Exhibit 3.1
RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
E*TRADE FINANCIAL CORPORATION
FIRST. The name of the corporation is E*TRADE Financial Corporation (the “Corporation”).
SECOND. The address of its registered office in the State of Delaware is 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, 19808, County of New Castle. The name of its registered agent at such address is Corporation Service Company.
THIRD. 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.
FOURTH. (a) The Corporation is authorized to issue two classes of stock to be designated, respectively, “Common Stock” and ”Preferred Stock.” The total number of shares that the Corporation is authorized to issue is One Billion Two Hundred One Million (1,201,000,000) shares. One Billion Two Hundred Million (1,200,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). One Million (1,000,000) shares shall be Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which one (1) share shall be designated Series A Preferred Stock and five hundred thousand (500,000) shares shall be designated Series B Preferred Stock. The Series A Preferred Stock and Series B Preferred Stock are collectively referred to as “Preferred Stock.”
(b) The Preferred Stock may be issued from time to time in one or more series. The Board of Directors is expressly authorized, in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issuance of any wholly unissued series of Preferred Stock, to fix, state and express the powers, rights, designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions thereof, including without limitation: the rate of dividends upon which and the times at which dividends on shares of such series shall be payable and the preference, if any, which such dividends shall have relative to dividends on shares of any other class or classes or any other series of stock of the Corporation; whether such dividends shall be cumulative or noncumulative, and if cumulative, the date or dates from which dividends on shares of such series shall be cumulative; the voting rights, if any, to be provided for shares of such series; the rights, if any, which the holders of shares of such series shall have in the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Corporation; the rights, if any, which the holders of shares of such series shall have to convert such shares into or exchange such shares for shares of stock of the Corporation, and the terms and conditions, including price and rate of exchange of such conversion or exchange; and the redemption rights (including sinking fund provisions), if any, for shares of such series; and such other powers, rights designations, preferences, qualifications, limitations and restrictions as the Board of Directors may desire to so fix. The Board of Directors is also expressly authorized to fix the number of shares constituting such series and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series prior to the issuance of shares of that series and to increase or decrease the number of shares of any series subsequent to
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the issuance of shares of that series, but not to decrease such number below the number of shares of such series then outstanding. In case the number of shares of any series shall be so decreased, the shares constituting such decrease shall resume the status which they had prior to the adoption of the resolution originally fixing the number of shares of such series.
(c) A statement of the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed on the Series A Preferred Stock and the holders thereof is as follows:
1. Designation and Number of Shares. One (1) share of Preferred Stock of the Corporation shall be designated as Series A Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as the “EGI Special Voting Share” or “Series A Preferred Stock”). The Corporation shall not issue any additional shares of the same series of such Series A Preferred Stock without the consent of the holders at the relevant time of Exchangeable Shares (as hereinafter defined).
2. Dividends and Distributions. Except as required by applicable law, the holder(s) of the EGI Special Voting Share (“Holder”) shall not be entitled to receive any dividends or distributions of the Corporation, whether payable in cash, property or in shares of capital stock.
3. Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the Holder of the Series A Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to receive any assets of the Corporation available for distribution to its stockholders.
4. Voting Rights. The EGI Special Voting Shares shall have the following Voting Rights:
(A) With respect to all meetings of stockholders of the Corporation at which holders of the Corporation’s Common Stock are entitled to vote (each, a “Stockholders Meeting”) and with respect to all written consents sought by the Corporation from its stockholders, including the holders of the Corporation’s Common Stock (each, a “Stockholder Consent”), the EGI Special Voting Share shall vote together with the Common Stock of the Corporation as a single class and each such vote of the EGI Special voting Share shall have identical voting rights to those of the Corporation’s Common Stock. The Holder shall have the number of votes equal to the number of Exchangeable Non-Voting Shares of EGI Canada Corporation (“Exchangeable Shares”), a corporation existing under the laws of Ontario, Canada, outstanding on the record date for determining stockholders entitled to vote at the applicable Stockholders Meeting or the applicable Stockholder Consent, other than those held by the Corporation or its Affiliates. For purposes hereof, an “Affiliate” is: (i) any corporate entity that controls another corporate entity or is a subsidiary of another or are subsidiaries of the same corporation or are controlled by the same person; and (ii) corporate entities that are affiliated with the same corporation shall be deemed to be affiliates. For purposes of this definition, a corporation is controlled by a person or two or more corporations if such person or corporation(s) has a sufficient number of beneficial voting securities of the corporation to elect a majority of the directors of the corporation.
