shares and, upon such repeal, may, to the extent provided by any successor bylaw, apply to any prior or subsequent control share acquisition.

**Section 13.Meetings by Remote Communication.**

The Board of Directors is authorized to determine that a meeting not be held at any place, but instead may be held partially or solely by means of remote communication. In accordance with these Bylaws and subject to any guidelines and procedures adopted by the Board of Directors, stockholders and proxy holders may participate in any meeting of stockholders held by means of remote communication and may vote at such meeting as permitted by Maryland law. Participation in a meeting by these means constitutes presence in person at the meeting.

**Section 14.Stockholders' Consent in Lieu of Meeting.**

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of stockholders may be taken without a meeting if a consent setting forth the action is given in writing or by electronic transmission by each stockholder entitled to vote on the matter and filed with the minutes of proceedings of the stockholders.

**Article III<br>DIRECTORS**

**Section 1.General Powers.**

The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed under the direction of its Board of Directors.

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**Section 2.Number, Tenure and Resignation.**

At any regular meeting of the Board of Directors or at any special meeting of the Board of Directors called for that purpose, a majority of the entire Board of Directors may establish, increase or decrease the number of directors, *provided*, *however*, that the number thereof shall never be less than three nor more than nine, and *provided further* that the tenure of office of a director shall not be affected by any decrease in the number of directors. Directors shall be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders, and each director shall hold office for the term for which he or she is elected and until his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Any director of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation in writing to the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors or the Secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation.

**Section 3.Annual and Regular Meetings.**

An annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders, with no notice other than this Bylaw being necessary, or at such other date, time and place as may be determined by the Board of Directors and specified in a notice given as hereinafter provided for special meetings of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the date, time and place for the holding of regular meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

**Section 4.Special Meetings.**

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by or at the request of the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or a majority of the directors then in office. The person or persons authorized to call special meetings of the Board of Directors may fix the date, time and place for holding any special meeting of the Board of Directors called by them. The Board of Directors may provide, by resolution, the time and place for the holding of special meetings of the Board of Directors without other notice than such resolution.

**Section 5.Notice.**

Notice of any special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be delivered personally or by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile transmission, courier or United States mail to each director at his or her business or residence address. Notice by personal delivery, telephone, electronic mail or facsimile transmission shall be given at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. Notice by United States mail shall be given at least three days prior to the meeting. Notice by courier shall be given at least two days prior to the meeting. Telephone notice shall be deemed to be given when the director or his or her agent is personally given such notice in a telephone call to which the director or his or her agent is a party. Electronic mail notice shall be deemed to be given upon transmission of the message to the electronic mail address given to the Corporation by the director. Facsimile transmission notice shall be deemed to be given upon completion of the transmission of the message to the number given to the Corporation by the

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director and receipt of a completed answer-back indicating receipt. Notice by United States mail shall be deemed to be given when deposited in the United States mail properly addressed, with postage thereon prepaid. Notice by courier shall be deemed to be given when deposited with or delivered to a courier properly addressed. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, any annual, regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors need be stated in the notice, unless specifically required by statute or these Bylaws.

**Section 6.Quorum.**

A majority of the directors shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Board of Directors, *provided* that, if less than a majority of such directors is present at such meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting from time to time without further notice, and *provided further* that, if, pursuant to applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws, the vote of a majority or other percentage of a particular group of directors is required for action, a quorum must also include a majority or such other percentage of such group.

The directors present at a meeting which has been duly called and at which a quorum has been established may continue to transact business until adjournment, notwithstanding the withdrawal from the meeting of enough directors to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum.

**Section 7.Voting.**

The action of a majority of the directors present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws. If enough directors have withdrawn from a meeting to leave fewer than required to establish a quorum, but the meeting is not adjourned, the action of the majority of that number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum at such meeting shall be the action of the Board of Directors, unless the concurrence of a greater proportion is required for such action by applicable law, the Charter or these Bylaws.

