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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): DECEMBER 5, 1995
BROOKE GROUP LTD.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
DELAWARE
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
1-5759 51-0255124
(Commission File Number) (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
100 S.E. SECOND STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
(305) 579-8000
(Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
(NOT APPLICABLE)
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.
On December 5, 1995, Brooke Group Ltd. issued a press
release, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated
herein by reference.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENT AND EXHIBITS.
(c) Exhibits.
3.1 Amended and Restated By-Laws of Brooke Group
Ltd., effective December 5, 1995.
99.1 Press Release of Brooke Group Ltd. dated
December 5, 1995.
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SIGNATURE
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.
BROOKE GROUP LTD.
/s/ Gerald E. Sauter
-----------------------
Date: December 7, 1995 Gerald E. Sauter
Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer
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EXHIBIT INDEX
Exhibit No. Description Sequentially Numbered Page
- ---------- ----------- --------------------------
3.1 Amended and Restated By-Laws of 5
Brooke Group Ltd., effective
December 5, 1995.
99.1 Press Release of Brooke Group Ltd. 22
dated December 5, 1995.
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EXHIBIT 3.1
AMENDED AND RESTATED
BY-LAWS OF
BROOKE GROUP LTD.
EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 5, 1995
(A Delaware Corporation)
ARTICLE I
Offices
SECTION 1. Registered Office. The registered office of the
Corporation within the State of Delaware shall be in the City of Wilmington,
County of New Castle.
SECTION 2. Other Offices. The Corporation may also have an office or
offices other than said registered office at such place or places, either
within or without the State of Delaware, as the Board of Directors shall from
time to time determine or the business of the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE II
Meetings of Stockholders
SECTION 1. Place of Meetings. All meetings of the stockholders for
the election of directors or for any other purpose shall be held at any such
place, either within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be designated
from time to time by the Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting
or in a duly executed waiver thereof.
SECTION 2. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of stockholders, shall
be held at such date and time as shall be designated from time to time by the
Board of Directors and stated in the notice of meeting or in a duly executed
waiver thereof. At such annual meeting, the stockholders shall elect, by a
plurality vote, a Board of Directors and transact such other business as may
properly be brought before the meeting.
SECTION 3. Special Meetings. Special meetings of stockholders, unless
otherwise prescribed by statute, may be called at any time by the Board of
Directors or the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or the
President and shall be called by the Secretary upon the request in writing of a
stockholder or stockholders holding of record at least 25 percent of the voting
power of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled
to vote at such meeting.
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SECTION 4. Notice of Meetings. Except as otherwise expressly required
by statute, written notice of each annual and special meeting of stockholders
stating the date, place and hour of the meeting, and, in the case of a special
meeting, the purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be
given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat not less than ten
nor more than sixty days before the date of the meeting. Business transacted
at any special meeting of stockholders shall be limited to the purposes stated
in the notice. Notice shall be given personally or by mail and, if by mail,
shall be sent in a postage prepaid envelope, addressed to the stockholder at
his address as it appears on the records of the Corporation. Notice by mail
shall be deemed given at the time when the same shall be deposited in the
United States mail, postage prepaid. Notice of any meeting shall not be
required to be given to any person who attends such meeting, except when such
person attends the meeting in person or by proxy for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened, or who, either before
or after the meeting, shall submit a signed written waiver of notice, in person
or by proxy. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor the purpose of, an
annual or special meeting of stockholders need be specified in any written
waiver of notice.
SECTION 5. List of Stockholders. The officer who has charge of the
stock ledger of the Corporation shall prepare and make, at least ten days
before each meeting of stockholders, a complete list of the stockholders
entitled to vote at the meeting, arranged in alphabetical order, showing the
address of and the number of shares registered in the name of each stockholder.
Such list shall be open to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose
germane to the meeting, during ordinary business hours, for a period of at
least ten days prior to the meeting, either at a place within the city, town or
village where the meeting is to be held, which place shall be specified in the
notice of meeting, or, if not specified, at the place where the meeting is to
be held. The list shall be produced and kept at the time and place of the
meeting during the whole time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder
who is present.
SECTION 6. Quorum, Adjournments. The holders of a majority of the
voting power of the issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote thereat, present in person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings of stockholders, except
as otherwise provided by statute or by the Certificate of Incorporation. If,
however, such quorum shall not be present or represented by proxy at any
meeting of stockholders, the stockholders entitled to vote thereat, present in
person or represented by proxy, shall have the power to adjourn the meeting
from time to time, without notice other than announcement at the meeting, until
a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy. At such adjourned meeting
at which a quorum shall be present or represented by proxy, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting as originally
called. If the adjournment is for more than thirty days, or, if after
adjournment a new record date is set, a notice of the adjourned meeting shall
be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote at the meeting.
