Exhibit
3.1
RESTATED
CHARTER
OF
LOWE’S
COMPANIES, INC.
1. Name. The
name of the Corporation is Lowe's Companies, Inc.
2. Duration. The
period of duration of the Corporation is perpetual.
3. Purpose. The
purpose for which the Corporation is organized is to engage in any lawful act or
activity for which corporations may be organized under the North Carolina
Business Corporation Act.
4. Authorized
Stock. The Corporation shall have the authority to issue
5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock of a par value of $5 per share and
5,600,000,000 shares of Common Stock of a par value of $.50 per
share.
(a) Preferred
Stock. Authority is expressly
vested in the Board of Directors to divide the Preferred Stock into series and,
within the following limitations, to fix and determine the relative rights and
preferences as between series so established and to provide for the issuance
thereof. Each series shall be so designated as to distinguish the
shares thereof from the shares of all other series and classes. All
shares of Preferred Stock shall be identical except as to the following relative
rights and preferences, as to which there may be variations between different
series:
(1) The
rate of dividend;
(2) The
price at and the terms and conditions on which shares may be
redeemed;
(3)
The amount payable upon shares in event of involuntary liquidation;
(4)
The amount payable upon shares in event of voluntary liquidation;
(5) Sinking fund provisions for the redemption or purchase of shares;
(6)
The terms and conditions on which shares may be converted if the shares
of any series are issued with the privilege of conversion; and
(7)
The terms and conditions on which shares may be voted in the election of
Directors or otherwise, either as a class or together with other voting
securities.
Prior to the
issuance of any shares of a series of Preferred Stock the Board of Directors
shall establish such series by adopting a resolution setting forth the
designation of the series and
the
preferences, limitations and relative rights thereof to the extent that
variations are permitted by the provisions hereof.
All series of Preferred Stock shall
rank on a parity as to dividends and assets with all other series according to
the respective dividend rates and amounts distributable upon any voluntary or
involuntary liquidation of the Corporation fixed for each such series; but all
shares of Preferred Stock shall be preferred over Common Stock as to both
dividends and amounts distributable upon any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation of the Corporation. All shares of any one series shall be
identical.
(b)
Common
Stock. The holders of Common
Stock shall, to the exclusion of the holders of any other class of stock of the
Corporation, have the sole and full power to vote for the election of Directors
and for all other purposes without limitation except only (i) as otherwise
provided in the resolutions establishing and designating a particular series of
Preferred Stock and (ii) as otherwise expressly provided by the then existing
statutes of the State of North Carolina. The holders of Common Stock
shall have one vote for each share of Common Stock held by them.
Subject to the provisions of
resolutions establishing and designating series of Preferred Stock, the holders
of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends if, when and as
declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available therefor and
to the net assets remaining after payment of all liabilities upon voluntary or
involuntary liquidation of the Corporation.
(c) Stated
Capital. The stated capital of the Corporation is $18,550,694
as of April 4, 1986, being the date that the Board of Directors adopted a
resolution setting forth a Restated and Amended Charter for submission to the
shareholders for approval.
5.
Shareholders’ Preemptive
Right. No holder of stock of the Corporation shall have any
preemptive right to subscribe for or purchase any additional or increased stock
of the Corporation of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized, including
treasury stock, or obligations convertible into any class of stock, or stock of
any class convertible into stock of any other class, or obligations, stock or
other securities carrying warrants or rights to subscribe to stock of the
Corporation of any class, whether now or hereafter authorized, but any and all
shares of stock, bonds, debentures or other securities or obligations, whether
or not convertible into stock or carrying warrants entitling the holders thereof
to subscribe to stock, may be issued, sold or disposed of from time to time by
authority of the Board of Directors to such persons, firms, corporations or
employee stock ownership plans and for such consideration, as far as it may be
permitted by law, as the Board of Directors shall from time to time
determine.
6.
