Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3)
Registration
Nos. 033-08857-99
033-59435-99
333-125001
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
to
PROSPECTUS DATED March 12,
2008
The attached Current
Report on Form 8-K dated March 12, 2008 was filed by the registrant
with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and should be read in conjunction
with the Prospectus dated March 12, 2008.
The date of this
Prospectus Supplement is March 14, 2008
FORM 8-K
SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington,
D.C. 20549
CURRENT
REPORT
Pursuant
to Section 13 or 15(d) of
The Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report
(Date of earliest event reported): March 12, 2008
TELEPHONE
AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
(Exact name of
registrant as specified in its charter)
Delaware
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001-14157
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36-2669023
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(State or other
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(Commission
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(IRS Employer
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jurisdiction of
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File Number)
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Identification
No.)
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incorporation)
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30
North LaSalle Street, Suite 4000, Chicago, Illinois
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60602
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(Address of
principal executive offices)
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(Zip Code)
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Registrants telephone
number, including area code: (312) 630-1900
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 (see
General Instruction A.2. below):
o Written
communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
x Soliciting
material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR
240.14a-12)
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
o Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under
the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
Item 5.02. Departure
of Directors or Certain Officers: Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain
Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.
(a) N/A
(b) On March 12, 2008,
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. (TDS) announced that LeRoy T. Carlson
will not stand for election at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders.
Accordingly, Mr. Carlsons term as a director will expire at the 2008
annual meeting on May 22, 2008. TDS
also announced that the TDS board of directors had nominated Prudence E.
Carlson for election at the 2008 annual meeting of shareholders, to fill the
directorship currently held by Mr. Carlson. Ms. Carlson will be elected by the
holders of TDS Series A Common Shares and Preferred Shares.
A copy of the news
release announcing the foregoing is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and
incorporated by reference herein.
(c) N/A
(d) N/A
(e) N/A
(f) N/A
IMPORTANT INFORMATION: The foregoing is not is not a solicitation
of proxies nor shall it be deemed to be a solicitation by TDS. TDS will
only solicit proxies pursuant to its definitive proxy statement for the 2008
annual meeting. Additional information relating to the foregoing
nomination will be included in the TDSs definitive proxy statement, to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. TDS encourages shareholders
to read the definitive proxy statement when it becomes available because it
will contain important information about TDS and the nominee. Shareholders and
other investors may access TDSs proxy statement, at no cost, when it is
available and other relevant TDS documents at the SECs web site (www.sec.gov).
The proxy statement will also be available on the TDS web site (www.teldta.com)
in the Investor Relations section on the SEC filing page. TDS and its
executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the
solicitation of proxies from the companys shareholders in connection with the
forgoing nomination. Information regarding the security ownership and
other interests of the TDSs executive officers and directors will be included
in the definitive proxy statement.
Item
5.03. Amendments
to Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws; Change in Fiscal Year.
(a) On March 12, 2008,
TDS amended its bylaws effective May 22, 2008 to designate LeRoy T.
Carlson as director emeritus, and to amend the description of his
responsibilities as Chairman Emeritus.
The foregoing brief
description is qualified by reference to the copy of the amended TDS bylaws
attached hereto as Exhibit 3.1, which are incorporated by reference
herein.
(b) N/A
Item 8.01 Other Events
See the information in
Item 5.02.
Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits:
In accordance with the provisions of Item 601 of Regulation S-K, any
Exhibits filed or furnished herewith are set forth on the Exhibit Index
attached hereto.
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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, thereto
duly authorized.
Telephone and Data Systems, Inc.
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(Registrant)
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Date: March 14,
2008
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By:
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/s/ Douglas D. Shuma
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Douglas D. Shuma
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Senior Vice President
and Corporate Controller
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EXHIBIT INDEX
The following exhibits are
filed or furnished herewith as noted below.
Exhibit
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No.
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Description
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3.1
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Amended
and Restated Bylaws of TDS
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99.1
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Press Release dated
March 12, 2008 announcing changes to directors
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Exhibit
3.1
BYLAWS(1)
OF
TELEPHONE AND DATA SYSTEMS, INC.
(a
Delaware corporation)
ARTICLE I
STOCKHOLDERS
Section 1.1 Annual Meeting. The annual
meeting of stockholders for the election of directors and the transaction of
such other business as may properly come before such meeting shall be held on
the first Wednesday of May of each year, or on such other date, and at
such time and place, within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be
determined by resolution of the Board of Directors. If the day fixed for the
annual meeting is a legal holiday, such meeting shall be held on the next
succeeding business day. If the election of directors shall not be held on the
day designated herein for the annual meeting of stockholders, or at any
adjournment thereof, the Board of Directors shall cause such election to be
held at a meeting of stockholders to be called as soon thereafter as is
convenient.
Section 1.2 Special Meetings. Special
meetings of stockholders may be called by the Board of Directors, by the
Chairman of the Board or the President and shall be called by the President or
the Secretary at the request in writing, stating the purpose or purposes
thereof, of holders of at least fifty percent of the voting power of the
capital stock of the Corporation issued and outstanding and entitled to vote
thereat. Special meetings of stockholders may be held at such time and place,
within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be determined by resolution
of the Board of Directors or as may be specified in the call of any such
special meeting. If not otherwise designated, the place of any special meeting
shall be the principal office of the Corporation in the State of Illinois.
Section 1.3 Notice of Meetings and
Adjourned Meetings. Written notice of every meeting of
stockholders, stating the place, date, time and purposes thereof, shall, except
when otherwise required by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
Corporation, as it may be
(1) As amended March 12, 2008 effective
May 22, 2008.
amended from time to time
(the Restated Certificate of Incorporation), or the laws of the State of
Delaware, be given at least 10 but not more than 60 days prior to such meeting
to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat, in the manner set forth
in Section 9.1 of these Bylaws, by or at the direction of the President or
the Secretary or the persons calling such meeting. Any meeting at which a
quorum of stockholders is present, in person or by proxy, may be adjourned from
time to time without notice, other than by announcement at such meeting, until
its business shall be completed. At such adjourned meeting, any business may be
transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting. If the
adjournment is for more than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record
date is fixed for the adjourned meeting, written notice of the adjourned
meeting shall be given to each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat
as above provided.
Section 1.4 Quorum. Except as
otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware or the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, a majority of the voting power of shares of
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote, represented in person or by
proxy, shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of stockholders,
notwithstanding the subsequent withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less
than a quorum. If at any meeting a quorum shall not be present, the chairman of
such meeting shall adjourn such meeting to another time and/or place without
notice other than announcement at such meeting. If the adjournment is for more
than 30 days, or if after the adjournment a new record date is fixed for the
adjourned meeting, written notice of the adjourned meeting shall be given to
each stockholder of record entitled to vote thereat as above provided. At such
adjourned meeting, if a quorum shall be present or represented, any business
may be transacted which might have been transacted at the original meeting,
notwithstanding the subsequent withdrawal of enough stockholders to leave less
than a quorum.
Section 1.5 Voting.
Unless otherwise
provided by law, the stockholders entitled to vote at any meeting of
stockholders and the number of votes to which such stockholders are entitled
shall be determined as provided in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation. Unless
otherwise provided by law or in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation,
directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast in the election of
directors. Each other question shall, unless otherwise provided by law, the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these By-laws, be decided by the vote
of the holders of stock having a majority of the votes which could be cast by
the holders of all stock entitled to vote on such question which are present in
person or by proxy at the meeting.
Where a separate
vote by a class or group is required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by these Bylaws, a majority of the
voting power of the outstanding shares of each such class or group present in
person or represented by proxy, shall constitute a quorum entitled to take
action with respect to the vote on that matter and the affirmative vote of a
majority of the voting power of the outstanding shares of each class or group
present in person or represented by proxy at the meeting shall be the act of
each such class or group.
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Section 1.6 Proxies.
At every meeting
of stockholders, each stockholder having the right to vote thereat shall be
entitled to vote in person or by proxy. Such proxy shall be filed with the
Secretary before or at the time of the meeting. No proxy shall be valid after
eleven months from its date, unless such proxy provides for a longer period.