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SECTION 7. Organization. At each meeting of stockholders, the
Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or, in his absence or if
one shall not have been elected, the President shall act as chairman of the
meeting. The Secretary or, in his absence or inability to act, the person whom
the chairman of the meeting shall appoint secretary of the meeting shall act as
secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION 8. Order of Business. The order of business at all meetings
of the stockholders shall be as determined by the chairman of the meeting.
SECTION 9. Voting. Except as otherwise provided by statute or the
Certificate of Incorporation, each stockholder of the Corporation shall be
entitled at each meeting of stockholders to one vote for each share of capital
stock of the Corporation standing in his name on the record of stockholders of
the Corporation:
(a) on the date fixed pursuant to the provisions of
Section 7 of Article V of these By-Laws as the record date for the
determination of the stockholders who shall be entitled to notice of
and to vote at such meeting; or
(b) if no such record date shall have been so fixed, then
at the close of business on the day next preceding the day on which
notice thereof shall be given, or, if notice is waived, at the close
of business on the date next preceding the day on which the meeting is
held.
Each stockholder entitled to vote at any meeting of stockholders may authorize
another person or persons to act for him by a proxy signed by such stockholder
or his attorney-in-fact, but no proxy shall be voted after three years from its
date, unless the proxy provides for a longer period. Any such proxy shall be
delivered to the secretary of the meeting prior to the time designated in the
order of business for so delivering such proxies. When a quorum is present at
any meeting, the vote of the holders of a majority of the voting power of the
issued and outstanding stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon,
present in person or represented by proxy, shall decide any question brought
before such meeting, unless the question is one upon which by express provision
of statute or of the Certificate of Incorporation or of these By-Laws, a
different vote is required, in which case such express provision shall govern
and control the decision of such question. Unless required by statute, or
determined by the chairman of the meeting to be advisable, the vote on any
question need not be by ballot. On a vote by ballot, each ballot shall be
signed by the stockholder voting, or by his proxy, if by such proxy, and shall
state the number of shares voted.
SECTION 10. Inspectors. The Board of Directors may, in advance of
any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more inspectors to act at such
meeting or any adjournment thereof. If any of the inspectors so appointed
shall fail to appear or act, the chairman of the meeting shall, or if
inspectors shall not have been appointed, the chairman of the meeting may,
appoint one or more inspectors. Each inspector, before entering upon the
discharge of his duties, shall take and sign an oath faithfully to execute the
duties of inspector at such meeting with strict
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impartiality and according to the best of his ability. The inspectors shall
determine the number of shares of capital stock of the Corporation outstanding
and the voting power of each, the number of shares represented at the meeting,
the existence of a quorum, the validity and effect of proxies, and shall
receive votes, ballots or consents, hear and determine all challenges and
questions arising in connection with the right to vote, count and tabulate all
votes, ballots or consents, determine the results, and do such acts as are
proper to conduct the election or vote with fairness to all stockholders. On
request of the chairman of the meeting, the inspectors shall make a report in
writing of any challenge, request or matter determined by them and shall
execute a certificate of any fact found by them. No director or candidate for
the office of director shall act as an inspector of an election of directors.
Inspectors need not be stockholders.
SECTION 11. Action by Consent. Whenever the vote of stockholders at
a meeting thereof is required or permitted to be taken for or in connection
with any corporate action, by any provision of statute or of the Certificate of
Incorporation or of these By-Laws, the meeting and vote of stockholders may be
dispensed with, and the action taken without such meeting and vote, if a
consent in writing, setting forth the action so taken, shall be signed by the
holders of outstanding stock having not less than the minimum number of votes
that would be necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which
all shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were present
and voted.
ARTICLE III
Board of Directors
SECTION 1. General Powers. The business and affairs of the
Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors. The Board of Directors may exercise all such authority and powers
of the Corporation and do all such lawful acts and things as are not by statute
or the Certificate of Incorporation directed or required to be exercised or
done by the stockholders.
SECTION 2. Number, Qualifications, Election and Term of Office. The
number of directors may be fixed, from time to time, by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the entire Board of Directors or by action of the stockholders of
the Corporation. Any decrease in the number of directors shall be effective at
the time of the next succeeding annual meeting of stockholders unless there
shall be vacancies in the Board of Directors, in which case such decrease may
become effective at any time prior to the next succeeding annual meeting to the
extent of the number of such vacancies. Directors need not be stockholders.