Registered
Office. The address of the registered office of the
Corporation in the State of North Carolina is 225 Hillsborough Street, Wake
County, Raleigh, North Carolina, 27603; and the name of its registered agent at
such address is C T Corporation System.
7.
Incorporators. The
names and addresses of the original incorporators of the Corporation are as
follows:
NAME ADDRESS
H. C.
Buchan,
Jr.
North Wilkesboro, N.C.
Ruth Lowe
Buchan North
Wilkesboro, N.C.
Hal E.
Church
North Wilkesboro, N.C.
8. Board of
Directors.
(a) Number, Election and Term of
Directors. The Board of Directors of the Corporation shall
consist of three or more individuals with the exact number to be fixed from time
to time solely by resolution of the Board of Directors, acting by not less than
a majority of the Directors then in office. Each Director who is serving as a
Director immediately following the 2008 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, or is
thereafter elected a Director, shall hold office until the expiration of the
term for which he or she has been elected, and until his or her successor shall
be elected and shall qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation,
retirement, disqualification, or removal from office. At the 2009 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders, the successors of the class of Directors whose terms expire at
that meeting shall be elected for a two-year term expiring at the 2011 Annual
Meeting of Shareholders. At the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the
successors of the class of Directors whose terms expire at that meeting shall be
elected for a one-year term expiring at the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders.
At the 2011 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, and at each Annual Meeting of
Shareholders thereafter, all Directors shall be elected for terms expiring at
the next Annual Meeting of Shareholders. Continuing until after the Annual
Meeting of Shareholders in 2010, whenever the Board of Directors changes the
number of Directors of the Corporation, any newly-created Directorships or any
decrease in the number of Directorships shall be so apportioned to or among the
classes of Directors as to make all classes as nearly equal in number as
possible.
(b) Standard for Election of
Directors by Shareholders. Except as shall be otherwise
permitted or authorized by these Articles of Incorporation, Directors are
elected by the affirmative vote, at a meeting at which a quorum is present, of a
majority of the Voting Shares voted at the meeting in person or by proxy
(including those shares in respect of which votes are “withheld” pursuant to
Rule 14a-4(b)(2) of the proxy solicitation rules and regulations promulgated
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended), unless the number of
nominees exceeds the number of Directors to be elected, in which case, Directors
are elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the Voting Shares entitled to
vote in the election at a meeting at which a quorum is present. In the event
that a Director nominee fails to receive a majority of the Voting Shares voted
in an election where the number of nominees equals the number of Directors to be
elected, the Board of Directors may decrease the number of Directors, fill any
vacancy, or take other appropriate action.
(c) Newly-Created Directorships
and Vacancies. Subject to the rights of the holders of
Preferred Stock then outstanding, any vacancy occurring in the Board of
Directors, including a vacancy resulting from an increase in the number of
Directors, may be filled by the affirmative vote of the majority of the
remaining Directors, though less than a quorum of the Board of Directors, and,
continuing until after the 2010 Annual Meeting of Shareholders, the Directors so
chosen shall hold office for a term expiring at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders
at which
the term of the class to which they have been elected expires, subject to any
requirement that they be elected by the shareholders at the Annual Meeting of
Shareholders next following their election by the Board of Directors. No
decrease in the number of Directors constituting the Board of Directors shall
shorten the term of any incumbent Director.
(d) Elimination of Liability of
Directors. To the full extent permitted by the North Carolina Business
Corporation Act, a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for monetary
damages for breach of any duty as a Director of the Corporation, and the
Corporation shall indemnify any Director from liability incurred as a Director
of the Corporation.
9. (a) Vote Required for Certain
Business Combinations.