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(B) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, the registered holders from time to time of Exchangeable Shares (“Beneficiaries”) shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required for taking any corporate action.
5. Termination of Voting Rights. At such time as the EGI Special Voting Share has no votes attached to it because there are no Exchangeable Shares outstanding that are not owned by the Corporation or its Affiliates, and there are no shares of stock, debt, options or other agreements that could give rise to the issuance of any Exchangeable Shares to any person (other than the Corporation, any of its subsidiaries or any person directly or indirectly controlled by or under the common control of the Corporation), the EGI Special Voting Share shall be deemed to be surrendered by the Holder to the Corporation.
6. No Redemption. The EGI Special Voting Share shall not be redeemable.
(d) A statement of the rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions granted to or imposed on the Series B Preferred Stock and the holders thereof is as follows:
1. Designation and Number of Shares. Five Hundred Thousand (500,000) of Preferred Stock of the Corporation shall be designated as Series B Preferred Stock (hereinafter referred to as “Series B Preferred Stock”). The Board of Directors is authorized to increase or decrease such number of shares constituting the Series B Preferred Stock, but not to decrease the number of shares to a number less than the number of shares of such series then outstanding plus the number of shares issuable upon exercise or conversion of outstanding rights, options or other securities issued by the Corporation.
2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) The holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each such date being referred to as a “Quarterly Dividend Payment Date”), commencing on the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date after the first issuance of any shares or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (1) $1.00 and (2) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 1000 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends or other distributions and 1000 times the aggregate per share amount of all non-cash dividends or other distributions (other than (x) a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Corporation or (y) 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 B Preferred Stock. If the Corporation shall at any time after July 5, 2001 (the “Rights Declaration Date”) pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by
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reclassification or otherwise) in to a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause 2(A)(2) 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.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in Paragraph 2(a) above immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than as described in clauses 2(A)(2)(x) and 2(A)(2)(y) above); provided that if 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 (or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, the period between the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series B Preferred Stock and such first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date), a dividend of $1.00 per share on the Series B Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
(C) Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series B Preferred Stock, unless the date of issue of such shares is on or before the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and on or before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case 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 shares of Series B 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 share of Series B Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall not be more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
3. Voting Rights. In addition to any other voting rights required by law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series B Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 1000 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation. If the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the number of votes per share to which holders of shares of Series
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B 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.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock shall vote together as a single class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) (i) If at any time dividends on any Series B 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 (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 B Preferred Stock then outstanding shall have been declared and paid or set apart for payment. During each default period, all holders of Preferred Stock and any other series of Preferred Stock then entitled as a class to elect directors, voting together as a single class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two Directors.
(ii) During any default period, such voting right of the holders of Series B Preferred Stock may be exercised initially at a special meeting called pursuant to subparagraph 3(C)(iii) hereof 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 10 percent in number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding shall be present in person or by proxy. The absence of a quorum of holders of Common Stock shall not affect the exercise by holders of Preferred Stock of such voting right. At any meeting at which 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 Directors or, if such right is exercised at an annual meeting, to elect two 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 B 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 10 percent of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series, may request the calling of a special meeting of holders of Preferred Stock, which meeting
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shall thereupon be called by the 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 3(C)(iii) shall be given to each holder of record of Preferred Stock by mailing a copy of such notice to him or her at his or her last address as the same appears on the books of the Corporation. Such meeting shall be called for a time not earlier than 20 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 10 percent of the total number of shares of Preferred Stock outstanding, irrespective of series. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph 3(C)(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 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 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 paragraph 3(C)(ii) hereof) 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 3(C) 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.
