Exhibit 3.a
RESTATED ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION OF
POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
ARTICLE I
NAME
The name of the corporation is Polaris Industries Inc. (hereinafter the “Corporation”).
ARTICLE II
REGISTERED OFFICE
The registered office of the Corporation is located at 100 South Fifth Street, Suite 1075, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402
ARTICLE III
INCORPORATOR
The name and address of the incorporator are:
Name | Mailing Address | |||
Andris A. Baltins | 5500 Norwest Center | |||
90 South Seventh Street | ||||
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55402 |
ARTICLE IV
CAPITAL
The aggregate number of shares of stock the Corporation is authorized to issue is one hundred eighty million (180,000,000), consisting of twenty million (20,000,000) shares of preferred stock, par value of $.01 per share (the “Preferred Stock”) and one hundred sixty million (160,000,000) shares of common stock, par value of $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”).
All shares of Common Stock shall be voting shares and shall be entitled to one vote per share. Holders of Common Stock shall not be entitled to cumulate their votes in the election of directors and shall not be entitled to any preemptive rights to acquire shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation. Subject to any preferential rights of holders of Preferred Stock, holders of Common Stock shall be
entitled to receive their pro rata shares, based upon the number of shares of Common Stock held by them, of such dividends or other distributions as may be declared by the Board of Directors from time to time and of any distribution of the assets of the Corporation upon its liquidation, dissolution or winding up, whether voluntary or involuntary.
The Board of Directors of the Corporation is hereby authorized to provide, by resolutions adapted by such board for the issuance of Preferred Stock from time to time in one or more classes and/or series, to establish the designation and number of shares of each such class or series, and to fix the relative rights and preferences of the shares of each such class or series, and to the full extent permitted by Minnesota Statutes, Section 302A.401, or any successor provision. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Board of Directors is authorized to provide that shares of a class or series of Preferred Stock are:
(1) entitled to cumulative, partially cumulative or noncumulative dividends or other distributions payable in cash, capital stock or indebtedness of the Corporation or other property, at such times and in such amounts as are set forth in the board resolutions establishing such class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
(2) entitled to a preference with respect to payments of dividends over one or more other classes and/or series of capital stock of the Corporation;
(3) entitled to a preference with respect to any distribution of assets of the Corporation upon its liquidation, dissolution or winding up over one or more other classes and/or series of capital stock of the Corporation in such amount as is set forth in the board resolutions establishing such class or series or as is determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
(4) redeemable or exchangeable at the option of the Corporation and/or on a mandatory basis for cash, capital stock or indebtedness of the Corporation or other property, at such times or upon the occurrence of such events, and at such prices, as are set forth in the board resolutions establishing such class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
(5) entitled to the benefits of such sinking fund, if any, as is required to be established by the Corporation for the redemption and/or purchase of such shares by the board resolutions establishing such class or series;
(6) convertible at the option of the holders thereof into shares of any other class or series of capital stock of the Corporation, at such times or upon the occurrence of such events, and upon such terms, as are set forth in the board resolutions establishing such class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
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(7) exchangeable at the option of the holders thereof for cash, capital stock or indebtedness of the Corporation or other property, at such times or upon the occurrence of such events, and at such prices, as are set forth in the board resolutions establishing such class or series or as are determined in a manner specified in such resolutions;
(8) entitled to such voting rights, if any, as are specified in the board resolutions establishing such class or series (including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the right to elect one or more directors voting alone as a single class or series or together with one or more other classes and/or series of Preferred Stock, if so specified by such board resolutions) at all times or upon the occurrence of specified events; and
(9) subject to restrictions on the issuance of additional shares of Preferred Stock of such class or series or of any other class or series, or on the reissuance of share of Preferred Stock of such class or series or of any other class or series, or on increases or decreases in the number of authorized shares of Preferred Stock of such class or series or of any other class or series.
