Exhibit 3.1

 

RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
CHEVRON CORPORATION

 

Chevron Corporation, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of Delaware (the “Corporation”), hereby certifies as follows:

 

1. The Corporation was originally incorporated under the name Standard Oil Company of California. The date of filing of its original Certificate of Incorporation with the Secretary of State was January 27, 1926.

 

2. Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation restates and integrates and further amends the provisions of the Corporation’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation.

 

3. The text of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation as heretofore amended or supplemented is hereby restated to read as herein set forth in full:

 

ARTICLE I

 

The name of the Corporation is Chevron Corporation.

 

ARTICLE II

 

The Corporation’s registered office is located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, Wilmington, New Castle County, Delaware, 19808. The name of the Corporation’s registered agent at such address is The Prentice-Hall Corporation System, Inc.

 

ARTICLE III

 

The purpose of the Corporation is to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE IV

 

1. The total of shares of all classes of stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is six billion one hundred million (6,100,000,000), of which one hundred million (100,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock of the par value of one dollar ($1.00) per share, and six billion (6,000,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock of the par value of seventy-five cents ($0.75) per share.

 

The number of authorized shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock may be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares thereof outstanding) if the increase or decrease is approved by the holders of a majority of the shares of Common Stock, without the vote of the holders of the shares of Preferred Stock or any series thereof, unless any such Preferred Stock holders are entitled to vote thereon pursuant to the provisions established by the Board of Directors in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such Preferred Stock, and if such holders of such Preferred Stock are so entitled to vote thereon, then, except as may otherwise be set forth in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, the only stockholder approval required shall be that of a majority of the combined voting power of the Common and Preferred Stock so entitled to vote.

2. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to provide for the issue, in one or more series, of all or any shares of the Preferred Stock and, in the resolution or resolutions providing for such issue, to establish for each such series

 

 

 

 

3. In furtherance of the foregoing authority and not in limitation of it, the Board of Directors is expressly authorized, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of a series of Preferred Stock,

 

 

 

4. Whenever the Board of Directors shall have adopted a resolution or resolutions to provide for

 

 

 

 

the officers of the Corporation shall cause a certificate, setting forth a copy of such resolution or resolutions and, if applicable, the number of shares of stock of such series, to be executed, acknowledged, filed and recorded, in order that the certificate may become effective in accordance with the provisions of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as from time to time amended. When any such certificate becomes effective, it shall have the effect of amending this Restated Certificate of Incorporation, and wherever such term is used in these Articles, it shall be deemed to include the effect of the provisions of any such certificate.

 

5. As used in this Article IV, the term “Board of Directors” shall include, to the extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, any duly authorized committee of the Board of Directors.

 

6. Holders of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive such dividends or distributions as are lawfully declared on the Common Stock; to have notice of any authorized meeting of stockholders; to one vote for each share of Common Stock on all matters which are properly submitted to a vote of such stockholders; and, upon dissolution of the Corporation, to share ratably in the assets thereof that may be available for distribution after satisfaction of creditors and of the preferences, if any, of any shares of Preferred Stock.

 

7. The Series A Participating Preferred Stock of the Corporation shall consist of the following:

 

(a) Designation and Amount.  The shares of the series of Preferred Stock shall be designated as “Series A Participating Preferred Stock,” $1.00 par value per share, and the number of shares constituting such series shall be five million. Such number of shares may be increased or decreased by resolution of the Board of Directors; provided, that no decrease shall reduce the number of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock to a number less than that of the shares then outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise of outstanding rights, options or warrants or upon conversion of outstanding securities issued by the Corporation.

(b) Dividends and Distributions.

 

(i) Subject to the prior and superior rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock ranking prior and superior to the shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock with respect to dividends or distributions (except as provided in paragraph (f) below), the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock, in preference to the holders of shares of Common Stock, par value $0.75 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation and any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (x) $25.00 or (y) 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 (except as provided in paragraph (f) below) 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 first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (A) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification or otherwise, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under 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.

 

(ii) Other than with respect to a dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, the Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in subparagraph (i) above at the same time as it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock. The date or dates set for the payment of such dividend or distribution on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock and the record date or dates for the determination of entitlement to such dividend or distribution shall be the same date or dates as are set for the dividend or distribution on the Common Stock. On any such payment date, no dividend or distribution shall be paid on the Common Stock until the appropriate payment has been made on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

 

(iii) Other than as set forth in this Section 2(b), no dividend or other distribution shall be paid on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

 

(c) Voting Rights.  The holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:

 

(i) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1,000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (A) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock into a greater number of shares, or (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification or otherwise, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series A Participating 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 outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(ii) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.

 

(iii) (A) If at any time dividends on any Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall be in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, the occurrence of such contingency shall mark the beginning of a period (herein called a “default period”) which 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 Participating Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock (including holders of the Series A Participating Preferred Stock) with dividends in arrears in an amount equal to six (6) quarterly dividends thereon, voting as a class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two (2) Directors.

 

(B) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph (C) of this Section 7(c)(iii) 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 class, 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 Participating Preferred Stock.

 

(C) 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 of the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board 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 subparagraph (c)(iii)(C) 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 ten (10) days and not later than 60 days after such order or request or in default of the calling of such meeting 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 subparagraph (c)(iii)(C), 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.

 

(D) 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 class, 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 subparagraph (c)(iii)(B) of this Section 7) be filled by vote of a majority of the remaining Directors theretofore elected by the holders of the class of stock which elected the Director whose office shall have become vacant. References in this paragraph (iii) to Directors elected by the holders of a particular class of stock shall include Directors elected by such Directors to fill vacancies as provided in clause (y) of the foregoing sentence.