**Section 8.Organization.**

At each meeting of the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors shall act as chair of the meeting. In the absence of the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, if a director, or, in the absence of the Chief Executive Officer, the President, if a director, or, in the absence of the President, a director chosen by a majority of the directors present, shall act as chair of the meeting. The Secretary or, in his or her absence, an Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, or, in the absence of the Secretary and all Assistant Secretaries, an individual appointed by the chair of the meeting, shall act as secretary of the meeting.

**Section 9.Meetings by Remote Communication.**

Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other means of remote communication if all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other at

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the same time. Participation in a meeting by these means shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.

**Section 10.Consent by Directors Without a Meeting.**

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each director and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of Directors.

**Section 11.Vacancies.**

If for any reason any or all of the directors cease to be directors, such event shall not terminate the existence of the Corporation or affect these Bylaws or the powers of the remaining directors hereunder. Except as may be provided by the Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred stock, any vacancy on the Board of Directors may be filled only by a majority of the remaining directors, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum. Any director elected to fill a vacancy shall serve for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies.

**Section 12.Chair of the Board of Directors.**

The Board of Directors shall designate a Chair of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may designate the Chair of the Board of Directors as an executive or non-executive chair. The Chair of the Board of Directors shall preside over the meetings of the Board of Directors. The Chair of the Board of Directors shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to him by these Bylaws or the Board of Directors.

**Section 13.Compensation.**

Directors shall not receive any stated salary for their services as directors but, by resolution of the Board of Directors, may receive compensation per year and/or per meeting and/or per visit to real property or other facilities owned or leased by the Corporation 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 Board of Directors or of any committee thereof and for their expenses, if any, in connection with each property visit and any other service or activity they perform or engage in as directors. Nothing herein contained, however, shall be construed to preclude any directors from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving compensation therefor.

**Section 14.Reliance.**

Each director and officer of the Corporation shall, in the performance of his or her duties with respect to the Corporation, be entitled to rely on any information, opinion, report or statement, including any financial statement or other financial data, prepared or presented by an officer or employee of the Corporation whom the director or officer reasonably believes to be reliable and competent in the matters presented; by a lawyer, certified public accountant or other

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person, as to a matter which the director or officer reasonably believes to be within the person's professional or expert competence; or, with respect to a director, by a committee of the Board of Directors on which the director does not serve, as to a matter within its designated authority, if the director reasonably believes the committee to merit confidence.

**Section 15.Certain Rights of Directors and Officers.**

A director who is not also an officer of the Corporation shall have no responsibility to devote his or her full time to the affairs of the Corporation. Any director or officer, in his or her personal capacity or in a capacity as an affiliate, employee or agent of any other person, or otherwise, may have business interests and engage in business activities similar to, in addition to or in competition with those of or relating to the Corporation.

**Section 16.Ratification.**

The Board of Directors or the stockholders may ratify and make binding on the Corporation any action or inaction by the Corporation or its officers to the extent that the Board of Directors or the stockholders could have originally authorized the matter. Moreover, any action or inaction questioned in any stockholders' derivative proceeding or any other proceeding on the ground of lack of authority, defective or irregular execution, adverse interest of a director, officer or stockholder, non-disclosure, miscomputation, the application of improper principles or practices of accounting or otherwise, may be ratified, before or after judgment, by the Board of Directors or by the stockholders, and, if so ratified, shall have the same force and effect as if the questioned action or inaction had been originally duly authorized, and such ratification shall be binding upon the Corporation and its stockholders and shall constitute a bar to any claim or execution of any judgment in respect of such questioned action or inaction.

**Section 17.Emergency Provisions.**

Notwithstanding any other provision in the Charter or these Bylaws, this Section 17 shall apply during the existence of any catastrophe, or other similar emergency condition, as a result of which a quorum of the Board of Directors under Article III of these Bylaws cannot readily be obtained (an "Emergency"). During any Emergency, unless otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, (i) a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof may be called by any director or officer by any means feasible under the circumstances; (ii) notice of any meeting of the Board of Directors during such an Emergency may be given less than 24 hours prior to the meeting to as many directors and by such means as may be feasible at the time, including publication, television or radio; and (iii) the number of directors necessary to constitute a quorum shall be one-third of the entire Board of Directors.

