EXHIBIT 3(a)
ALCOA INC.
ARTICLES
(As Amended May 2000)
FIRST. The name of the corporation is Alcoa Inc.
SECOND. The location and post office address of the corporation's current
registered office is 201 Isabella Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15212-5858
[this paragraph reflects the change in the registered office address made August
14, 1998 by the filing of a Statement of Change of Registered Office with the
Secretary of State of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania; the prior registered
office address was 1501 Alcoa Building, Mellon Square, Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania].
THIRD. The purpose or purposes of the corporation are: to acquire and
dispose of deposits of and rights to bauxite, clay, ores and minerals of any
sort or description, and to acquire, extract, treat and dispose of any materials
recovered or recoverable therefrom; to reduce ores of aluminum and any and all
other ores to their basic metals; to manufacture, alloy and fabricate any and
all metals into articles of commerce; to acquire, produce, transport, trade in
and dispose of goods, wares and merchandise of every class and description; to
purchase, lease, or otherwise acquire improved or unimproved real property,
leaseholds, easements and franchises, to manage, use, deal with and improve the
same or any part thereof, and to sell, exchange, lease, sublease, or otherwise
dispose of any of said property or the improvements thereon or any part thereof;
to acquire, use and dispose of all land, minerals, materials, apparatus,
machinery and other agencies, means and facilities, to perform all operations,
and to do all things, necessary, convenient or incident to the foregoing; and to
carry on any business directly or indirectly related thereto; and the
corporation shall have unlimited power to engage in and to do any lawful act
concerning any or all lawful business for which corporations may be incorporated
under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law.
FOURTH. The term for which the corporation is to exist is perpetual.
FIFTH. The authorized capital of the corporation shall be 660,000 shares
of Serial Preferred Stock of the par value of $100 per share, 10,000,000 shares
of Class B Serial Preferred Stock of the par value of $1.00 per share and
1,800,000,000 shares of Common Stock of the par value of $1.00 per share.
Hereinafter in this Article Fifth, the term "Preferred Stock" shall mean
each of the Serial Preferred Stock and the Class B Serial Preferred Stock.
A description of each class of shares which the corporation shall have
authority to issue and a statement of the rights, voting powers, preferences,
qualifications, limitations, restrictions and the special or relative rights
granted to or imposed upon the shares of each class and of the authority vested
in the Board of Directors of the corporation to establish series of the
Preferred Stock and to fix and determine the variations in the relative rights
and preferences as between the series thereof are as follows:
1. Establishment of Series of Preferred Stock. Preferred Stock shall be
issued in one or more series. Each series shall be designated by the Board of
Directors so as to distinguish the shares thereof from the shares of all other
series and classes. The Board of Directors may, by resolution, from time to time
divide shares of Preferred Stock into series and fix and determine the number of
shares and, subject to the provisions of this Article Fifth, the relative rights
and preferences of any series so established, provided that all shares of
Preferred Stock shall be identical except as to the following relative rights
and preferences, in respect of any or all of which there may be variations
between different series, namely: the rate of dividend (including the date from
which dividends shall be cumulative and, with respect to Class B Serial
Preferred Stock, whether such dividend rate shall be fixed or variable and the
methods, procedures and formulas for the recalculation or periodic resetting of
any variable dividend rate); the price at, and the terms and conditions on,
which shares may be redeemed; the amounts payable on shares in the event of
voluntary or involuntary liquidation; sinking fund provisions for the redemption
or purchase of shares in the event shares of any series are issued with sinking
fund provisions; and the terms and conditions on which the shares of any series
may be converted in the event the shares of any series are issued with the
privilege of conversion. Each share of any series of Preferred Stock shall be
identical with all other shares of such series, except as to date from which
dividends shall be cumulative.
2. Dividends.
---------
(a) The holders of Serial Preferred Stock of any series shall be entitled
to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of surplus or
net profits legally available therefor, cumulative dividends at the rate of
dividend fixed by the Board of Directors for such series as hereinbefore
provided, and no more, payable quarter yearly on the first days of January,
April, July and October in each year. The dividends on any shares of Serial
Preferred Stock shall be cumulative from such date as shall be fixed for that
purpose by the Board of Directors prior to the issue of such shares or, if no
such date shall be so fixed by the Board of Directors, from the quarter yearly
dividend payment date next preceding the date of issue of such shares.