(v) 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 the certificate of incorporation or bylaws irrespective of any increase made pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 3(C)(ii) hereof (such number being subject, however, to change thereafter in any manner provided by law or in the certificate of incorporation or Bylaws). 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.
(D) The Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation shall not be amended in any manner (whether by merger or otherwise) so as to adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of the Series B Preferred Stock without the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock, voting separately as a class.
(E) Except as otherwise provided herein, holders of Series B Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights, and their consent shall not be required for taking any corporate action.
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4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series B Preferred Stock as provided in Article Fourth, Section (d)2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on outstanding shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on, any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock;
(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 B Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series B Preferred Stock and all such other 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, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock; provided that the Corporation may at any time redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire shares of any such junior stock in exchange for shares of stock of the Corporation ranking junior (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock; or
(iv) redeem, purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of Series B Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B 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 Series B Preferred Stock and all such other parity stock 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.
(B) The Corporation shall not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to purchase or otherwise acquire for value any shares of stock of the Corporation unless the Corporation could, under paragraph 4(A), purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner.
5. Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B Preferred Stock redeemed, 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 without designation as to series and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock to be created by resolution
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or resolutions of the Board of Directors as permitted by the Certificate of Incorporation or as otherwise permitted under Delaware Law.
6. Liquidation, Dissolution and Winding Up. Upon any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, no distribution shall be made (1) to the holders of shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series B Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall have received $1.00 per share, plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions thereon, whether or not declared, to the date of such payment; provided that the holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series B Preferred Stock, except distributions made ratably on the Series B Preferred Stock and all such other parity stock in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are entitled upon such liquidation, dissolution or winding up. If the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the aggregate amount to which holders of shares of Series B Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under the proviso in clause (1) 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.
7. Consolidation, Merger, Etc. If 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 or any other property, then in any such case the shares of Series B Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarly exchanged for or changed into an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 1000 times the aggregate amount of stock, securities, cash or any other property, as the case may be, into which or for which each share of Common Stock is changed or exchanged. If the Corporation shall at any time after the Rights Declaration Date pay any dividend on Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or effect a subdivision or combination of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount set forth in the preceding sentence with respect to the exchange or change of shares of Series B 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.
8. No Redemption. The Series B Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
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9. Rank. The Series B Preferred Stock shall rank junior (as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution and winding up) to all other series of the Corporation’s preferred stock except any series that specifically provides that such series shall rank junior to the Series B Preferred Stock.
10. Fractional Shares. Series B 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 to have the benefit of all other rights of holders of Series B Preferred Stock.
FIFTH. In furtherance and not in limitation of the powers conferred by statute, the Board of Directors is authorized to make, alter or repeal any or all of the Bylaws of the Corporation; provided, however, that any Bylaw amendment adopted by the Board of Directors increasing or reducing the authorized number of Directors shall require the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the total number of directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies. In addition, new Bylaws may be adopted or the Bylaws may be amended or repealed by the affirmative vote of at least 66-2/3rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class.
Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-2/3rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, change, amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article FIFTH.
SIXTH: (a) Any action required or permitted to be taken by the stockholders of the Corporation must be effected at an annual or special meeting of stockholders of the Corporation and may not be effected by a consent in writing of such stockholders.
(b) Special meetings of stockholders of the Corporation may be called only by the (i) Chairman of the Board of Directors, (ii) President, (iii) chairman or the Secretary at the written request of a majority of the total number of Directors which the Corporation would have if there were no vacancies upon not fewer than 10 or more than 60 days’ written notice, or (iv) holders of shares entitled to cast not less than 10 percent of the votes at such special meeting upon not fewer than 10 nor more than 60 days’ written notice. Any request for a special meeting of stockholders shall be sent to the Chairman and the Secretary and shall state the purposes of the proposed meeting. Special meetings of holders of the outstanding Preferred Stock may be called in the manner and for the purposes provided in the resolutions of the Board of Directors providing for the issue of such stock. Business transacted at special meetings shall be confined to the purpose or purposes stated in the notice of meeting.