Except as otherwise provided by statute or these By-Laws, the directors shall
be elected at the annual meeting of stockholders. Each director shall hold
office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified, or until his
death, or until he shall have resigned, or have been removed, as hereinafter
provided in these By-Laws.
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SECTION 3. Place of Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors
shall be held at such place or places, within or without the State of Delaware,
as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as shall be
specified in the notice of any such meeting.
SECTION 4. Annual Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet for the
purpose of the election of officers and the transaction of other business, as
soon as practicable after each annual meeting of stockholders, on the same day
and at the same place where such annual meeting shall be held. Notice of such
meeting need not be given. In the event such annual meeting is not so held,
the annual meeting of the Board of Directors may be held at such other time or
place (within or without the State of Delaware) as shall be specified in a
notice thereof given as hereinafter provided in Section 7 of this Article III.
SECTION 5. Regular Meetings. Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held at such time and place as the Board of Directors may
fix. If any day fixed for a regular meeting shall be a legal holiday at the
place where the meeting is to be held, then the meeting which would otherwise
be held on that day shall be held at the same hour on the next succeeding
business day. Notice of regular meetings of the Board of Directors need not be
given except as otherwise required by statute or these By-Laws.
SECTION 6. Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been
elected, or by two or more directors of the Corporation or by the President.
SECTION 7. Notice of Meetings. Notice of each special meeting of the
Board of Directors (and of each regular meeting for which notice shall be
required) shall be given by the Secretary as hereinafter provided in this
Section 7, in which notice shall be stated the time and place of the meeting.
Except as otherwise required by these By-Laws, such notice need not state the
purposes of such meeting. Notice of each such meeting shall be mailed, postage
prepaid, to each director, addressed to him at his residence or usual place of
business, by first class mail, at least two days before the day on which such
meeting is to be held, or shall be sent addressed to him at such place by
telegraph, cable, telex, telecopier or other similar means, or be delivered
to_him personally or be given to him by telephone or other similar means, at
least twenty-four hours before the time at which such meeting is to be held.
Notice of any such meeting need not be given to any director who shall, either
before or after the meeting, submit a signed waiver of notice or who shall
attend such meeting, except when he shall attend for the express purpose of
objecting, at the beginning of the meeting, to the transaction of any business
because the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.
SECTION 8. Quorum and Manner of Acting. A majority of the entire
Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at
any meeting of the Board of Directors and, except as otherwise expressly
required by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation or these By-Laws, the
act of a majority of the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is
present shall be the act of the Board of Directors. In the absence of a quorum
at any meeting of the Board of Directors, a majority of the directors present
thereat may
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adjourn such meeting to another time and place. Notice of the time and place
of any such adjourned meeting shall be given to all of the directors unless
such time and place were announced at the meeting at which the adjournment was
taken, in which case such notice shall only be given to the directors who were
not present thereat. At any adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present,
any business may be transacted which might have been transacted at the meeting
as originally called. The directors shall act only as a Board and the
individual directors shall have no power as such.
SECTION 9. Organization. At each meeting of the Board of Directors,
the Chairman of the Board, if one shall have been elected, or, in the absence
of the Chairman of the Board or if one shall not have been elected, the
President (or, in his absence, another director chosen by a majority of the
directors present) shall act as chairman of the meeting and preside thereat.
The Secretary or, in his absence, any person appointed by the Chairman of the
Board shall act as secretary of the meeting and keep the minutes thereof.
SECTION 10. Resignations. Any director of the Corporation may resign
at any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Corporation.
Any such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the
time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately
upon its receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
SECTION 11. Vacancies. Any vacancy in the Board of Directors,
whether arising from death, resignation, removal (with or without cause), an
increase in the number of directors or any other cause, may be filled by the
vote of a majority of the directors then in office, though less than a quorum,
or by the sole remaining director or by the stockholders at the next annual
meeting thereof or at a special meeting thereof. Each director so elected
shall hold office until his successor shall have been elected and qualified.
SECTION 12. Removal of Directors. Any director may be removed,
either with or without cause, at any time, by the holders of a majority of the
voting power of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote at an election of directors.
SECTION 13. Compensation. The Board of Directors shall have
authority to fix the compensation, including fees and reimbursement of
expenses, of directors for services to the Corporation in any capacity.
SECTION 14. Committees. The Board of Directors may, by resolution
passed by a majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate one or more
committees, including an executive committee, each committee to consist of one
or more of the directors of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may
designate one or more directors as alternate members of any committee, who may
replace any absent or disqualified member at any meeting of the committee. In
addition, in the absence or disqualification of a member of a committee, the
member or members thereof present at any meeting and not disqualified from
voting, whether or
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not he or they constitute a quorum, may unanimously appoint another member of
the Board of Directors to act at the meeting in the place of any such absent or
disqualified member.