(b) The holders of Class B Serial Preferred Stock of any series shall be
entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of Directors or any
authorized committee thereof, out of funds legally available therefor,
cumulative dividends at the rate of dividend fixed by the Board of Directors for
such series including any such rate which may be reset or recalculated from time
to time pursuant to procedures or formulas established therefor by the Board of
Directors, and no more; provided, however, that no dividend shall be declared or
paid on the Class B Serial Preferred Stock so long as any of the Serial
Preferred Stock remains outstanding, unless all quarter yearly dividends accrued
on the Serial Preferred Stock and the dividend thereon for the current quarter
yearly dividend period shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for
the payment thereof set apart. The dividends on any shares of Class B Serial
Preferred Stock shall be cumulative from such date as shall be fixed for that
purpose by the Board of Directors prior to the issue of such shares or, if no
such date shall be so fixed by the Board of Directors, from the dividend payment
date for such series next preceding the date of issue of such shares. If full
cumulative dividends on shares of a series of Class B Serial Preferred Stock
have not been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set
apart, dividends thereon shall be declared and paid pro rata to the holders of
such series entitled thereto. Accrued dividends shall not bear interest.
(c) The holders of Common Stock shall be entitled to receive dividends,
when and as declared by the Board of Directors, out of surplus or net profits
legally available therefor, provided, however, that no dividend shall be
declared or paid on the Common Stock so long as any of the Preferred Stock
remains outstanding, unless all dividends accrued on all classes of Preferred
Stock and the dividend on Serial Preferred Stock for the current quarter yearly
dividend period shall have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof set apart.
3. Liquidation. In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up
of the corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary, then before any payment or
distribution shall be made to the holders of Common Stock or Class B Serial
Preferred Stock the holders of Serial Preferred Stock shall be entitled to be
paid such amount as shall have been fixed by the Board of Directors as
hereinbefore provided, plus all dividends which have accrued on the Serial
Preferred Stock and have not been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the
payment thereof set apart. Thereafter, the holders of Class B Serial Preferred
Stock of each series shall be entitled to be paid such amount as shall have been
fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinbefore provided, plus all dividends
which have accrued on the Class B Serial Preferred Stock and have not been paid
or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart. Thereafter,
the remaining assets shall belong to and be divided among the holders of the
Common Stock. The consolidation or merger of the corporation with or into any
other corporation or corporations or share exchange or division involving the
corporation in pursuance of applicable statutes providing for the consolidation,
merger, share exchange or division shall not be deemed a liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the corporation within the meaning of any of the
provisions of this subdivision.
4. Voting Rights. The holders of Preferred Stock shall have no voting
rights except as otherwise required by law or hereinafter provided:
(a) If at any time the amount of any dividends on Preferred Stock
which have accrued and which have not been paid or declared and a sum sufficient
for the payment thereof set apart shall be at least equal to the amount of four
quarter yearly dividends, the holders of Preferred Stock shall have one vote per
share, provided, however, that such voting rights of the holders of Preferred
Stock shall continue only until all quarter yearly dividends accrued on the
Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment
thereof set apart.
(b) Without the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the
shares of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in person or by proxy,
either in writing or by vote at a meeting called for that purpose at which the
holders of Preferred Stock shall vote as a class,
(i) no additional class of stock ranking on a parity with
the Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets shall be authorized;
(ii) the authorized number of shares of Preferred Stock or of
any class of stock ranking on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends
or assets shall not be increased; and
(iii) the corporation shall not merge or consolidate with or
into any other corporation if the corporation surviving or resulting from such
merger or consolidation would have after such merger or consolidation any
authorized class of stock ranking senior to or on a parity with the Preferred
Stock except the same number of shares of stock with the same rights and
preferences as the authorized stock of the corporation immediately preceding
such merger or consolidation.