Without limiting the generality of the foregoing authorizations, any of the rights and preferences of a class or series of Preferred Stock may be made dependent upon facts ascertainable outside the board resolutions establishing such class or series, and may incorporate by reference some or all of the terms of any agreements, contracts or other arrangements entered into by the Corporation in connection with the issuance of such class or series, all to the full extent permitted by Minnesota Statutes. Unless otherwise specified in the board resolutions establishing a class or series of Preferred Stock, holders of a class or series of Preferred Stock shall not be entitled to cumulate their votes in any election of directors in which they are entitled to vote and shall not be entitled to any preemptive rights to acquire shares of any class or series of capital stock of the Corporation
ARTICLE V
CLASSES AND SERIES
In addition to, and not by way of limitation of, the powers granted to the Board of Directors by Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 302A, the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall have the power and authority to fix by resolution any designation, class, series, voting power, preference, right, qualification, limitation, restriction, dividend, time and price of redemption, and conversion right with respect to any stock of the Corporation.
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ARTICLE VI
WRITTEN ACTION WITHOUT MEETING
Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting by written action signed by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, except as to those matters which require shareholder approval, in which case the written action shall be signed by all members of the Board of Directors then in office.
ARTICLE VII
CUMULATIVE VOTING DENIED
No holder of stock of the Corporation shall be entitled to any cumulative voting rights.
ARTICLE VIII
PRE-EMPTIVE RIGHTS DENIED
No holder of stock of the Corporation shall have any preferential, pre-emptive, or other rights of subscription to any shares of any class or series of stock of the Corporation allotted or sold or to be allotted or sold and now or hereafter authorized, or to any obligations or securities convertible into any class or series of stock of the Corporation, nor any right of subscription to any part thereof.
ARTICLES IX
ISSUANCE OF SHARES TO HOLDERS OF ANOTHER CLASS OR SERIES
Shares of any class or series of the Corporation, including shares of any class or series which are then outstanding, may be issued to the holders of shares of another class or series of the Corporation, whether or effect a share dividend or split, including a reverse share split, or otherwise, without the authorization, approval or vote of the holders of shares of any class or series of the Corporation.
ARTICLE X
CLASSIFICATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
The business and affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of a Board of Directors. Unless and until the Corporation shall have more than one shareholder, the Board of Directors shall consist of one person. Thereafter, the Board of Directors shall consist of not less than three nor more than fifteen persons, who need not be shareholders. The number of directors may be increased by the shareholders or Board of Directors or decreased by the shareholders from the number
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of directors on the Board of Directors immediately prior to the effective date of this Article X, provided, however, that any change in the number of directors on the Board of Directors (including, without limitation, changes at annual meetings of shareholders) shall be approved by the affirmative vote of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares entitled to vote, entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding voting shares, voting together as a single class, unless such change shall have been approved by a majority of the entire Board of Directors. If such change shall not have been so approved, the number of directors shall remain the same. In the event that the Board of Directors shall consist of three or more persons, the directors shall be divided into three classes, designated Class I, Class II and III. Each class shall consist, as nearly as may be possible, of one-third number of directors constituting the entire Board of Directors.
The term of the initial Class I directors shall terminate on the date of the 1995 annual meeting of shareholders; the term of the initial Class II directors shall terminate on the date of the 1996 annual meeting of shareholders; and the term of the initial Class III directors shall terminate on the date of the 1997 annual meeting of shareholders. At each succeeding annual meeting of shareholders beginning in 1995, successors to the class of directors whose term expires at that annual meeting shall be elected for a three-year term. If the number of directors is changed, any increase or decrease shall be apportioned among the classes so as to maintain the number of directors in each class as nearly equal as possible, and any additional director of any class elected to fill a vacancy resulting from an increase in such class shall hold office for a term that shall coincide with the remaining term of that class. In no case will a decrease in the number of directors shorten the term of any incumbent director. A director shall hold office until the annual meeting of the year in which the director’s term expires and until a successor shall be elected and qualify, subject, however, to prior death, resignation, retirement, disqualification or removal from office. Removal of a director from office (including a director named by the Board of Directors to fill a vacancy or newly created directorship), with or without cause, shall require the affirmative vote of not less than seventy five percent (75%) of the voting power of all outstanding shares entitled to vote, voting together as a single class. Any vacancy on the Board of Directors that results from an increase in the number of directors shall be filled by a majority of the Board of Directors then in office, and any other vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors shall be filled by a majority of the directors then in office, although less than a quorum, or by a sole remaining director. Any director elected to fill a vacancy not resulting from an increase in the number of directors shall have the same remaining term as that of such director’s predecessor.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, whenever the holders of any one or more classes of preferred or preference stock issued by the Corporation shall have the right, voting separately by class or series, to elect directors at an annual or special meeting of shareholders, the election, term of office, filling vacancies and other features of such directorship shall be governed by or pursuant to the applicable term of the certificate of designation of other instrument creating such class or series of preferred stock, and such directors so elected shall not be divided into classes pursuant to this Article X unless expressly provided by such term.