A stockholder may
authorize another person or persons to act for such stockholder as proxy (i) by
executing a writing authorizing such person or persons to act as such, which
execution may be accomplished by such stockholder or such stockholders authorized
officer, director, employee or agent signing such writing or causing his or her
signature to be affixed to such writing by any reasonable means, including, but
not limited to, facsimile signature, or (ii) by transmitting or
authorizing the transmission of a telegram, cablegram or other means of
electronic transmission (a Transmission) to the person who will be the holder
of the proxy or to a proxy solicitation firm, proxy support service
organization or like agent duly authorized by the person who will be the holder
of the proxy to receive such Transmission; provided, however,
that any such Transmission must either set forth or be submitted with
information from which it can be determined that such Transmission was
authorized by such stockholder. The inspector or inspectors appointed pursuant
to Section 1.10 of these Bylaws shall examine Transmissions to determine
if they are valid. If it is determined that a Transmission is valid, the person
or persons making that determination shall specify the information upon which
such person or persons relied. Any copy, facsimile telecommunication or other
reliable reproduction of such a writing or such a Transmission may be
substituted or used in lieu of the original writing or Transmission for any and
all purposes for which the original writing or Transmission could be used; provided,
however, that such copy, facsimile telecommunication or other
reproduction shall be a complete reproduction of the entire original writing or
Transmission.
Section 1.7 Fixing Date for
Determination of Stockholders of Record.
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, the Board of Directors
may fix a record date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which
the resolution fixing such record date shall be adopted by the Board of
Directors, and which record date shall not be more than 60 nor less than 10
days before the date of such meeting. If no such record date shall have been
fixed by the Board of Directors, such record date shall be at the close of
business on the day next preceding the day on which such notice is given or, if
such notice is waived, at the close of business on the day next preceding the
day on which such meeting shall be held. A determination of stockholders of
record entitled to notice of or to vote at any meeting of stockholders shall
apply to any adjournment of such meeting; provided, however, that
the Board of Directors may fix a new record date for the adjourned meeting.
In order that the
Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to consent to corporate
action in writing without a meeting, the Board of Directors may fix a record
date, which record date shall not precede the date upon which the resolution
fixing such record date shall be adopted by the Board of Directors, and which
record date shall not be more than 10 days after the
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date upon which such
resolution shall be adopted. If no such record date shall have been fixed by
the Board of Directors, such record date shall be, if no prior action by the
Board of Directors shall be required by the laws of the State of Delaware, the
first date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or
proposed to be taken shall be delivered to the Corporation at its registered
office in the State of Delaware, at its principal place of business or to the
Secretary. Delivery made to the Corporations registered office shall be by
hand or by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested. If no such
record date shall have been fixed by the Board of Directors and prior action by
the Board of Directors shall be required by the laws of the State of Delaware,
such record date shall be at the close of business on the day on which the
Board of Directors shall adopt the resolution taking such prior action.
In order that the
Corporation may determine the stockholders entitled to receive payment of any
dividend or other distribution or any allotment of any rights or the
stockholders entitled to exercise any rights in respect of any change,
conversion or exchange of any capital stock, or for the purpose of any other
lawful action, the Board of Directors may fix a record date, which record date
shall not precede the date upon which the resolution fixing such record date
shall be adopted by the Board of Directors, and which record date shall not be
more than 60 days prior to such payment, allotment or other action. If no such
record date shall have been fixed, such record date shall be at the close of
business on the day on which the Board of Directors shall adopt the resolution
relating to such payment, allotment or other action.
Section 1.8 Stockholder List. The Secretary
or any other officer who has charge of the stock ledger of the Corporation
shall prepare, at least 10 days before every meeting of stockholders, a
complete list of the stockholders entitled to vote at such meeting, arranged in
alphabetical order, and showing the address of each stockholder and the number
of shares registered in the name of each stockholder. Such list shall be open
to the examination of any stockholder, for any purpose germane to such meeting,
during ordinary business hours, for a period of at least 10 days prior to such
meeting, either at a place within the city where such meeting is to be held,
which place shall be specified in the notice of such meeting, or, if not so
specified, at the place where such meeting is to be held. The list shall also
be produced and kept at the time and place of such meeting during the whole
time thereof, and may be inspected by any stockholder who is present. Such
stock ledger shall be the only evidence as to who are the stockholders entitled
to examine such stock ledger, such list or the books of the Corporation or to
vote in person or by proxy at any meeting of stockholders.
Section 1.9 Voting of Shares by
Certain Holders. Shares of capital stock of the Corporation
standing in the name of another corporation, domestic or foreign, and entitled
to vote may be voted by such officer, agent or proxy as the bylaws of such
other corporation may prescribe or, in the absence of such provision, as the
Board of Directors of such other corporation may determine.
Shares of capital stock
of the Corporation standing in the name of a deceased person, a minor, an
incompetent or a corporation declared bankrupt and entitled to vote may be
voted by an administrator, executor, guardian, conservator or trustee, as the
case may be, either in person or by proxy, without transfer of such shares into
the name of the official so voting.
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A stockholder whose
shares of capital stock of the Corporation are pledged shall be entitled to
vote such shares unless on the transfer books of the Corporation the pledgor
has expressly empowered the pledgee to vote such shares, in which case only the
pledgee, or such pledgees proxy, may represent such shares and vote thereon.
Shares of capital stock
of the Corporation belonging to the Corporation, or to another corporation if a
majority of the shares entitled to vote in the election of directors of such
other corporation shall be held by the Corporation, shall not be voted at any
meeting of stockholders and shall not be counted in determining the total
number of outstanding shares for the purpose of determining whether a quorum is
present. Nothing in this Section 1.9 shall be construed to limit the right
of the Corporation to vote shares of capital stock of the Corporation held by
it in a fiduciary capacity.
Section 1.10 Voting Procedures and Inspectors of Elections.
The Board of
Directors shall, in advance of any meeting of stockholders, appoint one or more
inspectors (individually an Inspector, and collectively the Inspectors) to
act at such meeting and make a written report thereof. The Board of Directors
may designate one or more persons as alternate Inspectors to replace any
Inspector who shall fail to act. If no Inspector or alternate shall be able to
act at such meeting, the person presiding at such meeting shall appoint one or
more other persons to act as Inspectors thereat. Each Inspector, before
entering upon the discharge of his or her duties, shall take and sign an oath
faithfully to execute the duties of Inspector with strict impartiality and
according to the best of his or her ability.
The Inspectors
shall (i) ascertain the number of shares of capital stock of the
Corporation outstanding and the voting power of each, (ii) determine the
shares of capital stock of the Corporation represented at such meeting and the
validity of proxies and ballots, (iii) count all votes and ballots, (iv) determine
and retain for a reasonable period a record of the disposition of any
challenges made to any determination by the Inspectors and (v) certify
their determination of the number of such shares represented at such meeting
and their count of all votes and ballots. The Inspectors may appoint or retain
other persons or entities to assist them in the performance of their duties.
The date and time
of the opening and the closing of the polls for each matter upon which the
stockholders will vote at such meeting shall be announced at such meeting. No
ballots, proxies or votes, nor any revocations thereof or changes thereto,
shall be accepted by the Inspectors after the closing of the polls unless the
Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware upon application by any stockholder
shall determine otherwise.
In determining the
validity and counting of proxies and ballots, the Inspectors shall be limited
to an examination of the proxies, any envelopes submitted with such proxies,
any information provided in accordance with the second paragraph of Section 1.6
of these Bylaws, ballots and the regular books and records of the Corporation,
except that the Inspectors may consider other reliable information for the
limited purpose of reconciling proxies and ballots submitted by or on behalf of
banks, brokers, their nominees or similar persons which represent more votes
than the holder of a proxy is authorized by a stockholder of record to cast or
more votes than such stockholder
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holds of record. If the
Inspectors consider other reliable information for the limited purpose permitted
herein, the Inspectors, at the time they make their certification pursuant to
paragraph (b) of this Section 1.10, shall specify the precise
information considered by them, including the person or persons from whom they
obtained such information, when the information was obtained, the means by
which such information was obtained and the basis for the Inspectors belief
that such information is accurate and reliable.