(c) Except in pursuance of the provisions of subdivision 4(b) (iii)
of this Article Fifth, without the consent of the holders of at least sixty-six
and two-thirds (66-2/3) per cent. of the number of shares of Preferred Stock at
the time outstanding, given in person or by proxy, either in writing or by a
vote at a meeting called for that purpose at which the holders of Preferred
Stock shall vote as a class,
(i) no change shall be made in the rights and preferences of
the Preferred Stock as set forth in the Articles of Incorporation or as fixed by
the Board of Directors so as to affect such stock adversely; provided, however,
that if any such change would affect any series of Preferred Stock adversely as
compared with the effect thereof upon any other series of Preferred Stock, no
such change shall be made without the additional consent given as aforesaid of
the holders of at least sixty-six and two-thirds (66-2/3) per cent. of the
number of shares at the time outstanding of the Preferred Stock of the series
which would be so adversely affected;
(ii) no additional class of stock ranking senior to the
Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets shall be authorized;
(iii) the authorized number of shares of any class of stock
ranking senior to the Preferred Stock as to dividends or assets shall not be
increased; and
(iv) the corporation shall not (a) sell, lease, convey or part
with control of all or substantially all of its property or business or (b)
voluntarily liquidate, dissolve or wind up its affairs.
Notwithstanding the foregoing:
(i) except as otherwise required by law, the voting rights of
any series of Class B Serial Preferred Stock may be limited or eliminated by the
Board of Directors prior to the issuance thereof; and
(ii) provided no shares of Serial Preferred Stock are then
outstanding, any series of Class B Serial Preferred Stock may be issued with
such additional voting rights in the event of dividend arrearages as the Board
of Directors may determine to be required to qualify such series for listing on
one or more securities exchanges of recognized standing.
The holders of Common Stock of the corporation shall have one vote per
share.
5. Redemption.
----------
(a) The corporation, at the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem
the whole or any part of the Serial Preferred Stock, or the whole or any part of
any series thereof, at any time or from time to time, at such redemption price
therefor as shall have been fixed by the Board of Directors as hereinbefore
provided, plus all dividends which on the redemption date have accrued on the
shares to be redeemed and have not been paid or declared and a sum sufficient
for the payment thereof set apart. Notice of every such redemption shall be
published not less than thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to
the date fixed for redemption in a daily newspaper printed in the English
language and published and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan,
City and State of New York, and in a daily newspaper printed in the English
language and published and of general circulation in the City of Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. Notice of every such redemption shall also be mailed not less than
thirty (30) days nor more than sixty (60) days prior to the date fixed for
redemption to the holders of record of the shares of Serial Preferred Stock to
be redeemed at their respective addresses as the same appear upon the books of
the corporation; but no failure to mail such notice or any defect therein or in
the mailing thereof shall affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any shares of Serial Preferred Stock. In case of a redemption of a
part only of any series of the Serial Preferred Stock at the time outstanding,
the corporation shall select shares so to be redeemed in such manner, whether
pro rata or by lot, as the Board of Directors may determine. Subject to the
provisions herein contained, the Board of Directors shall have full power and
authority to prescribe the manner in which and the terms and conditions on which
the Serial Preferred Stock shall be redeemed from time to time. If notice of
redemption shall have been published as hereinbefore provided and if before the
redemption date specified in such notice all funds necessary for such redemption
shall have been set apart so as to be available therefor, then on and after the
date fixed for redemption the shares of Serial Preferred Stock so called for
redemption, notwithstanding that any certificate therefor shall not have been
surrendered for cancellation, shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all
rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith cease and terminate except
only the right of the holders thereof to receive upon surrender of certificates
therefor the amount payable upon redemption thereof, but without interest;
provided, however, that if the corporation shall, after the publication of
notice of any such redemption and prior to the redemption date, deposit in trust
for the account of the holders of the Serial Preferred Stock to be redeemed with
a bank or trust company in good standing, designated in such notice, organized
under the laws of the United States of America or of the State of New York or of
the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, doing business in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York, or in the City of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and having a
capital, undivided profits and surplus aggregating at least five million dollars
($5,000,000), all funds necessary for such redemption, then from and after the
time of such deposit the shares of Serial Preferred Stock so called for
redemption, notwithstanding that any certificate therefor shall not have been
surrendered for cancellation, shall no longer be deemed outstanding and all
rights with respect to such shares shall forthwith cease and terminate except
only the right of the holders of such shares to receive from such bank or trust
company upon surrender of certificates therefor the amount payable upon
redemption thereof, but without interest.
