AMENDED AND RESTATED
CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION
OF
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
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Pursuant to Sections 242 and 245 of the Delaware General Corporation Law
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United States Steel Corporation (the “Corporation”), a corporation organized and existing under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware (the “DGCL”) does hereby certify as follows:
1)The name of the Corporation is United States Steel Corporation. The Corporation was originally formed as a Delaware limited liability company under the name "United States Steel LLC" on May 25, 2001 and converted to a Delaware corporation, pursuant to Section 265 of the Delaware General Corporation Law and Section 18-216 of the Delaware Limited Liability Company Act, on December 31, 2001 under the name United States Steel Corporation.
2)This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation was duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (the “Board of Directors”) and by the stockholders of the Corporation in accordance with Sections 242 and 245 of the DGCL.
3)This Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation restates and integrates and further amends the certificate of incorporation of the Corporation, as heretofore amended or supplemented.
4)The text of the Certificate of Incorporation is Amended and Restated in its entirety as follows:
FIRST: The name of the Corporation (which is hereinafter referred to as the "Corporation") is UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION.
SECOND: The Corporation’s registered office in the State of Delaware is located at 2711 Centerville Road, Suite 400, in the City of Wilmington, in the County of New Castle, Delaware 19808. The name of the registered agent at such address upon whom process against the Corporation may be served is Corporation Service Company.
THIRD: The purposes of the Corporation are to engage in any lawful act or activity for which corporations may be organized under the General Corporation Law of Delaware, and without limiting the foregoing to engage in integrated steel operations and to develop, mine, produce, manufacture, construct, transport, buy, hold, sell and generally deal in products, materials, property, both tangible and intangible, and services of all kinds.
FOURTH: The total number of shares of capital stock which the Corporation shall have authority to issue is Four Hundred Forty Million (440,000,000), of which Four Hundred Million (400,000,000) shares shall be Common Stock having a par value of one dollar ($1.00) per share and Forty Million (40,000,000) shares shall be shares of Preferred Stock, without par value (hereinafter called "Preferred Stock").
A statement of the designations of the Preferred Stock or of any series thereof, and the powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, or of the authority of the Board of Directors to fix by resolution or resolutions such designations and other terms not fixed by the Certificate of Incorporation, is as follows:
The Preferred Stock may be issued in one or more series, from time to time, with each such series to have such designation, powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, as shall be stated and expressed in the resolution or resolutions providing for the issue of such series adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation, subject to the limitations prescribed by law and in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Board of Directors being hereby expressly vested with authority to adopt any such resolution or resolutions. The authority of the Board of Directors with respect to each such series shall include, but not be limited to, the determination or fixing of the following:
The distinctive designation and number of shares comprising such series, which number may (except where otherwise provided by the Board of Directors in creating such series) be increased or decreased (but not below the number of shares then outstanding) from time to time by like action of the Board of Directors;
The dividend rate of such series, the conditions and times upon which such dividends shall be payable, the relation which such dividends shall bear to the dividends payable on any other class or classes of stock or series thereof, or any other series of the same class, and whether dividends shall be cumulative or non-cumulative;
The conditions upon which the shares of such series shall be subject to redemption by the Corporation and the times, prices and other terms and provisions upon which the shares of the series may be redeemed;
Whether or not the shares of the series shall be subject to the operation of a retirement or sinking fund to be applied to the purchase or redemption of such shares and, if such retirement or sinking fund be established, the annual amount thereof and the terms and provisions relative to the operation thereof;
Whether or not the shares of the series shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of any other class or classes, with or without par value, or of any other series of the same class, and, if provision is made for conversion or exchange, the times, prices, rates, adjustments, and other terms and conditions of such conversion or exchange;
Whether or not the shares of the series shall have voting rights, in addition to the voting rights provided by law, and, if so, subject to the limitation hereinafter set forth, the terms of such voting rights;
The rights of the shares of the series in the event of voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, or upon the distribution of assets of the Corporation;
Any other powers, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions thereof, of the shares of such series, as the Board of Directors may deem advisable and as shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Certificate of Incorporation.