Section 1.11 Consent of Stockholders in Lieu of Meeting. Any action
required to be taken or which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of
stockholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice and without a
vote if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by persons entitled to vote capital stock of the Corporation
representing not less than 90% of the voting power of the shares that would be
necessary to authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all shares of
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon were present and
voted. Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each
stockholder (or his, her or its proxy) who shall sign such consent. Prompt
notice of the taking of corporate action without a meeting of stockholders by
less than unanimous written consent shall be given to those stockholders who
shall not have consented in writing. All such written consents shall be
delivered to the Corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware,
at its principal place of business or to the Secretary. Delivery made to the
Corporations registered office shall be by hand or by certified or registered
mail, return receipt requested. No written consent shall be effective to
authorize or take the corporate action referred to therein unless, within 60
days of the earliest dated written consent delivered in the manner required by
this Section 1.11 to the Corporation, written consents signed by a
sufficient number of persons to authorize or take such action shall be
delivered to the Corporation at its registered office in the State of Delaware,
at its principal place of business or to the Secretary as aforesaid. All such
written consents shall be filed with the minutes of proceedings of the
stockholders and actions authorized or taken under such written consents shall
have the same force and effect as those adopted by vote of the stockholders at
any annual or special meeting thereof.
Section 1.12 Introduction of Business at a Meeting of
Stockholders. At an annual or special meeting of
stockholders, only such business shall be conducted, and only such proposals
shall be acted upon, as shall have been properly brought before an annual or
special meeting of stockholders. To be properly brought before an annual or
special meeting of stockholders, business must be (a) in the case of a
special meeting, specified in the notice of the special meeting (or any
supplement thereto) given by the Corporation, or (b) in the case of an
annual meeting, properly brought before the meeting by or at the direction of
the Board of Directors, or otherwise properly brought before the annual meeting
by a stockholder. For business to be properly brought before an annual meeting
of stockholders by a stockholder, the stockholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the President or the Secretary of the Corporation. To be
timely, a stockholders notice must be received at the principal executive
offices of the Corporation not earlier than 120 calendar days nor later than 90
calendar days in advance of the anniversary date of the date of the Corporations
proxy statement to stockholders in connection with the most recent preceding
annual meeting of stockholders, except that if the date of the current years
annual meeting has been changed by more than 30 calendar days from
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the anniversary date of
the most recent preceding annual meeting, a stockholder proposal shall be
received by the Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth
day following the date of public notice of the date of the current years
annual meeting.
A stockholders notice
shall set forth as to each matter the stockholder proposes to bring before an
annual meeting of stockholders (a) a brief description of the business
desired to be brought before the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting
such business at the annual meeting, (b) the name and address, as they
appear on the Corporations books, of the stockholder proposing such business
and any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such
proposal, (c) the class and number of shares of the Corporation which are
beneficially owned by such stockholder on the date of such stockholders notice
and by any other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such
proposal on the date of such stockholders notice and (d) any material
interest of the stockholder in such proposal.
Notwithstanding anything
in the Bylaws to the contrary, no business shall be conducted at a meeting of
stockholders except in accordance with the procedures set forth in this Section 1.12.
The chairman of the meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare
to the meeting that the business was not properly brought before the meeting in
accordance with the procedures prescribed by the Bylaws, and if he should so
determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and any such business not
properly brought before the meeting shall not be considered.
Section 1.13 Nomination of Directors. Only persons
nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in this section shall be
eligible for election as directors. Nominations of persons for election to the
Board may be made at a meeting of stockholders (a) by or at the direction
of the Board of Directors, or (b) by any stockholder of the Corporation
entitled to vote for the election of directors at such meeting who complies
with the notice procedures set forth in this Section 1.13. Such
nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the President
or the Secretary of the Corporation. To be timely, a stockholders notice must
be received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation not earlier
than 120 calendar days nor later than 90 calendar days in advance of the
anniversary date of the date of the Corporations proxy statement to
stockholders in connection with the preceding years annual meeting of
stockholders, except that if the date of the current years annual meeting has
been changed by more than 30 calendar days from the anniversary date of the
most recent preceding annual meeting, a nomination shall be received by the
Corporation not later than the close of business on the tenth day following the
date of public notice of the date of the current years annual meeting.
A stockholders notice
shall set forth (a) as to each person whom the stockholder proposes to
nominate for election or reelection as a director (i) the name, age,
business address and residence address of such person, (ii) the principal
occupation or employment of such person, (iii) the class and number of
shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such person on the
date of such stockholders notice and (iv) any other information relating
to such person that is required to be disclosed in solicitations of proxies for
election of directors, or is otherwise required, in each case pursuant to
Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(including, without limitation, such persons written consent to being named in
the proxy statement as a nominee and to serving as a director if elected); and (b) as
to the stockholder giving the notice (i)
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the name and
address, as they appear on the Corporations books, of such stockholder and any
other stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominee and (ii) the
class and number of shares of the Corporation which are beneficially owned by
such stockholder on the date of such stockholders notice and by any other
stockholders known by such stockholder to be supporting such nominee on the
date of such stockholders notice.
No person shall be
eligible for election as a director of the Corporation unless nominated in
accordance with the procedures set forth in this section. The chairman of the
meeting shall, if the facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that
a nomination was not made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by the
Bylaws, and if he should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and
the defective nomination shall be disregarded.
This Section 1.13
shall not apply to the election of a director to a directorship which may be
filled by the Board of Directors under the Delaware General Corporation Law.
Section 1.14 Conduct of Meetings of Stockholders. The person
that shall preside as chairman at all meetings of stockholders shall be, if
present, the Chairman of the Board or, in his or her absence or failure to act,
the President, and in his or her absence or failure to act, the senior officer
of the Corporation present shall postpone or adjourn the meeting to another
time and/or place without notice other than announcement at such meeting. The
chairman of a meeting of stockholders shall have the power to adopt and enforce
rules for the conduct of such meeting, including but not limited to the
maintenance of order and decorum. The chairman of the meeting may in his or her
discretion postpone or adjourn any meeting of the stockholders or adjournment
thereof to another time and/or place without notice other than announcement at
such meeting.
ARTICLE II
DIRECTORS
Section 2.1 General Powers. The business
and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of
the Board of Directors.
Section 2.2 Number and Term of
Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of
twelve members. The term of office of each director elected at an annual
meeting, or elected or appointed at any time in the period between annual
meetings, shall expire at the next annual meeting of shareholders following
such election or appointment. Each director elected or appointed shall serve
until his successor shall be elected and qualify, or until his earlier death,
resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section 2.3 Resignation or Removal. Any director
may resign by giving written notice to the Board of Directors or the President.
Any such resignation shall take effect at the time of receipt of such notice or
at any later time specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein,
acceptance of such resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective. Directors
may be removed from office, either with or without cause, only as provided in
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of the State of Delaware.
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Section 2.4 Vacancies.
Except as
otherwise required by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or the laws of
the State of Delaware or these Bylaws, any vacancy occurring in the Board of
Directors, including a vacancy created by an increase in the number of
directors provided in Section 2.2 of these Bylaws, may be filled for the
remainder of the unexpired term by the affirmative vote of a majority of the
directors then in office, although less than a quorum, by a sole remaining
director or by the stockholders.
Except as
otherwise required by the Restated Certificate of Incorporation, when one or
more directors shall resign from the Board of Directors, effective at a future
date, a majority of the directors then in office, including those who have so
resigned, shall have the power to fill such vacancy or vacancies, the vote
thereon to take effect when such resignation or resignations shall become
effective, and each director so chosen shall hold office for the remainder of
the unexpired term of such office.
Section 2.5 Place of Meetings. Meetings of
the Board of Directors may be held at such places, within or without the State
of Delaware, as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine or as
may be specified in the call of any such meeting.
Section 2.6 Regular Meetings. A regular
annual meeting of the Board of Directors shall be held, without call or notice,
immediately after and at the same place as the annual meeting of stockholders,
or at such other time and place as may be fixed by resolution of the Board of
Directors or specified by the Secretary at the direction of the Chairman of the
Board or the President, for the purpose of organizing the Board of Directors,
electing officers and transacting any other business that may properly come
before such meeting. If the stockholders shall elect the directors by written
consent of stockholders as permitted by Section 1.11 of these Bylaws, a
special meeting of the Board of Directors shall be called as soon as
practicable after such election for the purposes described in the preceding
sentence. Additional regular meetings of the Board of Directors may be held
without call or notice at such times as shall be fixed by resolution of the
Board of Directors or specified by the Secretary at the direction of the
Chairman of the Board or the President.