(i)
Higher Vote for
Certain Business Combinations. In addition to any affirmative
vote required by law or this Charter, and except as otherwise expressly provided
in Section (b) of this Article:
(A) any
merger or consolidation of the Corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter
defined) with (a) any Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (b) any
other Corporation which immediately before such merger or consolidation is an
Affiliate or Associate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Stockholder;
or
(B) any
statutory share exchange in which any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or
Associate of an Interested Stockholder acquires the issued and outstanding
shares of any class or Capital Stock of the Corporation or a Subsidiary;
or
(C) any sale,
lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one
transaction or a series of transactions during any 12 month period) to or with
any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested
Stockholder of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an
aggregate Fair Market Value (as hereinafter defined) in excess of 5% of the
Corporation’s consolidated assets as of the date of the most recently available
financial statements; or any guaranty by the Corporation or any Subsidiary (in
one transaction or a series of transactions during any 12 month period) of
indebtedness of any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any
Interested Stockholder in excess of 5% of the Corporation’s consolidated assets
as of the date of the most recently available financial statements; or any
transaction or series of transactions involving in excess of 5% of the
Corporation’s consolidated assets as of the date of the most recently available
financial statements to which the Corporation or any Subsidiary and any
Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested
Stockholder is a party; or
(D) the sale
or other disposition by the Corporation or any Subsidiary to any Interested
Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Stockholder (in one
transaction or a series of transactions during any 12 month
period)
of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary having an aggregate Fair
Market Value in excess of 5% of the aggregate Fair Market Value of all
outstanding Voting Shares of the Corporation as of the date on which the
Interested Stockholder became an Interested Stockholder (the
“Determination Date”) except pursuant to a share dividend or the exercise
of rights or warrants distributed or offered on a basis affording substantially
proportionate treatment to all holders of the same class or series;
or
(E) the
adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the
Corporation proposed by or behalf of an Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate
or Associate of any Interested Stockholder; or
(F) any
reclassification of securities (including any reverse stock split), or
recapitalization of the Corporation, or any merger or consolidation of the
Corporation with any of its Subsidiaries or any other transaction (whether or
not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the
effect, directly or indirectly (in one transaction or a series of transactions
during any 12 month period), of increasing by more than 5% the percentage of any
class of securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary directly or indirectly
owned by any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any
Interested Stockholder;
shall
require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 70% of the outstanding
Voting Shares. Such affirmative vote shall be required
notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that a lesser
percentage may be specified, by law or in any agreement with any national
securities exchange or otherwise.
(ii) Definition of “Business
Combination.” The term “Business Combination” as used in this
Article shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of
clauses (A) through (F) of paragraph (i) of this Section (a).
(b) When Higher Vote is Not
Required for Certain Business Combination. The provisions of
Section (a) of this Article shall not be applicable to any particular Business
Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such approval as
is required by law and any other provision of these Articles of Incorporation,
if consideration will be paid to the holders of each class or series of Voting
Shares and all of the conditions specified in either of the following paragraphs
(i) or (ii) are met.
(i) Approval by Disinterested
Directors. The Business Combination shall have been approved
by a majority of those persons who are Disinterested Directors (as hereinafter
defined).
(ii) Price and Procedure
Requirements.
(A) The
aggregate amount of the cash and the Fair Market Value as of the Valuation Date
of consideration other than cash to be received per share by holders of each
class or series of Voting Shares in such Business Combination
shall be
at least equal to the highest of the following (taking into account all stock
dividends and stock splits):
(I) (If
applicable) the highest per share price (including any brokerage commissions,
transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested Stockholder
for any shares of such class or series acquired by it (1) within the two year
period (the “Preannouncement Period”) ending at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on the
date of the first public announcement of the proposal of the Business
Combination (the “Announcement Date”) or (2) in the transaction in which it
became an Interested Stockholder, whichever is higher;
(II) the Fair
Market Value per share of such class or series on the Determination Date or on
the day after the Announcement Date, whichever is higher;
(III) (if
applicable) the price per share equal to the Fair Market Value per share of such
class or series determined pursuant to paragraph (ii)(A)(II) above, multiplied
by the ratio of (1) the highest per share price (including any brokerage
commissions, transfer taxes and soliciting dealers’ fees) paid by the Interested
Stockholder for any shares of such class or series acquired by it within the
Preannouncement Period, to (2) the Fair Market Value per share of such class or
series on the first day during the Preannouncement Period upon which the
Interested Stockholder acquired any shares of such class or series;
and
(IV) (if
applicable), the highest preferential amount, if any, per share to which the
holders of such class or series are entitled in the event of any voluntary or
involuntary dissolution of the Corporation.