The holders of shares of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of funds legally available for the payment of dividends, dividends at the rates fixed by the Board of Directors for such series, and no more, before any dividends, other than dividends payable in Common Stock, shall be declared and paid, or set apart for payment, on the Common Stock with respect to the same dividend period.
Whenever, at any time, dividends on the then outstanding Preferred Stock as may be required with respect to any series outstanding shall have been paid or declared and set apart for payment on the then outstanding Preferred Stock, and after complying with respect to any retirement or sinking fund or funds for any series of Preferred Stock, the Board of Directors may, subject to the provisions of the resolution or resolutions creating any series of Preferred Stock, declare and pay dividends on the Common Stock, and the holders of shares of the Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to share therein.
The holders of shares of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be entitled upon liquidation or dissolution or upon the distribution of the assets of the Corporation to such preferences as provided in the resolution or resolutions creating such series of Preferred Stock, and no more, before any distribution of the assets of the Corporation shall be made to the holders of shares of the Common Stock.
Except as otherwise provided by a resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors creating any series of Preferred Stock or by the General Corporation Law of Delaware, the holders of shares of the Common Stock issued and outstanding shall have and possess the exclusive right to notice of stockholders' meetings and the exclusive power to vote. The holders of shares of the Preferred Stock issued and outstanding shall, in no event, be entitled to more than one vote for each share of Preferred Stock held by them unless otherwise required by law.
Pursuant to the authority conferred by this Article Fourth, Series A Junior Preferred Stock has been designated, consisting of such number of shares, with such voting powers and with such designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and qualifications, limitations or restrictions as are stated and expressed in Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference:
FIFTH: The existence of the Corporation is to be perpetual.
SIXTH: The private property of the stockholders shall not be subject to the payment of corporate debts to any extent whatever.
SEVENTH: The number of directors of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by, or in the manner provided in, its by-laws and may be increased or decreased as therein provided; but the number thereof shall not be less than three.
In the case of any vacancy in the Board of Directors from any cause other than an increase in the number of directors, a successor to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the director whose place became vacant shall be elected by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, though less than a quorum.
EIGHTH: The Board of Directors shall have power to adopt, amend and repeal the by-laws at any regular or special meeting of the Board of Directors, provided that notice of intention to adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws in whole or in part shall have been included in the notice of meeting; or, without any such notice, by a vote of two-thirds of the directors then in office.
Stockholders may adopt, amend and repeal the by-laws at any regular or special meeting of the stockholders by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, provided that notice of intention to adopt, amend or repeal the by-laws in whole or in part shall have been included in the notice of the meeting.
Any action required to be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders of the Corporation, or any action which may be taken at any annual or special meeting of the stockholders or otherwise, may not be taken without a meeting, prior notice and a vote, and stockholders may not act by written consent.
NINTH: The Board of Directors from time to time shall determine whether and to what extent, and at what times and places, and under what conditions and regulations, the accounts and books of the Corporation, or any of them, shall be open to the inspection of the stockholders, and no stockholder shall have any right to inspect any account or book or document of the Corporation, except as conferred by law or authorized by the Board of Directors, or by the stockholders.
TENTH: The directors may from time to time declare such dividends as they shall deem advisable and proper, subject to the provisions of Article Fourth and to such restrictions as may be imposed by law, and pay the same to the stockholders at such times as they shall fix.
The Board of Directors shall have power to issue bonds, debentures, or other obligations, either non-convertible or convertible into the Corporation's stock, subject to the provisions of Article Fourth and upon such terms, in such manner and under such conditions in conformity with law, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors prior to the issue of such bonds, debentures or other obligations.
ELEVENTH: No director shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders for monetary damages for any breach of fiduciary duty by such director as a director, except (i) for breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its stockholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or which involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, pursuant to Section 174 of the Delaware General Corporation Law, or (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit. No amendment to or repeal of this Article Eleventh shall apply to or have any effect on the liability or alleged liability of any director of the Corporation for or with respect to any acts or omissions of such director occurring prior to such amendment or repeal.
TWELFTH: The powers and authorities hereinbefore conferred upon the Board of Directors are in furtherance and not in limitation of those conferred by the laws of the State of Delaware.