**Article IV<br>COMMITTEES**

**Section 1.Number, Tenure and Qualifications.**

The Board of Directors may appoint from among its members an Audit Committee, a Compensation Committee, a Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee and other

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committees, composed of one or more directors, to serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The exact composition of each committee, including the total number of directors and the number of independent directors on each such committee, shall at all times comply with any applicable listing requirements and rules and regulations of The New York Stock Exchange or any other national securities exchange on which the Corporation's common stock is then listed, as such rules and regulations may be modified or amended from time to time, and any applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, as such rules and regulations may be modified or amended from time to time.

**Section 2.Powers.**

The Board of Directors may delegate to committees appointed under Section 1 of this Article IV any of the powers of the Board of Directors, except as prohibited by law.

**Section 3.Meetings.**

Notice of committee meetings shall be given in the same manner as notice for special meetings of the Board of Directors. A majority of the members of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the committee. The act of a majority of the committee members present at a meeting shall be the act of such committee. The Board of Directors may designate a chair of any committee, and such chair or, in the absence of a chair, any two members of any committee (if there are at least two members of the committee) may fix the time and place of the committee meeting unless the Board of Directors shall otherwise provide. In the absence of any member of any such committee, the members thereof present at any meeting, whether or not they constitute a quorum, may appoint another director to act in the place of such absent member.

**Section 4.Meetings by Remote Communication.**

Members of a committee of the Board of Directors may participate in a meeting by means of a conference telephone or other means of remote communication 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 5.Consent by Committees Without a Meeting.**

Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of a committee of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a consent in writing or by electronic transmission to such action is given by each member of the committee and is filed with the minutes of proceedings of such committee.

**Section 6.Removal and Vacancies.**

Subject to the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors shall have the power at any time to change the membership or size of any committee (including the removal of any member of such committee), to fill any vacancy, to designate an alternate member to replace any absent or disqualified member or to dissolve any such committee.

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**Article V<br>OFFICERS**

**Section 1.General Provisions.**

The officers of the Corporation shall include a President, a Secretary and a Treasurer and may include a Chair of the Board of Directors, a Vice Chair of the Board of Directors, a Chief Executive Officer, a Chief Operating Officer, a Chief Financial Officer, one or more Vice Presidents, one or more Assistant Secretaries and one or more Assistant Treasurers. In addition, the Board of Directors may from time to time elect such other officers with such powers and duties as it shall deem necessary or desirable. The officers of the Corporation shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors, except that the Chief Executive Officer or President may from time to time appoint one or more Vice Presidents, Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers or other officers. Each officer shall serve until his or her successor is elected and qualifies or until his or her death, or until his or her resignation or removal in the manner hereinafter provided. Any two or more offices except President and Vice President may be held by the same person. Election of an officer or agent shall not of itself create contract rights between the Corporation and such officer or agent. In the event of the absence or disability of any officer, the Board of Directors may designate another officer to act temporarily in place of such absent or disabled officer.

**Section 2.Removal and Resignation.**

Any officer or agent of the Corporation may be removed, with or without cause, by the Board of Directors if in its judgment the best interests of the Corporation would be served thereby, but such removal shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at any time by delivering his or her resignation in writing to the Board of Directors, the Chair of the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Secretary. Any resignation shall take effect immediately upon its receipt or at such later time specified in the resignation. The acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective unless otherwise stated in the resignation. Such resignation shall be without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the Corporation.

**Section 3.Vacancies.**

A vacancy in any office may be filled by the Board of Directors for the balance of the term of that office.