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Notwithstanding any other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage or separate class vote may be specified by law or these Articles of Incorporation), the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the voting power of all shares entitled to vote, voting together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with, this Article X.
ARTICLE XI
LIMITATION ON LIABILITY OF DIRECTORS
No director of the Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its shareholders for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director, provided that this Article XI shall not eliminate or limit the liability of a director to the extent provided by applicable law (i) for any breach of the director’s duty of loyalty to the Corporation or its shareholders, (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of law, (iii) under Sections 302A.559 or 80A.23, Minnesota Statutes, (iv) for any transaction from which the director derived an improper personal benefit, or (v) for any act or omission occurring prior to the effective date of this Article XI. No amendment to or repeal of this Article XI 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. If the Minnesota Business Corporation Act is hereafter amended to authorize any further limitations of the liability of a director, then the liability of a director of the Corporation shall be eliminated or limited to the fullest extent permitted by the Minnesota Business Corporations Act, as amended.
[Certificate of Designation of Preferred Stock Follows]
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CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATIONS, PREFERENCES AND RIGHTS
of
SERIES A JUNIOR PARTICIPATING PREFERRED STOCK ($.01 Par Value)
of
POLARIS INDUSTRIES INC.
(Pursuant to Section 302A.401 of the
Minnesota Business Corporation Act)
The undersigned, Michael W. Malone, Secretary of Polaris Industries Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the business corporation act of the State of Minnesota (hereinafter called the “Corporation”), hereby certifies that:
(i) the following resolutions establishing a series of junior participating preferred stock pursuant to Chapter 302A of the Minnesota Statutes were adopted by the Board of Directors of the Corporation at a meeting duly called and held on May 18, 2000:
RESOLVED, that pursuant to the authority granted to and vested in the Board of Directors of this Corporation (hereinafter called the “Board of Directors” or the “Board”) in accordance with the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation, the Board of Directors hereby creates a series of Preferred Stock, $.01 par value (the “Preferred Stock”), of the Corporation and hereby states the designation and number of shares, and fixes the relative rights, preferences, and limitations thereof as follows:
Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock:
Section 1. Designation and Amount. The shares of such series shall be designated as “Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock” (the “Series A Preferred Stock”) and the number of shares constituting the Series A Preferred Stock shall be 1,000,000. 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 Preferred Stock to a number less than the number of shares then outstanding plus the number of shares reserved for issuance upon the exercise of outstanding options, rights or warrants or upon the conversion of any outstanding securities issued by the Corporation convertible into Series A Preferred Stock.
Section 2. Dividends and Distributions.
(A) Subject to the rights of the holders of any shares of any series of Preferred Stock (or any similar stock) ranking prior and superior to the Series A Preferred Stock with respect to dividends, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock, in
preference to the holders of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Corporation, and of any other junior stock, shall be entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available for the purpose, quarterly dividends payable in cash on the first day of January, March, June and September 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 Preferred Stock, in an amount per share (rounded to the nearest cent) equal to the greater of (a) $1 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), declared on the Common Stock since the immediately preceding Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or, with respect to the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, since the first issuance of any share or fraction of a share of Series A Preferred Stock. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) into a greater or lesser number of shares of Common Stock, then in each such case the amount to which holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event under clause (b) of the preceding sentence shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) The Corporation shall declare a dividend or distribution on the Series A Preferred Stock as provided in paragraph (A) of this Section immediately after it declares a dividend or distribution on the Common Stock (other than a dividend payable in shares of Common Stock); provided that, in the event no dividend or distribution shall have been declared on the Common Stock during the period between any Quarterly Dividend Payment Date and the next subsequent Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, a dividend of $1 per share on the Series A 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 A Preferred Stock from the Quarterly Dividend Payment Date next preceding the date of issue of such shares, unless the date of issue of such shares is prior to the record date for the first Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in which case dividends on such shares shall begin to accrue from the date of issue of such shares, or unless the date of issue is a Quarterly Dividend Payment Date or is a date after the record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive a quarterly dividend and before such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date, in either of which events such dividends shall begin to accrue and be cumulative from such Quarterly Dividend Payment Date. Accrued by unpaid dividends shall not bear interest.