Except to the extent restricted by statute or the Certificate of Incorporation,
each such committee, to the extent provided in the resolution creating it,
shall have and may exercise all the powers and authority of the Board of
Directors and may authorize the seal of the Corporation to be affixed to all
papers which require it. Each such committee shall serve at the pleasure of
the Board of Directors and have such name as may be determined from time to
time by resolution adopted by the Board of Directors. Each committee shall
keep regular minutes of its meetings and report the same to the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 15. Action by Consent. Unless restricted by the Certificate
of Incorporation, any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of
Directors or any committee thereof may be taken without a meeting of all
members of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the case may be,
consent thereto in writing, and the writing or writings are filed with the
minutes of the proceedings of the Board of Directors or such committee, as the
case may be.
SECTION 16. Telephonic Meeting. Unless restricted by the Certificate
of Incorporation, any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any
committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or
such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications
equipment by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear
each other. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at
a meeting.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
SECTION 1. Number and Qualifications. The officers of the Corporation
shall be elected by the Board of Directors and shall include the President, one
or more Vice-Presidents, the Secretary and the Treasurer. If the Board of
Directors wishes, it may also elect as an officer of the Corporation a Chairman
of the Board and may elect other officers (including one or more Assistant
Treasurers and one or more Assistant Secretaries) as may be necessary or
desirable for the business of the Corporation. Any two or more offices may be
held by the same person, and no officer except the Chairman of the Board need
be a director. Each officer shall hold office until his successor shall have
been duly elected and shall have qualified, or until his death, or until he
shall have resigned or have been removed, as hereinafter provided in these
By-Laws.
SECTION 2. Resignations. Any officer of the Corporation may resign at
any time by giving written notice of his resignation to the Corporation. Any
such resignation shall take effect at the time specified therein or, if the
time when it shall become effective shall not be specified therein, immediately
upon receipt. Unless otherwise specified therein, the acceptance of any such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
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SECTION 3. Removal. Any officer of the Corporation may be removed,
either with or without cause, at any time, by the Board of Directors at any
meeting thereof.
SECTION 4. Chairman of the Board. The Chairman of the Board, if one
shall have been elected, shall be a member of the Board, an officer of the
Corporation and, if present, shall preside at each meeting of the Board of
Directors or the stockholders. He shall advise and counsel with the President
and in his absence with other executives of the Corporation, and shall perform
such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 5. The President. The President shall be the chief executive
officer of the Corporation. He shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board or if a Chairman of the Board shall not have been elected, preside at
each meeting of the Board of Directors or the stockholders. He shall perform
all duties incident to the office of President and chief executive officer and
such other duties as may from time to time be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 6. Vice-President. Each Vice-President shall perform all such
duties as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors or
the President. At the request of the President or in his absence or in the
event of his inability or refusal to act, the Vice-President, or if there shall
be more than one, the Vice-Presidents in the order determined by the Board of
Directors (or if there be no such determination, then the Vice-Presidents in
the order of their election), shall perform the duties of the President, and,
when so acting, shall have the powers of and be subject to the restrictions
placed upon the President in respect of the performance of such duties.
SECTION 7. Treasurer. The Treasurer shall
(a) have charge and custody of, and be responsible for,
all 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 valuables to the credit
of the Corporation in such depositories as may be designated by the
Board of Directors or pursuant to its direction;
(d) receive, and give receipts for, moneys due and
payable to the Corporation from any source whatsoever;
(e) disburse the funds of the Corporation and supervise
the investments of its funds, taking proper vouchers therefor;
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(f) render to the Board of Directors, whenever the Board
of Directors may require, an account of the financial condition of the
Corporation; and
(g) in general, perform all duties incident to the office
of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned to him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 8. Secretary. The Secretary shall
(a) keep or cause to be kept in one or more books
provided for the purpose, the minutes of all meetings of the Board of
Directors, the committees of the Board of Directors and the
stockholders;
(b) see that all notices are duly given in accordance
with the provisions of these By-Laws and as required by law;
(c) be custodian of the records and the seal of the
Corporation and affix and attest the seal to all certificates for
shares of the Corporation (unless the seal of the Corporation on such
certificates shall be a facsimile, as hereinafter provided) and affix
and attest the seal to all other documents to be executed on behalf of
the Corporation under its seal;
(d) see that the books, reports, statements, certificates
and other documents and records required by law to be kept and filed
are properly kept and filed; and
(e) in general, perform all duties incident to the office of
Secretary and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to him by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 9. The Assistant Treasurer. The Assistant Treasurer, or if
there shall be more than one, the Assistant Treasurers in the order determined
by the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the
order of their election), shall, in the absence of the Treasurer or in the
event of his inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the
powers of the Treasurer and shall perform such other duties as from time to
time may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 10. The Assistant Secretary. The Assistant Secretary, or if
there be more than one, the Assistant Secretaries in the order determined by
the Board of Directors (or if there be no such determination, then in the order
of their election) shall, in the absence of the Secretary or in the event of
his inability or refusal to act, perform the duties and exercise the powers of
the Secretary and shall perform such other duties as from time to time may be
assigned by the Board of Directors.