**Section 4.Chief Executive Officer.**

The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Executive Officer. In the absence of such designation, the Chair of the Board of Directors shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Corporation. The Chief Executive Officer shall have general responsibility for implementation of the policies of the Corporation, as determined by the Board of Directors, and for the management of the business and affairs of the Corporation. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or by these Bylaws to some other officer or

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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 Chief Executive Officer and such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board of Directors from time to time.

**Section 5.Chief Investment Officer**.

The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Investment Officer. The Chief Investment &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as determined by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

**Section 6.Chief Operating Officer.**

The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Operating Officer. The Chief Operating Officer shall have the responsibilities and duties as prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

**Section 7.Chief Financial Officer.**

The Board of Directors may designate a Chief Financial Officer. The Chief Financial Officer shall have the responsibilities and duties prescribed by the Board of Directors or the Chief Executive Officer.

**Section 8.President.**

In the absence of a Chief Executive Officer, the President shall in general supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation. In the absence of a designation of a Chief Operating Officer by the Board of Directors, the President shall be the Chief Operating Officer. He or she may execute any deed, mortgage, bond, contract or other instrument, except in cases where the execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of 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 Board of Directors from time to time.

**Section 9.Vice Presidents.**

In the absence of the President or in the event of a vacancy in such office, the Vice President (or in the event there be more than one Vice President, Vice Presidents in the order 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, and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to such Vice President by the Board of Directors, the President or Chief Executive Officer. The Board of Directors may designate one or more Vice Presidents as Executive Vice President, Senior Vice President or as Vice President for particular areas of responsibility.

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**Section 10.Secretary.**

The Secretary shall (a) keep the minutes of the proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and committees of the Board of Directors in one or more books provided for that purpose; (b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws or as required by law; (c) be custodian of the corporate records and of the seal of the Corporation; (d) keep a register of the post office address of each stockholder which shall be furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder; (e) have general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (f) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors.

**Section 11.Treasurer.**

The Treasurer shall (a) have custody of the funds and securities of the Corporation, (b) keep full and accurate accounts of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Corporation, (c) deposit all moneys 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 (d) in general perform such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chief Executive Officer, the President or the Board of Directors. In the absence of a designation of a Chief Financial Officer by the Board of Directors, the Treasurer shall be the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation.

The Treasurer 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 President and Board of Directors, at the regular meetings of the Board of Directors or whenever the Board of Directors may so require, an account of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Corporation.

**Section 12.Assistant Secretaries; 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, the President or the Board of Directors.

**Section 13.Compensation.**

The compensation of the officers shall be fixed from time to time by or under the authority of the Board of Directors. No officer shall be prevented from receiving such compensation in his or her capacity as an officer by reason of the fact that he or she is also a director.

**Article VI<br>CONTRACTS, CHECKS AND DEPOSITS**

**Section 1.Contracts.**

The Board of Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors acting within the scope of its delegated authority may authorize any officer or agent to enter into any contract or to

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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 shall be valid and binding upon the Corporation when duly authorized or ratified, generally or specifically, by action of the Board of Directors or such other committee and executed by an authorized person.

**Section 2.Checks and Drafts.**

All checks, 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 agent of the Corporation in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by the Board of Directors.

**Section 3.Deposits.**

All funds of the Corporation not otherwise employed shall be deposited or invested from time to time to the credit of the Corporation as the Board of Directors, the Chief Executive Officer, the President, the Chief Financial Officer or any other officer designated by the Board of Directors may determine.

**Article VII<br>STOCK**

**Section 1.Certificates.**

Except as may be otherwise provided by the Board of Directors, stockholders of the Corporation are not entitled to certificates representing the shares of stock held by them. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock represented by certificates, such certificates shall be in such form as prescribed by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized officer, shall contain the statements and information required by the MGCL and shall be signed by the officers of the Corporation in the manner required by the MGCL. In the event that the Corporation issues shares of stock without certificates, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, upon written request, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates. There shall be no differences in the rights and obligations of stockholders based on whether or not their shares are represented by certificates.