(B) The
consideration to be received by the holder of outstanding shares in such
Business Combination shall be in cash or in the same form as the Interested
Stockholder has previously paid for shares of the same class or
series. If the Interested Stockholder has paid for shares with
varying forms of consideration, the form of consideration shall be either cash
or the form used to acquire the largest number of shares of such class or series
previously acquired by the Interested Stockholder.
(C) During
such portion of the three year period preceding the Announcement Date that such
Interested Stockholder has been an Interested Stockholder, except as approved by
a majority of the Disinterested Directors: (a) there shall have been no failure
to declare and pay at the regular date therefor any full periodic dividends
(whether or not cumulative) on any outstanding shares of the Corporation; (b)
there shall have been (1) no reduction in the annual rate of dividends paid on
any class or series of Voting Shares, (except as necessary to reflect any
subdivision of the class or series) and (2) an increase in such annual rate of
dividends as necessary to reflect any reclassification (including any reverse
stock split), recapitalization, reorganization or any similar transaction which
has
the
effect of reducing the number of outstanding shares of the class or series; and
(c) such Interested Stockholder shall have not become the beneficial owner of
any additional Voting Shares except as part of the transaction which results in
such Interested Stockholder becoming an Interested Stockholder.
(D) During
such portion of the three year period preceding the Announcement Date that such
Interested Stockholder has been an Interested Stockholder, except as approved by
a majority of the Disinterested Directors, such Interested Stockholder shall not
have received the benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a
stockholder), of any loans, advances, guarantees, pledges or other financial
assistance or any tax credits or other tax advantages provided by the
Corporation, whether in anticipation of or in connection with such Business
Combination or otherwise.
(E) Except as
otherwise approved by a majority of the Disinterested Directors, a proxy or
information statement describing the proposed Business Combination and complying
with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and the rules and
regulations thereunder (or any subsequent provisions replacing such Act, rules
or regulations) shall be mailed to stockholders of the Corporation at least 20
days prior to the consummation of such Business Combination (whether or not such
proxy or information statement is required to be mailed pursuant to such Act or
subsequent provisions).
(c) Certain
Definitions.
For the purposes of this
Article:
(i) A “person” shall mean
any individual, firm, corporation, partnership, joint venture, or other
entity.
(ii) “Interested
Stockholder” shall mean any person who or which is the beneficial owner,
directly or indirectly, of 20% or more of the outstanding Voting Shares of the
Corporation; provided, however, the term Interested Stockholder shall not
include the Corporation, any Subsidiary, or any savings, employee stock
ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Corporation or any Subsidiary,
or any fiduciary with respect to any such plan when acting in such
capacity.
For the
purposes of determining whether a person is an Interested Stockholder, the
number of shares of Voting Shares deemed to be outstanding shall include shares
deemed owned through application of paragraph (iii) of this Section (c) but
shall not include any other Voting Shares that may be issuable pursuant to any
contract, arrangement or understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights,
exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
(iii) A person
shall be a “beneficial
owner” of any Voting Shares as to which such person and any of such
person’s Affiliates or Associates, individually or in the aggregate,
have
or share
directly, or indirectly through any contract, arrangement, understanding,
relationship, or otherwise:
(A) voting
power, which includes the power to vote, or to direct the voting of the Voting
Shares;
(B) investment
power, which includes the power to dispose or to direct the disposition of the
Voting Shares;
(C) economic
benefit, which includes the right to receive or control the disposition of
income or liquidation proceeds from the Voting Shares; or
(D) the right
to acquire voting power, investment power or economic benefit (whether such
right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time) pursuant to
any contract, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion
rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise;
provided,
that in no case shall a Director of the Corporation be deemed to be the
beneficial owner of Voting Shares beneficially owned by another Director of the
Corporation solely by reason of actions undertaken by such persons in their
capacity as Directors of the Corporation.