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SECTION 11. Officers' Bonds or Other Security. If required by the
Board of Directors, any officer of the Corporation shall give a bond or other
security for the faithful performance of his duties, in such amount and with
such surety as the Board of Directors may require.
SECTION 12. Compensation. The compensation of the officers of the
Corporation for their services as such officers, shall be fixed from time to
time by the Board of Directors. An officer of the Corporation shall not be
prevented from receiving compensation by reason of the fact that he is also a
director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE V
Stock Certificates and Their Transfer
SECTION 1. Stock Certificates. Every holder of stock in the
Corporation shall be entitled to have a certificate, signed by, or in the name
of the Corporation by, the Chairman of the Board or the President or a Vice-
President and by the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer or the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Corporation, certifying the number of shares owned
by him in the Corporation. If the Corporation shall be authorized to issue
more than one class of stock or more than one series of any class, the
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restriction of such preferences and/or rights shall be set forth
in full or summarized on the face or back of the certificate which the
Corporation shall issue to represent such class or series of stock, provided
that, except as otherwise provided in Section 202 of the General Corporation
Law of the State of Delaware, in lieu of the foregoing requirements, there may
be set forth on the face or back of the certificate which the Corporation shall
issue to represent such class or series of stock, a statement that the
Corporation will furnish without charge to each stockholder who so requests the
designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other
special rights of each class of stock or series thereof and the qualifications,
limitations or restrictions of such preferences and/or rights.
SECTION 2. Facsimile Signatures. Any or all of the signatures on a
certificate may be a facsimile. In case any officer, transfer agent or
registrar who has signed or whose facsimile signature has been placed upon a
certificate shall have ceased to be such officer, transfer agent or registrar
before such certificate is issued, it may be issued by the Corporation with the
same effect as if he were such officer, transfer agent or registrar at the date
of issue.
SECTION 3. Lost Certificates. The Board of Directors may direct a new
certificate or certificates to be issued in place of any certificate or
certificates theretofore issued by the Corporation alleged to have been lost,
stolen, or destroyed. When authorizing such issue of a new certificate or
certificates, the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition
precedent to the issuance thereof, require the owner of such lost, stolen, or
destroyed certificate or certificates, or his legal representative, to give the
Corporation a bond in such sum as it may direct sufficient to indemnify it
against any claim that may be made against the Corporation on
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account of the alleged loss, theft or destruction of any such certificate or
the issuance of such new certificate.
SECTION 4. Transfers of Stock. Upon surrender to the Corporation or
the transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed
or accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer, it shall be the duty of the Corporation to issue a new certificate to
the person entitled thereto, cancel the old certificate and record the
transaction upon its records; provided, however, that the Corporation shall be
entitled to recognize and enforce any lawful restriction on transfer. Whenever
any transfer of stock shall be made for collateral security, and not
absolutely, it shall be so expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the
certificates are presented to the Corporation for transfer, both the transferor
and the transferee request the Corporation to do so.
SECTION 5. Transfer Agents and Registrars. The Board of Directors may
appoint, or authorize any officer or officers to appoint, one or more transfer
agents and one or more registrars.
SECTION 6. Regulations. The Board of Directors may make such
additional rules and regulations, not inconsistent with these By-Laws, as it
may deem expedient concerning the issue, transfer and registration of
certificates for shares of stock of the Corporation.
SECTION 7. Fixing the Record Date. In order that the Corporation may
determine the stockholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of
stockholders or any adjournment thereof, or to express consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, or entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or allotment of any rights, or entitled to
exercise any rights in respect of any change, conversion or exchange of stock
or for the purpose of any other lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix,
in advance, a record date, which shall not be more than sixty nor less than ten
days before the date of such meeting, nor more than sixty days prior to any
other action. A determination of stockholders of record entitled to notice of
or to vote at a meeting of stockholders shall apply to any adjournment of the
meeting; provided, however, that the Board of Directors may fix a new record
date for the adjourned meeting.