**Section 2.Transfers.**

All transfers of shares of stock shall be made on the books of the Corporation and the books of the transfer agent of the Corporation, if applicable, by the holder of the shares, in person or by his or her attorney, in such manner as the Board of Directors or any officer of the Corporation may prescribe. If such shares are certificated, then, upon surrender to the Corporation or, if authorized by the Corporation, to the transfer agent of the Corporation, of certificates duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to transfer, the Corporation, or, if authorized by the Corporation, the transfer agent of the Corporation, shall issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the transaction on its books. The issuance of a new certificate upon the

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transfer of certificated shares is subject to the determination of the Board of Directors that such shares shall no longer be represented by certificates. Upon the transfer of any uncertificated shares, to the extent then required by the MGCL, the Corporation shall provide to the record holders of such shares, upon written request, a written statement of the information required by the MGCL to be included on stock certificates.

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the holder of record of any share 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 on the part of any other person, whether or not the Corporation shall have express or other notice thereof, except as otherwise expressly provided by the laws of the State of Maryland. Notwithstanding the foregoing, transfers of shares of any class or series of stock will be subject in all respects to the Charter and all of the terms and conditions contained therein.

**Section 3.Replacement Certificate.**

Any officer of the Corporation 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, destroyed, stolen or mutilated, upon the making of an affidavit of that fact by the person claiming the certificate to be lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated; provided, however, that if such shares have ceased to be certificated, no new certificate or certificates shall be issued unless requested in writing by such stockholder and the Board of Directors has determined that such certificate or certificates may be issued. Unless otherwise determined by an officer of the Corporation, the owner of such lost, destroyed, stolen or mutilated certificate or certificates, or his or her legal representative, shall be required, as a condition precedent to the issuance of a new certificate or certificates, to give the Corporation a bond in such sums as the Corporation may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the Corporation.

**Section 4.Fixing of Record Date.**

Subject to the provisions of Article II, Section 3, the Board of Directors may set, in advance, a record date for the purpose of determining the stockholders entitled to notice of, or to vote at, any meeting of stockholders or of determining the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any dividend or the allotment of any other rights, or in order to make a determination of stockholders for any other proper purpose. Such date, in any case, shall not be prior to the close of business on the day the record date is fixed and shall be not more than 90 days and, in the case of a meeting of stockholders, not less than ten 10 days, before the date on which the meeting or particular action requiring such determination of stockholders of record is to be held or taken.

When a record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of, and to vote at, any meeting of stockholders has been set as provided in this section, such record date shall continue to apply to the meeting if adjourned or postponed, except if the meeting is adjourned or postponed to a date more than 120 days after the record date originally fixed for the meeting, in which case a new record date for such meeting may be determined as set forth herein.

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**Section 5.Stock Ledger.**

The Corporation shall maintain at its principal office or at the office of its counsel, accountants or transfer agent, an original or duplicate stock ledger containing the name and address of each stockholder and the number of shares of each class held by such stockholder.

**Section 6.Fractional Stock; Issuance of Units.**

The Board of Directors may authorize the Corporation to issue fractional stock or authorize the issuance of scrip, all on such terms and under such conditions as the Board of Directors may determine. Notwithstanding any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws, the Board of 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 Board of Directors may provide that, for a specified period, securities of the Corporation issued in such unit may be transferred on the books of the Corporation only in such unit.

**Article VIII<br>MISCELLANEOUS**

**Section 1.Fiscal Year.**

The Board of Directors shall have the power, from time to time, to fix the fiscal year of the Corporation by a duly adopted resolution.

**Section 2.Severability.**

If any provision of these Bylaws shall be held invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such holding shall apply only to the extent of any such invalidity or unenforceability and shall not in any manner affect, impair or render invalid or unenforceable any other provision of the Bylaws in any jurisdiction.

**Article IX<br>DISTRIBUTIONS**

**Section 1.Authorization.**

Dividends and other distributions upon the stock of the Corporation may be authorized by the Board of Directors, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter. Dividends and other distributions may be paid in cash, property or stock of the Corporation, subject to the provisions of law and the Charter.