(iv) “Affiliate” means a
person that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls
or is controlled by, or is under common control with the person
specified.
(v) “Associate” means as
to any specified person:
(A) any
entity (other than the Corporation and its Subsidiaries) of which such person is
an Officer, Director or partner or is, directly or indirectly, the beneficial
owner of 10% or more of the Voting Shares;
(B) any trust
or other estate in which such person has a substantial beneficial interest or as
to which such person serves as trustee or in a similar fiduciary capacity;
or
(C) any
relative or spouse of such person, or any relative of such spouse, who has the
same home as such person or who is an Officer or Director of the Corporation or
any of its Affiliates.
(vi) As to any
Corporation, “Subsidiary” means
any other Corporation of which it owns directly or indirectly a majority of the
Voting Shares.
(vii) “Disinterested
Director” means any member of the Board of Directors who:
(A) was
elected to the Board of Directors of the Corporation at the 1986 Annual Meeting
of Shareholders; or
(B) was
recommended for election by a majority of the Disinterested Directors then on
the Board, or was elected by the Board to fill a vacancy and received the
affirmative vote of a majority of the Disinterested Directors then on the
Board.
(viii) “Fair Market Value”
means:
(A) in the
case of stock the highest closing sale price during the 30 day period ending at
11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on the date in question of a share of such stock on
the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if such stock
is not quoted on the Composite Tape on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such
stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States securities
exchange registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on which such
stock is listed, or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the
highest closing bid quotation with respect to a share of such stock during the
30 day period ending at 11:59 p.m., Eastern time, on the date in question on the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations
System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the
Fair Market Value on the date in question of a share of such stock as determined
by a majority of the Disinterested Directors; and
(B) in the
case of property other than cash or stock, the Fair Market Value of such
property on the date in question as determined by a majority of the
Disinterested Directors.
(ix) “Voting Shares” shall
mean the outstanding shares of all classes or series of the Corporation’s stock
entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors.
(x) “Control” shall mean
the possession, directly or indirectly, through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract, arrangement, understanding, relationship or otherwise,
of the power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of
the person. The beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the
Corporation’s Voting Shares shall be deemed to constitute control.
(d) Certain
Determinations.
Directors
who are Disinterested Directors of the Corporation shall have the power and duty
to determine for the purpose of this Article, on the basis of information known
to them after reasonable inquiry, (i) whether a particular person is an
Interested Stockholder, (ii) the number of Voting Shares beneficially owned by
such person, (iii) whether any person is an Affiliate or Associate of such
person, and (iv) whether the assets that are the subject of any Business
Combination involving such person have an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess
of 5% of the Corporation’s consolidated assets as of the date of the most
recently available financial statement, or the securities to be issued or
transferred by the Corporation or any Subsidiary in any Business Combination
involving such person have an aggregate Fair Market Value in excess of 5% of the
aggregate Fair Market Value of all outstanding Voting Shares of the Corporation
as of the Determination Date.
(e) No Effect on Certain
Obligations.
Nothing
contained in this Article shall be construed to relieve any Interested
Stockholder or any Director of the Corporation from any obligation imposed by
law.
(f) Amendment or
Repeal.
The
provisions of this Article shall not be amended or repealed, nor shall any
provision of these Articles of Incorporation be adopted that is inconsistent
with this Article, unless such action shall have been approved by the
affirmative vote or either:
(i) the
holders of at least 70% of the outstanding Voting Shares; or
(ii) a
majority of those Directors who are Disinterested Directors and the holders of
the requisite number of shares specified under applicable North Carolina law for
the amendment of the charter of a North Carolina corporation.