 

(E) Immediately upon the expiration of a default period (x) the right of the holders of Preferred Stock as a class to elect Directors shall cease, (y) the term of any Directors elected by the holders of Preferred Stock as a class shall terminate, and (z) the number of Directors shall be such number as may be provided for in, or pursuant to, this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of subparagraph (c)(iii)(B) of this Section 7 (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in

any manner provided by law or in this Restated Certificate of Incorporation or By-Laws). Any vacancies in the Board of Directors effected 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.

 

(iv) Except as set forth herein, holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote on matters submitted to the stockholders of the Corporation as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.

 

(d) Certain Restrictions.

 

(i) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Participating Preferred Stock as provided in subsection (b) are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:

 

(A) declare or pay dividends on, make any other distributions on, or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Participating Preferred Stock;

 

(B) 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 Participating Preferred Stock except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Participating 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;

 

(C) 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 Participating 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 Participating Preferred Stock; or

 

(D) purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Participating 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.

 

(ii) 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 subparagraph (i) of this subsection (d), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.

 

(e) Reacquired Shares.  Any shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever shall be retired and canceled 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.

 

(f) Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.

 

(i) Upon any liquidation (voluntary or otherwise), 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 Participating Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall have received per share, the greater of $1,000 or 1,000 times the payment made per share of Common Stock, 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 Participating 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 (A) the Series A Liquidation Preference by (B) 1,000 (as appropriately adjusted as set forth in subparagraph (iii) below to reflect such events as stock splits, stock dividends and recapitalization with respect to the Common Stock) (such number in clause (B), 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 Participating Preferred Stock and Common Stock, respectively, holders of Series A Participating 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 Preferred Stock and Common Stock, on a per share basis, respectively.

 

(ii) In the event 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, which rank on a parity with the Series A Participating Preferred Stock then such remaining assets shall be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences. In the event 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.

 

(iii) In the event the Corporation shall at any time after the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (A) declare any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, (B) subdivide the outstanding Common Stock, or (C) combine the outstanding Common Stock into a smaller number of shares, by reclassification or otherwise, 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.

 

(g) Consolidation, Merger, etc.  In case the Corporation shall enter into any consolidation, merger, 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 Participating 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 first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock (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 Participating 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 are outstanding immediately prior to such event.

 

(h) Redemption.  The shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.

 

(i) Ranking.  The Series A Participating Preferred Stock shall rank junior to all other series of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock as to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise.

 

(j) Amendment.  This Restated Certificate of Incorporation and the By-Laws of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner which would materially alter or change the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series A Participating Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Participating Preferred Stock voting separately as a class.

 

(k) Fractional Shares.  Series A Participating Preferred Stock may be issued in fractions of a share which shall entitle the holder, in proportion to such holder’s fractional shares, to exercise voting rights, receive dividends, participate in distributions and have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series A Participating Preferred Stock.

ARTICLE V

 

The Corporation shall be entitled to treat the person in whose name any share is registered as the owner thereof, for all purposes, 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 the corporation shall have notice thereof, save as expressly provided by the laws of the United States of America or of the State of Delaware.

 

ARTICLE VI

 

The Board of Directors is expressly authorized to make and alter the By-Laws of the Corporation, without any action on the part of the stockholders; but the By-Laws made by the Directors and the powers so conferred may be altered or repealed by the Directors or stockholders.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

1. Not less than thirty days’ prior notice of any meeting of stockholders and of any business to be conducted at such meeting, together with a proxy statement which

 

 

 

shall be given in writing by the Corporation to each stockholder entitled to vote at such meeting, and no business shall be conducted at such meeting except that which has been set forth in the notice of such meeting.

 

2. Any action which may be taken by stockholders of the Corporation at an annual or special meeting and which requires the approval of at least a majority of

 

 

 

may not be effected except at such an annual or special meeting by the vote required for the taking of such action.

 

3. Any of the provisions of paragraph 1 or 2 of this Article VII may be waived by the Board of Directors of the Corporation.

 

ARTICLE VIII

 

1. A director of the Corporation shall not be liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, except for liability (a) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders; (b) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (c) pursuant to section 174 of the Corporation Law; or (d) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit.

 

2. To the fullest extent authorized by the Corporation Law, the Corporation shall indemnify any Corporate Servant who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any Proceeding by reason of the fact that such person was or is a Corporate Servant.

 

3. In serving or continuing to serve the Corporation, a Corporate Servant is entitled to rely and shall be presumed to have relied on the rights granted pursuant to the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII, which shall be enforceable as contract rights and inure to the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of the Corporate Servant; and no repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article VIII shall adversely affect any right existing at the time of such repeal or modification.

4. The Board of Directors is authorized, to the extent permitted by the Corporation Law, to cause the Corporation to pay expenses incurred by Corporate Servants in defending Proceedings and to purchase and maintain insurance on their behalf whether or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify them under the provisions of this Article VIII or otherwise.

 

5. Any right or privilege conferred by or pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII shall not be exclusive of any other rights to which any Corporate Servant may otherwise be entitled.

 

6. As used in this Article VIII:

 

(a) “Corporate Servant” means any natural 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, manager, partner, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other organization or enterprise, nonprofit or otherwise, including an employee benefit plan;

 

(b) “Corporation Law” means the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as from time to time amended;

 

(c) “indemnify” means to hold harmless against expenses (including attorneys’ fees), judgments, fines (including excise taxes assessed with respect to an employee benefit plan) and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by the Corporate Servant in connection with a Proceeding;

 

(d) “Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal or administrative; and

 

(e) “request of the Corporation” includes any written authorization by an officer of the Corporation.

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Corporation has caused this certificate to be executed by its duly authorized officer on this 30th day of May, 2008.

 

Lydia I. Beebe

Corporate Secretary and
Chief Governance Officer