CenterPoint Energy 2015 Annual Report Download - page 161

shareholdersatwhichaquorumispresent.ForpurposesofthisSection,(i)anelectionofdirectorsshallbeconsideredcontestedif,
asofthedatethatis14daysinadvanceofthedatetheCompanyfilesitsdefinitiveproxystatement(regardlessofwhetherornot
thereafterrevisedorsupplemented)withtheSecuritiesandExchangeCommission,thenumberofnomineesexceedsthenumberof
directorstobeelectedand(ii)amajorityofthevotescastmeansthatthenumberofsharesvoted“for”adirectormustexceedthe
numberofvotescast“against”thatdirector.TheBoardofDirectorsandtheGovernanceCommitteemayestablishprocedureswith
respecttotheresignationfromtheBoardofDirectorsofcontinuingdirectorswhoarenotelected.Withrespecttoeachmatterother
thantheelectionofdirectorsastowhichnoothervoting requirementisspecifiedby law,theArticlesof Incorporationorinthis
Section7orinArticleVIIoftheseBylaws,theaffirmativevoteoftheholdersofamajorityofthesharesentitledtovoteonthat
matterandrepresentedinpersonorbyproxyatameetingatwhichaquorumispresentshallbetheactoftheshareholders.With
respecttoamattersubmittedtoavoteoftheshareholdersastowhichashareholderapprovalrequirementisapplicableunderthe
shareholderapprovalpolicyoftheNewYorkStockExchange,Rule16b-3undertheSecuritiesExchangeActof1934,asamended
(the “Exchange Act”), or any provision of the Internal Revenue Code, in each case for which no higher voting requirement is
specifiedbylaw,theArticlesofIncorporationortheseBylaws,theaffirmativevoteoftheholdersofamajorityofthesharesentitled
tovoteon,andvoted“for”or“against,”thatmatteratameetingatwhichaquorumispresentshallbetheactoftheshareholders,
providedthatapproval ofsuchmattershall alsobeconditionedonanymorerestrictive requirementofsuchshareholderapproval
policy,Rule16b-3orInternalRevenueCodeprovision,asapplicable,beingsatisfied.Withrespecttotheapprovalofindependent
publicaccountants(ifsubmittedforavoteoftheshareholders)ortheapprovalofanymatterrecommendedtotheshareholdersby
the Board of Directors with respect to the compensation of executives, including any advisory vote regarding executive
compensation,theaffirmativevoteoftheholdersofamajorityofthesharesentitledtovoteon,andvoted“for”or“against,”that
matteratameetingofshareholdersatwhichaquorumispresentshallbetheactoftheshareholders.
Section8.ChairmanoftheMeetingandConductofMeetings.TheChairmanoftheBoard,orinhisabsenceorathis
direction,theChiefExecutiveOfficer,orinhisabsence,thePresidentshallpresideatallmeetingsoftheshareholdersor,ifsuch
officersarenotpresentatameeting,bysuchotherpersonastheBoardofDirectorsshalldesignateorifnosuchpersonisdesignated
by the Board of Directors, the most senior officer of the Company present at the meeting (such person, the “Chairman of the
Meeting”).TheSecretary,ifpresent,shallactassecretaryofeachmeetingofshareholders;ifheisnotpresentatameeting,then
suchpersonasmaybedesignatedbytheChairmanoftheMeetingshallactassecretaryofthemeeting.Meetingsofshareholders
shall follow reasonable and fair procedure. Subject to the foregoing, the conduct of any meeting of shareholders and the
determinationofprocedureandrulesshallbewithintheabsolutediscretionofChairmanoftheMeeting,andthereshallbenoappeal
fromanyrulingoftheChairmanoftheMeetingwithrespecttoprocedureorrules.Accordingly,inanymeetingofshareholdersor
partthereof,theChairmanoftheMeetingshallhavethesolepowertodetermineappropriaterulesortodispensewiththeretofore
prevailingrules.Withoutlimitingtheforegoing,thefollowingrulesshallapply:
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