10. Series A Preferred
Stock. The Corporation has designated 750,000 shares of the
authorized but unissued shares of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock, par value
$5.00 per share, as Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A
(hereinafter referred to as “Series A Preferred Stock”). The terms of
the Series A Preferred Stock, in the respect in which the shares of such series
may vary from shares of any and all other series of Preferred Stock, are as
follows:
(a) Dividends and
Distributions.
(1) The
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock in preference to the holders of
Common Stock and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when,
as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available
therefor, dividends payable quarterly on the last business day of each April,
July, October and January (each such date being referred to herein as a
“Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date after the first issuance of a share or fraction of a share of
Series A Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent)
equal to the greater of (a) $120 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth, 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash
dividends, and 1,000 times the aggregate per share amount (payable in kind) of
all non-cash dividends or other distributions other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock or a subdivision of the outstanding shares of Common
Stock (by reclassification or otherwise), declared on the Common Stock since the
immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, or, with respect to the
first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or
fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the
Corporation shall at any time after September 8, 1998 (the “Rights Declaration
Date”), (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common
Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the
outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case
the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled
immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence
shall
be
adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(2) The
Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred
Stock as provided in paragraph (1) above immediately after it declares a
dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in
shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution
shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any
Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date, a dividend of $120 per share on the Series A Preferred Stock shall
nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date.
(3) Dividends
shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A
Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date
of issue of such shares of Series A Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of
such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment
Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date
of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend
and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such
dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend
Payment Date. Accrued but unpaid dividends shall not bear
interest. Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in
an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and
payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis
among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors
may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A
Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution
declared thereon, which record date shall be no more than 30 days prior to the
date fixed for the payment thereof.
(b)
Voting
Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall
have the following voting rights:
(1) Subject
to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A
Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters
submitted to a vote of the shareholders of the Corporation. In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i)
declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of votes per share to which holders of shares of
Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be
adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and
the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(2) Except as
otherwise provided herein, in the Restated and Amended Charter, or under
applicable law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the
holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one voting group on all
matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(3)
(i) If
at any time dividends on any shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be in
arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of
such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (a “default period”) that
shall extend until such time when all accrued and unpaid dividends for all
previous quarterly dividend periods and for the current quarterly dividend
period on all shares of Series A Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have
been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default
period, all holders of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock
together with any other series of Preferred Stock then entitled to such a vote
under the terms of the Restated and Amended Charter, voting as a separate voting
group, shall be entitled to elect two members of the Board of Directors of the
Corporation.
(ii) During
any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series A Preferred Stock
may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph
(iii) of this Subsection (b)(3) or at any annual meeting of stockholders, and
thereafter at annual meetings of stockholders, provided that neither such voting
right nor the right of the holders of any other series of Preferred Stock, if
any, to increase, in certain cases, the authorized number of Directors shall be
exercised unless the holders of ten percent (10%) in number of shares of
Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by
proxy. The absence of a quorum of the holders of Common Stock shall
not affect the exercise by the holders of Preferred Stock of such voting
right. At any meeting at which the holders of Preferred Stock shall
exercise such voting right initially during an existing default period, they
shall have the right, voting as a separate voting group, to elect Directors to
fill such vacancies, if any, in the Board of Directors as may then exist up to
two (2) Directors, or if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect
two (2) Directors. If the number which may be so elected at any
special meeting does not amount to the required number, the holders of the
Preferred Stock shall have the right to make such increase in the number of
Directors as shall be necessary to permit the election by them of the required
number. After the holders of the Preferred Stock shall have exercised
their right to elect Directors in any default period and during the continuance
of such period, the number of Directors shall not be increased or decreased
except by vote of the holders of Preferred Stock as herein provided or pursuant
to the rights of any equity securities ranking senior to or pari passu with the
Series A Preferred Stock.