Section 2.7 Special Meetings. Special
meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board,
the President or by a majority of the directors then in office. Notice of each
special meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each director at least
three days before such meeting, or be given by the Secretary personally or by
telegraph or telecopy or by electronic mail at least four hours before such
meeting, in the manner set forth in Section 9.1 of these Bylaws. Such
notice shall set forth the date, time and place of such meeting but need not,
unless otherwise required by the laws of the State of Delaware, state the purpose
of such meeting.
Section 2.8 Quorum and Voting. 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. The act of the majority of
the directors present at any meeting at which a quorum is present shall be
9
the act of the Board of
Directors, unless otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware, the
Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws. A majority of the
directors present at any meeting at which a quorum shall be present may adjourn
such meeting to any other date, time or place without further notice other than
announcement at such meeting. If at any meeting a quorum shall not be present,
a majority of the directors present may adjourn such meeting to any other date,
time or place upon notice to all directors pursuant to Section 2.7.
Section 2.9 Telephonic Meetings. Members of the
Board of Directors or of any committee designated by the Board of Directors may
participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee through
conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means of which all
persons participating in such meeting can hear each other, and participation in
any meeting conducted pursuant to this Section 2.9 shall constitute
presence in person at such meeting.
Section 2.10 Presumption of Assent. Unless
otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware, a director who is
present at a meeting of the Board of Directors or a committee thereof at which
action is taken on any corporate matter shall be presumed to have assented to
the action taken unless his or her dissent shall be entered in the minutes of
such meeting or unless he or she shall file his or her written dissent to such
action with the person acting as secretary of such meeting before the
adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail to the
Secretary immediately after the adjournment of such meeting. Such right to
dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.
Section 2.11 Action without Meeting. Unless
otherwise restricted by the laws of the State of Delaware, the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, any action required or permitted
to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors, or any committee thereof,
may be taken without a meeting if a written consent thereto is signed by all
members of the Board of Directors or of such committee, as the case may be, and
such written consent is filed with the minutes of proceedings of the Board of
Directors or such committee.
Section 2.12 Major Responsibilities. The major
responsibilities of the Board of Directors shall include, without limitation,
oversight of the Corporations: strategy; condition, performance and
longer-term value; customer, economic, social, regulatory and technological
environment; competitive position; legal compliance; management organization;
human resources; senior management succession planning; and contribution to
communities served and society.
Section 2.13 Presiding Director. The presiding
director at any meeting of the Board of Directors shall be the Chairman of the
Board, or in his or her absence or failure to act, the President, and in his or
her absence or failure to act, the meeting shall be postponed or adjourned to
another time and/or place as specified by a majority of the directors or sole
director present at such meeting, without notice other than announcement at
such meeting.
Section 2.14 Executive Committee. The Board of
Directors may, in its discretion, by resolution passed by a majority of the
entire Board of Directors, designate an Executive
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Committee consisting of
the Chairman of the Board, the President and such number of other directors as
the Board of Directors shall determine. The Executive Committee shall have and
may exercise all of the powers and authority of the Board of Directors in the
management of the business and affairs of the Corporation with respect to any
matter which may require action prior to, or which in the opinion of the
Executive Committee may be inconvenient, inappropriate or undesirable to be
postponed until, the next meeting of the Board of Directors; provided, however,
that the Executive Committee shall not have the power or authority of the Board
of Directors in reference to (a) approving or adopting, or recommending to
the stockholders any action or matter expressly required by Delaware law to be
submitted to the stockholders for approval or (b) adopting, amending or
repealing these Bylaws. The presiding member at any meeting of the Executive
Committee shall be the Chairman of the Board, or in his or her absence or
failure to act, the President, and in his or her absence or failure to act, the
meeting shall be postponed or adjourned to another time and/or place as
specified by a majority of the committee members or sole committee member
present at such meeting, without notice other than announcement at such meeting.
Section 2.15 Other Committees. The Board of
Directors may from time to time, in its discretion, by resolution passed by a
majority of the entire Board of Directors, designate other committees of the
Board of Directors consisting of such number of directors as the Board of
Directors shall determine, which shall have and may exercise such lawfully
delegable powers and duties of the Board of Directors as shall be conferred or
authorized by such resolution. The Board of Directors shall have the power to
change at any time the members of any such committee, to fill vacancies and to
dissolve any such committee.
Section 2.16 Alternates. The Board of
Directors may from time to time designate from among the directors alternates
to serve on any committee of the Board of Directors to replace any absent or
disqualified member at any meeting of such committee. Whenever a quorum cannot
be secured for any meeting of any committee from among the regular members
thereof and designated alternates, the member or members, including alternates,
of such committee present at such meeting and not disqualified from voting,
whether or not constituting a quorum, may unanimously appoint another director
to act at such meeting in place of any absent or disqualified member.
Section 2.17 Quorum and Manner of Acting of Committees. A majority of
the members of any committee of the Board of Directors shall constitute a
quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of such committee, and
the act of a majority of the members present at any meeting at which a quorum
is present shall be the act of such committee.
Section 2.18 Committee Chairman, Books and Records, Etc. Except as
otherwise provided herein, the chairman of each committee of the Board of
Directors shall be selected from among the members of such committee by the
Board of Directors.
Each committee shall keep
a record of its acts and proceedings, and all actions of each committee shall
be reported to the Board of Directors at its next meeting.
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Each committee shall fix
its own rules of procedure not inconsistent with these Bylaws or the
resolution of the Board of Directors designating such committee and shall meet
at such times and places and upon such call or notice as shall be provided by
such rules.
Section 2.19 Chairman of the Board. The Board of
Directors shall elect one director as Chairman of the Board; provided that in
the event of the death, resignation, removal or disqualification of the
Chairman of the Board, the vacancy in the position of Chairman of the Board
shall be filled by a director who is selected by the Board of Directors. The
Chairman of the Board shall manage and preside over the activities of the Board
of Directors, enabling it to perform its responsibilities, and in furtherance
thereof shall, among other things, (a) assign tasks to: the President or
other senior management; the General Counsel; the Secretary; committees of the
Board of Directors; and members of the Board of Directors, (b) establish
governance and other procedures for the activities of the Board of Directors, (c) propose
committees of the Board of Directors, and their chairs, members and charters,
and (d) propose persons to fill vacancies on the Board of Directors. The
Chairman of the Board shall also (a) provide counsel to the President and
other senior management, (b) arrange that appropriate communication,
including full deliberation, occurs among the directors of the Board of
Directors, members of committees of the Board of Directors and senior
management on important matters, (c) serve as an ex-officio member of each
committee of the Board of Directors unless prohibited from doing so by law or
regulation, (d) establish agendas for meetings of the Board of Directors
and meetings of stockholders with advice from the President, (e) establish
a schedule of meetings of the Board of Directors and coordinate the schedule of
meetings of committees of the Board of Directors, and (f) propose
compensation for the Board of Directors and for committees of the Board of
Directors, chairs and members thereof. In the absence of the Chairman of the
Board or in the event of his or her inability or refusal to act, the duties of
the Chairman of the Board shall be performed by the President or, in the event
of his or her absence or inability or refusal to act, by another director
selected by the Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall be elected
by the Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held
after the election of directors. If the election of the Chairman of the Board
shall not be held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon
thereafter as may be convenient. A vacancy may be filled at any meeting of the
Board of Directors. The Chairman of the Board shall hold office until his or
her successor shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until
his or her earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section 2.20 Reliance upon Records. Every
director, and every member of any committee of the Board of Directors, shall,
in the performance of his or her duties, be fully protected in relying in good
faith upon the records of the Corporation and upon such information, opinions,
reports or statements presented to the Corporation by any of the Corporations
officers or employees, or committees of the Board of Directors, or by any other
person as to matters the director or member reasonably believes are within such
other persons professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Corporation, including, but not limited
to, such records, information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value
and amount of the assets, liabilities and/or net profits of the Corporation, or
any other facts pertinent to the existence and amount of surplus or other funds
from which dividends might
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properly be declared and
paid, or with which the Corporations capital stock might properly be purchased
or redeemed.