**Section 2.Contingencies.**

Before payment of any dividends or other distributions, there may be set aside (but there is no duty to set aside) out of any assets of the Corporation available for dividends or other distributions such sum or sums as the Board of Directors may from time to time, in its absolute discretion, think proper as a reserve fund for contingencies, for equalizing dividends or other distributions, for repairing or maintaining any property of the Corporation or for such other

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purpose as the Board of Directors shall determine to be in the best interests of the Corporation, and the Board of Directors may modify or abolish any such reserve in the manner in which it was created.

**Article X<br>INVESTMENT POLICIES**

Subject to the provisions of the Charter, the Board of Directors may from time to time adopt, amend, revise or terminate any policy or policies with respect to investments by the Corporation as the Board of Directors shall deem appropriate in its sole discretion.

**Article XI<br>SEAL**

**Section 1.Seal.**

The Board of Directors may authorize the adoption of a seal by the Corporation. The seal shall be in such form as approved from time to time by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors may authorize one or more duplicate seals and provide for the custody thereof.

**Section 2.Affixing Seal.**

Whenever the Corporation is permitted or required to affix its seal to a document, it shall be sufficient to meet the requirements of any law, rule or regulation relating to a seal to place the word "(SEAL)" adjacent to the signature of the person authorized to execute the document on behalf of the Corporation.

**Article XII<br>INDEMNIFICATION AND ADVANCE OF EXPENSES**

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 all reasonable costs, fees and expenses (including attorneys' fees, costs and expenses) in advance of a final disposition of any Proceeding (as defined below) to (a) any individual who is a present or former director or officer of the Corporation and who was or is made or threatened to be made a party to any pending or contemplated action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (a "Proceeding"), by reason of his or her service in that capacity or (b) any individual who, while a director or officer of the Corporation and at the request of the Corporation, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, trustee, member or manager of another corporation, real estate investment trust, limited liability company, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise and who was or is made or threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The rights to indemnification and to be paid or reimbursed expenses in advance of a final disposition of any Proceeding provided by the Charter and these Bylaws shall vest immediately upon election of a director or officer.

In addition to and not in limitation of the provisions of this Article XII, the Corporation may, with the approval of the Board of Directors, provide such indemnification and payment or

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reimbursement of expenses in advance to (i) an individual who served a predecessor of the Corporation in any of the capacities described in (a) or (b) above and (ii) any employee or agent of the Corporation or a predecessor of the Corporation.

Subject to the terms of any agreement between the Corporation and any present and future directors and officers of the Corporation, if a claim under this Article XII is not paid in full by the Corporation within 60 days after a written claim has been received by the Corporation from a present or former director or officer of the Corporation, except in the case of a claim for payment or reimbursement of expenses in advance of the final disposition of a Proceeding, in which case the applicable period shall be 20 days, the present or former director or officer making such claim may at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid amount of the claim and, to the extent successful in whole or in part, the claimant shall be entitled to be indemnified for the costs, fees and expenses (including attorneys' fees, costs and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by such person in prosecuting such suit.

The indemnification and payment or reimbursement of expenses in advance provided in these Bylaws shall not be deemed exclusive of or limit in any way any other rights to which any person seeking indemnification or payment or reimbursement of expenses may be or may become entitled under any bylaw, charter, resolution, insurance, agreement, vote of directors or stockholders, or otherwise, it being the policy of the Corporation that indemnification of and payment and reimbursement of expenses in advance to all present and former directors and officers of the Corporation shall be made to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.

Neither the amendment nor repeal of this Article XII, nor the adoption or amendment of any other provision of the Charter or these Bylaws inconsistent with this Article XII, 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.

In addition to any indemnification permitted by these Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall, in its sole discretion, have the power to grant such indemnification as it deems in the interest of the Corporation to the full extent permitted by law. This Article XII shall not limit the Corporation's power to indemnify against liabilities not arising from a person's serving the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent.