(iii) Unless
the holders of Preferred Stock shall, during an existing default period, have
previously exercised their right to elect Directors, the Board of Directors may
order, or any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not less than
ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding,
irrespective of series, may request, the calling of a special meeting of the
holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting shall thereupon be called by the
Chairman, President, a
Vice-President
or the Secretary of the Corporation. Notice of such meeting and of
any annual meeting at which holders of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote
pursuant to this paragraph (b)(3)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record
of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him at his last address
as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting
shall be called for a time not earlier than 10 days and not later than 60 days
after such order or request. In the event such meeting is not called
within 60 days after such order or request, such meeting may be called on
similar notice by any stockholder or stockholders owning in the aggregate not
less than ten percent (10%) of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock
outstanding. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph
(b)(3)(iii), no such special meeting shall be called during the period within 60
days immediately preceding the date fixed for the next annual meeting of the
stockholders.
(iv) In
any default period, the holders of Common Stock, and other classes of stock of
the Corporation if applicable, shall continue to be entitled to elect the whole
number of Directors until the holders of Preferred Stock shall have exercised
their right to elect two (2) Directors voting as a separate voting group, after
the exercise of which right (x) the Directors so elected by the holders of
Preferred Stock shall continue in office until their successors shall have been
elected by such holders or until the expiration of the default period, and (y)
any vacancy in the Board of Directors may (except as provided in paragraph
(b)(3)(ii)) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors
theretofore elected by the voting group which elected the Director whose office
shall have become vacant. References in this paragraph (b)(3)(iv) to
Directors elected by a particular voting group shall include Directors elected
by such Directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing
sentence.
(v) Immediately
upon the expiration of a default period, (x) the right of the holders of
Preferred Stock, as a separate voting group, to elect Directors shall cease, (y)
the term of any Directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock, as a
separate voting group, shall terminate, and (z) the number of Directors shall be
such number as may be provided for in, or pursuant to, the Restated and Amended
Charter or bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions
of paragraph (b)(3)(ii) (such number being subject, however, to change
thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the Restated and Amended Charter
or bylaws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors affected by the
provisions of clauses (y) and (z) in the preceding sentence may be filled by a
majority of the remaining Directors, even though less than a
quorum.
(4) Except as
set forth herein or as otherwise provided in the Restated and Amended Charter,
holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and
their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to
vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate
action.
(c) Certain
Restrictions.
(1) Whenever
quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A
Preferred Stock as provided in Subsection (a) are in arrears,
thereafter
and until
all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on
shares of Series A Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the
Corporation shall not:
(i) declare
or pay or set apart for payment any dividends (other than dividends payable in
shares of any class or classes of stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the
Series A Preferred Stock) or make any other distributions on, any class of stock
of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation,
dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock and shall not redeem,
purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, whether voluntarily, for
a sinking fund, or otherwise any shares of any class of stock of the Corporation
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that, notwithstanding the
foregoing, the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire
shares of stock of any such junior class in exchange for, or out of the net cash
proceeds from the concurrent sale of, other shares of stock of any such junior
class;
(ii) declare
or pay dividends on or make any other distributions on any shares of stock
ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on
the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are
payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of
all such shares are then entitled;
(iii) redeem or
purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking on a
parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up)
with the Series A Preferred Stock, provided that the Corporation may at any time
redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such parity stock in
exchange for shares of any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to
dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A
Preferred Stock;
(iv) purchase
or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock,
or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock,
except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as
determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such
terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual
dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective
series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and
equitable treatment among the respective series or classes.
(2) The
Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or
otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock of the Corporation
unless the Corporation could, under paragraph (1) of Subsection (c), purchase or
otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
(d) Reacquired
Shares. Any shares of Series A Preferred Stock purchased or
otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired
and cancelled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such shares
shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred
Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be
created by resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors, subject to the
conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein.