SECTION 8. Registered Stockholders. The Corporation shall be entitled
to recognize the exclusive right of a person registered on its records as the
owner of shares of stock to receive dividends and to vote as such owner, shall
be entitled to hold liable for calls and assessments a person registered on its
records as the owner of shares of stock, and shall not be bound to recognize
any equitable or other claim to or interest in such share or shares of stock on
the part of any other person, whether or not it shall have express or other
notice thereof, except as otherwise provided by the laws of Delaware.
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ARTICLE VI
Indemnification of Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. General. The Corporation shall indemnify any person who
was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative or investigative (other than an action by or in the right of the
Corporation) by reason of the fact that he is or was or has agreed to become a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving
or has agreed to serve at the request of the Corporation as a director,
officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture,
trust or other enterprise or by reason of any action alleged to have been taken
or omitted in such capacity, against costs, charges, expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding and any appeal therefrom, if he acted in good faith and in a
manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. The termination of any
action, suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement, conviction or upon a
plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent shall not, of itself, create a
presumption that the person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
Corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had
reasonable cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.
SECTION 2. Derivative Actions. The Corporation shall indemnify any
person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of the
Corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the fact that he is
or was or has agreed to become a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, or by reason or any
action alleged to have been taken or omitted in such capacity, against costs,
charges and expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit and any appeal therefrom, if he acted in good faith and
in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best
interests of the Corporation, except that no indemnification shall be made in
respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
adjudged to be liable to the Corporation unless and only to the extent that the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or the court in which such action or
suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the case,
such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such costs,
charges and expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall deem
proper.
SECTION 3. Indemnification in Certain Cases. Notwithstanding the
other provisions of this Article VI, to the extent that a director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on the merits or
otherwise, including without limitation, the
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dismissal of an action without prejudice, in defense of any action, suit or
proceeding referred to in Sections 1 and 2 of this Article VI, or in defense of
any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified against all costs,
charges and expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by him or on his behalf in connection therewith.
SECTION 4. Procedure. Any indemnification under Sections 1 and 2 of
this Article VI (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Corporation
only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
indemnification of the director, officer, employee or agent is proper in the
circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth
in such Sections 1 and 2. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of
Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not
parties to such action, suit or proceeding (the "Continuing Directors"), or (b)
if such a quorum of disinterested Continuing Directors is not obtainable, or,
even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested Continuing Directors so directs,
by independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (c) by the stockholders.
SECTION 5. Advances for Expenses. Costs, charges and expenses
(including attorneys' fees) incurred by a person referred to in Sections 1 and
2 of this Article VI in defending a civil or criminal action, suit or
proceeding shall be paid the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of
such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf
of the director, officer, employee or agent to repay all amounts so advanced in
the event that it shall ultimately be determined that such director, officer,
employee or agent is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation as
authorized in this Article VI. Such costs, charges and expenses incurred by
other employees and agents may be so paid upon such terms and conditions, if
any, as the majority of the Continuing Directors deems appropriate. The
majority of the Continuing Directors may, in the manner set forth above, and
upon approval of such director, officer, employer, employee or agent of the
Corporation, authorize the Corporation's counsel to represent such person, in
any action, suit or proceeding, whether or not the Corporation is a party to
such action, suit or proceeding.
SECTION 6. Procedure for Indemnification. Any indemnification under
Sections 1, 2 and 3, or advance of costs, charges and expenses under Section 5
of this Article VI, shall be made promptly, and in any event within 60 days
upon the written request of the director, officer, employee or agent. The
right to indemnification or advances as granted by this Article VI shall be
enforceable by the director, officer, employee or agent in any court of
competent jurisdiction, if the Corporation denies such request, in whole or in
part, or if no disposition thereof is made within 60 days. Such person's costs
and expenses incurred in connection with successfully establishing his right to
indemnification, in whole or in part, in any such action shall also be
indemnified by the Corporation. It shall be a defense to any such action
(other than an action brought to enforce a claim for the advance of costs,
charge and expenses under Section 5 of this Article VI where the required
undertaking, if any, has been received by the Corporation) that the claimant
has not met the standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1 or 2 of this
Article VI, but the burden of proving such defense shall be on the Corporation.