**Article XIII<br>WAIVER OF NOTICE**

Whenever any notice of a meeting is required to be given pursuant to the Charter or these Bylaws or pursuant to applicable law, a waiver thereof in writing or by electronic transmission, given by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to the giving of such notice. Neither the business to be transacted at nor the purpose of any meeting need be set forth in the waiver of notice of such meeting, unless specifically required by statute. The attendance of any person at any meeting 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 has not been lawfully called or convened.

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**Article XIV<br>EXCLUSIVE FORUM FOR CERTAIN LITIGATION**

Unless the Corporation consents in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland (the "Court") shall be the sole and exclusive forum for (i) any derivative action brought on behalf of the Corporation, (ii) any action asserting a claim of breach of a fiduciary duty owed by any director, officer or other employee of the Corporation to the Corporation or the Corporation's stockholders, (iii) any action asserting a claim arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL, or (iv) any action asserting a claim governed by the internal affairs doctrine, and any record or beneficial stockholder of the Corporation who commences such an action shall cooperate in a request that the action be assigned to the Court's Business & Technology Case Management Program.

**Article XV<br>AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS**

The Board of Directors shall have the power to adopt, alter or repeal, in whole or in part, any provision of these Bylaws and to make new Bylaws. In addition, these Bylaws may be altered or repealed, in whole or in part, and new Bylaws may be adopted by the stockholders of the Corporation, without the approval of the Board of Directors, by the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter by stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors.

## Exhibit 99.1

![image_0a.jpg](image_0a.jpg)

**CareTrust REIT Appoints Gregory K. Stapley to Board of Directors**

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- CareTrust REIT, Inc. (NYSE:CTRE) ("CareTrust" or the "Company") announced today the appointment of Greg Stapley to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board"), effective January 1, 2026.

Mr. Stapley brings a distinguished record of leadership and deep institutional knowledge of the healthcare real estate sector, having previously served as CareTrust's President and Chief Executive Officer from the Company's inception in 2014 to 2022. Prior to his tenure at the helm of CareTrust, Mr. Stapley was a co-founder of The Ensign Group, Inc. ("Ensign"), serving as its General Counsel and later as Executive Vice President until leading the spin-off of CareTrust from Ensign. Before Ensign, Mr. Stapley was a partner at a law firm, where his practice focused on real estate, business transactions, and government relations.

"We are thrilled to welcome Greg back home to the organization as a member of the Board," said Dave Sedgwick, CareTrust's President and Chief Executive Officer. Mr. Sedgwick continued, "Greg's insights and experience are simply invaluable. His extensive understanding of our business, long-standing commitment to our organization and operator-focused culture, and his unparalleled multi-decade track record of success in seniors housing and post-acute care real estate will be tremendous assets to our exceptional Board as we continue to execute on our diversifying and accelerating pace of growth."

Diana Laing, Chair of the Board, added, "It's a pleasure to have Greg rejoin the organization as a director. Having seen his leadership and in-depth understanding of the healthcare space first-hand when he served as President and CEO of CareTrust, I am confident his contributions will help the Board and management team preserve the principles that have driven our success over the past decade while we scale thoughtfully in our next chapter."

In connection with Mr. Stapley's appointment, the Board unanimously approved an increase in the size of the Company's Board of Directors from five to six directors.

***About CareTrust***<sup>TM</sup>

CareTrust REIT, Inc. is a self-administered, publicly-traded real estate investment trust engaged in the ownership, acquisition, development and leasing of skilled nursing, senior housing and other healthcare-related properties. With a portfolio of long-term net-leased properties spanning the United States and United Kingdom, and a growing portfolio of quality operators leasing them, CareTrust is pursuing both external and organic growth opportunities across the US and internationally. More information about CareTrust REIT is available at <u>www.caretrustreit.com</u>.

***IR Contact***

CareTrust REIT, Inc.

(949) 542-3130

ir@caretrustreit.com

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