All shares of Serial Preferred Stock so redeemed shall be cancelled and
shall not be reissued.
(b) The terms and conditions under which the whole or any part of any
series of the Class B Serial Preferred Stock may be redeemed shall be
established by the Board of Directors prior to the issuance thereof. Unless
otherwise determined by the Board of Directors, all shares of Class B Serial
Preferred Stock so redeemed or otherwise acquired by the corporation shall be
returned to the status of authorized but unissued shares.
6. Preemptive Rights. Neither the holders of the Preferred Stock nor the
holders of the Common Stock shall be entitled to participate in any right of
subscription to any increased or additional capital stock of the corporation of
any kind whatsoever.
SIXTH. In each election of directors every shareholder entitled to vote
shall have the right to cast one vote for each share of stock standing in his
name on the books of the Company for each of such number of candidates as there
are directors to be elected, but no shareholder shall have any right to cumulate
his votes and cast them for one candidate or distribute them among two or more
candidates.
SEVENTH. A. In addition to any affirmative vote required by law, the
Articles or the By-Laws of the corporation (the "Company"), and except as
otherwise expressly provided in Section B of this Article Seventh, the Company
shall not knowingly engage, directly or indirectly, in any Stock Repurchase (as
hereinafter defined) from an Interested Shareholder (as hereinafter defined)
without the affirmative vote of not less than a majority of the votes entitled
to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares of Voting Stock (as
hereinafter defined) which are beneficially owned by persons other than such
Interested Shareholder, voting together as a single class. Such affirmative vote
shall be required notwithstanding the fact that no vote may be required, or that
a lesser percentage or separate class vote may be specified, by law or in any
agreement with any national securities exchange or otherwise.
B. The provisions of Section A of this Article Seventh shall not be
applicable to any particular Stock Repurchase from an Interested Shareholder,
and such Stock Repurchase shall require only such affirmative vote, if any, as
is required by law or by any other provision of the Articles or the By-Laws of
the Company, or any agreement with any national securities exchange or
otherwise, if the conditions specified in either of the following Paragraphs (1)
or (2) are met:
(1) The Stock Repurchase is made pursuant to a tender offer or
exchange offer for a class of Capital Stock (as hereinafter defined) made
available on the same basis to all holders of such class of Capital Stock.
(2) The Stock Repurchase is made pursuant to an open market purchase
program approved by a majority of the Continuing Directors (as hereinafter
defined), provided that such repurchase is effected on the open market and is
not the result of a privately negotiated transaction.
C. For the purposes of this Article Seventh:
(1) The term "Stock Repurchase" shall mean any repurchase, directly
or indirectly, by the Company or any Subsidiary of any shares of Capital Stock
at a price greater than the then Fair Market Value of such shares.
(2) The term "Capital Stock" shall mean all capital stock of the
Company authorized to be issued from time to time under Article FIFTH of the
Articles of the Company, and the term "Voting Stock" shall mean all Capital
Stock which by its terms may be voted on all matters submitted to shareholders
of the Company generally.
(3) The term "person" shall mean any individual, firm, company or
other entity and shall include any group comprised of any person and any other
person with whom such person or any Affiliate or Associate of such person has
any agreement, arrangement or understanding, directly or indirectly, for the
purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or disposing of Capital Stock.
(4) The term "Interested Shareholder" shall mean any person (other
than the Company or any Subsidiary and other than any savings, profit-sharing,
employee stock ownership or other employee benefit plan of the Company or any
Subsidiary or any trustee of or fiduciary with respect to any such plan when
acting in such capacity) who is on the date in question, or who was at any time
within the two year period immediately prior to the date in question, the
beneficial owner of Voting Stock representing five percent (5%) or more of the
votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding shares of
Voting Stock.
(5) A person shall be a "beneficial owner" of any Capital Stock (a)
which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates beneficially owns,
directly or indirectly; (b) which such person or any of its Affiliates or
Associates has, directly or indirectly, (i) the right to acquire (whether such
right is exercisable immediately or subject only to 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 is beneficially owned, directly or indirectly, by any other person
with which such person or any of its Affiliates or Associates has any agreement,
arrangement or understanding for the purpose of acquiring, holding, voting or
disposing of any shares of Capital Stock. For the purposes of determining
whether a person is an Interested Shareholder pursuant to Paragraph 4 of this
Section C, the number of shares of Capital Stock deemed to be outstanding shall
include shares deemed beneficially owned by such person through application of
Paragraph 5 of this Section C, but shall not include any other shares of Capital
Stock that may be issuable pursuant to any agreement, arrangement or
understanding, or upon exercise of conversion rights, warrants or options, or
otherwise.