Neither the failure of the Corporation (including its Board of Directors, its
independent legal counsel, and its stockholders) to have made a determination
prior to the commencement of such action that indemnification of
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the claimant is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable
standard of conduct set forth in Sections 1 or 2 of this Article VI, nor the
fact that there has been an actual determination by the Corporation (including
its Board of Directors, its independent legal counsel, and its stockholders)
that the claimant has not met such applicable standard of conduct, shall be a
defense to the action or create a presumption that the claimant has not met
such applicable standard of conduct.
SECTION 7. Other Riqhts; Continuation of Right to Indemnification.
The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by this Article VI
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which a person seeks
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any law
(common or statutory), by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders, or
disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding office or while
employed by or acting as agent for the Corporation, and shall continue as to a
person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent, and shall
inure to the benefit of the estate, heirs, executors and administrators of such
person. If the Delaware General Corporation Law is hereafter amended to permit
the Corporation to indemnify directors and officers to a greater extent than
otherwise permitted by this Article VI, the Corporation shall indemnify
directors and officers to such greater extent. All rights to indemnification
under this Article VI shall be deemed to be a contract between the Corporation
and each director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation who serves or
served in such capacity at any time while this Article VI is in effect. Any
repeal or modification of this Article VI or any repeal or modification of
relevant provisions of Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable
laws shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification of such
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation who serves or served in
such capacity at any time while this Article VI is in effect. Any repeal or
modification of this Article VI or any repeal or modification of relevant
provisions of Delaware General Corporation Law or any other applicable laws
shall not in any way diminish any rights to indemnification of such director,
officer, employee or agent or the obligations of the Corporation arising
hereunder with respect to any action, suit or proceeding arising out of, or
relating to, any actions, transactions or facts occurring prior to the final
adoption of such modification or repeal. For the purposes of this Article VI,
references to "the Corporation" include all constituent corporations absorbed
in a consolidation or merger as well as the resulting or surviving corporation,
so that any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
a constituent corporation or is or as serving at the request of such
constituent corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of another
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise shall stand
in the same position under the provisions of this Article VI, with respect to
the resulting or surviving corporation, as he would if he had served the
resulting or surviving corporation in the same capacity.
SECTION 8. Insurance. The Corporation shall have power to purchase
and maintain insurance on behalf of any person who is or was or has agreed to
become a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or
agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him or
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on his behalf in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
such liability under the Provisions of this Article VI; provided, however, that
such insurance is available on acceptable terms, which determination shall, be
made by a vote of a majority of the Continuing Directors.
SECTION 9. Savings Clause. If this Article VI or any portion hereof
shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then
the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify each director, officer, employee
and agent of the Corporation as to costs, charges and expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement with respect
to any action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or
investigative, including an action by or in the right of the Corporation, to
the full extent permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that
shall not have been invalidated and to the full extent permitted by applicable
law.
ARTICLE VII
General Provisions
SECTION 1. Dividends. Subject to the provisions of statute and the
Certificate of Incorporation, dividends upon the shares of capital stock of the
Corporation may be declared by the Board of Directors at any regular or special
meeting. Dividends may be paid in cash, in property or in shares of stock of
the Corporation, unless otherwise provided by statute or the Certificate of
Incorporation.
SECTION 2. Reserves. Before payment of any dividend, there may be set
aside out of any funds of the Corporation available for dividends such sum or
sums as the Board of Directors may, from time to time, in its absolute
discretion, think proper as a reserve or reserves to meet contingencies, or for
equalizing dividends, or for repairing or maintaining any property of the
Corporation or for such other purpose as the Board of Directors may think
conducive to the interests of the Corporation. The Board of Directors may
modify or abolish any such reserves in the manner in which it was created.
SECTION 3. Seal. The seal of the Corporation shall be in such form as
shall be approved by the Board of Directors.
SECTION 4. Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
fixed, and once fixed, may thereafter be changed, by resolution of the Board of
Directors.
SECTION 5. Checks, Notes, Drafts, Etc. All checks, notes, drafts or
other orders for the payment of money of the Corporation shall be signed,
endorsed or accepted in the name of the Corporation by such officer, officers,
person or persons as from time to time may be designated by the Board of
Directors or by an officer or officers authorized by the Board of Directors to
make such designation.