THIRTEENTH: The Corporation reserves the right at any time and from time to time to amend, alter, change or repeal any provision contained in this Certificate of Incorporation in the manner now or hereafter prescribed by law, and all rights, preferences and privileges of whatsoever nature conferred upon stockholders, directors or any other persons whomsoever by and pursuant to this Certificate of Incorporation in its present form or as hereafter amended are granted subject to the rights reserved in this Article
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation has been executed by its duly authorized officer this 25th day of April, 2017.
UNITED STATES STEEL CORPORATION
By: /s/ Arden T. Phillips
Name: Arden T. Phillips
Title: Secretary
EXHIBIT A
SERIES A JUNIOR PREFERRED STOCK
Section 1. Designation and Amount.
The shares of this series shall be designated as "Series A Junior Preferred Stock" and the number of shares constituting such series shall be 2,000,000.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
| a) | 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 Junior Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Junior 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 in cash on the first day of March, June, September and December in each year (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 Junior Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $5.00 or (b) subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the aggregate per share amount of all cash dividends, and 100 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), to be or being declared on the Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Corporation (the "Common Stock") with respect to the same dividend period. If the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date is a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday then such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date shall be the first immediately preceding calendar day which is not a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after December 31, 2001 (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 Junior 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. |
| b) | The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Junior Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (a) above immediately prior to the time 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 be declared on the Common Stock with respect to a particular dividend period, a dividend of $5.00 per share on the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall nevertheless be payable on such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date with respect to such quarterly period.
| c) | Dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative on outstanding shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares of Series A Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior 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 Junior 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. Dividends in arrears may be declared and paid at any time, without reference to any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, to holders of record on such date, not exceeding 45 days preceding the payment date thereof, as may be fixed by the Board of Directors. |
| d) | Except as hereinafter provided, no dividends shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock for any period if the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of any dividends (including cumulative dividends, if applicable) on any shares of Preferred Stock ranking, as to dividends, prior to the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, unless the same shall be contemporaneously declared and paid. |
| e) | Dividends payable on the Series A Junior Preferred Stock for the initial dividend period and, for any period less than a full quarterly period, shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of 30-day months. |
Section 3. Voting Rights.
The holders of shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
| a) | Each share of Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. The holders of Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to notice of all meetings of the stockholders of the Corporation. |
| b) | Except as otherwise provided herein or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Junior 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. |
| c) | If, on the date used to determine stockholders of record for any meeting of stockholders for the election of directors, a default in preference dividends on the Preferred Stock shall exist, the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be increased by two, and the |
holders of the Preferred Stock of all series (whether or not the holders of such series of Preferred Stock would be entitled to vote for the election of directors if such default in preference dividends did not exist), shall have the right at such meeting, voting together as a single class without regard to series, to the exclusion of the holders of Common Stock, to elect two directors of the Corporation to fill such newly created directorships. Each director elected by the holders of shares of Preferred Stock (herein called a "Preferred Director"), shall continue to serve as such director for the full term for which he shall have been elected, notwithstanding that prior to the end of such term a default in preference dividends shall cease to exist. Any Preferred Director may be removed by, and shall not be removed except by, the vote of the holders of record of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class without regard to series, at a meeting of the stockholders, or of the holders of shares of Preferred Stock, called for the purpose. So long as a default in any preference dividends on the Preferred Stock shall exist (i) any vacancy in the office of a Preferred Director may be filled except as provided in the following clause (ii) by an instrument in writing signed by the remaining Preferred Director and filed with the Corporation and (iii) in the case of the removal of any Preferred Director, the vacancy may be filled by the vote of the holders of the outstanding shares of Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class without regard to series, at the same meeting at which such removal shall be voted. Each director appointed as aforesaid by the remaining Preferred Director shall be deemed, for all purposes hereof, to be a Preferred Director. Whenever the term of office of the Preferred Directors shall end and no default in preference dividends shall exist, the number of directors constituting the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be reduced by two. For the purposes of this paragraph (c), a "default in preference dividends" on the Preferred Stock shall be deemed to have occurred whenever the amount of accrued and unpaid dividends upon any series of the Preferred Stock shall be equivalent to six full quarterly dividends or more, and, having so occurred, such default shall be deemed to exist thereafter until, but only until all accrued dividends on all shares of Preferred Stock of each and every series then outstanding shall have been paid through the last Quarterly Dividend Payment Date.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
| a) | Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A Junior Preferred Stock as provided in Section 2 are in arrears, thereafter and until all accrued and unpaid dividends and distributions, whether or not declared, on shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not: |
| (i) | declare or pay dividends on, or make any other distributions on (other than a dividend in Common Stock or in any other stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Junior Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up and other than as provided in subparagraph (ii) of this section), or redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration (except by conversion into or exchange for stock of the Corporation ranking junior to the Series A Junior Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up), any shares of stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A Junior 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 A Junior Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Junior Preferred Stock and all stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Junior Preferred Stock as to dividends 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 |
Junior 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 (as to dividends and upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Junior Preferred Stock;
| (iv) | purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Junior 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. |
| b) | 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 (a) of this Section 4, purchase or otherwise acquire such shares at such time and in such manner. |
Section 5. Reacquired Shares.