(c) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-23rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the
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election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, change, amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article SIXTH.
SEVENTH. (a) The number of Directors which shall constitute the whole Board of Directors of this Corporation shall be specified in the Bylaws of this Corporation, subject to this Article SEVENTH.
(b) The Directors shall be classified with respect to the time for which they severally hold office into three classes designated Class I, Class II and Class III, as nearly equal in number as possible, as shall be provided in the manner specified in the Bylaws of the Corporation. Each Director shall serve for a term ending on the date of the third annual meeting of stockholders following the annual meeting at which the Director was elected; provided, however, that each initial Director in Class I shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in 1999, each initial Director in Class II shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in 1998, and each initial Director in Class III shall hold office until the annual meeting of stockholders in 1997. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Article SEVENTH, each Director shall serve until his successor is duly elected and qualified or until his death, resignation or removal.
(c) In the event of any increase or decrease in the authorized number of Directors, (i) each Director then serving as such shall nevertheless continue as a Director of the class of which he or she is a member until the expiration of his or her current term, or his or her early resignation, removal from office or death, and (ii) the newly created or eliminated directorship resulting from such increase or decrease shall be apportioned by the Board of Directors among the three classes of Directors so as to maintain such classes as nearly equally as possible.
(d) Any Director or the entire Board of Directors may be removed by the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-23rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of Directors, voting together as a single class.
(e) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-23rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, change, amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article SEVENTH.
EIGHTH. (a) 1. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, any Business Combination (has hereinafter defined) shall require the affirmative vote of at least 66-23rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class (for purposes of this Article EIGHTH, the “Voting Shares”). Such affirmative vote shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that some lesser percentage may be specified by law or in any agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
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2. The term “Business Combination” as used in this Article EIGHTH shall mean any transaction which is referred to in any one or more of the following clauses (A) through (E):
(A) any merger or consolidation of the corporation or any Subsidiary (as hereinafter defined) with or into (i) any Interested Stockholder (as hereinafter defined) or (ii) any other corporation (whether or not itself an Interested Stockholder) which is, or after such merger of consolidation would be, an Affiliate (as hereinafter defined) or Associate (as hereinafter defined) of an Interested Stockholder; or
(B) any sale, lease, exchange, mortgage, pledge, transfer or other disposition (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) to or with, or proposed by or on behalf of, any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Stockholder, of any assets of the Corporation or any Subsidiary constituting not less than five percent of the total assets of the Corporation, as reported in the consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation as of the end of the most recent quarter with respect to which such balance sheet has been prepared; or
(C) the issuance or transfer by the Corporation or any subsidiary (in one transaction or a series of related transactions) of any securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary to, or proposed by or on behalf of, any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Stockholder in exchange for cash, securities or other property (or a combination thereof) constituting not less than five percent of the total assets of the Corporation, as reported in the consolidated balance sheet of the Corporation as of the end of the most recent quarter with respect to which such balance sheet has been prepared; or
(D) the adoption of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Corporation, or any spin-off or split-up of any kind of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, proposed by or on behalf of an Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Stockholder; or
(E) 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 similar transaction (whether or not with or into or otherwise involving an Interested Stockholder) which has the effect, directly or indirectly, of increasing the percentage of the outstanding shares of (i) any class of equity securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary or (ii) any class of securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary convertible into equity securities of the Corporation or any Subsidiary, represented by securities of such class which are directly or indirectly owned by any Interested Stockholder or any Affiliate or Associate of any Interested Stockholder.
(b) The provisions of Section (a) of this Article EIGHTH shall not be applicable to any particular Business Combination, and such Business Combination shall require only such affirmative vote as is required by law and any other provision of this Certificate of Incorporation, if such Business Combination has been approved by two-thirds of the whole Board of Directors.