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SECTION 6. Execution of Contracts, Deeds, Etc. The Board of Directors
may authorize any officer or officers, agent or agents, in the name and on
behalf of the Corporation to enter into or execute and deliver any and all
deeds, bonds, mortgages, contracts and other obligations or instruments, and
such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
SECTION 7. Voting of Stock in Other Corporations. Unless otherwise
provided by resolution of the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board or
the President, from time to time, may (or may appoint one or more attorneys or
agents to) cast the votes which the Corporation may be entitled to cast as a
shareholder or otherwise in any other corporation, any of whose shares or
securities may be held by the Corporation, at meetings of the holders of the
shares or other securities of such other corporation. In the event one or more
attorneys or agents are appointed, the Chairman of the Board or the President
may instruct the person or persons so appointed as to the manner of casting
such votes or giving such consent. The Chairman of the Board or the President
may, or may instruct the attorneys or agents appointed, to execute or cause to
be executed in the name and on behalf of the Corporation and under its seal or
otherwise, such written proxies, consents, waivers or other instruments as may
be necessary or proper in the circumstances.
ARTICLE VIII
Amendments
These By-Laws may be amended or repealed or new by-laws adopted (a) by
action of the stockholders entitled to vote thereon at any annual or special
meeting of stockholders or (b) if the Certificate of Incorporation so provides,
by action of the Board of Directors at a regular or special meeting thereof.
Any by-law made by the Board of Directors may be amended or repealed by action
of the stockholders at any annual or special meeting of stockholders.
CORPORATE SEAL /s/Marc N. Bell
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Marc N. Bell
Secretary
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EXHIBIT 99.1
SARD VERBINNEN & CO NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: George Sard/Anna Cordasco/Paul Caminiti
Sard Verbinnen & Co
212/687-8080
BROOKE GROUP LTD. LOWERS THRESHOLD NECESSARY
FOR STOCKHOLDERS TO CALL SPECIAL MEETINGS
MIAMI, FL, DECEMBER 5, 1995 -- Brooke Group Ltd. (NYSE: BGL) announced
today that it has amended its by-laws to reduce the threshold necessary for
stockholders to call special meetings from 50% to 25% of the outstanding
shares. Pursuant to the by-law amendment, Brooke's Secretary is now required
to call a special meeting of stockholders upon the request, in writing, of at
least 25% of the outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote at such meeting.
"When we called on RJR Nabisco to restore to its stockholders the
right to call special meetings -- a right which the RJR Nabisco Board secretly
eliminated in August -- some people pointed out that Brooke's by-laws required
a 50% vote to call special meetings, while RJR Nabisco's former by-law had
required only 25%," said Bennett S. LeBow, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer. "We reviewed the situation and determined that 25% is a more
appropriate threshold to empower stockholders. We obviously feel that RJR
Nabisco should follow our example and should reinstate the special meeting
rights which its stockholders previously enjoyed."
Brooke Group is a holding company which controls Liggett Group Inc.,
tobacco and real estate operations in the former Soviet Union and has a
substantial equity interest in New Valley Corporation.
CERTAIN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: Brooke Group Ltd. ("Brooke Group")
will be soliciting consents for the proposals set forth in its Preliminary
Consent Statement currently on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission. The following persons may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation by Brooke Group: Brooke Group, BGLS Inc. ("BGLS"),
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Liggett Group Inc. ("Liggett"), Bennett S. LeBow, Andrew E. Balog, Marc N.
Bell, Robert J. Eide, Karen Eisenbud, J. Bryant Kirkland, III, Richard J.
Lampen, Howard M. Lorber, Robert M. Lundgren, Jeffrey S. Podell and Gerald E.
Sauter. Brooke Group beneficially owns, directly, 200 shares of RJR Nabisco
Common Stock. Brooke Group beneficially owns 100% of the outstanding capital
stock of BGLS, which beneficially owns 100% of the outstanding capital stock of
Liggett. Liggett beneficially owns, directly, 200 shares of RJR Nabisco Common
Stock and 1,000 shares of Class A Common Stock of Nabisco Holdings Corp. In
addition, BGLS directly and indirectly owns 618,326 Class A Senior Preferred
Shares (approximately 56% of such class), 250,885 Class B Preferred Shares
(approximately 9% of such class), and 79,794,229 Common Shares (approximately
42% of such class) of New Valley Corporation, which owns all of the outstanding
capital stock of ALKI Corp., which beneficially owns, directly, 4,892,550
shares of RJR Nabisco Common Stock, or approximately 1.8% of the outstanding
RJR Nabisco Common Stock. Bennett S. LeBow, who is the Chairman of the Board,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Brooke Group, BGLS and ALKI, may be
deemed to be the beneficial owner of 10,521,208 shares of common stock of
Brooke Group, or approximately 56.8% of Brooke Group's outstanding common
stock. Mr. Lampen currently beneficially owns, directly, 2,000 shares of RJR
Nabisco Common Stock. To the best of Brooke Group's knowledge, none of the
other persons who may be deemed participants currently own any shares of RJR
Nabisco stock.