Section 2.21 Interested Directors. The presence
of a director, who is directly or indirectly a party in a contract or
transaction with the Corporation, or between the Corporation and any other
corporation, partnership, association or other organization in which such
director is a director or officer or has a financial interest, may be counted
in determining whether a quorum is present at any meeting of the Board of
Directors or a committee thereof at which such contract or transaction is discussed
or authorized, and such director may participate in such meeting to the extent
permitted by applicable law, including Section 144 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
Section 2.22 Compensation. Unless
otherwise restricted by the laws of the State of Delaware or the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority
to fix the compensation of directors. The directors shall be paid their
reasonable expenses, if any, of attendance at each meeting of the Board of
Directors or a committee thereof and may be paid a fixed sum for attendance at
each such meeting and an annual retainer or salary for services as a chairman,
director, committee chair or committee member. No such payment shall preclude any
director from serving the Corporation in any other capacity and receiving
compensation therefor.
Section 2.23 Director Emeritus. In recognition
of his many years of distinguished service to this Corporation as a director
and as Chairman and as Chairman Emeritus, the Chairman Emeritus shall continue
as a director emeritus upon the expiration of his term as a director. As such,
he shall be entitled to receive notice of, and to attend all meetings of the
Board of Directors, and shall continue to provide advice and counsel to the
Board of Directors. The Chairman Emeritus shall not be a director and shall not
have any of the liabilities or duties of a director under law, nor shall he be
counted in determining a quorum of the Board of Directors or vote as a director.
ARTICLE III
OFFICERS
Section 3.1 Number and Designation. The officers
of the Corporation shall be a President, a Chairman Emeritus, one or more
Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents and Vice Presidents, a
General Counsel, a Secretary, a Treasurer, a Controller, a Chief Accounting
Officer, and such Assistant Secretaries, Assistant Treasurers or other officers
or agents as may be elected or appointed by the Board of Directors. Any two or
more offices may be held by the same person unless the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or these Bylaws provide otherwise.
Section 3.2 Election and Term of
Office. The Chairman Emeritus of the Corporation
shall be LeRoy T. Carlson until the earlier of his retirement, death,
resignation, removal or disqualification and, in any such event, the office of
Chairman Emeritus shall be retired and shall
13
cease to be an office of
this Corporation. The other officers of the Corporation shall be elected by the
Board of Directors at the first meeting of the Board of Directors held after
the election of directors. If the election of such other officers shall not be
held at such meeting, such election shall be held as soon thereafter as may be
convenient. Vacancies may be filled or new offices created and filled at any
meeting of the Board of Directors. Except as otherwise provided herein, each
officer shall hold office until his or her successor shall have been duly
elected and shall have qualified or until his or her earlier death,
resignation, removal or disqualification.
Section 3.3 Removal and Resignation. Any officer or
agent elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed by the
Board of Directors whenever 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
or agent may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Chairman of the
Board or the President with a copy to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall
take effect at the time of receipt of such notice or at any later time
specified therein; and, unless otherwise specified therein, acceptance of such
resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective.
Section 3.4 Vacancies. A vacancy in
any office because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or
otherwise may be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired portion of
the term.
Section 3.5 President. The President
shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation and shall in general
supervise and control all of the business and affairs of the Corporation and
supervise the duties assigned to the officers of the Corporation. The President
may execute, alone or with the Secretary or any other officer of the
Corporation authorized by the Board of Directors, any deeds, mortgages, bonds,
contracts or other instruments which the Board of Directors or an authorized
committee thereof has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the
execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Board of Directors or a
committee thereof or by these Bylaws to some other officer or agent of the
Corporation, or shall be required by law to be otherwise executed. The
President shall supervise the duties assigned to the Chief Information Officer
and the Secretary and in general he or she shall perform all duties incident to
the office of President and such other duties as from time to time may be
prescribed by the Board of Directors or by the Chairman of the Board. In the
event of the absence of the President or in the event of his or her inability
or refusal to act as President for a continuous period of three months or in
the event of his earlier death, resignation, removal or disqualification (a permanent
absence), the Chairman of the Board shall, automatically and without any
action on the part of the Board of Directors or otherwise, succeed to and
perform the duties of the President and, when so acting, shall have all the
powers of and be subject to all the restrictions placed upon the President set
forth in this Section 3.5. In the event of the permanent absence of all
such persons, the vacancy in the position of President shall be filled with a
person who is selected by the Board of Directors.
Section 3.6 Chairman Emeritus. The Chairman
Emeritus shall perform such duties as from time to time may be prescribed by
the President, the Chairman of the Board or the Board of Directors.
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Section 3.7 Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer.
The Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer shall in
general supervise and control the financial business and financial affairs of
the Corporation. The Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer shall supervise the duties assigned to
the Treasurer and the Controller, shall administratively supervise the Chief
Internal Auditor, and in general he or she shall perform all the duties
incident to the offices of Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer
and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the
Chairman of the Board, the President or the Board of Directors. The duties and powers of the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer shall extend to all subsidiaries and all
affiliated entities of the Corporation insofar as the Chairman of the Board or
President may deem appropriate and practicable.
The Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer shall be
elected the Chief Accounting Officer of United States Cellular Corporation and
TDS Telecommunications Corporation as practicable.
Section 3.8 The Executive Vice
Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents, Vice Presidents and Subsidiary CEOs. In the temporary absence of the President ,
the Executive Vice Presidents, the Senior Vice Presidents, the Vice Presidents
and the chief executive officers of subsidiaries of the Corporation (Subsidiary
CEOs) shall, from time to time, perform such specific duties of the President as
may be delegated to one or more of such persons in writing by the Chairman of
the Board and, when so acting, shall have such powers and be subject to such
restrictions as would be applicable to the President with respect to such
specific duties. The Board of Directors
may also designate certain Executive Vice Presidents, Senior Vice Presidents or
Vice Presidents as being in charge of designated divisions, plants or functions
of the Corporations business and add appropriate descriptions to their titles. In addition, any Executive Vice President,
Senior Vice President or Vice President shall perform such duties as from time
to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board, the
President or the Board of Directors.
Section 3.9 General Counsel. The General Counsel shall be the principal
legal officer of the Corporation and shall be responsible for and have charge
of all legal matters affecting the Corporation, its subsidiaries, and those
affiliated entities which it controls.
The General Counsel shall perform or supervise the performance of all
duties incident to such legal matters, together with such other duties as from
time to time may be assigned to him by the Chairman of the Board, the President
or the Board of Directors. The duties
and powers of the General Counsel shall extend to all subsidiaries of the
Corporation and, insofar as the Chairman of the Board or the President may deem
appropriate and practicable, to all affiliated entities.
Section 3.10 The Secretary. The Secretary shall (a) keep the minutes
of proceedings of the stockholders, the Board of Directors and any committee 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) affix the seal of the Corporation
or a facsimile thereof, or cause it to be affixed, and, when so affixed, attest
the seal by his or her signature, to all Certificates for shares of capital
stock of the Corporation prior to the issue thereof and to all other documents
the execution of which on behalf of the Corporation under its seal is duly
15
authorized by the Board of Directors or otherwise in accordance with
the provisions of these Bylaws; (e) keep a register of the post office
address of each stockholder, director or committee member, which shall be
furnished to the Secretary by such stockholder, director or member; (f) have
general charge of the stock transfer books of the Corporation; and (g) 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 or her by the Chairman of
the Board, the President, the General Counsel or the Board of Directors.
Section 3.11 The Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have charge and custody
of and be responsible for all funds and securities of the Corporation, receive
and give receipts for moneys due and payable to the Corporation from any source
whatsoever, deposit all such moneys in the name of the Corporation in such
banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be selected in accordance
with the provisions of Article IV of these Bylaws, disburse the funds of
the Corporation as ordered by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the
Board, the President or the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer or as otherwise required in the conduct of the business of the Corporation
and render to the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer or the Board of Directors, upon request,
an accounting of all his or her transactions as Treasurer and a report on the
financial condition of the Corporation.