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(c) For the purposes of this Article EIGHTH:
1. A “person” shall mean any individual, firm, corporation or other entity.
2. “Interested Stockholder” shall mean, in respect of any Business Combination, any person (other than the Corporation or any Subsidiary) who or which, as of the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to notice of and to vote on such Business Combination, or immediately prior to the consummation of any such transaction
(A) is or was, at any time within two years prior thereto, the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the then outstanding voting Shares, or
(B) is an Affiliate or Associate of the Corporation and at any time within two years prior thereto was the beneficial owner, directly or indirectly, of 10 percent or more of the then outstanding Voting Shares, or
(C) is an assignee of or has otherwise succeeded to any shares of capital stock of the Corporation which were at any time within two years prior thereto beneficially owned by any Interested Stockholder, if such assignment or succession shall have occurred in the course of a transaction, or series of transactions, not involving a public offering within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
3. A “person” shall be the “beneficial owner” of any Voting Shares
(A) which such person or any of its Affiliates and Associates (as hereinafter defined) beneficially own, directly or indirectly, or
(B) which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has (i) the right to acquire (whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding or upon the exercise of conversion rights, exchange rights, warrants or options, or otherwise, or (ii) the right to vote pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or understanding, or
(C) which are beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person with which such first mentioned person or any Affiliates or Associates has any agreement, arrangement or understanding for the purposes of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of any shares of capital stock of the Corporation.
4. The outstanding Voting Shares shall include shares deemed owned through application of Paragraph 3 above but shall not include any other Voting Shares which may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or otherwise.
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5. “Affiliate” and “Associate” shall have the respective meanings given those terms in Rule 12b-2 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as in effect on the date of adoption of this Certificate of Incorporation (the “Exchange Act”).
6. “Subsidiary” shall mean any corporation of which a majority of any class of equity security (as define din Rule 3a11-1 of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act) is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation; provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested Stockholder set forth in Paragraph 2 of this Section (c), the term “Subsidiary” shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity security is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Corporation.
(d) A majority of the directors shall have the power and duty to determine for the purposes of this Article EIGHTH on the basis of information known to them, (1) whether a person is an Interested Stockholder, (2) the number of Voting Shares beneficially owned by any person, (3) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another, (4) whether a person has an agreement, arrangement or understanding with another as to the matters referred to in Paragraph 3 of Section (c), or (5) whether the assets subject to any Business Combination or the consideration received for the issuance or transfer of securities by the Corporation or any Subsidiary constitutes not less than five percent of the total assets of the Corporation.
(e) Nothing contained in this Article EIGHTH shall be construed to relieve any Interested Stockholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
(f) Notwithstanding anything contained in this Certificate of Incorporation to the contrary, the affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66-23rds percent of the combined voting power of all shares of the Corporation entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class, shall be required to alter, change, amend, repeal or adopt any provision inconsistent with, this Article EIGHTH.
NINTH. This Corporation reserves the right to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation, in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by statute, and all rights conferred on stockholders herein are granted subject to this reservation.
TENTH. A Director of the Corporation shall not be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a Director, except fro liability (1) for any breach of the Director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (2) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (3) under Section 174 of the General Corporation Law of Delaware, or (4) for any transaction from which the Director derived any improper personal benefit. If the General Corporation Law of Delaware is hereafter amended to authorize, with the approval of a corporation’s stockholders, further reductions in the liability of a corporation’s directors for breach of fiduciary duty, then a Director of the Corporation shall not be liable for any such breach to the fullest extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of Delaware as so
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amended. Any repeal or modification of the foregoing provisions of this Article TENTH by the stockholders of the Corporation shall not adversely affect any right or protection of a Director of the Corporation existing at the time of such repeal or modification.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused this Restated Certificate of Incorporation to be duly executed in its corporate name by its duly authorized officer.
Dated: May 19, 2008
E*TRADE FINANCIAL CORPORATION | |||
By: | /s/ Russell S. Elmer | ||
Russell S. Elmer | |||
Corporate Secretary |
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