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Dividends paid on the shares of Series A Preferred Stock in an amount less than the total amount of such dividends at the time accrued and payable on such shares shall be allocated pro rata on a share-by-share basis among all such shares at the time outstanding. The Board of Directors may fix a record date for the determination of holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock entitled to receive payment of a dividend or distribution declared thereon, which record date shall be not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for the payment thereof.
Section 3. Voting Rights. The holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall have the following voting rights:
(A) Subject to the provision for adjustment hereinafter set forth, each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall entitle the holder thereof to 100 votes on all matters submitted to a vote of the stockholders of the Corporation. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) 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 A Preferred Stock were entitled immediately prior to such event shall be adjusted by multiplying such number by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
(B) Except as otherwise provided herein, in any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock, or by law, the holders of shares of Series A Preferred Stock and the holders of shares of Common Stock and any other capital stock of the Corporation having general voting rights shall vote together as one class on all matters submitted to a vote of stockholders of the Corporation.
(C) Except as set forth herein, or as otherwise provided by law, holders of Series A Preferred Stock shall have no special voting rights and their consent shall not be required (except to the extent they are entitled to vote with holders of Common Stock as set forth herein) for taking any corporate action.
Section 4. Certain Restrictions.
(A) Whenever quarterly dividends or other dividends or distributions payable on the Series A 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 Preferred Stock outstanding shall have been paid in full, the Corporation shall not:
(i) | declare or pay dividends, 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 A Preferred Stock; |
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(ii) | declare or pay dividends, or make any other distributions, on any shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except dividends paid ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such parity stock on which dividends are payable or in arrears in proportion to the total amounts to which the holders of all such shares are then entitled; |
(iii) | redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration shares of any stock ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) to the Series A 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 any stock of the Corporation ranking junior (either as to dividends or upon dissolution, liquidation or winding up) to the Series A Preferred Stock; or |
(iv) | redeem or purchase or otherwise acquire for consideration any shares of Series A Preferred Stock, or any shares of stock ranking on a parity with the Series A Preferred Stock, except in accordance with a purchase offer made in writing or by publication (as determined by the Board of Directors) to all holders of such shares upon such terms as the Board of Directors, after consideration of the respective annual dividend rates and other relative rights and preferences of the respective series and classes, shall determine in good faith will result in fair and equitable treatment among the respective series or classes. |
(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 Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation shall become authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of Preferred Stock subject to the conditions and restrictions on issuance set forth herein, in the Articles of Incorporation, or in any other Certificate of Designations creating a series of Preferred Stock or any similar stock or as otherwise required by law.
Section 6. Liquidation. Dissolution or 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 A Preferred Stock unless, prior thereto, the holders of shares of Series
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A Preferred Stock shall have received $100 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 A Preferred Stock shall be entitled to receive an aggregate 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 shares of Common Stock, or (2) to the holders of shares of stock ranking on a parity (either as to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up) with the Series A Preferred Stock, except distributions made, ratably on the Series A Preferred Stock and all such 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. In the event the Corporation shall at any time declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) 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 A 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.
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 each share of Series A Preferred Stock shall at the same time be similarity exchanged or changed into 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 declare or pay any dividend on the Common Stock payable in shares of Common Stock, or effect a subdivision or combination or consolidation of the outstanding shares of Common Stock (by reclassification or otherwise than by payment of a dividend in shares of Common Stock) 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 A Preferred Stock shall be adjusted by multiplying such amount by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding immediately after such event and the denominator of which is the number of shares of Common Stock that were outstanding immediately prior to such event.
Section 8. No Redemption. The shares of Series A Preferred Stock shall not be redeemable.
Section 9. Rank. The Series A Preferred Stock shall rank, with respect to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets, junior to all series of any other class of the Corporation’s Preferred Stock.
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Section 10. Amendment. If any shares of the Series A Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Articles of Incorporation 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 Preferred Stock so as to affect them adversely without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the outstanding shares of Series A Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class.
(ii) That these resolutions have been adopted in accordance with the requirements of, and pursuant to, Chapter 302A of the Minnesota Statutes and shall be effective when filed with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designations is executed on behalf of the Corporation by its Secretary this 18th day of May, 2000.
/s/ Michael W. Malone |
Michael W. Malone |
Secretary |
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