The Treasurer shall in general perform all the duties incident to the
office of Treasurer and such other duties as from time to time may be assigned
to him or her by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice
President and Chief Financial Officer or the Board of Directors. If required by the Board of Directors or the
President, the Treasurer shall give a bond (which shall be renewed regularly),
in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of Directors or the
President, shall determine, for the faithful discharge of his or her duties and
for the restoration to the Corporation, in case of his or her death,
resignation, retirement or removal from office, of all books, papers, vouchers,
money and other property of whatever kind in his or her possession or under his
or her control belonging to the Corporation.
Section 3.12 Controller. The Controller shall be the chief accounting
officer of the Corporation. As the chief
accounting officer, the Controller shall be responsible for determining,
establishing and implementing accounting systems, policies, procedures and
standards for the Corporation under the direction of the chief financial
officer. The duties of the Controller
shall be to maintain adequate records of all assets, liabilities and
transactions of the Corporation in accordance with such accounting systems,
policies, procedures and standards; to see that adequate audits are currently
and regularly performed; and, in conjunction with other officers and department
heads, to initiate and enforce measures and procedures whereby the business of
the Corporation shall be conducted with the maximum effectiveness and
efficiency. Employing the foregoing
accounting systems, policies, procedures and standards, the Controller shall
develop, implement and administer an effective plan for the control of
operations, including properly maintaining internal controls over all assets,
liabilities and transactions of the Corporation. The Controller shall perform all duties as
from time to time may be assigned to him or her by the Chairman of the Board,
the President, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer or the
Board of Directors. The duties and
powers of the Controller shall extend to all subsidiaries and all affiliated
entities of the Corporation insofar as the Chairman of the Board, the President
16
or the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer may deem
appropriate and practicable.
Section 3.13 Assistant Treasurers
and Secretaries. In the absence
of the Secretary or the Treasurer, as the case may be, or in the event of his
or her inability or refusal to act, the Assistant Secretaries and the Assistant
Treasurers, respectively, in the order determined by the Board of Directors (or
if there shall have been no such determination, then in the order of their
election), shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Secretary or
the Treasurer, as the case may be. In
addition, the Assistant Secretaries
shall, in general, perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, the General Counsel, the Secretary or the Board of Directors. In addition, the Assistant Treasurers shall,
in general, perform such duties as may be assigned to them by the Chairman of
the Board, the President, the Executive Vice President and Chief Financial
Officer, the Treasurer or the Board of Directors. Each Assistant Treasurer shall, if required
by the Board of Directors or the President, give a bond (which shall be renewed
regularly), in such sum and with such surety or sureties as the Board of
Directors or the President shall determine, for the faithful discharge of his
or her duties.
Section 3.14 Salaries. The salaries and other compensation of the
officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by the
Board of Directors or by such committee or officer as it shall designate for
such purpose. No officer shall be
prevented from receiving such salary by reason of the fact that he or she is
also a director of the Corporation.
ARTICLE IV
CONTRACTS, LOANS, CHECKS, AND DEPOSITS
Section 4.1 Contracts. The Board of Directors may authorize any
officer or officers, or agent or agents, to enter into any contract or execute
and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Corporation, and
such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 4.2 Loans. No loans shall be contracted on behalf of the
Corporation and no evidences of indebtedness shall be issued in the name of the
Corporation unless authorized by or pursuant to a resolution adopted by the
Board of Directors. Such authority may
be general or confined to specific instances.
Section 4.3 Checks, Drafts, Etc. All checks, drafts or other orders for
payment of money issued in the name of the Corporation shall be signed by such
officers, employees or agents of the Corporation as shall from time to time be
designated by the Board of Directors, the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice President and Chief
Financial Officer or the Treasurer.
Section 4.4 Deposits. All funds of the Corporation not otherwise
employed shall be deposited from time to time to the credit of the Corporation
in such banks, trust companies or other depositories as shall be designated
from time to time by the Board of Directors, the
17
Chairman of the Board, the President, the Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer or the Treasurer; and such officers may designate any
type of depository arrangement (including, but not limited to, depository
arrangements resulting in net debits against the Corporation) as may from time
to time be offered or made available.
ARTICLE V
CERTIFICATES OF STOCK AND THEIR TRANSFER
Section 5.1 Certificates of
Stock. Shares of capital stock
of the Corporation shall be represented by Certificates, provided that the
Board of Directors may provide by resolution or resolutions under Section 158
of the Delaware General Corporation Law that some or all of any or all classes
or series of the Corporations capital stock shall be uncertificated
shares. Any such resolution shall not
apply to shares represented by a Certificate until such Certificate is surrendered
to the Corporation. Every holder of a
class or series of capital stock in the Corporation represented by Certificates
shall be entitled to have a Certificate representing the number of such shares
owned by the shareholder in the Corporation unless and until the Board of
Directors provides by resolution or resolutions that the shares of such class
or series shall be represented solely in book-entry form as uncertificated
shares. Certificates shall be in such
form as may be determined by the Board of Directors, shall be numbered and
shall be entered on the books of the Corporation as they are issued. Such Certificates shall indicate the holders
name and the number of shares evidenced thereby and shall be signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President, an Executive Vice President, Senior Vice
President or a Vice President and by the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary. If any stock Certificate
shall be manually signed (a) by a transfer agent or an assistant transfer
agent or (b) by a transfer clerk acting on behalf of the Corporation and a
registrar, the signature of any officer of the Corporation may be
facsimile. In case any such officer
whose facsimile signature has been used on any such stock Certificate shall
cease to be such officer, whether because of death, resignation, removal or
otherwise, before such stock Certificate shall have been delivered by the
Corporation, such stock Certificate may nevertheless be delivered by the
Corporation as though the person whose facsimile signature has been used
thereon had not ceased to be such officer.
Section 5.2 Lost, Stolen or
Destroyed Certificates. With respect to any shares represented by a
Certificate, the Board of Directors in individual cases, or by general
resolution or by delegation to the transfer agent for the Corporation, may
direct that a new stock Certificate or Certificates for shares of capital stock
of the Corporation be issued in place of any stock Certificate or Certificates
theretofore issued by the Corporation claimed to have been lost, stolen or
destroyed, upon the filing of an affidavit to that effect by the person
claiming such loss, theft or destruction.
When authorizing such an issuance of a new stock Certificate or Certificates,
the Board of Directors may, in its discretion and as a condition precedent to
such issuance, require the owner of such lost, stolen or destroyed stock
Certificate or Certificates to advertise the same in such manner as the
Corporation shall require and/or to give the Corporation a bond in such sum as
it may direct as indemnity against any claim that may be made against the
Corporation with respect to the stock Certificate or Certificates claimed to
have been lost, stolen or destroyed.
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Section 5.3 Transfers of Stock. With respect to any shares represented by a
Certificate, upon surrender to the Corporation or the transfer agent of the
Corporation of a stock Certificate for shares of capital stock of the
Corporation duly endorsed or accompanied by proper evidence of succession,
assignment or authority to transfer or, if the relevant stock Certificate for
shares of capital stock of the Corporation is claimed to have been lost, stolen
or destroyed, upon compliance with the provisions of Section 5.2 of these
Bylaws, and upon payment of applicable taxes with respect to such transfer, and
in compliance with any restrictions on transfer applicable to such stock
Certificate or the shares represented thereby of which the Corporation shall
have notice and subject to such rules and regulations as the Board of
Directors may from time to time deem advisable concerning the transfer and
registration of stock Certificates for shares of capital stock of the
Corporation, the Corporation shall issue a new stock Certificate or
Certificates for such shares to the person entitled thereto, cancel the old
stock Certificate and record the transaction upon its books. Transfers of shares shall be made only on the
books of the Corporation by the registered holder thereof or by such holders
attorney or successor duly authorized as evidenced by documents filed with the
Secretary or transfer agent of the Corporation.
Whenever any transfer of shares of capital stock of the Corporation
shall be made for collateral security, and not absolutely, it shall be so
expressed in the entry of transfer if, when the stock Certificate or
Certificates representing such shares are presented to the Corporation for
transfer or, in the case of uncertificated shares, documents of transfer are
presented to the Corporation, both the transferor and transferee request the
Corporation to do so.