(e) Liquidation, Dissolution or
Winding Up.
(1) Upon any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, no distribution shall be made to the holders of shares of stock
ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or
winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have received $5.00 per share, plus
an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon,
whether or not declared, to the date of such payment (the “Series A Liquidation
Preference”). Following the payment of the full amount of the Series
A Liquidation Preference, no additional distributions shall be made to the
holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders
of shares of Common Stock shall have received an amount per share (the “Common
Adjustment”) equal to the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the Series A
Liquidation Preference by (ii) 1,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in
subparagraph 3 below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and
recapitalizations with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (ii)
being hereinafter referred to as the “Adjustment Number”). Following
the payment of the full amount of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the
Common Adjustment in respect of all outstanding shares of Series A Preferred
Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Preferred Stock and
holders of shares of Common Stock shall receive their ratable and proportionate
share of the remaining assets to be distributed in the ratio of the Adjustment
Number to 1 with respect to such Series A Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a
per share basis, respectively.
(2) In the
event, however, that there are not sufficient assets available to permit payment
in full of the Series A Liquidation Preference and the liquidation preferences
of all other series of Preferred Stock, if any, then such remaining assets shall
be distributed ratably to the holders of all such shares in proportion to their
respective liquidation preferences. In the event, however, that there
are not sufficient assets available to permit payment in full of the Common
Adjustment, then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the
holders of Common Stock.
(3) In the
event the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date (i)
declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (ii)
subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii) combine the outstanding Common
Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in each such case the Adjustment
Number in effect immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by
multiplying such Adjustment Number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the
number of shares of Common Stock
outstanding
immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of
shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such
event.
(f) Consolidation, Merger, Share
Exchange, etc. In case the Corporation shall enter into any
consolidation, merger, share exchange, combination or other transaction in which
the shares of Common Stock are exchanged for or changed into other stock or
securities, cash and/or any other property, then in any such case the shares of
Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged or
changed in an amount per share (subject to the provision for adjustment
hereinafter set forth) equal to 1,000 times the aggregate amount of stock,
securities, cash and/or any other property (payable in kind), as the case may
be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or
exchanged. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the
Rights Declaration Date (i) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in
shares of Common Stock, (ii) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (iii)
combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, then in
each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to
the exchange or change of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted
by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number
of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the
denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were
outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(g) Redemption. The
outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock may be redeemed at the option of
the Board of Directors as a whole, but not in part, at any time, or from time to
time, at a cash price per share equal to (i) 100% of the product of the
Adjustment Number times the Average Market Value (as such term is hereinafter
defined) of the Common Stock, plus (ii) all dividends which on the redemption
date have accrued on the shares to be redeemed and have not been paid or
declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart, without
interest. The “Average Market Value” is the average of the closing
sale prices of a share of the Common Stock during the 30-day period immediately
preceding the date before the redemption date on the Composite Tape for New York
Stock Exchange Listed Stocks, or, if such stock is not quoted on the Composite
Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or, if such stock is not listed on such
exchange, on the principal United States securities exchange registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, on which such stock is listed,
or, if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the average of the closing
bid quotations with respect to a share of Common Stock during such 30-day period
on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotation
System or any system then in use, or if no such quotations are available, the
fair market value of a share of the Common Stock as determined by the Board of
Directors in good faith.
(h) Ranking. The
Series A Preferred Stock shall rank on a parity with any and all other series of
Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of
assets.
(i) Amendment. The
Restated and Amended Charter shall not be further amended in any manner that
would adversely affect the preferences, rights or powers of the Series A
Preferred Stock without the affirmative vote of the holders of more than
two-thirds of the outstanding shares of the Series A Preferred Stock, if any,
voting separately as one voting group.
(j) Fractional
Shares. Series A Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of
one one-thousandth of a share (and integral multiples thereof) which shall
entitle the holder, in proportion to such holders’ fractional shares, to
exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and to
have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Preferred
Stock.