(6) The terms "Affiliate" and "Associate" shall have the respective
meanings ascribed to such terms in Rule 12b-2 under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934 as in effect on March 8, 1985 (the term "registrant" in said Rule 12b-2
meaning in this case the Company).
(7) The term "Subsidiary" shall mean any corporation of which a
majority of any class of equity security is beneficially owned by the Company;
provided, however, that for the purposes of the definition of Interested
Shareholder set forth in Paragraph 4 of this Section C, the term "Subsidiary"
shall mean only a corporation of which a majority of each class of equity
security is beneficially owned by the Company.
(8) The term "Continuing Director" shall mean any member of the
Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), while such person is a member
of the Board, who is not an Affiliate or Associate or representative of the
Interested Shareholder and was a member of the Board prior to the time that the
Interested Shareholder became an Interested Shareholder, and any successor of a
Continuing Director, while such successor is a member of the Board, who is not
an Affiliate or Associate or representative of the Interested Shareholder and is
recommended or elected to succeed the Continuing Director by a majority of
Continuing Directors.
(9) The term "Fair Market Value" shall mean (a) in the case of cash,
the amount of such cash; (b) in the case of stock, the closing sale price on the
trading day immediately preceding the date in question of a share of such stock
on the Composite Tape for New York Stock Exchange-Listed Stocks, or, if such
stock is not quoted on the Composite Tape, on the New York Stock Exchange, or,
if such stock is not listed on such Exchange, on the principal United States
securities exchange registered under the Act on which such stock is listed, or,
if such stock is not listed on any such exchange, the closing bid quotation with
respect to a share of such stock on the trading day immediately preceding the
date in question on the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
Automated Quotations System or any similar system then in use, or if no such
quotation is available, the fair market value on the date in question of a share
of such stock as determined by a majority of the Continuing Directors in good
faith; and (c) in the case of property other than cash or stock, the fair market
value of such property on the date in question as determined in good faith by a
majority of the Continuing Directors.
D. The Board of Directors shall have the power and duty to determine for
the purposes of this Article Seventh, on the basis of information known to them
after reasonable inquiry, (a) whether a person is an Interested Shareholder, (b)
the number of shares of Capital Stock or other securities beneficially owned by
any person, (c) whether a person is an Affiliate or Associate of another and (d)
whether the consideration to be paid in any Stock Repurchase has an aggregate
Fair Market Value in excess of the then Fair Market Value of the shares of
Capital Stock being repurchased. Any such determination made in good faith shall
be binding and conclusive on all parties.
E. Nothing contained in this Article Seventh shall be construed to
relieve any Interested Shareholder from any fiduciary obligation imposed by law.
F. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Articles or the By-Laws of
the Company (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage or separate
class vote may be specified by law, these Articles or the By-Laws of the
Company), the affirmative vote of the holders of not less than eighty percent
(80%) of the votes entitled to be cast by the holders of all then outstanding
shares of Voting Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be required to
amend or repeal, or adopt any provisions inconsistent with, this Article
Seventh.
EIGHTH. A. The business and affairs of the corporation (the "Company")
shall be managed by a Board of Directors comprised as follows:
(1) The Board of Directors shall consist of the number of persons
fixed from time to time by the Board of Directors pursuant to a resolution
adopted by a majority vote of the directors then in office.
(2) Beginning with the Board of Directors to be elected at the
annual meeting of shareholders held in 1985, directors shall be classified with
respect to the time for which they shall severally hold office by dividing them
into three classes, as nearly equal in number as possible. At such meeting, each
class of directors shall be elected in a separate election. Directors of the
first class shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the 1986 annual
meeting of shareholders, those of the second class shall be elected for a term
of office to expire at the 1987 annual meeting of shareholders, and those of the
third class shall be elected for a term of office to expire at the 1988 annual
meeting of shareholders. At each annual election held after the 1985 annual
meeting of shareholders the class of directors then being elected shall be
elected to hold office for a term of office to expire at the third succeeding
annual meeting of shareholders after their election. Each director shall hold
office for the term for which elected and until his or her successor shall have
been elected and qualified, except in the case of earlier death, resignation or
removal.