Section 5.4 Stockholders of
Record. The Corporation shall be
entitled to treat the holder of record of any share of capital stock of the
Corporation as the holder thereof and shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such share on the part of any other
person, whether or not it shall have express or other notice thereof, except as
otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE VI
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Section 6.1 Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
the same as the calendar year.
Section 6.2 Seal. The corporate seal of the Corporation shall
have inscribed thereon the name of the Corporation and the words CORPORATE
SEAL and DELAWARE; and it shall otherwise be in the form approved by the
Board of Directors. Such seal may be
used by causing it, or a facsimile thereof, to be impressed or affixed or
otherwise reproduced.
ARTICLE VII
OFFICES
Section 7.1 Registered Office. The registered office of the Corporation in
the State of Delaware shall be located at 1209 Orange Street in the City of
Wilmington, County of New
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Castle, and the name of its registered agent is Corporation Trust
Company.
Section 7.2 Other Offices. The Corporation may have offices at such
other places, both within or without the State of Delaware, as shall be
determined from time to time by the Board of Directors or as the business of
the Corporation may require.
ARTICLE VIII
INDEMNIFICATION
Section 8.1 General.
(a) 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 or she is or was a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with
such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith and in a
manner he or she 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 or her conduct was
unlawful. The termination of any action,
suit or proceeding by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, or upon a plea
of nolo contendere or its equivalent, shall not, of itself,
create a presumption that such person did not act in good faith and in a manner
which he or she 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 or her conduct was
unlawful.
(b) 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 or she is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation,
or is or was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and
reasonably incurred by him or her in connection with the defense or settlement
of such action or suit if he or she acted in good faith and in a manner he or
she 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 expenses which such Court of Chancery
or such other court shall deem proper.
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(c) To the extent that a
director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation has been successful on
the merits or otherwise in defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred
to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8.1, or in defense
of any claim, issue or matter therein, he or she shall be indemnified against
expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him or
her in connection therewith.
(d) Any indemnification
under paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 8.1 (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 or she has met the
applicable standard of conduct set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this Section 8.1. Such
determination shall be made (i) 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, (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable or, even if
obtainable, a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent
legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) by the stockholders.
(e) Subject to compliance
with the other terms and conditions of this Section 8.1, expenses
(including attorneys fees) incurred by a director or officer in defending any
civil, criminal, administrative or investigative action, suit or proceeding may
be paid by the Corporation in advance of the final disposition of such action,
suit or proceeding upon receipt of an undertaking by or on behalf of such
director or officer to repay such amount if it shall ultimately be determined
that he or she is not entitled to be indemnified by the Corporation pursuant to
this Section 8.1. Such expenses
(including attorneys fees) incurred by other employees and agents may be so
paid upon compliance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Section 8.1
or such other terms and conditions as the Board of Directors deems appropriate.
(f) The indemnification
and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII
shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking
indemnification or advancement of expenses may be entitled under any bylaw, agreement,
vote of stockholders or disinterested directors or otherwise, both as to action
in an official capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such
office.
(g) For purposes of this Article VIII,
any reference to the Corporation shall include, in addition to the resulting
or surviving corporation, any constituent corporation (including any
constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or merger which, if
its separate existence had continued, would have had power and authority to
indemnify its directors, officers, employees or agents, so that any person who
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such constituent
corporation, or is or was 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 VIII with respect to the
resulting or surviving corporation as he or she would have with respect to such
constituent corporation if its separate existence had continued.
(h) For purposes of this Article VIII,
any reference to other enterprise shall include employee benefit plans; any
reference to fines shall include any excise taxes assessed on a
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person with respect to any employee benefit plan; and any reference to serving
at the request of the Corporation shall include any service as a director,
officer, employee or agent of the Corporation which imposes duties on, or
involves services by, such director, officer, employee or agent with respect to
an employee benefit plan, its participants or beneficiaries; and a person who
acted in good faith and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in the
interest of the participants and beneficiaries of an employee benefit plan
shall be deemed to have acted in a manner not opposed to the best interests of
the Corporation as referred to in this Article VIII.
(i) The indemnification
and advancement of expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Article VIII
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 heirs, executors and
administrators of such person.
(j) Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Section 8.1, the Corporation shall not make any
payments pursuant to this Section 8.1 unless the Corporation shall have
first received adequate documentation demonstrating that such amounts for which
payment is requested were actually and reasonably incurred for the purposes
permitted to be reimbursed pursuant to this Section 8.1. Such documentation may include time records,
fee and disbursement records (including hourly rates), description of the work
performed, periodic litigation status reports, the legal basis for the
indemnification claim, and other information reasonably requested by the
Corporation. If a written claim has been
made for payment or reimbursement of expenses, the Corporation may require
periodic status reports from the claimant or the counsel handling the defense
of such proceeding as to the status of such proceeding, the matters presented
in the proceeding for which indemnification is sought, the names of any expert
witnesses to be retained, the projected costs for such proceeding and any other
information which is customary to obtain in order to determine whether such
expenses were actually and reasonably incurred for the purposes permitted to be
reimbursed pursuant to this Section 8.1.
In the event that the party requesting indemnification or advancement of
expenses has incurred costs in multiple proceedings, or shared legal counsel
with other claimants, or circumstances exist where some costs are permitted or
required to be reimbursed and some are not, the party submitting the request
for payment shall allocate such costs and explain in sufficient detail a
reasonable basis for the allocation of costs.
If the party requesting payment fails to make an allocation when
necessary, or to provide an adequate explanation for any such allocation, the
Corporation shall determine a reasonable basis for allocation based on the
written information furnished to it. If
any information relating to the allocation of expenses or any other matter is
not properly supplied, the Corporation shall not be required to make payment
until such information is fully supplied.
If a claim under this Section 8.1 is not paid in full by the
Corporation within ninety days after a written claim meeting the requirements
of this Section 8.1 has been received by the Corporation, the claimant may
at any time thereafter bring suit against the Corporation to recover the unpaid
amount of the claim, plus any interest required by law to be paid. Such suit may only be filed in the Circuit
Court of Cook County, Illinois, the federal district court for the Northern
District of Illinois, the Superior Court of Delaware, New Castle County, or the
federal district court for Delaware. It
shall be a defense to any such action that the claimant has not met the
requirements of this Section 8.1, including the provisions of this
paragraph (j), or the standards of conduct which make it permissible under the
Delaware General
22
Corporation Law for the Corporation to pay the claimant for the amount
claimed.
(k) Notwithstanding any
other provisions of this Section 8.1, nothing herein shall require the
Corporation to make an advance of expenses at any time. In the event that any written claim for
advancement of expenses is submitted to the Corporation, this Section 8.1
shall apply to such written claim for advancement of expenses except to the
extent expressly required by the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware or applicable law. Any
undertaking shall comply with the requirements of paragraph (l) of this Section 8.1.
(l) If any undertaking is
permitted to be delivered by a person pursuant to this Section 8.1 or the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Corporation shall
prescribe the form of undertaking. The
Corporation shall be a party to the instrument evidencing the undertaking. In the event that there is doubt as to the
collectibility of any amounts to be advanced to a claimant which may be
required to be repaid, or for other good and sufficient reason, the Corporation
may require adequate security for the undertaking.
(m) Except to the extent
expressly required by the General Corporation law of the State of Delaware or
applicable law or except as otherwise approved by the Board of Directors, the
Corporation does not intend to provide indemnification or advancement of
expenses to any person who (i) has not acted in good faith or has acted in
a manner opposed to the best interests of the Corporation; (ii) has
initiated any action, suit or proceeding against the Corporation which was not
authorized by the Board of Directors of the Corporation; (iii) has
breached any agreement with the Corporation in any material respect; (iv) has
tortiously induced any director, officer, employee, agent, customer or supplier
of the Corporation or other person or entity to breach his, her or its
contractual obligations to the Corporation; (v) has tortiously interfered
with the Corporations customers or business relationships; (vi) has
committed, threatened or conspired to commit any acts of dishonesty,
embezzlement, misappropriation of funds, theft of trade secrets, fraud, breach
of fiduciary duty or other crime or tort against the Corporation; or (vii) has
engaged in any other unlawful or tortious conduct against the Corporation or
its interests. To the extent permitted
by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware and applicable law,
these rules of interpretation shall be applied in construing all
provisions of this Section 8.1.