Any shares of Series A Junior 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.
Section 6. Liquidation, Dissolution or Winding Up.
| a) | In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, the holders of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive the greater of (a) $100 per share, plus accrued dividends to the date of distribution, whether or not earned or declared, or (b) an amount per share, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, equal to 100 times the aggregate amount to be distributed per share to holders of Common Stock (the "Series A Liquidation Preference"). 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 to which holders of shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event pursuant to 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. |
| b) | 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, which rank on a parity with the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, then such remaining assets shall |
be distributed ratably to the holders of such parity shares in proportion to their respective liquidation preferences.
Section 7. 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 Junior 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 100 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 Junior 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.
Section 8. Optional Redemption.
| a) | The Corporation shall have the option to redeem the whole or any part of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock at any time on at least 30 days notice in accordance with the provisions of paragraph (b) of this Section 8 at a redemption price equal to, subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, 100 times the "current per share market price" of the Common Stock on the date of the mailing of the notice of redemption, together with unpaid accumulated dividends to the date of such redemption. In the event the Corporation shall at any time after December 31, 2001 (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 Junior Preferred Stock were otherwise 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. The "current per share market price" on any date shall be deemed to be the average of the closing price per share of such Common Stock for the 10 consecutive Trading Days (as such term is hereinafter defined) immediately prior to such date. The closing price for each day shall be the last sale price, regular way, or, in case no such sale takes place on such day, the average of the closing bid and asked prices regular way, in either case as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on the New York Stock Exchange, as reported in the principal consolidated transaction reporting system with respect to securities listed or admitted to trading on the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, the last quoted price or, if not so quoted the average of the high bid and low asked prices in the over-the-counter market, as reported by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Automated Quotations System ("NASDAQ") or |
such other system then in use or, if on any such date the Common Stock is not quoted by any such organization, the average of the closing bid and asked prices as furnished by a professional market maker making a market in the Common Stock selected by the Corporation. If on such date no such market maker is making a market in the Common Stock, the fair value of the Common Stock on such date as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall be used. The term "Trading Day" shall mean a day on which the principal national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed or admitted to trading is open for the transaction of business or, if the Common Stock is not listed or admitted to trading on any national securities exchange, a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday on which banking institutions in the State of New York are not authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
| b) | Whenever shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the Corporation shall mail a notice ("Notice of Redemption") by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to each holder of record of shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock to be redeemed and to the transfer agent for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock. The Notice of Redemption shall be addressed to the holder at the address of the holder appearing on the stock transfer books of the Corporation maintained by the transfer agent for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock. The Notice of Redemption shall include a statement of (i) the redemption date, (ii) the redemption price, (iii) the number of shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock to be redeemed, (iv) the place or places where shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock are to be surrendered for payment of the redemption price, (v) that the dividends on the shares to be redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date, and (vi) the provision under which redemption is made. No defect in the Notice of Redemption or in the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the redemption proceedings, except as required by law. From the date on which a Notice of Redemption shall have been given as aforesaid and the Corporation shall have deposited with the transfer agent for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock a sum sufficient to redeem the shares of Series A Junior Preferred Stock as to which Notice of Redemption has been given, with irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the redemption price to the holders thereof, or if no such deposit is made, then upon such date fixed for redemption (unless the Corporation shall default in making payment of the redemption price), all rights of the holders thereof as stockholders of the Corporation by reason of the ownership of such shares (except their right to receive the redemption price thereof, but without interest), shall terminate, including, but not limited to, their right to receive dividends, and such shares shall no longer be deemed outstanding. The Corporation shall be entitled to receive, from time to time, from the transfer agent for Series A Junior Preferred Stock the interest, if any, on such monies deposited with it and, the holders of any shares so redeemed shall have no claim to any such interest. In case the holder of any shares so called for redemption shall not claim the redemption price for his shares within one year after the date of redemption, the transfer agent for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall, upon demand, pay over to the Corporation such amount remaining on deposit and the transfer agent for the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall thereupon be relieved of all responsibility to the holders of such shares and such holder of the shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock so called for redemption shall look only to the Corporation for the payment thereof. |