(3) Nominations for the election of directors at an annual meeting
of the shareholders may be made by the Board of Directors or a committee
appointed by the Board of Directors or by any shareholder entitled to vote in
the election of directors at the meeting. Shareholders entitled to vote in such
election may nominate one or more persons for election as directors only if
written notice of such shareholder's intent to make such nomination or
nominations has been given either by personal delivery or by United States mail,
postage prepaid, to the Secretary of the Company not later than ninety days
prior to the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting. Such
notice shall set forth: (a) the name and address of the shareholder who intends
to make the nomination and of the persons or person to be nominated; (b) a
representation that the shareholder is a holder of record of stock of the
Company entitled to vote at such meeting and intends to appear in person or by
proxy at the meeting to nominate the person or persons specified in the notice;
(c) a description of all arrangements or understandings between the shareholder
and each nominee and any other person or persons (naming such person or persons)
pursuant to which the nomination or nominations are to be made by the
shareholder; (d) such other information regarding each nominee proposed by such
shareholder as would be required to be included in a proxy statement filed
pursuant to the proxy rules of the Securities and Exchange Commission as then in
effect; and (e) the consent of each nominee to serve as a director of the
Company if so elected. The presiding officer of the meeting may refuse to
acknowledge the nomination of any person not made in compliance with the
foregoing procedure.
(4) Any director, any class of directors, or the entire Board of
Directors may be removed from office by shareholder vote at any time, with or
without assigning any cause, but only if shareholders entitled to cast at least
80% of the votes which all shareholders would be entitled to cast at an annual
election of directors or of such class of directors shall vote in favor of such
removal.
(5) Vacancies in the Board of Directors, including vacancies
resulting from an increase in the number of directors, shall be filled only by a
majority vote of the remaining directors then in office, though less than a
quorum, except that vacancies resulting from removal from office by a vote of
the shareholders may be filled by the shareholders at the same meeting at which
such removal occurs. All directors elected to fill vacancies shall hold office
for a term expiring at the annual meeting of shareholders at which the term of
the class to which they have been elected expires. No decrease in the number of
directors constituting the Board of Directors shall shorten the term of any
incumbent director.
B. Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Articles or the By-Laws of
the Company (and notwithstanding the fact that a lesser percentage or separate
class vote may be specified by law, these Articles or the By-laws of the
Company), the affirmative vote of not less than eighty percent (80%) of the
votes which all shareholders of the then outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company would be entitled to cast in an annual election of directors, voting
together as a single class, shall be required to amend or repeal, or adopt any
provisions inconsistent with, this Article Eighth.
NINTH. To the fullest extent that the laws of the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, as in effect on May 15, 1987 or as thereafter amended, permit
elimination or limitation of the liability of directors, no director of the
corporation shall be personally liable for monetary damages for any action
taken, or any failure to take any action. This Article Ninth shall not apply to
any action filed prior to May 15, 1987, nor to any breach of performance of duty
or any failure of performance of duty occurring prior to May 15, 1987. The
provisions of this Article shall be deemed to be a contract with each director
of the corporation who serves as such at any time while such provisions are in
effect, and each such director shall be deemed to be serving as such in reliance
on the provisions of this Article. Any amendment or repeal of this Article or
adoption of any other provision of the Articles or By-laws of the corporation
which has the effect of increasing director liability shall operate
prospectively only and shall not affect any action taken, or any failure to act,
prior to such amendment, repeal or adoption.
TENTH. Except as prohibited by law, the corporation may indemnify any
person who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation
or is or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise (including, without limitation, any employee benefit plan) and
may take such steps as may be deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors,
including purchasing and maintaining insurance, entering into contracts
(including, without limitation, contracts of indemnification between the
corporation and its directors and officers), creating a trust fund, granting
security interests or using other means (including, without limitation, a letter
of credit) to ensure the payment of such amounts as may be necessary to effect
such indemnification. This Article shall be effective May 15, 1987.