(n) Notwithstanding
anything to the contrary in this Section 8.1, the Corporation may provide
indemnification to a person consistent with the requirements of Section 145(a) and
Section 145(b) of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
and this Section 8.1, and the Corporation shall provide indemnification to
the extent required by Section 145(c) of the General Corporation Law
of the State of Delaware. The provisions
of this Section 8.1 are severable, and if any one or more provisions may
be determined to be illegal or otherwise unenforceable, in whole or in part,
the remaining provisions and any partially enforceable provisions, to the
extent so enforceable, shall nevertheless be binding and enforceable.
Section 8.2 Insurance. The Corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee
or agent of the Corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the
Corporation as a director, officer, employee or agent of
23
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other
enterprise, against any liability asserted against him or her and incurred by
him or her in any such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such,
whether or not the Corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her
against such liability under the provisions of Section 145 of the General
Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.
ARTICLE IX
NOTICES
Section 9.1 Manner of Notice. Except as otherwise provided by law, whenever
under the provisions of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws notice is required to be given to
any stockholder, director or member of any committee of the Board of Directors,
such notice may be given by personal delivery or by depositing it, in a sealed
envelope, in the United States mails, air mail or first class, postage prepaid,
addressed, or by delivering it to a telegraph company, charges prepaid, for transmission,
or by transmitting it via telecopier or by electronic mail via the Internet or
similar system, to such stockholder, director or member either at the address
of such stockholder, director or member as it appears on the books of the
Corporation or, in the case of such a director or member, at his or her
business address; and such notice shall be deemed to be given at the time when
it is thus personally delivered, deposited, delivered or transmitted, as the
case may be. Such requirement for notice
shall also be deemed satisfied, except in the case of stockholder meetings with
respect to which written notice is required by law, if actual notice is
received orally or by other writing by the person entitled thereto as far in
advance of the event with respect to which notice is being given as the minimum
notice period required by the laws of the State of Delaware or these Bylaws.
Whenever notice is
required to be given under any provision of the laws of the State of Delaware,
the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws to any stockholder to
whom (a) notice of two consecutive annual meetings of stockholders, and
all notices of meetings of stockholders or of the taking of action by
stockholders by written consent without a meeting to such stockholder during
the period between such two consecutive annual meetings, or (b) all, and
at least two, payments (if sent by first class mail) of dividends or interest
on securities of the Corporation during a 12-month period, have been mailed
addressed to such stockholder at the address of such stockholder as shown on
the records of the Corporation and have been returned undeliverable, the giving
of such notice to such stockholder shall not be required. Any action or meeting which shall be taken or
held without notice to such stockholder shall have the same force and effect as
if such notice had been duly given. If
any such stockholder shall deliver to the Corporation a written notice setting
forth the then current address of such stockholder, the requirement that notice
be given to such stockholder shall be reinstated.
Section 9.2 Waiver of Notice. Whenever any notice is required to be given
under any provision of the laws of the State of Delaware, the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed
by the person or persons entitled to such notice, whether before or after the
time stated therein, shall be deemed equivalent to such notice. Attendance by
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a person at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such
meeting, except when such person attends such meeting for the express purpose
of objecting, at the beginning of such meeting, to the transaction of any
business because such meeting has not been lawfully called or convened. Neither the business to be transacted at, nor
the purpose of, any regular or special meeting of stockholders, the Board of
Directors or a committee of the Board of Directors need be specified in any
written waiver of notice unless so required by the laws of the State of
Delaware, the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these Bylaws.
ARTICLE X
DIVIDENDS
The Board of
Directors may from time to time declare, and the Corporation may pay,
dividends, in cash, in property or in shares of capital stock of the
Corporation, on its outstanding shares of capital stock in the manner and upon
the terms and conditions provided by law and by the Restated Certificate of
Incorporation.
ARTICLE XI
AMENDMENTS
Except to the
extent otherwise provided in the Restated Certificate of Incorporation or these
Bylaws, these Bylaws shall be subject to alteration, amendment or repeal, and
new Bylaws may be adopted (a) by the affirmative vote of the holders of
not less than a majority of the voting power of all outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote for matters other than the
election of directors or (b) by the affirmative vote of not less than a
majority of the entire Board of Directors at any meeting of the Board of Directors
at which there is a quorum present and voting; provided, however,
that the right to call a special meeting by holders of at least fifty percent
of the voting power of the capital stock of the Corporation issued and
outstanding and entitled to vote at a special meeting, as provided in Section 1.2
of these Bylaws, shall not be altered, amended or repealed with respect to any
group of shareholders entitled to call a special meeting, without the approval
by the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than a majority of the
voting power of the shares of capital stock which are held by such shareholders
and which are entitled to vote in such group at such special meeting.
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Exhibit 99.1
News Release
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Corporate
Office
30 North LaSalle Street
Suite 4000
Chicago, Illinois 60602-2507
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Amex Symbol: TDS
Newspaper Listing: TelDta
Telephone
and
Data Systems, Inc.
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Contact:
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Mark A.
Steinkrauss, Vice President, Corporate Relations
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(312) 592-5384
mark.steinkrauss@teldta.com
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Julie D. Mathews,
Manager, Investor Relations
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(312) 592-5341
julie.mathews@teldta.com
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FOR
RELEASE: IMMEDIATE
TDS FOUNDER LEROY T. CARLSON TO
BECOME DIRECTOR EMERITUS
TDS board nominates Prudence E. Carlson to fill directorship
CHICAGO
March 12, 2008 Telephone and Data Systems, Inc. [AMEX:TDS, TDS.S]
today announced that the
companys founder, chairman emeritus, and board member LeRoy (Roy) T. Carlson,
will not seek reelection to the TDS board of directors at the companys 2008
annual meeting of shareholders on May 22, 2008. Accordingly, his term as
director will expire at that time and he will become a director emeritus, a
non-voting position. Mr. Carlson will remain a director of U.S. Cellular,
TDS publicly traded subsidiary.
Roy
Carlsons vision and passion for the business have been invaluable
contributions to the company and to the board, said Walter Carlson, chairman
of the TDS board. We are delighted that, as director emeritus, he will
continue to share his insights, which help us bring excellent communication
services to the communities we serve.
Roy
Carlsons positive and thoughtful guidance while serving on the TDS board has
shaped TDS immeasurably, said LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr., TDS President and
CEO. Roys commitment to this companys future will have a lasting, positive
impact on our business, our associates and employees, our customers, and the
communities we serve. We appreciate his willingness to continue to serve as a
director emeritus.
My
goal has always been to start and add to things in motion and then let our
sterling team bring them to sustainable fruition, said Roy Carlson. This is
another step in that process.
Prudence
E. Carlson nominated for director
The
TDS board has nominated Prudence E. Carlson, 56, for election at the annual
meeting to fill the directorship currently held by Mr. Carlson. Ms. Carlsons
nomination will be voted upon by the holders of TDS Series A Common Shares
and TDS Preferred Shares. Ms. Carlson is a significant shareholder of TDS. She received a bachelor of
arts degree from Harvard University. Ms. Carlson is the daughter of LeRoy
(Roy) T. Carlson and the sister of Walter Carlson, LeRoy T. Carlson, Jr.,
and Letitia G. Carlson, MD.
I
am honored to be nominated to serve on the board of TDS, said Ms. Carlson.
I look forward to
contributing
to this talented board and to the success of TDS.
About
TDS
TDS
provides wireless, local and long-distance telephone, and broadband services to
more than 7.3 million customers in 36 states through its business units, U.S.
Cellular (wireless) and TDS Telecom (wireline). Founded in 1969 and
headquartered in Chicago, TDS employed 11,800 people as of year end.
For more information about TDS and its business units, visit our web
sites:
TDS: www.teldta.com
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USM:www.uscellular.com
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TDS Telecom: www.tdstelecom.com
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