| c) | In the event that fewer than all the outstanding shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock are to be redeemed, the number of shares to be redeemed shall be determined by the Board of Directors and the shares to be redeemed shall be determined by lot or pro rata as may be determined by the Board of Directors or by any other method as may be determined by the Board of Directors in its sole discretion to be equitable. |
| d) | If the Corporation shall be in default in the payment of any dividends (including cumulative dividends, if applicable) on any shares of Preferred Stock ranking, as to dividends, prior to the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, then no shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall be redeemed and the Corporation shall not purchase or otherwise acquire any shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock. |
Section 9. Ranking.
| a) | The Series A Junior 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 upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, unless the terms of any such series shall provide otherwise. |
| b) | For purposes hereof, any stock of any class or classes of the Corporation shall be deemed to rank: |
| (i) | prior to the shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up, if the holders of such class or classes shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock. Each holder of any share of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, by his acceptance thereof, expressly covenants and agrees that the rights of the holders of any shares of any other series of Preferred Stock of the Corporation to receive dividends or amounts distributable upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, shall be and hereby are expressly prior to his rights unless in the case of any particular series of Preferred Stock the certificate or other instrument creating or evidencing the same expressly provides that the rights of the holders of such series shall not be prior to the shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock; and |
| (ii) | on a parity with shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, whether or not the dividend rates, dividend payment dates or redemption or liquidation prices per share or sinking fund provisions, if any, be different from those of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, if the holders of such stock shall be entitled to the receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, as the case may be, in proportion to their respective dividend rates or liquidation prices, without preference or priority, one over the other, as between the holders of such stock and the holders of shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock; and junior to shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, either as to dividends or upon liquidation, if such class or classes shall be Common Stock or if the holders of shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receipt of dividends or of amounts distributable upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up of the Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, as the case may be, in preference or priority to the holders of shares of such class or classes. |
Section 10. Amendment.
Except as otherwise set forth in this Certificate of Incorporation, Preferences and Rights with respect to the Series A Junior Preferred Stock, holders of Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall not have any special powers and their consent shall not be required for taking any corporate action, provided, however, that:
| (1) | Unless the vote or consent of the holders of a greater number of shares shall then be required by law, the consent of the holders of at least 66- 2/3% of all of the shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or by a vote at a meeting called for the purpose at which the holders of shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock shall vote together as a separate class, shall be necessary for authorizing, effecting or validating the amendment, alteration or repeal of any of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or of any certificate amendatory thereof or supplemental thereto (including any Certificate of Designation, Preferences and Rights or any similar document relating to any series of Preferred Stock) so as to affect adversely the powers, preferences, or rights, of this Series A Junior Preferred Stock. The increase of the authorized amount of the Preferred Stock, or the creation, authorization or issuance of any shares of any other class of stock of the Corporation ranking prior to or on a parity with the shares of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation, or the reclassification of any authorized or outstanding stock of the Corporation into any such prior or parity shares, or the creation, authorization or issuance of any obligation or security convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any such prior or parity shares shall not be deemed to affect adversely the powers, preferences or rights of the Series A Junior Preferred Stock. |
Section 11. Fractional Shares.
Series A Junior 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 A Junior Preferred Stock.